Stories behind the Iran's Threat of Retaliation in the Israel-Hamas War - 08/18/2024

A few stories were summed up here about the development of the Israel-Hamas War and Iran's threat of retaliation:

10/07/2023-today Hamas launched a bloody surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking some 250 more hostages. War between Hamas and Israel began. Israel has responded by razing much of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza that Hamas governs, killing nearly 40,000 people, which does not differentiate Hamas militants from civilians. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)

10/2023-today The United States has been mediating a cease-fire in the war, pushing Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement. Amid worries of an Iran retaliatory attack. Hamas is an Iran proxy militia. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)

06/17/2024 Massive amounts of recently acquired advanced Chinese military equipment and weapons technology were found in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces. Also, two tunnel engineers from China's People's Liberation Army were discovered by the IDF. (Newsweek, 06/17/2024)

07/25/2024 China hosted reconciliation talks among 14 Palestinian factions, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the agreement was “dedicated to the great reconciliation and unity of all 14 factions.” Wang further said, “an agreement has been reached on post-Gaza war governance and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government.” In 1993, a coalition of parties (PLO) that signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1993 and formed a new government in the Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas is not part of the PLO. (CNN 07/25/2024)

07/31/2024 Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated along with his personal bodyguard in the Iranian capital Tehran by an apparent Israeli attack. (The New York Time, 08/01/2024)

08/06/2024 Iranian officials say Russia has begun delivering advanced air defense and radar equipment to Iran. (The Times of Israel, 08/06/2024)

08/11/2024 China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, spoke over the phone with his Iranian counterpart, acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri. He said, "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination, viewing it as a severe violation of the basic principles of international relations, a serious infringement on Iran's sovereignty, security and dignity and a direct disruption of the Gaza cease-fire negotiations, impacting regional peace and stability." Wang further said that China supports Iran's position of self-defense. (UPI News, 08/12/2024)

08/14/2024 Manila signed a US$114 million contract with Israel's Elbit Systems for acquiring a pair of ATR 72 aircraft adapted for military use. (AEROFLAP, 08/14/2024) China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, overlapping maritime claims of the Philippines and a few other SEA countries. In 2016, a Hague-based tribunal said China’s claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected. Tensions exist between China and Philippines. (The Guardian, 07/22/2024)

08/16/2024 Iran is pursuing partnerships with two Chinese satellite companies, as it seeks to expand its capability for remote surveillance and intelligence gathering, potentially including high-resolution images of military targets in Israel and across the Middle East. This deal with China could supply Iran with enhanced targeting capability for its arsenal of ballistic missiles as well as early warning systems to detect impending attacks. Iran might also supply satellite-derived intelligence to allies such as Houthi rebels, Syrian and Iraqi militias. Iran has previously provided such groups with satellite imagery purchased from China. (The Jerusalem Post, 08/17/2024)

Why has Iran waited this long to attack Israel for Haniyeh’s death? | What’s Iran’s game plan?

14. Poland’s victory over the Red Army in 1920 1920年波兰战胜红军

2024 年 8 月 15 日，北约成员国波兰向阵亡的波兰人致敬，并展示现代坦克和其他装备，以纪念其 1920 年对红军的历史性胜利，希望这些装备能够阻止现代俄罗斯的威胁。武装部队日假期期间，超过 2,500 名波兰士兵与数十名盟军士兵一起乘坐军车或乘坐战斗机和直升机在华沙飞行。波兰国防部长瓦迪斯瓦夫·科西尼亚克-卡梅什致信士兵，表示这个节日提醒人们“波兰军队最光荣的事迹，以及独立和自由的代价”。

NATO member Poland paid tribute on August 15, 2024, to its historic 1920 victory over the Red Army by honoring fallen Poles and showing off modern tanks and other equipment that it hopes will deter the threat it sees in modern-day Russia. More than 2,500 Polish troops, joined by dozens of allied soldiers, rode in military vehicles, or flew in fighter jets and helicopters in Warsaw on the Armed Forces Day holiday. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote a letter to soldiers, stating that the holiday is a reminder of “the most glorious episodes of the Polish army, of the price of independence and freedom.” (AP, 08/15/2024)

Poland’s history is rich and complex. Here’s a concise overview:

