This Week in Explainers: What are SPICE bombs being dropped on Gaza?

The week saw much devastation unfold in Gaza as Israel’s air force continued to strafe the area with smart bombs. Meanwhile, in the United States, domestic politics is rearing its ugly head – and Ukraine might be the one to suffer. Google upped the ante in ‘take-no-prisoners’ technology wars by launching its own AI. While Pakistan is slated to hold elections in February, the crisis-hit nation also faces a massive crunch when it comes to funds. In the UK, the never-ending story surrounding took another twist as a tell-all book revealed two ‘royal racists’ Also, a new tactic has entered the world of dating. And finally, if you want to sleep better at night, we may have just the thing for you: All this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers: 1. This past week in the Israel-Hamas war, like many others before it, witnessed the Israel Air Force’s tactics come under the scanner. Videos showing Israel purportedly dropping Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective (SPICE) bombs and their aftermath have flooded social media. This piece examines what SPICE bombs are, how they work, and why experts are worried about collateral damage. 2. The White House is on a collision course with Republicans in Congress over Ukraine. https://youtu.be/O7vTqEo741c?t=1 This past week saw the White House budget czar warn the high-ranking members of Congress that it is fast running out of money to send Kyiv. This piece examines why this is the case, how much Washington has sent Kyiv since the war began, just where the billions of dollars the United States appropriated went, and the possible impact on the war. 3. The latest chapter in the technology war arrived this week. Google, seeing the staggering popularity of ChatGPT, responded with its own AI – Gemini. [caption id=“attachment_13475452” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Google on Wednesday launched Gemini, an AI chatbot that they claim is better than ChatGPT.[/caption] While those in power at the tech giant have sung hosannas of the AI, many are wondering if the hype is real. This article takes a look at the AI and its different versions, how its benchmarks measure up against ChatGPT and what experts say comes next. 4. From unemployment to inflation and energy issues, Pakistan is facing multiple crises. Now, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that the country will go to the polls on 11 February. But how will Islamabad pay for it? How much will the elections cost? How will political parties fund their campaign? How bad is the economic situation in Pakistan? This piece supplies you with all the answers. 5. The saga of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Royal Family continues. A book by Omid Scobie – who previously chronicled the couple – opened old wounds afresh after hitting the shelves. The Dutch version of the book identified two senior members of the Royal Family as having had conversations about the potential skin colour of Harry and Meghan’s first child. [caption id=“attachment_13468502” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A person familiar with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry has claimed that the couple are ‘dismayed’ by the race row sparked by the book. File Photo.[/caption] This article looks at the original race row, what the people involved in the controversy are saying and how Harry and Meghan are facing a bill that threatens to strip them of their royal titles. 6. Many of us are left bewildered by dating in today’s world. Add Breadcrumbing to the list of notable terms and behaviours such as ghosting, gaslighting, situationships, soft launching, submarining and orbiting you need to familiarise yourself with. But what is Breadcrumbing? How does it work? What’s the psychology behind it? What are the red flags you need to look for? This piece gives you the low down. 7. Struggling to get a good night’s sleep? Fret not. Social media has you covered with yet another life hack – this one known as ‘cricket feet’. But how does it work? Why do people love it so? And why is sleep so important? This article tells you everything you need to know.  If you’ve been too busy to keep an eye on the news lately, this list will come in handy in catching you up. Watch  this space  for more.