Good morning, readers!

Are we at that point when talking about nukes is “normal” again? When the Israel-Hamas conflict began, talks about Israel possibly using its nukes were heard. Now, US, China, and Russia have joined the convo.

What’s next?

Today’s hotspots

China’s new missile could start a nuclear war by mistake.

The US intel suggests China is cooking up a new missile that could blow up the world. Literally.

The Chinese military is developing a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that the US deemed “too dangerous.” Unlike existing ICBMs, this one doesn’t use nuclear warheads.

So it’s safer right? Wrong. There’s a catch. A big one. This missile could trigger a nuclear war by accident.

🐾 What’s an ICBM?

An ICBM is a long-range rocket that can carry a nuclear warhead. It launches into space, circles the globe, then re-enters the atmosphere to zoom toward its target at hypersonic speeds.

It’s the ultimate weapon of mass destruction.

🐾 Why a non-nuclear ICBM?

China already has hundreds of nuclear ICBMs, so why does it need ones with conventional explosives instead of nuclear warheads?

Well, maybe it wants to have more options for striking its enemies without risking a nuclear escalation. Or maybe it just wants to show off its technological prowess and intimidate its rivals.

🐾 What’s the problem?

The problem is that no one can tell the difference between a nuclear ICBM and a non-nuclear one.

• They look the same.

• They fly the same.

• They sound the same.

So if China ever launches their new ICBM at, say, the United States, the US might think it’s under nuclear attack and retaliate with its own nukes. And then, boom. World War III.

🐾 Hasn’t this been tried before?

Yes, it has. And it failed. The US once tried to develop this type of ICBM, but it realized how dangerous it was and gave up. It knew that other countries would panic and misinterpret its intentions.

This weapon is a nightmare for everyone.

And it still is.

Even if it’s made in China.

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇬🇧 United Kingdom:

Elon Musk predicts AI will make everyone jobless.

Forget your career, AI will beat us all. That’s what Elon Musk told UK’s Sunak, warning that AI will be the “most disruptive force in history” and kill every job. How do you lead a nation after hearing that?

✱ NOTE: Musk was one of the signatories of an open letter calling for a pause on AI development beyond OpenAI’s GPT-4.

🇷🇺 Russia:

Putin’s bold move: Russia scraps nuclear test ban treaty.

It’s official: Russia has ditched the global pact that bans nuclear weapons tests. Putin has signed a law that withdraws Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), a landmark treaty that aims to prevent nuclear proliferation.

The US and the CTBT Organization have condemned the move, calling it a setback for arms control. Russia says it is only following the US, which never ratified the treaty.

A new arms race brewing?

✱ NOTE: China is also set to double its nuclear warheads by 2030, from 500 to 1,000.

🇺🇸 United States:

Biden seeks multiple “pauses” in Israel-Hamas war.

Instead of a full cease-fire, Biden is betting on multiple short pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The goal? Get aid and hostages out of Gaza. But will Israel and Hamas play ball? And will the pauses stop the anti-Israel protestors?

✱ NOTE: A “pro-peace” heckler gave Biden an earful at a campaign event in Minnesota, demanding a cease-fire.

🇺🇸 United States:

House passes $14.5 billion aid for Israel, but Senate and White House say no.

It’s a tough day for Israel and its supporters in the US. The House has approved a massive military aid package for the Jewish state, but it comes with a catch: it slashes funding for the IRS, doesn’t include humanitarian aid for Gaza, and ignores Ukraine’s plight (for now).

The Senate and the White House have vowed to block the bill, which they call “stunningly unserious” and “dead on arrival.”

✱ NOTE: The bill is the first major legislative effort to back Israel in the war against Hamas.