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Who is Prepared to Take the Quantum Leap?

Quantum computing

By Iain Wham

The next transformative wave, quantum computing, is imminent. For SMEs, its profound potential in optimisation, simulation, and financial modelling offers a significant competitive advantage. However, it simultaneously threatens current cybersecurity encryption. This article argues that proactive preparation is no longer optional but a strategic imperative for businesses aiming to thrive in the post-quantum era.

The world of information technology is in constant flux, presenting new and ongoing challenges for small businesses. In recent times we have seen the rise of cloud computing, the growth of data management and the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) into every workplace.

Just keeping pace with changes in IT is a daily challenge. Now, another transformative wave is on the horizon: quantum computing.

While it might sound like something out of science fiction, the implications of quantum computing for even the smallest, most local business are profound and far-reaching.

Within the next couple of years, quantum computing will be as relevant to your business as AI has become, and understanding its potential and preparing for its arrival is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative. 

Demystifying the quantum realm

Quantum computers aren’t just faster than conventional computers, they are designed to tackle specific, complex problems that are currently impossible, even for the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

While most quantum computers currently remain in research labs, outside the budget of all but the biggest and richest companies, another type of quantum computer, called a quantum annealer, is already commercially viable.

More akin to a traditional computer processor, the quantum annealer is particularly adept at solving optimisation problems, which are a vast category of challenges faced by businesses of all sizes, that involve finding the best possible solution from an enormous number of options. 

The quantum advantage

While the most sophisticated quantum computers are still a decade or more away from widespread use, the implications for businesses, including small and local ones, are already emerging.

Think about the challenges faced by many small, local businesses. For instance, an artisan bakery might struggle with optimising its ingredient sourcing, to minimise waste and cost while ensuring product freshness.

A courier business might use quantum computing to organise route planning by considering real-time traffic, weather, vehicle capacity, delivery windows, and even staff availability.

Quantum algorithms can identify the most efficient routes, saving time, fuel, and reducing wear and tear on vehicles.

A boutique clothing store could use quantum insights to ensure they have the right stock at the right time, maximising sales and minimising dead inventory.

For businesses relying on customer loyalty, understanding individual preferences is crucial. This could enable a small independent bookshop to offer highly personalised recommendations, or a local brewery to craft targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with specific customer segments.

Even small businesses deal with financial transactions and the associated risks. Quantum computers can perform more complex financial modelling, leading to better investment strategies, more accurate risk assessments, and improved fraud detection. A small financial advisory firm could leverage quantum insights to provide clients with more robust portfolio optimisation.

Changes to cybersecurity

While the opportunities of quantum computing are immense, it also presents a challenge, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. One of the most talked-about implications of quantum computing is its potential to break current encryption standards.

Algorithms which can be run on sufficiently powerful quantum computers, could render much of today’s online security obsolete. This means that sensitive data, financial transactions, and confidential communications which are secure today, could become vulnerable in the future.

This transition is referred to as the “post-quantum cryptography” (PQC) era and it is crucial to understand that you don’t need a quantum computer to implement PQC.

PQC algorithms are designed to run on conventional PCs and they offer protection against quantum threats. Businesses of all sizes can start to prepare for PQC now, with a target deadline of 2030 for transitioning critical systems. For a small business, this might seem daunting, but it could be a vital step to protect your digital assets.

Why quantum is the next big thing for SMEs

As cloud-based quantum computing-as-a-service (QCaaS) become more accessible, the barrier to entry will decrease. Companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft are already offering access to quantum hardware and development tools, democratising this powerful technology.

Ignoring quantum computing now would be akin to ignoring the internet in the late 1990s or AI a few years ago.

Those who understand and begin to integrate quantum thinking into their business strategy will gain a significant competitive advantage over their rivals.

Preparing for the quantum future 

So, what concrete steps can your small business take today to prepare for the quantum revolution?

Conduct a feasibility analysis: The first and most crucial step is to understand what quantum computing is and what it can (and cannot) do for your business. You don’t need to become a quantum physicist; focus on understanding the types of problems quantum computers are good at solving, particularly optimisation and simulation. Consider the computational requirements and data complexity of the problems you face.

Start small and experiment: You don’t need to buy a quantum computer – many providers offer QCaaS, allowing you to access quantum computing power via the cloud. This is the most practical way for small businesses to experiment.

