Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Alexis asks about the connection between the Roman military and gladiators. Why did the army build and use its own amphitheatres, like the one at Carnuntum, with others recently identified at Megiddo and possibly Carthage and Puteoli Another puzzle is why the army engaged with gladiators at all when civilian amphitheatres already existed. Murray looks at what military amphitheatres were for in day to day army life. Were they training grounds, places of discipline, entertainment or demonstrations of Roman power He explores how common gladiator involvement with the army actually was, how units may have used them for morale or…

The order enhances the bilateral relations and maritime cooperation between India and Oman. Credit: Aritra Deb/Shutterstock.com. Indian shipbuilder Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has won a contract from the Government of the Sultanate of Oman to supply a training ship for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO). SDHI expects to deliver the vessel within 18 months. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more According to the company, the new training ship will support advanced naval training and maritime operations for Oman’s navy.…

A rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is now plain for the world to see. Tensions were rising last year as the two Gulf monarchies clashed over Yemen, but the underlying animosity spilled out into the open in January, as Saudi media outlets accused the UAE of “investing in chaos” across North Africa and the Horn of Africa and acting as Israel’s stooge in the wider region. The UAE, for its part, has refrained from such public comments, but the latest discord is just the tip of the iceberg.Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are locked in a broader…

The Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense system could cost taxpayers as much as $3.6 trillion over the next 20 years — far exceeding the White House’s $175 billion estimate — and still fail to deliver on its central promise to protect the United States from nuclear threats. In a new report, Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog organization, argues that some of the technological challenges for the project are likely “insurmountable.”  “If Golden Dome could guarantee our security for nuclear weapons, one could argue that these astronomical costs would be worth it, but from all these viability…

Below is a SOFX Report, Islamic State-Linked Attacks in Nigeria Claim 162 Lives. Gunmen killed 162 residents in coordinated attacks on Woro and Nuku villages in Nigeria’s Kwara state Tuesday, according to Mohammed Omar Bio, a member of parliament representing the area. Officials said the attacks were carried out by the Islamic State–affiliated Lakurawa group. Local politician Sa’idu Baba Ahmed added that the group rounded up the victims, bound their hands behind their backs, and executed them. The state’s governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said in a statement released Wednesday that the attack was a “cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells”…

BEIRUT — In just a few days, defense firms from around the world will flock to Riyadh for the third edition of the World Defense Show to show off their wares, make product announcements and sign contracts. The host nation in particular is expected to have a slew of announcements. Defense firm Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) “will showcase more than 60 national products and capabilities across its various subsidiaries,” the firm said in a statement Wednesday. “These include advanced electronics, land systems, aerospace capabilities, command-and-control systems, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) solutions for various platforms, in addition to…

India – Press Information Bureau Department of Atomic Energy Posted On: 04 FEB 2026 6:24PM by PIB Delhi BARC has taken-up design, development and establishment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) suitable for deployment as captive power plants for the energy intensive sectors, repurposing of retiring fossil fuel based power plants, and deployment in remote location with no grid connectivity. Under the Nuclear Energy Mission, funds have also been allocated for Research & Development of indigenous SMRs by 2033. The Department has recently initiated design and development of SMRs namely, 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200).…

Rising women’s strawweight contender Gillian Robertson has been having problems getting an opponent that makes it to the octagon. “Savage” was scheduled to face  Iasmin Lucindo at UFC on ESPN 73 in December but Lucindo was forced out of the bout due to an undisclosed injury. Lucindo was replaced by former champion Amanda Lemos but Lemos was removed from the match on the day of the event due to a mouth injury. The two will now fight at UFC Vegas 114 on March 14. Robertson will enter the fight ranked No. 8 in the division and riding a four-fight winning…

Handewitt/Flensburg, February 6, 2026 – With the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the new Plant 3, FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) is sending a clear signal for growth, future security, and the further expansion of its industrial capabilities. Together with Minister President Daniel Günther, the Chief of Defence of the German Armed Forces General Carsten Breuer, and Mayor of Handewitt Thomas Rasmussen, FFG shareholder representative Norbert Erichsen and managing directors Max Heimann and Jörg Kamper officially launched the major project. The event was attended by numerous representatives from politics, administration, the German Armed Forces, international armed forces, and industry –…

The next generation of martial artists is already stepping into the spotlight—and Hiroki is a name to watch closely. Representing IBMA Kyokushin Kaikan (Sagamihara Branch) and TS-AKT (TS Akira Combat Team), Hiroki is set to compete in an upcoming kickboxing bout in Japan. According to the official fight card, he will take part in a Flyweight match (50.8 kg, 3 rounds), facing Sora Yokoo (横尾 空)—a significant opportunity at this early stage of his competitive career. At IBMA Kyokushin Kaikan, the philosophy of martial arts development extends beyond traditional karate. Kickboxing is actively promoted alongside Kyokushin, providing young fighters with…