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AI in the Trenches: Why the Houthi Claude Incident Signals a Dangerous New Era of Warfare

The revelation that users in Houthi-controlled Yemen attempted to leverage Anthropic’s AI model, Claude, to design advanced missile guidance systems marks an alarming turning point in modern conflict. While the attempt ultimately failed to yield an operational weapon, the episode exposes a stark reality: open and commercial artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the new force multiplier for non-state actors and insurgent groups. For years, defense analysts underestimated non-state actor technical capabilities, viewing groups like the Houthis through an outdated lens. However, as AI tools become ubiquitous, the barrier to entry for military-grade software development is collapsing, leaving major powers and AI companies scrambling to contain the fallout. How Did Houthi-Linked Users Attempt to Use Claude AI for Missile Development? According to a report released by Anthropic, a cell operating out of northern Yemen bypassed standard software engineering requirements by us...
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PSL 2026 Auction Highlights: Naseem Shah Tops Bids at Rs86.5m in Historic Shift to Auction Model


The inaugural player auction for PSL 11 wrapped up in Lahore, marking a bold move from drafts to auctions as announced by the PCB last month. Fast bowler Naseem Shah fetched the highest price, joining Team Rawalpindi for Rs86.5m after intense bidding. Other stars like Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars, Rs79.5m) and David Warner (Karachi Kings, Rs79m) drew big money, while the league expands to eight teams with newcomers Hyderabad and Sialkot. The tournament runs March 26 to May 3 – expect fireworks! For complete coverage, check Dawn’s full report. 2 “LARGE”

Top Bids and Surprise Deals

  • Naseem Shah (Rawalpindi): Rs86.5m – Auction’s crown jewel, outbidding Karachi and Islamabad.
  • Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars): Rs79.5m – Retained star after Peshawar push.
  • David Warner (Karachi Kings): Rs79m – Aussie firepower amid Zalmi rivalry.
  • Faheem Ashraf (Islamabad United): Rs85m All-rounder steal from base Rs42m.
  • Haris Rauf (Lahore Qalandars): Rs76m Pace ace reclaimed over Rawalpindi.

Unsold shocks included Shakib Al Hasan, Usman Khawaja, and Chris Jordan, highlighting strategic picks. See more on PSL’s official auction recap. 1 “LARGE”

Team Squad Overviews

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan leads with Faheem Ashraf (Rs85m), Mark Chapman (Rs70m), Mohammad Waseem Jr (Rs41m), plus internationals like Devon Conway and Dipendra Singh Airee (Rs6m).

Karachi Kings: Salman Ali Agha (Rs58.5m), Adam Zampa (Rs45m), Azam Khan (Rs32.5m), David Warner (Rs79m), and pacers like Ihsanullah (Rs10.5m).

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman (Rs79.5m), Haris Rauf (Rs76m), Usama Mir (Rs35m), Ubaid Shah (Rs27m), with adds like Gudakesh Motie (Rs11m).

Sialkot Stallionz: Sahibzada Farhan (Rs57m), Ashton Turner (Rs42m), Peter Siddle (Rs25m), Tabraiz Shamsi (Rs22m), Steve Smith, and Muhammad Nawaz.

Quetta Gladiators: Khawaja Nafay (Rs65m), Tom Curran (Rs42m), Saud Shakeel (Rs6.5m), Ben McDermott (Rs11m).

Team Rawalpindi: Naseem Shah (Rs86.5m), Daryl Mitchell (Rs80.5m), Muhammad Amir (Rs54m), Muhammad Rizwan, Sam Billings.

Peshawar Zalmi: Michael Bracewell (Rs42m), Kusal Mendis (Rs42m), James Vince (Rs30m), Iftikhar Ahmed (Rs18m), Mohammad Haris.

Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen: Mohammad Ali (Rs21.5m), Riley Meredith (Rs42m), Hassan Khan (Rs18.5m), Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne. 0 “LARGE”

Fan Buzz and Auction Reactions

Social media lit up with mixed takes – from strategy critiques to bid surprises. Haleem Ahmed noted the auction’s competitive edge in his X post. Richard Kettleborough highlighted IPL overlaps affecting talent in this humorous thread. Muhammad Areeb Uddin Sheikh called out inexperienced picks here: X analysis.

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