Internal training: Invest in “quantum literacy” for your core team. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be a programmer. It means fostering an understanding of the concepts and potential applications. Workshops, online courses), and internal knowledge-sharing sessions can be highly effective.

External partnerships: Explore collaborations with universities, research institutions, or quantum computing companies. Many universities have departments focused on quantum technologies and may be open to partnerships or student projects that could benefit your business. Building these relationships can provide access to expertise and cutting-edge research.

Have a transition plan: Start planning how you will migrate to quantum-resistant cryptography. This might involve software upgrades, hardware changes, or working with your IT provider. Aim to have a plan in place by 2025-2026 to be ready for the 2030 deadline.

Form a project team or assign a champion: Designate an individual or a small group to stay informed about quantum developments relevant to your industry. This “quantum champion” can research new applications, monitor trends, and identify potential opportunities or threats.

Re-evaluate your business plan: As quantum computing matures, it will unlock new possibilities. Consider how these advancements might impact your business model. Could you offer new services based on quantum-enhanced analytics?

Skills, training, and equipment

The primary investment for most small businesses will be in human capital. This means allocating budget for training existing staff, or hiring individuals with an aptitude for analytical thinking and technology.

Initially, investment in equipment will be minimal and focused on ensuring your existing IT infrastructure is robust enough to access QCaaS platforms and implement PQC solutions. This might involve upgrading network capabilities or ensuring your current systems can support new cryptographic standards.

Consider investing in partnerships with quantum computing service providers or consultants. This can provide access to specialised expertise without the need for extensive in-house training initially.

The quantum future is now

The growth of quantum computing is not a distant theoretical concept; it’s an evolving reality that will impact businesses of all sizes.

By understanding its fundamental principles, identifying potential use cases, and taking proactive steps to prepare, small businesses in Scotland can not only weather this technological shift but also harness its power to innovate, optimise, and thrive in the coming years.

The quantum leap is happening, and the businesses that embrace it today will be the ones defining the landscape of tomorrow. Don’t wait for the future to arrive; start building your quantum-ready strategy now.

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About the Author

Iain WhamIain Wham is managing director of Innovec, an IT support provider based in Ayrshire and Glasgow.

 

Prompt Engineering is Over, PromptOps is the Future

By Juras Jursenas

As GenAI adoption accelerates, businesses are moving beyond basic prompt engineering toward sophisticated LLM-based practices – ushering in PromptOps. This methodology optimizes how Large Language Models (LLMs) are designed, tested, and deployed, transforming prompt management. PromptOps can unlock generative AI’s value, but success requires more than tools, organizations must embrace testing, versioning, and an adaptive mindset. Only then can they navigate the complexities of prompt management and harness generative AI impactfully.

Many businesses are actively exploring the potential of Generative AI (Gen AI) in their search for game-changing use cases. In line with this, LLM-based AI engineering is developing and largely overtaking simple prompt engineering – resulting in a rise in what has been referred to as PromptOps.

PromptOps is a methodology for optimizing the way Large Language Models (LLMs) are prompted. This approach to managing AI prompts at scale, which covers prompt design, version control, and monitoring, allows organizations to achieve greater consistency and efficacy from their AI tools.

PromptOps is rapidly gaining traction, promising to solve key challenges in LLM use, like prompt drift and poor outputs. But integrating them into an enterprise isn’t simple; it requires clear processes, the right tools, and a collaborative, centralized approach.

Digging deeper into what PromptOps is, why it is needed, and how it can be implemented effectively can help companies to find the right approach when incorporating this methodology for improving their LLM usage.

Generative AI usage soars as businesses search for impact

2024 was a breakthrough year for Gen AI in terms of adoption. Weekly usage in companies grew from 37% to 72% according to a survey by academics at Wharton. Simultaneously, budgets for Gen AI in business accelerated — there was a 130% increase in spending, compared to a 25% increase the previous year.

According to the Wharton researchers, businesses are in an “exploration phase.” Following the 2024 spending boom, short-term investment in Gen AI adoption is now expected to cool, as businesses investigate Gen AI’s potential and search for valid use cases.

The risk of fruitless experimentation

Prompt engineering, the design and structuring of prompts for LLMs, is a key component of this exploration. Yet businesses are coming to realize that prompt engineering alone may not be enough to test Gen AI’s potential and optimize effective deployment.

