Immediate military assistance in event of war

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A new agreement between Russia and North Korea reached by their leaders requires the countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war

The agency said Article 4 of the agreement states that if one of the countries gets invaded and is pushed into a state of war, the other must deploy "all means at its disposal without delay" to provide “military and other assistance".

The deal could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. Both Mr. Kim and Mr. Putin described it as a major upgrade of their relations, covering security, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties.

The summit came as the U.S. and its allies expressed growing concerns over a possible arms arrangement in which Pyongyang provides Moscow with badly needed munitions for its war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Mr. Kim's nuclear weapons and missile programme.

North Korea and the former Soviet Union signed a treaty in 1961, which experts say necessitated Moscow's military intervention if the North came under attack. The deal was discarded after the collapse of the USSR, replaced by one in 2000 that offered weaker security assurances.

South Korean officials said they were still interpreting the results of the summit, including what Russia's response might be if the North comes under attack, and whether the new deal promises a similar level of protection with the 1961 treaty.

AI that predicts protein structures change the life sciences. How?

Proteins are one of the most important molecules of life, with almost every biological function from birth to death being regulated by them in some way. Each protein is made up of a string of smaller building blocks called amino acids, which contain all the information to transform proteins — from a single sequence to a folded, functional 3D structure.

The highly improved AlphaFold 2 was introduced in 2021. AlphaFold uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately predict protein structures from an amino acid sequence, seemingly solving the protein-folding problem without learning any of the deeper physical principles that drive this biological process.

“AlphaFold 2 predicted the structure of proteins with revolutionary levels of accuracy,

“AlphaFold 3 is even more accurate for proteins, but can also predict the structure of DNA, RNA, and all the other molecular components that make up biology. The interaction of all these biomolecules is what makes up the processes of life, so it is important to be able to predict the structure of these interactions.”

Its accuracy at predicting protein-protein interactions is also incredibly high — but not its reliability when it comes to interactions between small molecules and proteins. Proteins use a language of 20 amino acids whereas small molecule ligands “have a much larger vocabGreater variations in the dataset and the use of diffusion techniques can lead to the model coming up with answers that look plausible but aren’t real. Adding more training data can help circumvent this problem, but not entirely get rid of it.

Nevertheless, AlphaFold 3 predicts protein structures and interactions better than other models right now. Academics and companies can potentially use it to find drug candidates that can bind to proteins and help cure diseases. In fact, DeepMind’s spin-off company Isomorphic Labs is using AlphaFold 3 for this very purpose: drug discovery. However, this option isn’t open to everyone yet.

Two Decades of Quad: Diplomacy and Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a strategic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the US. It is not a military alliance or mutual defense agreement. It was formed during the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Quad nations account for 24% of the global population, 35% of the world’s GDP, and 18% of global trade.

How does QUAD contribute to enhancing India’s strategic interests

1. Counterbalance to China: As a member of the QUAD, in the event of a rise in the Chinese hostilities on its borders, India can take the support of the other QUAD nations to counter it.
2. Strategic Partnerships: QUAD facilitates strategic partnerships among like-minded democracies. This strengthens India’s diplomatic ties, fostering a multilateral approach to regional challenges.
3. For a free and open Indo-Pacific: This aspect becomes important for India, in the wake of China’s aggressiveness and coercive nature in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
4. India as a Net Security provider: For India to assert this role as a Region, its dominance in the Indian Ocean Region needs to be maintained and sustained. QUAD provides India with a platform to enhance security through partnerships in the region.
5. Multipolar World: India has supported a rule-based multipolar world and QUAD can help it achieve its ambition of becoming a regional superpower.
6. Maritime Security Cooperation: QUAD members collaborate on maritime security, including joint naval exercises and patrols. This enhances India’s capabilities in addressing common challenges.
7. Infrastructure Development: QUAD aims to promote infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific, fostering connectivity. This aligns with India’s interests in the region.
8. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: This enhances India’s capacity to respond to natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific, showcasing its commitment to regional stability.
9. Technology and Cybersecurity Cooperation: This collaboration benefits India by leveraging technological advancements and enhancing cyber resilience.
10. Promotion of Democratic Values: QUAD promotes democratic values, the rule of law, and international norms. India, as the world’s largest democracy, aligns with these principles.

Issues Related to Quad:

1. Undefined Vision: Quad lacks a clear strategic mission despite its potential for cooperation.
2. Maritime Focus: Emphasis on the Indo-Pacific makes Quad primarily maritime, limiting cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions.
3. India’s Aversion to Alliances: India’s reluctance to join a formal treaty alliance hinders stronger Quad engagement.

Conclusion

QUAD serves as a key platform for India to advance its strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific by promoting security, stability, economic opportunities, and collaborative solutions to regional challenges. Navigating the complex geopolitical dynamics requires a nuanced and strategic approach from India to safeguard its interests and promote regional stability.