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New Missile for Truck-Based Himars Launchers Has China in Its Sights

New Missile for Truck-Based Himars Launchers Has China in Its Sights

DARWIN, Australia—The truck-based missile launchers known as Himars have transformed the battlefield in Ukraine, helping Kyiv blunt Russia's advance due to their mobility, ability to hide and the precision rockets they can fire.
Now, the decades-old High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is getting an upgrade that could be crucial in another potential conflict—one with China.
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China And The EU Move Forward On Green Energy Without The U.S.
China And The EU Move Forward On Green Energy Without The U.S.

Forbes

time24 minutes ago

  • Forbes

China And The EU Move Forward On Green Energy Without The U.S.

Sino-European cooperation in the energy sector isn't just important for renewables, but a sign of wider geopolitical shifts. getty At the end of July, a highly anticipated summit between China and the European Union took place in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa tackled an array of issues in a tense summit. The results of the summit were largely disappointing. For Beijing, its great hope of finding an alternative set of developed economies to act as new markets and bypass U.S. tariffs while splitting the Western alliance, remained out of reach due to China's refusal to stop supporting Russia. Brussels was similarly unwilling to accommodate China on critical minerals initiatives and trade imbalance remediation. The summit was largely inconclusive. Amidst this strategic stalemate, there was one area of notable cooperation: green energy. The two sides issued a joint statement agreeing to accelerate the development and deployment of green energy technologies and reaffirmed their support for the Paris Climate Agreement, which the Trump administration has withdrawn from. For both Brussels and Beijing, the cooperation represents a shared opportunity to make an imprint on the international system while the current U.S. policies abdicate its global responsibilities, critics say. Europe gains leverage over the U.S. by signaling it has strategic autonomy and maintains a source of cheap imports vital for Europe's state-directed green energy transition. China maintains a lifeline to many advanced economies and export markets for its affordable, mass-produced green tech, such as solar panels and electric vehicles. While both sides do make gains, and this by no means represents Brussels capitulating to Beijing, China has clearly gotten the better deal. Through this deal and others like it, as the U.S. lurches towards 'climate isolationism,' distrustful of prevailing science, China is poised to increase its influence in key areas, including green energy, through its multilateral economic and renewable energy engagement. China: a Renewables Superpower? China is a self proclaimed renewables superpower and the global leader in renewable energy production, accounting for 40% of the world's renewable energy capacity and investing $818 billion in green energy in 2024. Between January and May of 2025, China installed enough wind and solar power to generate as much electricity as Indonesia or Turkey. In only the first few months of 2025, China has produced as much solar capacity as in all of 2020, demonstrating the speed of Beijing's green energy development. Its record-breaking solar and wind installations are only the tip of the iceberg. China is particularly committed to nuclear energy. Beijing has set out to become the largest nuclear energy-producing country by 2030, a goal it is on track to meet. Currently, it has 58 operable nuclear reactors, fewer than the U.S.'s 94 reactors. However, it took the U.S. forty years to create that nuclear capacity, which China has added in only 10 years. In the last 30 years, the U.S. has successfully commissioned a single nuclear power plant, which was years behind schedule and billions over budget. China's nuclear reactors are newer and more efficient than most American ones, which were mostly constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. Beijing is also a pioneer in the development of Small Modular Reactors, which are a fraction of the size of traditional reactors and can be assembled in a factory before being shipped elsewhere to begin generation. China's 'Linglong One' was the world's first operable commercial SMR, with the second being in Russia. The U.S.'s first commercial SMR is not expected to come online until 2027. Images of modern Chinese cities interspersed with green energy projects are a vital component of China's soft power. They often feature in Beijing's messaging to the global south. getty Why the U.S. Loses from Being Disengaged in Climate Policy This array of investments and accomplishments is more than just sound economic policy stemming from the self-evident rationale that cheaper energy means a stronger economy. Energy policy and high-tech energy component exports provide China with an opportunity to move up the value-added chain for exports and reshape the evolving international energy ecosystem. China is exploiting an opening that has been created as the U.S. has shown disinterest in engaging its European allies in renewable energy. Approximately $8 billion worth of climate tech projects in the U.S. have been downsized or cancelled in 2025 as China and Europe continue to expand cooperation in the field. While China has made considerable strides in green energy, it is essential to remember that China is not a green utopia. China is the world's largest producer of green energy, but it also emits more greenhouse gas than any other country in the world. China playing ball with the Europeans certainly reflects its commitment to and heavy investment in clean energy and a green transition. It also reflects Beijing's inability to unilaterally act and reshape international energy demands – meaning the U.S. both has the time and potential to prevent Chinese dominance in the energy sector. Renewable energy is also a key aspect of China's soft power abroad. China has invested in renewable energy developments in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, gaining control of key supply chains in developing countries as their demand for electricity grows. Additionally, China aims to sell 30 nuclear reactors to countries through its Belt and Road Initiative by 2030, once again expanding its global footprint through energy development. Its footprint was even growing in the EU before the summit, as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers captured market shares in several European economies. China's ever-growing influence in the climate sector is poised to leave the U.S. in the dust so long as Washington's energy policy draws more on nostalgia than foresight. Regardless of the priorities of the Trump administration in the energy sector, advancement in green technology is critical to remain competitive with China. Beijing's supply of renewable technology has boosted its position in the global economy and on the diplomatic stage. Though the current American strategy emphasizes the utilization of its oil and gas resources, an 'all of the above' strategy must also include investment into solar, wind, and especially nuclear tech to ensure the country can compete with the Chinese juggernaut in the energy transition megatrend.

What To Expect from AMD Q2 Earnings?
What To Expect from AMD Q2 Earnings?

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

What To Expect from AMD Q2 Earnings?

Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) reports second-quarter earnings after the market close on August 5. Street forecasts EPS of $0.48 on revenue of $7.4 billion, reflecting 27% year-over-year revenue growth but a 30% decline in EPS. Shares closed at $171.70 on August 1, up 40% year-to-date and more than 120% above the April low of $76.48, driven by optimism around MI300 adoption and hyperscaler demand for AI compute. But two new developments add uncertainty. First, President Trump's late-July decision to impose 20% reciprocal tariffs on Taiwanese imports (down from an earlier proposed 32%) could raise AMD's cost of goods, given its reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) for fabrication. Management commentary on mitigation strategies, whether via cost pass-throughs, supply chain localization, or margin concessions, will be critical. Conversely, the administration's lifting of the AI chip export ban to China reopens the door for MI308 shipments, pending license approval. While hyperscalers have confirmed elevated AI CapEx, investors will focus on how much of that spending AMD is actually capturing through MI300/MI350 volume, new design wins, and high-margin AI revenue mix. With shares trading at 44 forward earnings, upside will likely hinge on management delivering clear AI traction, gross margin recovery, and a confident Q3 outlook. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Ukraine Says Its Drones Hit Five Jets at Russian Airfield
Ukraine Says Its Drones Hit Five Jets at Russian Airfield

Bloomberg

timean hour ago

  • Bloomberg

Ukraine Says Its Drones Hit Five Jets at Russian Airfield

Ukraine's Security Service said its drones destroyed one jet and damaged four at Saki military airfield overnight, aiming to weaken Russia's war capability in the occupied Crimea and on the Black Sea. One Su-30CM fighter jet was completely destroyed and another was damaged, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, said in a statement on Telegram. Three Su-24 bombers and an ammunition depot at the Saki airfield were damaged and the drone strike 'caused significant losses,' according to the SBU. Bloomberg News wasn't able to verify this information.

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