As Gen AI is deeply immersed in complex tasks, multiple coordinated prompts are often required. For example, a team might deploy one prompt to classify a query and another to handle requests of that type. The result is high levels of complexity, which then makes it difficult to track how effective individual prompts are and how to make improvements when they are ineffective.

Another complexity is prompt drift. Gen AI models are consistently updated, redefined, and streamlined in a race to gain market share and reach new firsts in terms of model power and functionality. This means that prompts that were previously performing optimally may no longer.

Furthermore, because LLMs are non-deterministic, the same input does not always garner the same result. Therefore, ongoing monitoring and adjustment of prompts by engineers is essential to sustain optimal system performance.

Optimizing Gen AI integration with PromptOps

PromptOps, a new discipline akin to DevOps for prompt engineering, standardizes how organizations design, test, deploy, and manage AI prompts. By replacing ad hoc practices with a structured approach, PromptOps helps businesses cut costs, reduce errors, and ensure reliable, effective AI performance.

PromptOps: The key areas

There are key principles that underpin PromptOps which all involved parties will need to be aware of.

For example, versioning and taxonomy are key to PromptOps. Versioning assigns unique IDs to prompts so engineers can track changes, compare performance, and prevent drift. Taxonomy organizes prompts with consistent labels (e.g., purpose, tone, audience) for clarity. Together, these practices enable automated A/B testing and recurring feedback loops, helping teams refine prompts at scale.

Alongside this, insights from continuous testing can help establish stronger prompt hygiene practices. This means creating organization-wide standards for prompt design that evolve as testing uncovers new best practices. A more advanced approach involves cross-model design, developing prompts that function effectively across multiple LLMs.

The right tools for PromptOps

Generic tools for prompt management, such as Humanloop, will ensure the essentials in terms of versioning, testing, and optimizing are covered. Then, organizations building their tech stack for handling PromptOps should look out for specific functionalities that are also helpful to have.

For example, automated prompt versioning makes at-scale PromptOps smoother, as does advanced archiving functionality, such as that offered with LangSmith (part of the LangChain framework). Advanced access control is also crucial, and there are tools available for this purpose, such as Permit, which can be integrated with existing prompt management tools.

Getting started with PromptOps

Before PromptOps is implemented, an organization typically has prompts scattered across multiple teams and tools, with no structured management in place. The first stage of implementing PromptOps involves gathering every detail on LLM usage within an organization. It is essential to understand precisely which prompts are being used, by which teams, and with which models.

The next stage is to build consistency into this practice by incorporating versioning and testing. Adding secure access control at this stage is also important in order to ensure only those who need it have access to prompts.

With such foundations in place, organizations will be well-positioned to introduce cross-model design and embed core compliance and security practices into all prompt crafting. Then it is a case of continuous optimization to manage prompt drift. As LLMs are non-deterministic, and as models are continually evolving, it will still be necessary to monitor the performance of prompts, even after they have been tested and optimized. Robust prompt architecture via PromptOps will make this process smoother, faster, and more consistent.

Incorporating a PromptOps mindset

Scaling PromptOps presents significant challenges. Organizations often encounter inconsistent versioning, fragmented taxonomies, and dispersed ownership across various tools—all of which grow more complex as operations expand. Achieving successful deployment requires not only the right strategy but also the right mindset, one rooted in collaboration.

By engaging a diverse group of specialists, not just prompt engineers, in the design and optimization process, organizations can greatly enhance the effectiveness of their prompts.It’s important to stay careful with GenAI: sloppy prompting creates more problems than it solves. Clear standards, prompt hygiene, and centralized systems with structure and access controls are key.

Ultimately, remaining agile and future-focused will be critical. Researchers in prompt engineering expect priorities such as multi-task and multi-objective prompt optimization (among many others) to feature prominently in the future.

This points to a more sophisticated approach to prompt management, one designed to handle complexity. Prompts will need to align with multiple tasks at once while balancing competing objectives, such as accuracy and interpretability. Staying effective will demand ongoing adaptation and flexibility as these trends evolve.

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About the Author

Juras JuršėnasWith over 16 years of experience in the IT field, Juras Juršėnas has established himself as an expert in SaaS product management and large-scale IT business operations. His ability to apply strategic problem-solving, critical thinking, and people management skills led him to become the COO at Oxylabs, a global web intelligence collection platform.