• Early State: Poland emerged in the late 10th century. The Poles, a West Slavic people, inhabited a land covered by forests. Clans grouped into tribes, and dukes transformed tribal organization into territorial units. Mieszko I, the first ruler of the Polanie tribe, is considered the founder of the Piast dynasty.
• Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: In the 16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth became Europe’s second-largest state after Russia. It was a powerful entity that spanned vast territories.
• Partitions and Independence: However, Poland faced challenges. During the Partitions of Poland (1772–1918), it disappeared from the map, divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. It regained independence in 1918 but suffered during two world wars.
• Holocaust and Soviet Rule: Tragically, Poland’s historically strong Jewish population was nearly annihilated during the Holocaust. After World War II, Poland became a Soviet satellite state.
• Solidarity and Democracy: Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union Solidarity, which played a crucial role in Poland’s transition to democracy in 1989.

Polish Armed Forces Day: Poland demonstrates power | German News 15.08.2024

Reference:

History of Poland | Key Events, Important People, & Dates | Britannica

Poland: A Brief Overview (princeton.edu)

Poland - The World Factbook (cia.gov)

History of Poland - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

According to historians, the Polish victory over the Red Army in 1920 saved Western Europe from the communist revolution. The Battle of Warsaw determined the shape of Europe for the next two decades.

Tesla robot's human-like features 特斯拉机器人的类似人类特征

马斯克（Elon Musk）最近宣布 “特斯拉明年将拥有真正有用的(低产量)人形机器人供特斯拉内部使用”，这表明具有类似人类的身体特征并提供“真正有用”功能的机器人可能很快就会与我们同在。因此，我回顾了互联网上的一些信息，并总结特征如下：1. 身体互动：执行需要类似人类的灵巧性和操作的任务; 2. 自主性：导航环境、识别物体并独立执行任务; 3. 协作：与人类一起工作，可能完成复杂的任务。

Elon Musk's recent announcement on Twitter that "Tesla will have genuinely useful humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use next year" suggests that robots that have physical human-like characteristics and provide "genuinely useful" function might be with us soon. (Live Science, 08/14/2024) Thus, I have reviewed and summarized some information available as follows:

Features

Based on the information that I have reviewed; the envisioned Tesla robot is a humanoid capable of:

• Physical interaction: Performing tasks requiring human-like dexterity and manipulation.
• Autonomy: Navigating environments, recognizing objects, and carrying out tasks independently.
• Collaboration: Working alongside humans, potentially for complex tasks.

Potential applications include:

• Industrial automation: Replacing humans in repetitive, dirty, dangerous tasks.
• Service industry: Providing customer service, guiding tours, etc.
• Social care: Assisting with personal care and therapy.

Market Competition

The market for humanoid robots is nascent but growing, with several key players:

• Tesla: Focusing on industrial applications initially, with potential expansion into other areas.
• Boston Dynamics: Known for advanced robotics and locomotion, with a focus on agility and adaptability.
• Figure AI, Sanctuary AI: Developing humanoid robots with emphasis on artificial intelligence and human-like capabilities.
• Other players: Numerous research institutions and startups are also involved in humanoid robot development.

Development Challenges

Creating a humanoid robot is a complex endeavor with significant hurdles:

• Locomotion: Achieving stable and efficient bipedal movement on various terrains remains a challenge.
• Manipulation: Developing hands capable of dexterous manipulation of objects with different shapes, sizes, and weights is ongoing.
• Sensing: Improving tactile capabilities to match human-like sensitivity is essential.
• Artificial intelligence: Developing AI systems capable of general task improvisation in dynamic environments is crucial.
• Human-robot interaction: Designing robots that communicate effectively and naturally with humans is complex, especially regarding non-verbal cues.
• Real-world conditions: Testing and deploying robots in challenging environments like rain, dust, and heat is essential but difficult.

Additional Considerations

• Ethical implications: The development and deployment of humanoid robots raise ethical questions, particularly regarding their role in society and potential job displacement.
• Market demand: The success of humanoid robots will depend on the development of practical applications and the ability to meet market demand.

Overall, while significant progress has been made in humanoid robotics, there are still many challenges to overcome before these robots become commonplace. Tesla's entry into the market is likely to accelerate development and innovation in the field. Tesla's robot may be much more powerful than the information that I reviewed, for details and accuracy of any of these topics, please Google or Bing search. 

Tesla will start using humanoid robots in 2025 - The Street.

Optimus - Gen2 Tesla

Why The Tesla Bot Will Take Over in 2024! The Tesla Space