Thursday, August 07, 2025

Breaking News: U.S. Grants Raytheon $50 Billion Contract to Sustain Patriot Missile Defense Through 2045.

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According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on August 1, 2025, RTX Corporation, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has secured a monumental $50 billion terms and conditions umbrella contract from the Defense Logistics Agency. 

The comprehensive agreement covers a vast array of RTX systems and end-item production, spare parts, maintenance services, and integrated support capabilities. 
  • Awarded as a sole-source acquisition under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), the contract authorizes the issuance of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) and fixed-price “C” type subsumable contracts, each governed by individually negotiated pricing terms.  

Read full defense news at this link…

Patriot is a combat-proven system that defends against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft (Picture source : RTX)
 

On August 4, 2025, Taiwan’s Army received its first batch of Altius-600M loitering munition systems from the United States. The following day, on August 5, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng met with Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, the manufacturer of the drones. The meeting was held in Taipei in the presence of Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Yang Chi-jung, Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Chen Chien-yi, and other senior Ministry of Defense officials.
 

As reported by Ronkainen on August 6, 2025, Croatia introduced the Leopard 2A4HRV main battle tank into its armed forces on July 31, 2025, during a national military parade in Zagreb. This version represents the first entry of the Leopard 2 platform into Croatian service. Only two vehicles have been delivered so far, both used exclusively for training and ceremonial display. They serve as temporary platforms ahead of the scheduled delivery of up to 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks beginning in 2027.
 

As reported by TASS on August 1, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) had entered serial production and that one missile system had already been delivered to the troops. During a joint appearance with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Valaam Island, he also stated that the deployment of the Oreshnik system to Belarus is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
 

As reported by the Global Times on August 1, 2025, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of an aerial encounter between a Changhe Z-10 attack helicopter belonging to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and a foreign military aircraft identified as a U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk. The footage was released on the 98th anniversary of the PLA’s founding and showed the Z-10 intercepting the Seahawk in airspace over the Taiwan Strait. Read full defense news at this link...

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On August 4, 2025, Theon International Plc announced the acquisition of 100% of the German company Kappa Optronics GmbH for an enterprise value of €75 million. This transaction, financed through a mix of debt and proceeds from the company’s February 2024 IPO, marks Theon’s fourth consecutive industrial investment in Germany. Read full defense news at this link...

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According to information published by CMN Naval at the end of July, 2025, a new live sea demonstration of the UHSI32 MkII unmanned high-speed interceptor vessel was conducted off the French coast.
 

According to information published by the Indian Embassy in Spain via X on August 2, 2025, Ambassador Dinesh K. Patnaik, alongside senior officers of the Indian Air Force (IAF), officially accepted the final Airbus C295 military transport aircraft at the Airbus Defence and Space manufacturing facility in Seville. This marks the completion of the first phase of deliveries under the Indian Ministry of Defence’s 2021 agreement with Airbus for the procurement of 56 C295 tactical airlifters.
 

According to information published by the U.S. Air Force on July 28, 2025, the OA-1K Skyraider II, the latest light attack and ISR aircraft developed for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), is undergoing comprehensive developmental flight testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Managed by the 96th Test Wing in partnership with U.S.
 

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense and official sources on August 4, 2025, the P-8A Poseidon, manufactured by Boeing, continues to solidify its role as the U.S. Navy’s most capable maritime patrol and reconnaissance platform.
 

As ballistic and aerial threats proliferate and diversify, the US Army is preparing to release, by October 2025, a complete overhaul of its air and missile defense strategy, with a planning horizon extending to 2040. This new doctrinal framework, announced by Lieutenant General Sean A. Gainey during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, comes at a time of growing saturation, increasing sophistication of offensive vectors, and major shifts in command and control architectures.
 

According to Chosun Biz (industry section, August 6, 2025), South Korea’s multirole fighter program KF‑21 Boramae has reached a critical milestone with the delivery of the first production AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, developed entirely with domestic technology.
 

The U.S. Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program has reached a new milestone with the award of a full-rate production contract to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for the supply of 30 mm remote-controlled turrets for the ACV-30 variant. Announced on August 5, 2025, in an official Kongsberg press release, the contract is valued at up to USD 330 million. Read more.

Read full Defense news.
 

According to information published on August 4, 2025, the Turkish Navy’s Barbaros-class frigate TCG Oruçreis (F-245) has officially rejoined the fleet following the completion of an extensive mid-life modernization project that elevates the ship to the status of the most advanced combat platform currently in Turkish service.
 

According to information published by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) on August 1, 2025, a new operational evaluation campaign for the upgraded Murin ground surveillance radar has been launched, marking a critical step in modernizing the French Army’s tactical sensor suite. This next-generation man-portable radar system is currently undergoing field tests with frontline units and specialized reconnaissance elements.
 