The Water-Saving Power Source: How Bloom Energy Cuts Water Use to Near Zero

Water drop in a bucket
Photo by Amritanshu Sikdar on Unsplash

Fresh water is one of our most precious and threatened natural resources, yet in the US, most electricity still comes from thermoelectric power plants that consume massive volumes of water. Meanwhile, our electricity demands are growing with the rise of AI, which requires large amounts of energy for high-performance computing. As climate change and population growth further strain freshwater supplies, the way we generate electricity needs to change if we want to protect this precious resource.

Bloom Energy is meeting this challenge directly. Its solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology generates clean, reliable electricity right where it’s needed and with almost zero water consumption. For businesses seeking both sustainability and resilience via on-site power, this is a breakthrough.

Why Power Generation Consumes So Much Water

Traditional thermoelectric plants—like coal, natural gas, nuclear, and even some renewables—rely on steam-driven turbines. That means they need vast quantities of water to produce steam and to cool their systems. According to the US Geological Survey, thermoelectric power generation accounts for about 40% of total freshwater withdrawals in the United States.

For example, a typical power plant can withdraw 43.8 liters of water per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated, or enough to fill dozens of bathtubs every minute. A portion of that water evaporates or is otherwise not returned to the source, driving up “consumptive use” that directly impacts rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

In an era when two-thirds of the global population experiences severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, this is a critical sustainability problem.

A Near-Zero Water Footprint

Bloom Energy Servers work differently. Instead of using combustion to create steam to drive a turbine connected to a generator, its SOFC technology uses an electrochemical process to convert fuel, such as natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen, directly into electricity.

No steam means no cooling towers. No cooling towers means virtually no water use. In fact, Bloom’s systems consume about one-thousandth of the water of conventional power plants (1.01 gallons/MWh vs. 830 gallons/MWh). For many businesses, switching to Bloom technology can reduce onsite water use for electricity generation by more than 99%.

That’s not just a sustainability win—it’s a business advantage, especially in water-stressed regions where conservation is a regulatory requirement or an operational necessity.

Water Savings in Action

Consider data centers. As AI adoption surges, the demand for water for cooling purposes is skyrocketing. A medium-sized data center might consume up to 110 million gallons of water per year, just for cooling. That’s nearly equivalent to the annual water use of 1,000 houses, and it doesn’t even take into account the water footprint of the power that the data center consumes.

Bloom’s technology not only eliminates the water used for electricity generation, but when paired with air-cooling or liquid-cooling systems, it can dramatically shrink a data center’s overall water footprint. The result: Businesses can power high-performance computing without deepening the water crisis.

Manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and university campuses also stand to benefit. These sectors often operate in regions facing water scarcity and are under pressure to cut consumption. Bloom Energy Servers can help them meet sustainability goals without sacrificing operational reliability.

Resilient Power Without Resource Trade-Offs

Reducing water use doesn’t have to mean reducing performance. Bloom Energy Servers deliver reliable, always-on power, even during grid outages. This means businesses don’t have to choose between sustainability and resilience—they can have both.

And because Bloom’s technology can run on biogas or hydrogen, it offers a pathway to zero-carbon electricity without shifting the environmental burden to another resource. In other words, it’s a solution that’s climate-friendly and water-wise.

A Smarter Path to Sustainability

Water scarcity is one of the defining environmental issues of our time. As industries adapt to climate challenges, they must “decouple” economic growth from water use. That’s exactly what Bloom Energy enables.

By replacing water-intensive, centralized power generation with clean, onsite Bloom Energy Servers, businesses can dramatically cut their water footprint, lower emissions, and boost energy resilience, all at the same time.

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He Built a Meme Business, Lost his Spark, then Found it in Bookkeeping

Person bookkeeping using macbook pro
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

By Sarah Mitchell

The origin story starts online. Earlier in his career, Ryan Moriarty made real money running viral meme campaigns on Facebook, then hit a wall. Motivation slipped. “I thought launching something new would be easy,” he says. “It wasn’t.” That’s when the tax headaches piled up and, according to him, the idea for Done For You Tax clicked, simple goal, finish the books fast so owners can breathe.

