The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a joint declaration outlining a new civil nuclear cooperation framework. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud formalized bilateral safeguard agreements intended to reinforce nonproliferation commitments, the Department of Energy said. What Does the Declaration Cover? The...
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Category: Policy Updates
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Japan’s New Prime Minister Vows Defense Buildup, Stable China Ties
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi vowed to accelerate defense spending and introduce sweeping economic reforms while stressing the importance of stable relations with China in her first policy address to parliament on Friday, Anadolu Ajansı reported. What Are Japan’s New Defense Priorities? Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to raise defense spending to 2 percent of gross...
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Accenture, Capgemini Lead in Australian Public Sector Digital Transformation: ISG Report
Accenture and Capgemini have emerged as the top-performing service providers in Australia’s public sector technology market, earning leadership positions across all four categories of the 2025 ISG Provider Lens Public Sector Services and Solutions report. The annual study by Information Services Group evaluates 34 providers supporting government digital transformation. The report highlights strong modernization momentum...
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NIST Review: Chinese AI Models Lag US in Security and Performance
A U.S. government review has found that artificial intelligence models from Chinese developer DeepSeek lag behind American counterparts in performance, cost, security and adoption, posing risks for application developers, consumers and national security. The assessment, conducted by the Center for AI Standards and Innovation at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, compared three DeepSeek...
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Treasury Sanctions Iran-Linked Networks Supplying Missile and Radar Components
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has designated 21 entities and 17 individuals tied to networks procuring sensitive goods for Iran‘s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, or MODAFL. The designations block their property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction. According to the Treasury, the networks helped Iran...
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Air Chief Marshal Knighton Takes Over as UK Chief of Defence Staff
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton has succeeded Adm. Tony Radakin as the United Kingdom’s chief of the defense staff, following Radakin’s completion of his four-year term. “It is an honor to begin my role as chief of the defense staff today. I will work tirelessly to combat the threats the U.K. faces whilst fulfilling the...
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BIS Ends Export Loophole Allowing Semiconductor Tech Shipments to China Without License
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security has ended a Biden-era expansion of export privileges that allowed select foreign semiconductor manufacturers to ship U.S.-origin technology to China without a license. The bureau said Friday it closed the loophole under the Validated End-User program, which permitted a handful of companies to export semiconductor...
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EU Disburses $4.7B Package to Ukraine Ahead of Independence Day
The European Union has disbursed over $4.7 billion in fresh aid to Ukraine ahead of the country’s 34th Independence Day. The European Commission said Friday that the latest support package includes $3.6 billion in grants and loans from the Ukraine Facility and an additional $1.1 billion through the European Commission’s Macro-Financial Assistance program. According to...
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US, Saudi Arabia Expand Defense Ties Through National Guard Partnership
Saudi Arabia has joined the U.S. Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, marking a new phase in the two countries’ bilateral defense cooperation. The signing ceremony, held in Riyadh on Thursday, brought together Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau; Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, Saudi Arabia’s chief of general staff; Maj. Gen....
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NZ Invests $1.58B in New Seahawk Helicopters, Airbus Planes
New Zealand has announced a $1.58 billion investment to acquire MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters unveiled the investment as part of the government’s commitments outlined in the new Defence Capability Plan. The MH-60R Seahawk is the preferred option to replace the aging SH-2G(I)...