Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Introduction If there is one thing we can all agree on, it is that digital wargaming is currently experiencing a quiet, beautifully obsessive renaissance. Gone are the days when we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for decent operational depth, and wait for that one time, every once in a while, when a decent game would come out, and everything would go cold for a couple of years. Looking ahead into 2026 and 2027, developers are finally giving hardcore tacticians and historical grognards the meticulous simulations they deserve. Whether you are managing the harrowing radio silence of a…

Singapore-based studio Garena has just announced Palworld Online, a new, officially licensed spinoff that will bring the creature-collecting survival crafting experience to iOS and Android devices. Though an exact release date hasn’t been given just yet, Palworld Online is set to launch sometime in 2026. Released in early access in January 2024, Palworld has come a long way in the last two and a half years. With just over 40 updates under its belt, Palworld is naturally a much bigger and better game than it initially was. That’s never been truer than it is right now, with Palworld finally receiving…

What’s the cost of always being on time?

Although many publications describe what artificial intelligence (AI) could do for emergency management (EM), almost none describe what AI-enabled products are available or what it would take to adopt and diffuse those products. This information gap matters: Emergency managers and others who support EM functions are making procurement decisions in a crowded technology marketplace with limited time, technical capacity, and standardized information about how AI-enabled products perform against the realities of their work. As hazards and disasters increase in intensity and frequency, the demands on the resources of the EM community often outpace existing capabilities and capacity. AI-enabled products could…

Lockheed Martin is in talks to buy supplies of two critical minerals from U.S. mines, two sources familiar with the discussions said, as President Donald Trump pressures defense contractors to cut reliance on China. The world’s largest defense contractor is negotiating with NioCorp Developments for the supply of scandium, and Teck Resources and 5N Plus for the supply of germanium, both of which are used in military equipment ranging from aircraft components to infrared sensors, the sources said.The deals would mark a significant step in the U.S. push to build domestic mineral supply chains, but face hurdles: Chinese suppliers have…

Since Aug. 11, 2025, nearly 9,700 National Guard troops from across the nation have been shipped into Washington, D.C., and put up in hotels in service of the “Make DC Safe and Beautiful” mission ordered by President Donald Trump.As the mission approaches the conclusion of its first year — with at least two more to go, unless the president says otherwise — its measure of success depends on whom you ask. In a round-table discussion with reporters Monday, Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard, the D.C. National Guard’s interim commanding general, suggested the impact of the Guard’s presence was as much about…

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan –U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 18th Security Forces Squadron and the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron collaborated in a simulated emergency response during exercise Beverly Beach 26-1 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 5, 2026. Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians assessed a simulated missile that had fallen from a munitions trailer while Fire and Emergency Services personnel remained on standby. The simulation provided Airmen with an opportunity to work alongside other agencies and help streamline communication for real world preparation. This also provides Airmen with necessary training to handle real-world emergencies, strengthen coordination, readiness and regional…

8/4/26 National Security and Korean News and Commentary | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University wpDiscuzInsert

Islam Makhachev is not happy with how he performed in his welterweight debut. Last year, Makhachev, after completing four successful lightweight title defenses, decided to vacate and move up to 170 pounds in pursuit of two-division glory. Come November 15, 2025, the Russian phenom faced then-welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The title bout was a one-sided affair, as Makhachev scored 4 takedowns and racked up more than 19 minutes of control time to cruise to a unanimous decision win and dethrone “JDM.” Despite such a dominant performance in his divisional debut, the P4P king now says he…

Star Wars Zero Company has relationship systems, combat synergies, and permanent death. But making a squad mechanically valuable is not the same as making players care about the people inside it. A squad can be perfectly constructed and still feel completely disposable. The sniper occupies the high ground. The medic remains close enough to reach anyone who falls. The heavy controls the central lane, while the fastest Operator flanks whatever survives the first attack. Mechanically, everything works. Then one of them dies, and the player’s first thought is not grief. It is whether a replacement can inherit the same equipment.…