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United States Army paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division conducted a mass tactical airborne operation in Hokkaido, Japan, in late January 2026 as part of North Wind 26, a bilateral winter training exercise with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, U.S. Army Japan confirmed. The operation took place at Hokudai-en in northern Hokkaido and involved soldiers […]

House and Senate appropriators backed the White House’s shipbuilding goals with an additional $6.5 billion in funding for fiscal year 2026—including adjustments to fix accounting errors resulting from last year’s budget reconciliation. The compromise bill, released last week, allots a total $27.2 billion for shipbuilding, with increases across several efforts. That $27.2 billion topline covers 17 ships, including “one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, three Medium Landing Ships, and one T-AGOS [Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System] ship for anti-submarine warfare,” House appropriators wrote in their bill summary.There’s also $1.5 billion in maritime industrial base funding to boost supplier capacity,…

Everyone has a theory of artificial intelligence. Some believe the technology is progressing toward superintelligence—powerful AI that will bring epochal changes beyond any previous technology. Others expect that it will boost productivity and scientific discovery but will follow a more uneven and potentially less dramatic path.People also disagree about how easily breakthroughs can be replicated. Some argue that rivals will fast-follow (that is, quickly imitate), whereas others believe catching up will become slower and costlier, giving first movers lasting advantage. And whereas many are sure China is determined to beat the United States at the frontier, others insist it is…

South Korea’s Hanwha has further expanded its industrial partnerships in Canada, announcing a series of strategic memoranda of understanding (MoUs) spanning steel, space, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies in support of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) and other programmes, Hanwha announced on 26 January 2026. On the sidelines of a visit to Toronto by a South Korean government and business delegation for industrial co-operation and investment discussions with Canadian companies, MoUs were signed with Algoma Steel, Telesat, MDA Space, Cohere, and PV Labs. This allows Hanwha to establish what it calls “a cross-sector industrial co-operation framework in support…

Bottom lines up front STOCKHOLM—When US President Donald Trump escalated the Greenland crisis in early January by insisting on US ownership of the island and not ruling out military force, Denmark quickly received support from its Nordic and Baltic neighbors. This was no coincidence. Over just a few years, the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8)—Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—has become far more proactive and agile in shaping European security policy.  Unity matters, and strong joint statements matter too. But in a European security debate characterized by constant declarations and uneven follow-through, matching words with action is what has…

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has released its first official rankings update in more than a month, reflecting changes from the UFC 324 mixed martial arts (MMA) event last weekend in Las Vegas — the first UFC fight card under the ad-happy Paramount+ deal.As expected, Justin Gaethje and Jean Silva improved their positions with victories in “Sin City.” Gaethje beat the stuffing out of Paddy Pimblett to capture the interim lightweight crown, while Silva legally jumped over Arnold Allen (literally) to rise four places in the featherweight class.Here’s how the rankings are compiled, at least until AI takes over:Rankings are generated…

By Kian Sharifi and RFE/RL’s Radio Farda January 26, 2026 The United States is deploying jet fighters, air defenses, and an air carrier with thousands of troops to the Middle East, in a move that has heightened tensions with Iran and increased the likelihood of military action, experts say. US President Donald Trump threatened military strikes against Iran after the authorities killed thousands of people in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. Trump recently backed away, although he has not ruled out an attack on the Islamic republic. Experts say the military buildup along with planned US naval exercises in…

Elbit Systems will provide Iron Fist APS for US Army Bradley IFV upgrades. Credit: U.S. Army. Elbit Systems has received a contract worth $228m from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) to supply its Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS) for the US Army’s Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). The contract follows an announcement by the US government on 29 September 2025 regarding the award for the Bradley APS programme to GD-OTS. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more The sub-contract for Elbit…

By drawing connections between artificial intelligence (AI) and national power, the author of this paper proposes a strategy that the United States can begin assembling to thrive in a new era of competition. The author’s analysis begins with an argument that the world stands on the cusp of a defining technological revolution: the emergence of AI as (potentially) by far the most wide-ranging and influential general-purpose technology in human history. The resulting changes will play a major role in determining national fates and reshuffling the deck of global power. Many studies and strategy documents have examined one aspect of this…

By Valery Panyushkin and Systema January 26, 2026 Oksana’s son does not speak, walks with difficulty, and has epilepsy. At 20, he can eat on his own but cannot control his bodily functions. Yet Oksana, who asked that her last name not be published for fear of repercussions, says that when he turned 18, it took her an entire year to convince officials that he qualified as disabled. She now says bitterly of the process: “In Russia, to obtain disability status, you have to be healthy.” Rules Tightened In Wartime In early April 2022, six weeks after Russia launched its…