Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

The decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian asylees was handed down on First Street, Washington, DC, but it will be felt in Damascus, Beirut, Istanbul, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, and far beyond.  On June 25, the US Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s decision to terminate TPS programs for thousands of Syrians and several hundred thousand Haitians living in the US under humanitarian protection.   Now, over six thousand Syrian asylees in the United States are forced to face a return to Syria, a homeland that many of them no longer recognize. “It feels like we are being besieged,” one Syrian asylee affected by the decision, who asked not to be named due to the uncertain legal situation, told me. “You…

A UFC heavyweight contender has sent a chilling warning to Josh Hokit. In the past few months, Hokit has repeatedly targeted former two-division champion Alex Pereira. He has even dragged the Brazilian’s family while trash-talking, and although “Poatan” has mostly not responded, he still believes Hokit has crossed the line, for which he could have made the 28-year-old pay but chose not. After Pereira’s loss to Ciryl Gane at the White House, Hokit has continued taking shots at Pereira, mostly mocking his criticism of referee Herb Dean’s officiating. UFC heavyweight plans on breaking Josh Hokit’s leg with his signature move…

The UK’s new Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has detailed four platform types to be introduced into Royal Navy (RN) service, as central elements of the RN’s new ‘hybrid’ force structure and the spine of its ‘Atlantic Fleet’ operational concept series. In June 2025, the UK’s latest Strategic Defence Review (SDR) first detailed the evolution of the RN’s force structure into a ‘hybrid’ construct, integrating maritime uncrewed systems (MUS) in all domains to support current and future crewed platforms, to boost overall operational output. In September 2025, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, defined the…

In 2015, as the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran—an agreement Israel was not a party to—we argued in Foreign Affairs that Israel and the United States should pursue a parallel agreement to ensure that any U.S.-Iranian deal would be durable and aligned with Israeli interests. Israel and the United States shared the same goal—preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—but differed over threat perceptions, historical trauma, timing, and tolerance for alternatives to diplomacy, such as sanctions, covert action, and airstrikes. A parallel agreement would help create a unified front and coordinate responses if Iran…

Credit: Laurent PellierDefense Feeds, Cherbourg – The De Grasse Barracuda submarine has officially joined the French Navy, marking another milestone in France’s long-term naval modernization program.As the fourth vessel of the Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, the new submarine will strengthen the Navy’s ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering and long-range precision strike missions while reinforcing France’s strategic presence across key maritime regions.The delivery continues the gradual replacement of the aging Rubis-class fleet with a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines designed to operate in increasingly contested undersea environments. De Grasse Barracuda Submarine Expands France’s Nuclear FleetThe De Grasse Barracuda…

A contract has been signed between Romania’s Ministry of National Defense and Rafael for the acquisition of the SPYDER system for protection against aerial threats This is another selection of the SPYDER system by a NATO nation, positioning the system as a European standard. This marks the initial phase of a strategic framework agreement between Rafael and Romania, with an estimated value of over two billion euros. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd announces that Romania’s Ministry of National Defense (MoND) has selected Rafael’s SPYDER air defense system to protect the country against short to medium range aerial threats (SHORAD-VSHORAD), as…

Whether your martial art has you rolling on the ground and grappling, striking and sparring, or working with weapons (hopefully the unsharpened variety!), there are five common types of injuries martial artists tend to see. It is nearly impossible to avoid all injuries, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of injury that everyone who practices any martial art should be aware of. Stress Fractures One of the most common martial arts injuries, stress fractures occurs when bones are struck with repetitive force — think checking kicks in muay thai, or repeatedly hitting a heavy bag…

Freebird’s emotional series is heading toward its final chapter, with a demo planned for Steam Next Fest this October. Serenity Forge and Freebird Games have revealed a new trailer for The Last Hour of an Epic TO THE MOON RPG, the closing chapter of the long-running To the Moon series. The game is currently planned for Summer 2027, while players will be able to get an early look through a demo scheduled for Steam Next Fest in October 2026. After more than a decade of stories built around memory, regret, love, and the strange ways people try to make peace…

The Kraken Technology Group’s K3 Scout USV participated in the NATO Task Force-X (Baltic) exercise. (Kraken) In the long-anticipated UK Defence Investment Plan, the UK’s elite Commandos will receive new high-speed boats and the latest drone and autonomous technologies. The Royal Navy has already awarded a £12.3 million contract to the UK Kraken Technology Group for 20 K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to be used by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines for operations, training, and development of autonomous and uncrewed technology. Founded only five years ago, the Fareham-based Kraken Technology also secured a US$49 million…

The Gypsy King” Tyson Fury opens as a heavy favorite for his July 24 fight with Mariusz Wach, an unsurprising result given his decorated background as undisputed heavyweight boxing world champion. Based on the matchup, the venue, and Fury’s place in the Anthony Joshua build, this shapes up as a low-risk betting spot built around whether Fury gets rounds or forces a stoppage. Tyson Fury vs. Mariusz Wach Odds Tyson Fury heads to Pattaya in what is being framed as a keep-busy heavyweight bout before a likely showdown with Joshua later this year, the promoter even explaining this bout as…