The Mogami-class is a modern, stealth-oriented, multi-mission frigate developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and constructed in collaboration with Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding, the class represents a significant evolution in Japanese naval engineering, striking a balance between advanced combat capabilities and high automation and modularity.
 

On August 5, 2025, the Australian Government announced the selection of the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) general-purpose frigate program under SEA 3000. The agreement, valued at AU$10 billion (US$6.5 billion), includes the construction of three upgraded Mogami-class frigates in Japan and eight additional units to be built in Australia.
 

On August 5, 2025, the Royal Thai Air Force officially announced the future procurement of a new fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripen E and F multirole fighter jets to modernize its combat aviation capabilities. The Thai government has approved the initial acquisition of four aircraft as part of a long-term plan to replace legacy platforms and strengthen national airspace defense.
 

According to an article published by eKathimerini on August 2, 2025, and written by journalist Vassilis Nedos, Greece and the United States are engaged in detailed negotiations to revise their Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA), to adjust the American military presence on Greek territory.
 

On August 5, 2025, during a press briefing held at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility, Lockheed Martin announced its intention to test, by 2028, a space-based interceptor capable of destroying maneuverable hypersonic missiles. The statement, made by Amanda Pound, Director of Advanced Programs Development, marks a strategic step in the broader U.S. missile defense effort known as the Golden Dome, as reported by Defense One.

 

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Analyst doubts Apple’s $100B U.S. pledge will create manufacturing jobs | REUTERS

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Jeff Moss on DEF CON and its shadow power / CYBERCRIME NEWS | Recorded Future

 

Def Con
Illustration by Megan J. Goff

Jeff Moss on DEF CON and its shadow power

The elevators will be the first sign that some 30,000 hackers have arrived in Las Vegas for the wildest hacker party on earth: DEF CON. From August 7 to 10, the Venetian and The Sahara hotels on the Las Vegas Strip will host the world’s most infamous hacker gathering. 

But before you even step into a session on AI jailbreaks or microgrid exploits, you might notice loud muzak in the elevators, key cards misbehaving and your cellphone acting weird — all part of the attendees hijinks that have become legion every summer when hackers descend on Vegas with backpacks full of cables, burner phones and a desire to test the limits. 

DEF CON began in 1993 as a one-off party for a friend who never showed. It has since evolved into a cultural and technical phenomenon — equal parts circus, symposium and warning system. It’s where researchers expose vulnerabilities in satellites and voting machines. Where 14-year-olds reverse-engineer tractor trailers. And where the U.S. government quietly recruits from the back of the room.

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Crypto ATMs fueling criminal activity, Treasury warns

 
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Ukrainians CAUGHT Showing Off That They’re Neo-Nazis At Football Game!

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'South Park' Will Target Trump Again and Tackle ICE Raids in Next Episod...

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Starvation as a Weapon: Gaza's Slow Death Under Siege | PALESTINE SQUARE

The IPS blog, Palestine Square, is a lively forum for the dissemination of ideas by opinion makers on the latest developments concerning Palestine. It hosts analysis and commentary by IPS researchers as well as by contributors to its books, journals, and conferences.
Palestine Square is the Institute for Palestine Studies' online English publication. The English blog was founded in 2015 and is managed separately from the Arabic blog and IPS' academic projects. We feature news, analysis, narrative, perspectives, and arts and culture pieces on Palestinian affairs. The blog has contributed a uniquely Palestinian voice to the public discourse on issues facing Palestine and Palestinians throughout the world. Our contributors and readers come from diverse backgrounds, many of whom look to share their stories or learn from coverage and commentary that is often overlooked in mainstream media outlets. 

Contact: blog@palestine-studies.org
The views in articles in this blog and site belong to their authors.

 
Sebastian Bernburg

The Grotesque Injustice of Everyday Life in the West Bank

On Monday, July 28, Israeli settler Yinon Levi shot and killed Palestinian activist Od
August 06 2025 – English


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Starvation as a Weapon: Gaza's Slow Death Under Siege
Date: 
August 05 2025
Author: 
Eman Basher
Izzedin Shahin
blog Series: 
Genocide In Gaza
Gaza Health Sector

Editor’s Note: This article is based on correspondence from Dr. Izeddin Shahin with the Institute for Palestine Studies throughout June and July of 2025, primarily through voice notes. 

