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Earth Intelligence

26 Apr 2024 — 4 min read

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U.S. DOD Announcement
Microsoft & Google Earnings

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U.S. DOD Announcement:

The Department of Defense announced that U.S. military personnel have started constructing a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to aid in delivering critical humanitarian assistance. This initiative follows President Joe Biden's directive issued during his State of the Union Address last month. The project is being executed by the Army's 7th Transportation Brigade from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and Naval Beach Group 1 from Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, using the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) technology.
Completion of the pier is expected by early May, aiming to facilitate the initial delivery of 90 truckloads of aid, with plans to increase to 150 truckloads as operations scale up. Coordination with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is a critical component of the operation, ensuring that U.S. forces have necessary force protection while operating at sea and no U.S. troops will be on the ground in Gaza. The IDF will also assist with the seamless integration of the pier once construction is finalized at sea.
U.S. forces continuously reassess the security conditions to ensure their safety, with the U.S. Central Command prepared to make necessary adjustments based on the evolving security scenario. The operational logistics include building an 1,800-foot modular Trident Pier and a 72-foot by 270-foot roll-on, roll-off discharge facility, located approximately three miles off Gaza's coast.
This strategic setup permits cargo ships to offload aid shipments at sea, which are then transported to the shore. Meanwhile, the U.S. Agency for International Development is working with international aid providers who are pre-positioning cargo in Cyprus, ready for delivery through this newly established maritime corridor once the pier is operational.

Microsoft & Google Earnings:

Microsoft reported earnings results in the first quarter of 2024, with earnings per share at $2.94 and total revenues reaching $61.9 billion. The company's AI-focused intelligent cloud division performed exceptionally well, generating $12.5 billion in operating income. This division has seen operating profits grow at an annualized rate of 48% over the last five years, driven largely by Microsoft's early investments in AI technologies, including its partnership with OpenAI.
Alphabet also showcased strong financial results, with earnings per share of $1.89 and revenues totaling $80.54 billion. Key contributors to this performance were YouTube and Google Cloud, which brought in $8.09 billion and $9.57 billion, respectively. Alphabet's robust revenue growth led to the announcement of its first cash dividend, signaling a strong financial position and a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

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