🔥 Space Force Talks Greater Combat Mobility, Better Virtual Simulations

Good Morning. 

In Tehran, police forced the closure of the Turkish Airlines office after female employees refused to wear mandatory headscarves.

The Iranian nationals' defiance is a broader challenge to Iran's strict dress code laws.

The incident highlights ongoing resistance against Iran's compulsory hijab law and reflects societal tensions during times of political change.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

The Space Force is focusing on improving combat mobility and virtual simulations.

Lt. Gen. David Miller, commander of Space Operations Command, emphasized the need for better virtual training simulations to more accurately mimic real-life threats and enhance guardians' skills.

The Space Force has entered the "commit" phase of its force readiness framework, with focus areas including tabletop exercises, threat academics, and planning iterations.

This push underscores a proactive approach to addressing evolving threats in space warfare and highlights the urgent need to simulate realistic scenarios to sharpen response strategies.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• Israel's Defense Minister claims that 60% of Hamas fighters have been eliminated or wounded in the Gaza war, while reaffirming Israel's commitment to its war goals despite international criticism.

• A Cuban man allegedly entered Cuba from Florida on a jet ski loaded with guns, purportedly to commit violent acts as part of a U.S.-based plot, according to Cuban government claims.

• An Iraqi court has sentenced a widow of former ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to death for collaborating with ISIL and detaining Yazidi women in her home in Mosul.

• A UAE court sentenced 43 people to life in prison and 10 others to lengthy terms for alleged terrorist links, in a controversial mass trial involving government critics and human rights activists.

Military & Defense

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the first F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands are en route to Ukraine and will be operational this summer.

• U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Hicks urged NATO to expand defense industrial capacity and adopt interoperable autonomous systems like the Replicator initiative.

• Poland's army chief calls for preparing forces for full-scale conflict as the country increases troop numbers on its borders with Russia and Belarus, citing deteriorating relations and the need for enhanced military readiness.

• Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven, who has served since April 2022, will step down from his position next month after overseeing key initiatives including the AUKUS partnership and major shipbuilding investments.

Cybersecurity

• The NSA and other agencies have released a cybersecurity advisory about APT 40, a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, to help organizations prevent and address network intrusions.

• The US Justice Department disrupted a Russian disinformation campaign using AI-powered bots on X to create fake profiles and spread propaganda.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Pakistan has authorized its military intelligence agency, the ISI, to intercept phone calls and messages, raising concerns about privacy and potential misuse despite government assurances of restrictions on the new powers.

• A Russian court ordered the arrest in absentia of Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, on charges of participating in "extremist" activities.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Chicago business leaders and philanthropic organizations have raised $100M to combat crime in the city, following a violent July 4th weekend with over 100 shootings.

• Drug cartels are exploiting a surge in unregulated "dual use" chemical imports from China through Mexico's Manzanillo port to boost methamphetamine and fentanyl production, prompting naval officials to call for stricter government controls.

• To counter Chinese circumvention of U.S. tariffs, the U.S. and Mexico have implemented new measures for steel and aluminum imports, including a "melted and poured" standard for North American steel and stricter documentation requirements.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Australia's opposition Liberal National Coalition is proposing to end the country's long-standing ban on nuclear power, pledging to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050 if elected.

This proposal faces significant challenges, including overturning existing laws, overcoming local resistance, and addressing the high costs of building new reactors, while also aligning with a global trend towards nuclear energy.

Critics, including the current Labor government, argue that nuclear power is too slow, expensive, and risky for Australia's needs, especially given the country's growing renewable energy sector.

In other news…

Microsoft and Apple have withdrawn plans to take board observer roles at OpenAI amid growing regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech's influence in AI.

Although Boeing's Starliner faced technical issues extending the astronauts' stay on the International Space Station, NASA rules out a SpaceX rescue mission as the crew remains confident in their eventual return.

Neuralink reports that the tiny wires in their first brain chip implant patient have stabilized, while also announcing new safety measures and plans for a more efficient device with fewer electrodes.

Astronomers have discovered evidence of an elusive intermediate-mass black hole, approximately 8.2K times the mass of our sun, at the center of Omega Centaur.

DEALS & FUNDING

AMD has agreed to acquire Silo AI, a Finnish AI lab, for $665M in cash.

This strategic move aims to bolster AMD's position in the AI market, where it competes with industry leader Nvidia.

Silo AI, known for developing custom AI models for major companies, will become part of AMD's Artificial Intelligence Group.

The acquisition is part of AMD's broader strategy to expand its AI capabilities, including hardware and software offerings.

This purchase follows AMD's recent investments in AI-related technologies and is expected to accelerate the company's ability to provide AI solutions to global customers.

In other news…

Index Ventures has raised $2.3B in new funds, with $800M for venture investments and $1.5B for growth-stage companies, maintaining their global investment strategy across various tech ecosystems.

Germany has awarded Airbus a $2.2B contract to develop and implement a next-generation secure military satellite system, SATCOMBw 3, for the German Armed Forces.

Morocco reportedly plans to acquire a $1B Israeli spy satellite from Israel Aerospace Industries, replacing existing French satellites.

X-Bow Systems, a space technology startup specializing in solid rocket motors, has raised $70M in Series B funding to expand production capabilities and complete a new manufacturing facility in Texas.

The Senate Armed Services Committee wants the Defense Innovation Unit to expand its presence across the U.S., develop partnerships with universities and tech companies nationwide, and create a plan to broaden its geographic footprint beyond major tech hubs.