Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

Authorities have seized more than 1,000 firearms and gun parts in a crackdown on the spread of illicit weapons in Australia and New Zealand.The week-long transnational operation led to more than 180 arrests, according to Australian Border Force, and the seizure of 281 privately manufactured firearms and parts, including those made by 3D printers.In New South Wales, police located multiple 3D printers alongside Glock-style pistols, magazines and 3D-printed holsters, among other items.A Guardian investigation in September tracked the growing challenges posed to Australia’s gun control regime, including the trade of stolen firearms and the emergence of 3D-printed firearms across the…

A European push to stop relying on the US military has spawned a new generation of companies.

The God of War series that’s currently in the works from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon is set to begin shooting next year, and while no casting details have been announced, we now have an update on which characters from the video games will be joining Kratos and Atreus in the live-action adaptation. Here are the main character breakdowns (via Daniel Richtman). Zion – A male in his 40s to 60s, any ethnicity. A war-hardened, muscular figure haunted by loss and a violent past. After his wife’s death, he’s forced to raise his 10-year-old son, though he struggles to connect emotionally. The…

Silicon Valley’s military start-ups are closing in on a massive Pentagon payday after spending years pushing sensational, unverified claims of foreign threats. These start-ups, which manufacture cutting-edge lethal and surveillance technology, are eyeing the billions set aside for artificial intelligence (AI) and drone investments in the Pentagon’s new, record-breaking nearly one-trillion-dollar budget. To boost the autonomous weapons industry, the House and Senate have passed bills demanding that the Pentagon double down on AI, integrating it into routine tasks and using it to maximize “warfighter lethality.” The bills also instruct the military to treat small drones like expendable ammunition rather than reusable aircraft —…

Over the summer, the United States deployed warships to the Caribbean – ostensibly to menace drug traffickers but also as a none-too-subtle warning to Venezuela. Earlier in the year, a U.S. Navy destroyer bobbed along waters close to Iran for similar reasons. And in the Taiwan Straits and Pacific, China and the U.S. frequently show off their respective maritime military might. Close to 200 years after first being used to assert geopolitical dominance, gunboat diplomacy is very much alive and well. In fact, the tactics employed by the U.S., China and others today fit naval strategist James Cable’s classic formulation…

Artists and creative teams from all disciplines based in Kilkenny are being encouraged to apply for an upcoming artist in residence at the Watergate Theatre. The callout is directed at artists specialising in performance, theatre, dance, music and  interdisciplinary practice. The residency which runs from 2026 to 2028 supports the development of new work, fosters creative exploration, and connects with our vibrant Kilkenny community. At the heart of the Watergate Theatre Residency is a commitment to collaboration and community connection, artist care and support, inclusivity and accessibility, transparency and flexibility and open dialogue.  According to a spokesperson the residencies are…

Can CE Level 2 protection be comfortable for every day riding? Rockintor certainly think so with their AirVora OrganProt3ct Armor Vest. Aimed at providing CE level 2 protection in a lightweight and highly breathable package, the Rockintor AirVora OrganProt3ct Armor Vest is lightweight and low profile for whatever you might have in store. Photos by Pete Scullion. Key features: CE Level 2 pads cover the chest, back, lower back, and sides 3D OrganProt3ct mesh abdomen protection Two PVC fabric layers Optional shoulder pads 2L hip storage S/M, S/M WIDE, M/L, L/XL, L/XL WIDE sizes 900 grams (size L) 208€ Armor…

Raytheon has delivered the first PhantomStrike radar to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for its FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft, marking a key milestone in their defence technology partnership. The radar is a compact, fully air-cooled fire-control system that combines advanced threat detection, tracking, and targeting with high efficiency and reduced cost. PhantomStrike uses Gallium Nitride technology and delivers enhanced performance through a faster, more agile digital beam, advanced target detection, and strong resistance to jamming. According to Raytheon, the system operates at nearly half the cost of a standard fire-control radar while providing superior capabilities.  “In an increasingly complex and contested battlespace, aircrew…

China has blamed the US for a “major cyberattack” against its National Time Service Center, alleging it could have disrupted the country’s communications, financial, and transportation networks, and even caused power outages. In a Sunday WeChat post, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) said it uncovered “irrefutable evidence” that the US National Security Agency (NSA) exploited a security flaw in a foreign mobile phone brand’s messaging service to hijack phones and steal sensitive data belonging to China’s National Time Service Center employees beginning in late March 2022, according to a Google translation of the Chinese-language statement. China’s intelligence service also alleged…

The govt’s decision to replace 5kg of rice with Indira food kits of lentils, oil, sugar and salt under its flagship Anna Bhagya scheme — one of its five gaurantees — has drawn concerns over procurement, potential price rise and quality issues. Sources told TOI that the finance department in an “opinion” to the govt had said: “The administrative department’s (food and civil supplies) decision to introduce Indira food kits instead of 5kg rice may embarrass the govt over substandard products and possible misappropriation in procurement. Further, the decision may also raise concerns over lack of procurement due to inflation,…