A personal problem turned business

The firm launched in 2021 and now serves more than 2,000 clients, with 300+ 5-star reviews. The pitch is straightforward. U.S.-based bookkeepers plus licensed tax pros plus automation to catch up a full year in under 24 hours. “We don’t think speed means much without accuracy, but we also don’t think owners should wait,” Moriarty said. According to company materials, pricing runs at about half the cost of traditional firms.

Why owners respond

Time is the enemy. The IRS has long documented that record-keeping time and out-of-pocket costs drive small-business compliance burden. Many founders try to do it themselves, then fall behind, then pay more later. Meanwhile, U.S. small businesses now total roughly 34.8 million, which means the market isn’t niche, it’s massive.

A wave bigger than one firm

Generative AI is moving into finance teams quickly. McKinsey reports that 65% of organizations now use gen AI regularly, and separate research ties automation to sizable productivity gains over time. None of this makes receipts magically reconcile, but it does remove steps. Definately removes steps when it works well.

The lesson Moriarty keeps repeating

Focus beats cleverness. “What we’ve found is owners want books done right, then taxes filed, nothing cute,” he said. The average in-house bookkeeper costs about $47,000 a year in salary. Outsourced packages range widely, $150 to $1,500 monthly, and can scale up or down. For a contractor shop or solo marketer, less overhead beats more overhead. Makes sense when you think about it.

About Done For You Tax

Done For You Tax, under Prof Moriarty LLC, provides bookkeeping with 24-hour turnaround and tax prep for companies under $1M in revenue, founded in Port St. Lucie in 2021.

Media Contact: Ryan Moriarty, [email protected]

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Charlie Kirk, Conservative Activist and Trump Ally, Dead at 31

Charlie Kirk, one of the most prominent conservative activists in the United States and a close ally of President Donald Trump, died Wednesday in a shooting at a Utah college. He was 31.

Kirk rose to national prominence after co-founding Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 at the age of 18. The organization, which now has chapters on more than 850 campuses, aimed to promote “fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government” in colleges often seen as leaning liberal.

Through TPUSA, his podcast, and regular appearances at Republican events, Kirk became a defining figure for young conservatives. Known for holding campus debates on issues ranging from climate change to transgender rights, he built a massive following online and in conservative media. His daily talk show drew millions of listeners, while his 2020 book The Maga Doctrine became a bestseller.

President Trump paid tribute after Kirk’s death, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk” and adding, “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”

Kirk’s ties to Trump and the Republican Party ran deep. TPUSA played a central role in voter outreach efforts that boosted GOP candidates in recent elections, with Kirk widely credited for helping register tens of thousands of new voters. He frequently visited the White House and shared the stage with Trump at campaign and Turning Point events. Earlier this year, he traveled with Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland as the then-incoming president argued the U.S. should pursue ownership of the Arctic territory.

Raised in Prospect Heights, a suburb of Chicago, Kirk was the son of an architect. He attended community college before leaving to focus on activism after being rejected from West Point. He often joked about his lack of a degree when debating academics. His evangelical Christian faith and family were at the center of his public identity. He married a former Miss Arizona and was a father of two.

While admired by supporters for his energy and outreach, Kirk was also one of the most polarizing voices in American politics. He promoted false claims about the 2020 election, rejected mainstream science on Covid-19, and endorsed the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, according to CBS. He sparked controversy earlier this year when he argued that “it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment.”

Even critics acknowledged his ability to stir debate. “His entire project was built on reaching across the divide and using speech, not violence, to address and resolve the issues!” William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, wrote on X.

Kirk’s influence extended far beyond youth politics. His work through TPUSA and his close relationship with Trump reshaped Republican grassroots organizing, leaving a legacy that will continue to influence the movement.

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Charlie Kirk Killed in Utah Campus Shooting

Kirk - police lights and crime scene

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed during a campus event in Utah, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. He was 30.

The incident triggered a massive security lockdown at Utah Valley University, where heavily armed police patrolled the grounds as students sheltered in place. Investigators believe the fatal shot came from a rooftop overlooking the event. BBC Verify analyzed footage posted online that appeared to capture the moment of the attack.

Two individuals were taken into custody shortly after the shooting but were later released. Officials said they found “no ties” connecting them to the killing. The search for the suspect continues.