The blockade on Gaza has long served as a method of collective punishment. Since October 7, however, hunger itself has been transformed into a strategic instrument of war. Starvation here is not a metaphor. It is an engineered system designed to break bodies and spirits. Food and water are no longer simple necessities. They are frontlines. Every bite is a battle. Every swallow is a defiance of death. Hunger has become a silent bomb, detonating daily in the bellies of children and in the brittle bones of the elderly. 

In Gaza's remaining hospitals, where care persists against all odds, the horror of this policy is laid bare. Dr. Izeddin Shahin is not merely a witness. His testimony serves as an indictment of a system that has weaponized absence itself. He does not speak in abstractions or data points. He describes hunger as it lives in the bloodwork of patients, in the exhausted faces of nurses, in the ghostly silence of empty operating rooms. His words are not just medical. They are political. They are urgent. 

The Empty Markets and the Illusion of Aid 

Over three months have passed since the crossings into Gaza were effectively sealed. The global media was briefly flooded with images of aid trucks entering the Strip, meant to soften the outrage and create an illusion of intervention. But inside Gaza, nothing changed. The markets remain empty. The shelves bare. The people hungrier than ever. 

 Only a few vegetables grown locally can still be found. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. Zucchini. Eggplants. Peppers. Their presence is not reassuring. It is cruel. A kilogram of tomatoes now costs 40 shekels ($12). Potatoes cost 50 ($14.58). Rice is 80 ($23.50). This is not a case of economic inflation. This is engineered scarcity. Meat, poultry, fish, fruit, even something as basic as a lemon have disappeared completely. What remains is out of reach for almost every family. This is not a food crisis. It is starvation by design. 

The Collapse of Food Relief 

The World Central Kitchen once provided lifelines to hospital kitchens. It fed both patients and exhausted medical teams. But it has now been silent for weeks*. There are no organizations left to fill the void. Even those willing to donate cannot find anything to purchase. The food has simply vanished. A kilogram of lentils, once considered a last resort staple for the poor, has increased from 2 shekels ($0.50) to 30 ($9). There is no nourishment left. Only survival tactics. Every meal is an act of resistance. Every sip of clean water is a borrowed breath. 

The Starved Body 

Inside the hospitals, the physical cost of this starvation is brutally visible. Anemia is everywhere. Where once adult patients showed hemoglobin levels around fourteen or fifteen, doctors now routinely see levels of eight or nine. Immune systems have collapsed. Bodies are no longer healing. Children show signs of protein deficiency, swelling in limbs, sunken eyes, skin flaking from bones. These are images more familiar from famine documentaries, not from Gaza's urban neighborhoods. 

Surgical decisions are no longer based on injury but on hunger. Wounds that should have healed within days fester for weeks. Intestinal damage that could once be repaired is now simply cut away. Doctors do not have the luxury of hope. “There is no point in stitching tissue that has no protein to rebuild itself,” Shahin explains. He recounts a case where a 70-year-old woman suffered a simple fracture. In any functioning health system, she would have healed. In Gaza, her leg was amputated. A week of malnutrition turned a minor injury into a gangrenous emergency. 

Shahin also recalls a colon cancer patient. The man underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but without proteins and vitamins, the wound failed to close. Internal leakage began. Infections followed. The man died within weeks. This is not an isolated case, but a daily pattern. Patients remain in hospitals for weeks, sometimes months, because their bodies are no longer capable of healing. The human body is not weak. It is being deliberately broken. 

Medical Teams on the Brink 

The doctors and nurses who are tasked with saving lives are themselves collapsing. Hunger has made fainting normal. Shahin, who teaches resuscitation to medical students, says one or two students pass out in nearly every class. “We are used to it,” he notes. “When a student falls unconscious, we just assume they have not eaten for two days. And we move on.” The normalization of collapse is perhaps the most chilling symptom of this crisis. 

In operating rooms, surgeons faint mid-procedure. Nurses sit down to catch their breath between tasks. Some members of the medical staff now work with intravenous lines in their arms, infusing themselves with fluids while treating others. Shahin recently checked his own blood pressure and found it was lower than that of the injured patient he was caring for. “This is not a functioning health system,” he says. “This is a battlefield.” 

The cost of living has become absurd. A falafel sandwich, once a shekel ($0.30), now costs fifteen ($4.50). Medical workers earn the equivalent of three hundred dollars every two months. That amount cannot even buy food for a week. They come to work without breakfast. They leave without dinner. They live on bread, if they can find it. On water, if they can afford it. 

Hospitals on the Edge of Collapse 

The healthcare system in Gaza is no longer overwhelmed. It is actively disintegrating. Hospitals have been pushed beyond the limits of function. They operate without adequate supplies, personnel, or electricity. Essential equipment is broken. Shelves that once held antibiotics, painkillers, surgical tools, and IV fluids now stand empty. There are no replacements on the way. Doctors are forced into impossible choices. Who receives the final dose of morphine. Who is given the last bag of saline. Who waits for oxygen that may never arrive. 

