Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

U.S. Special Operations Command is looking for a small but long-range kamikaze drone. The goal is to develop an air-launched loitering munition “with an extended range and capabilities beyond the current SOPGM [Stand-Off Precision Guided Munition portfolio],” according to a June 26 SOCOM Request For Information. The response deadline is July 27. Launched at an altitude of 5,000 to 30,000 feet, the desired Air Loitering Munition must have a range of at least 75 nautical miles. Once over the target zone, it must have a loiter time of at least 40 minutes while orbiting at an altitude of 500 to…

The phrase “into the breach,” invokes one of the Army’s most deadly missions: sending combat engineers through enemy obstacles to clear a path so that others may follow. Now, instead of sending soldiers, the Army is experimenting with drones. Breaching is so dangerous that the Army assumes a deliberate breach could cost half of the forces assigned to it. Hoping to reduce that toll, Oregon Army National Guard combat engineers recently tested using a heavy-lift drone to deliver an explosive-filled tube through simulated enemy defenses, the Army recently announced. Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 41st Infantry…

President Donald Trump will travel for the first time on the new Air Force One aircraft Wednesday, according to the White House.Trump will be traveling to North Dakota to visit the Theodore Presidential Library as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations, marking it the inaugural use of the Qatari-donated aircraft over a week after the U.S. Air Force began its commissioning flights.The aircraft had to undergo significant renovations to deem it suitable for presidential use, and after the modifications “final exam,” it must complete an unknown amount of commissioning flights that allow the White House to confirm mission-capability and…

The Kremlin-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea declared a state of emergency last week amid energy blackouts and fuel shortages caused by Ukraine’s intensifying blockade of the Black Sea peninsula. The deteriorating situation in Crimea is creating major practical challenges for the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Crucially, it also poses a direct threat to the carefully crafted Kremlin mythology portraying Vladimir Putin as the great restorer of the Russian Empire. Ukraine’s strategic bombing campaign in and around Crimea has been unfolding since early 2026 and relies heavily on a new generation of strike drones capable of operating deep behind enemy…

The research vessel of the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has found new life. The R/V Petrel, the maritime brainchild of Vulcan Inc.’s director of undersea operations and Naval History and Heritage Command, aided in the discovery of famous World War II ships such as the USS Indianapolis (CA-35), USS Juneau (CL-52), Japanese carrier IJN Kaga, carriers USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Wasp (CV-7) and USS Hornet (CV-8). Now, the vessel is operating under a new name on behalf of the U.S. Navy.An R/V Petrel crew member operates the underwater drone while exploring the Hornet. (R/V Petrel)Following Allen’s death, the…

Current and future transgender military service members have claimed a new victory after a court granted a motion for class certification as part of a legal battle that began in January 2025. The Federal District Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday afternoon granted a motion for class certification in Talbott v. USA (formerly Talbott v. Trump), the ongoing legal challenge to the transgender military ban pushed by President Donald Trump and executed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The ruling for class certification allows plaintiffs to seek to extend protections won in Talbott v. Trump to all transgender service…

Alexander Shabliy made his return after almost two years outside of MMA competition and while he won, it did not exactly light the imagination of PFL’s CEO on fire. PFL San Diego saw Shabliy return to fighting after a prior loss to Usman Nurmagomedov in September 2024 and Shabliy went 2-0 over Alfie Davis in his June 27th comeback bout. Their rematch played out the same as their first encounter in so far as Alexander Shabliy secured another unanimous decision victory. This would theoretically position him well for a crack at the winner of the aforementioned Nurmagomedov PFL lightweight title…

Former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who can’t seem to make up his mind about retirement, is making his return to boxing against 46-year-old journeyman Mariusz Wach on Fri., July 24, 2026 at Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand.A streaming platform has yet to be named.“When Tyson told me his plans for this fight, it didn’t surprise me,” said manager Spencer Brown (via ESPN). “I’ve always said Tyson has the biggest heart in boxing and what he is doing for the people of Pattaya is a true reflection of his character. But make no mistake, this fight is serious…

Many men in the fitness world assume that leaner is always better. The closer you get to contest-level conditioning, the more attractive you’ll become. But according to a recent YouTube video from Renaissance Periodization’s Dr. Mike Israetel, the science suggests otherwise. Reviewing a study titled The Relationship Between Body Fatness and Physical Attractiveness in Males, Israetel explored what body fat percentage people actually find most attractive and the answer may surprise many fitness enthusiasts. The Research Question The researchers wanted to determine whether male attractiveness peaks at a specific body fat percentage or if attractiveness simply increases as body fat…

The move to centralize all payroll processing to the department’s Financial Services Center did not result in any layoffs, the VA said. Stephanie Wright June 30, 2026 4:14 pm 2 min read The Department of Veterans Affairs has centralized its payroll system for all employees.  As of June 1, the VA is processing payroll for all 430,000 of its employees across its facilities through its Financial Services Center (FSC), according to a Tuesday release. The consolidation — which the VA said is set to save or avoid the agency from spending over $24 million annually — had an expected completion…