In a video statement, President Trump expressed sorrow and fury over the killing. “I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination,” he said. “This is a dark moment for America.”

Kirk, who founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA when he was just 18, rose to national prominence as a leading voice on the right. His close ties to the Trump family and his ability to mobilize young conservatives made him one of the most influential figures in Republican politics.

The shooting has reignited debate about the deep political divisions in the United States. “The fatal shooting lays bare America’s bloody and broken politics,” said BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the attack, but security officials said the investigation remains their top priority. The campus remains closed as police continue their search for answers.

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Nepal’s Gen Z Protests Topple Prime Minister Amid Deadly Unrest

Nepal protesters

Defiant protesters in Nepal overran the streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday, torching parliament, the Supreme Court and other government offices in the worst unrest the country has seen in decades. The demonstrations, driven by young Nepalis angered by corruption and lack of opportunity, forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign after days of escalating violence.

Officials confirmed at least 22 people have been killed and hundreds more injured since the clashes began. Security forces used live ammunition, water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds, according to Reuters. Thick smoke filled the capital as protesters ransacked government buildings and set fire to Oli’s private residence.

The crisis was triggered last week when the government blocked social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X. While the ban sparked outrage, protesters say the deeper issue is decades of entrenched corruption and economic stagnation. “While the main trigger for the protest was the recent social media ban, the long history of corruption and bad governance is the main reason that thousands of people have come out on the streets,” one 28-year-old demonstrator told CNN.

Nepal’s younger generation, ages 13 to 28, has been at the forefront of the movement. Youth unemployment reached 20.8% in 2024, according to the World Bank, fueling discontent. Anger has also intensified online through a viral campaign against “Nepo Kids” — the children of politicians flaunting lavish lifestyles while ordinary Nepalis struggle.

Nepal’s economy heavily depends on remittances from citizens working abroad, which account for more than a third of its GDP. Analysts say the lack of domestic opportunities has deepened frustration among young people, who see little chance of change under the country’s entrenched political elite.

The protests quickly turned violent. More than 400 people, including security personnel, were hospitalized Monday, the health ministry reported. The Kathmandu Post’s offices were attacked and its servers disabled. The United Nations and rights groups condemned the government’s heavy-handed response. Amnesty International warned that “the use of lethal force against protesters not posing an imminent threat of death or serious injury is a grave violation of international law.”

International concern is rising. The U.S. State Department urged American citizens in Nepal to shelter in place, while UN Secretary General António Guterres called for “a thorough investigation” and restraint to prevent further escalation.

The turmoil has rocked Nepal’s leadership. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned Monday, followed by several other ministers. Oli stepped down Tuesday, citing “the extraordinary situation” in his resignation letter. President Ramchandra Paudel appealed for calm, urging demonstrators to seek dialogue.

Nepal’s army said it deployed troops “to control the situation for the security of Nepal and Nepalis” but also called for a peaceful resolution. With no party holding a clear parliamentary majority, experts predict lawmakers may form an interim government. Some observers suggest Gen Z groups could even have a voice in shaping the next leadership.

“Nepal is now at a crossroads,” said Binay Mishra, a public policy analyst at Kathmandu University. “Once the prime minister steps down, parliament must move to form a government, but with such anger in the streets, involving the younger generation may be key to finding stability.”

For many, however, the upheaval underscores a broader truth: Nepal’s youth are demanding change, and the old political order may no longer hold.

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The Killing of Hind Rajab: The Film, the Foundation, and the War Crimes

Palestinian girl

By Dan Steinbock

As The Voice of Hind Rajab is winning over Hollywood, the real-life story is fostering complicity allegations against the Israeli military and Western complicity.

Recently, The Voice of Hind Rajab won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize in Venice after a 23-minute standing ovation. The docudrama is about a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza by the Israeli military.

The story is written and directed by a Tunisian filmmaker Kaother Ben Hania, who has won a set of awards in the past few years, including two Academy Award nominations.

The film tells the real-life story of Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli military along with her family in Gaza in early 2024, even as she pleaded for help over the phone while trapped in a car under fire. The Israeli soldiers riddled the car with 335 bullets.