The lack of hospital beds has turned corridors into wards. Patients lie on cold floors. Mothers cradle malnourished children next to trauma victims awaiting surgery. Wounded men moan beside the elderly, all of them hungry, many of them dying. And yet people still arrive, hoping against hope that the hospital will save them. “We have no space,” Shahin says, “but they keep coming. Because outside the hospital, there is only danger. There is no food. No help. No mercy.” 

The hospitals themselves are no longer safe. Since the bombing of Al-Ma'madani (Al-Ahli Arab Baptist) Hospital, there are no red lines left. Shahin describes how, during a single morning shift, his hospital was struck by drones three times. “We ran,” he says. “We ducked. Then we returned to work.” The idea of the hospital as a sanctuary has died. What remains is only determination. 

The Moral Burden 

Starvation has created a cruel paradox for Gaza's doctors. They must treat everyone, even those responsible for the collapse. Looters. Armed civilians. People who attack aid convoys or break into hospital stores. They arrive wounded and begging for help. And the doctors help them. Not because they are forgiven. But because medicine does not have the privilege of revenge. 

Shahin recounts performing surgery on a man who had stolen medical supplies from another hospital. The man had helped dismantle the system that was now trying to save him. “I looked at him,” Shahin said, “and I had to remind myself that ethics come first. That even if this man contributed to the hunger we suffer, I must still treat his wounds.” 

The moral injury runs deep. Every moment spent on such a case is time stolen from a child. From a mother. From a newborn. From someone who had no hand in this devastation. This is the psychological toll the siege does not measure. It is not only bodies that are broken. It is consciences.  

A War on Dignity 

The crisis in Gaza is not the result of a natural disaster or poor governance. It is not famine in the abstract sense. It is famine as policy. Starvation here is not accidental. It is deliberate. By turning food into a tool of control and hunger into a method of war, Israel is conducting a slow, systematic form of execution. 

What is happening is not a breakdown of services. It is the success of a strategy. The deliberate collapse of life. Children are not starving because food is scarce. They are starving because the borders are closed. Because aid is blocked. Because food convoys are targeted. This is not about war. This is about erasure. 

Gaza is not starving. Gaza is being starved. And the world is watching. 

The Doctor Who Refused to Look Away 

Dr. Izeddin Shahin does not write reports. He writes warnings. His testimony is not administrative. It is urgent. It is filled with the details that break through political jargon and reach human truth. He is a man who teaches CPR while his students faint from hunger. He conducts surgeries with his own IV line in place. He fights collapse every hour, not only in his patients but in himself. 

Shahin insists on naming the violence clearly. This is not a humanitarian crisis. It is colonial aggression by other means. His words are a form of resistance. When bombs fall and governments remain silent, doctors like Shahin speak. He is not neutral. He is not calm. He is documenting an extermination. 

To normalize this suffering is to be complicit in it. That is the message Shahin carries. That is the warning he issues to the world. In a place where dying quietly is the only option left, Shahin is choosing to shout. 

A Plea to the World: Do Not Look Away 

There is still time. Barely. But there is. The people of Gaza are not asking for miracles. They are asking for food. For medicine. For safe passage. For the bare minimum required to live. But above all, they are asking to be seen. They are asking the world to admit that this is not a tragedy. It is a crime. 

Dr. Shahin ends his account with a call. A call for public pressure. For outrage. For action. “The hunger is growing every hour,” he warns. “The aid trucks are a trick. A lie for the cameras. Meanwhile, we are dying.” 

The time for watching has passed. Every moment of silence is another child's ribs showing through their skin. Another patient lost on an operating table without supplies. Another body in the rubble. The world must act. Not tomorrow. Not when it is too late. Now. 

Because this is not famine. This is a weapon. And it must be disarmed. 

* Editor’s note: This is based on correspondence from June 2025. On May 7, 2025, World Central Kitchen (WCK) reported that it had run out of ingredients and would no longer be able to provide food aid. On June 21, 2025, WCK recieved limited supplies and was able to reopen kitchens at a “reduced scale.” A month later, on July 20, ingredients ran out and further supplies were blocked from entering. As per the latest WCK report from July 25, 2025, extremely limited supplies have been allowed in and cooking continues on a day to day basis. 
About The Author: 

Eman Basher is a writer from Gaza currently based in the United States.

Dr. Izzedin Shahin is an anesthesiologist and resuscitation specialist doctor based in Gaza. He works at Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital, providing critical care under extreme conditions. 

From the same blog series: Genocide In Gaza



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