The voice of Hind Rajab
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Source: Official clip from Venice Film Festival 2025 https://youtu.be/Q_RC04CZpAY  

The real-life catastrophe

The nightmare started on January 29, 2024, when the healthcare system in Gaza was collapsing and a famine was looming, due to the relentless Israeli bombing and blockade of humanitarian aid. the Rajab family hoped to flee the inferno of Gaza. Determined to find a safe place somewhere else, Rajab’s uncle and aunt hurried her cousins into the black Kia to rush away from Tel al-Hawa, a neighborhood of Gaza City.

That’s when an Israeli army tank shot the car, killing Hind Rajab’s aunt and uncle, and cousins.

The only other survivor, Rajab’s 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamadeh, called the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for emergency aid. When the dispatchers called back, Rajab answered the call, saying everyone else in the car was dead.

Rajab at her graduation ceremony for senior kindergarten
Rajab at her graduation ceremony for senior kindergarten
Source: Wikimedia

Injured in the back, hand and foot, the 5-year-old girl was told to hide in the vehicle. Since the area was besieged, the PRCS worked with the Gaza Health Ministry and the Israeli military to guarantee safe passage for their ambulance crew to rescue Rajab.

After hours of waiting, the PRCS was finally given the green light to send an ambulance. Now two ambulance workers, Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun, rushed to the scene hoping to rescue the girl.

Yet, Rajab was killed by the Israeli army in what appears to have been a deliberately “planned execution,” according to an initial investigation from the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.

As if that wasn’t enough, the IDF, relying on a U.S.-made missile, killed the two paramedics sent to rescue her.

Shell fragments of an US-made M830A1 projectile were found at the site of the bombed Red Crescent ambulance. The sales of these particular projectiles to the Israeli military were approved by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in mid-December 2023 – just weeks before the Israeli Merkava tank killed Rajab, six of her family members and the paramedics coming to rescue.

The destroyed car that belonged to Hind Rajab's uncle
The destroyed car that belonged to Hind Rajab’s uncle
Source: Wikimedia

Israeli war crimes

In mid-2024, independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council stated Rajab’s killing might amount to a war crime. Subsequently, the legal foundation of the activist March 30 Movement was named the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF).

The Movement itself had been created in memory of the Land Day of 1976, when Israeli security forces shot dead six Arab Israelis who were protesting the expropriation of Arab-owned lands. In turn, the HRF, a non-profit organization established in 2024, is based in Brussels, Belgium. It seeks to challenge what it describes as Israeli impunity concerning war crimes and human rights violations in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

The Belgian political activist group has filed multiple lawsuits against people who have served in the Israeli military during the Israel-Gaza War.

In January 2025, after the announcement that a court in Brazil would investigate an Israeli soldier visiting the country for war crimes, the HRF co-head, the Belgian-Lebanese Dyab Abou Jahjah, was threatened on social media by Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, an ambitious politician who often relies on hawkish intimidation. Chikli targeted Abou Jahjah: “Hello, our human rights activist. Watch your pager.”

It was an allusion to Israeli military’s lethal 2024 Lebanon electronic device attacks.

By March 2025, the HRF had sent the names of more than 1,000 Israeli soldiers to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was also pursuing legal cases in many countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Germany, Nepal, the Netherlands, Romania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the UK.

Database of digital evidence

During their lethal service in Gaza, as well as Lebanon and Syria, Israeli soldiers have left behind not just physical footprints but digital fingerprints. Just as they might have done in peacetime conditions, many soldiers posted thousands of selfie videos and photos on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. These posts provide abundant evidence of their commission of war crimes in Gaza.

Already in October 2024, a year after fighting in Gaza, Al Jazeera exposed Israeli war crimes in the Strip through the medium of photos and videos posted online by the soldiers themselves. Building up a database of more than 2,500 social media accounts, including thousands of videos, photos and social media posts, the network’s investigative arm (I-Unit) released damning materials revealing a range of illegal activities.

The conduct displayed in the photos and videos ranged from crass jokes and soldiers rifling through women’s underwear drawers to what seems to be the murder of unarmed civilians.

Most of the photos and videos fell into one of three categories: wanton destruction, the mistreatment of detainees and/or the use of human shields. All three may be violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Highlighting complicity in mass atrocity crimes

Where the HRF has demonstrated the complicity of Israelis with dual citizenship in likely war crimes and genocidal atrocities, the I-Unit has exposed the complicity of Western governments, particularly the use of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus as a base for surveillance flights over Gaza.

Historically, such complicity goes back to the 1956 Suez Crisis when the military airbase was used to serve British objectives in the Sinai Campaign, seeking to overthrow President Nasser’s government in Egypt in cooperation with French and Israeli troops.

Just as law enforcement organizations use social media posts as leads and evidence of crimes in peacetime conditions, many NGOs now scrutinize them hoping to bring Israeli soldiers to trial. In particular, the Hind Rajab Foundation hopes to have Israeli soldiers tried for war crimes or charges of genocide.

Global citizen activism can contribute to and greatly enhance the work of media and courts. That’s vital when governments and supra-national multilateral organizations fail to enforce the four mass atrocity crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

The original version was published by Informed Comment (US) on Sept. 9, 2025.

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About the Author

Dr Dan SteinbockThe author of The Fall of Israel (2024) and The Obliteration Doctrine (2025), Dr Dan Steinbock, a strategist of the multipolar world, is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net/

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How Mortgage Automation Lowers Your Closing Costs

Mortgage Automation

Mortgage automation is transforming the way people approach home financing. It simplifies operations and reduces tedious hand-done jobs, so you’ll spend less. Imagine getting your home loan without all the usual fuss. This platform helps you, the lender, and your agent sail through the process.

Understanding Mortgage Automation

Mortgage process automation solutions involve using technology to handle tasks traditionally managed by humans. We care for all your paperwork, confirm accuracy, and get the word out. Think about it: fewer mistakes, faster work. Automation makes everything you do run a lot smoother.

Reducing Administrative Costs

One of the primary benefits of mortgage automation is the reduction in administrative costs. Automating data entry and document handling saves lenders money. They spend less on staff. When we get things done efficiently, we don’t waste as much. This means you pay less for what you buy.

Enhancing Accuracy and Reducing Errors

Automation minimizes human error by ensuring accuracy in data processing. Errors on official forms often cause big holdups and extra expenses. With automated systems, these risks are significantly reduced. Precise information means you skip the annoying do-overs, making the entire closing process move along easily.

Speeding Up the Process

Time is a crucial factor in the mortgage process. Automation significantly shortens the time required to complete various steps. When paperwork moves fast, loan approvals and closings happen quickly. That means less money is tied up, and everyone has savings.

Improving Communication

Effective communication is vital during the mortgage process. Automated systems can send updates and reminders to all parties involved. Without clear details, people often get confused. But when everything’s out in the open, it stops costly mistakes and keeps things moving along smoothly.

Streamlining Document Management

Managing documents manually is time-consuming and prone to errors. Automation organizes and stores documents efficiently, making them easily accessible. Organizing files this way means less clutter and no more lost documents.

Guiding Folks to Solid Decisions

Automation gives lenders up-to-the-minute numbers so that they can make smart choices quickly. When lenders really dig into what the market is doing, they can give you awesome rates and terms. Your home loan costs might drop.

Enhancing Compliance

Regulatory compliance is crucial in the mortgage industry. Machines make the following rules much smoother. They keep all the records spot-on and get reports filed right when they’re supposed to be. When you stick to the rules, you skip out on costly fines and messy lawsuits. That means more money stays in your pocket.

Increasing Competition

As more lenders adopt automation, competition in the mortgage market increases. When lenders go head-to-head for your business, they have to sweeten the pot. This means you often get lower interest rates and more helpful customer service. Borrowers benefit from more options and lower closing costs as a result. Using this should feel natural and easy. 

Getting a mortgage should be simple; a clear, easy experience makes all the difference in your peace of mind. Machines that operate on their own present clear controls. They direct individuals precisely through each sequential operation. Easy to use means less need for help. This saves everyone involved time and money.

Emphasizing Security

Security is a top priority in financial transactions. Private information stays protected. Automated setups have strong security built in. When you guard customer data, you earn their confidence. This also shields you from the financial hit of a security breach.

Conclusion

Using automated systems for home loans brings down the final costs you pay. These systems work quickly and precisely, cutting down on what you owe at closing. When paperwork gets simpler, lenders save cash on daily operations. Borrowers, meanwhile, get clearer facts to make smart financial moves. Both sides come out ahead. Securing a home loan will become a breeze as technology takes over more tasks. This helps you and your neighbors find a path to homeownership that’s both easier to reach and kinder to your wallet.

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