Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

For the second time since February, the ripple effects of the Iran war have spread to Laos, where fuel shortages have forced the cancellation or curtailment of searches by U.S recovery teams for the remains of troops missing-in-action from the so-called “secret war” in the Southeast Asia nation.In a release last week, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said, “Due to significant impacts resulting from fuel shortages in Laos, DPAA was forced to cancel four recovery teams that were planned for April 27 through June 10.”The cancellation followed actions taken by DPAA earlier this year on operations in Laos, when “four…

MANILA, Philippines — A pair of heavily-armed Chinese anti-ship bombers and their fighter escort flew over Scarborough Shoal in a combat exercise meant to deter Manila amid the largest Philippine military exercise in years.  The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command (PLA STC) claimed that its forces conducted a combat readiness patrol at the disputed South China Sea maritime feature on Thursday. Beijing’s military command for the region stated that these patrols “serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts.” The deployment invovled two Type 054A frigates – the Bayanner (551) and Tongliao…

May 4, 2026The “Eight Energies of Taijiquan” are not mystical — and they don’t mean there are eight specific types of energy coursing through your body. The name “energy” comes from the Chinese gongfu term “Jin,” and that actually means a trained strength – a refined, skillful use of the body. A “Jin” is a method, a way of dealing with force. The eight energies include: ** Peng Jin (Ward-Off Energy) ** Lu Jin (Roll Back Energy) ** Ji Jin (Press Energy) ** An Jin (Push Energy) ** Lie Jin (Split Energy) ** Cai Jin (Pluck Energy) ** Zhou Jin…

About 15 years ago, two former Navy SEALs wanted to commemorate the legacies of friends lost during service. In doing so, they ended up making strong inroads to include hundreds of thousands of the approximate 99% of people who never served. The “Memorial May” campaign organized by Carry the Load has led to more than $50 million being raised since its launch in 2011. The latest effort kicked off April 27 with nationwide events scheduled through May 25, aimed to not just commemorate Memorial Day and veterans but also first responders and their families through Armed Forces Day, Firefighters’ Day…

Carlos Prates delivered the performance of a lifetime in the main event of UFC Perth on Saturday at RAC Arena, obliterating former champion Jack Della Maddalena before unleashing a vicious finish in the third round. “The Nightmare” wants a title fight, and appears willing to wait for it, but is that what the UFC will want?On an all-new edition of On To the Next One, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee discuss where Prates goes after the biggest win of his career, and second straight finish of a former champ. Additionally, future matchups are discussed for Quillan Salkilld…

Abstract The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act directs the Department of War to define cognitive warfare and distinguish it from existing information-related activities. This article responds directly to that mandate, proposing a decision-centric definition of cognitive warfare, delineating it from information operations, psychological operations, and influence activities across seven dimensions. The definition is illustrated through a notional case study and validated against observed Russian and Chinese cognitive warfare operations in the Baltic states and Taiwan. Disclaimer: “The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Air Force, Department of…

13:24 3.5.2026 Seven of the world’s biggest oil producers have announced that they will increase their output “to support oil market stability,” days after a dramatic oil price spike amid market fears that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will not resume anytime soon. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman took the decision at a virtual meeting on May 3 to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day in June. The move came after oil prices reached their highest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, reaching $126 per barrel on April 29 following a report in…

The two Middleweights will collide in a championship match this weekend (Sat., May 9, 2026) at UFC 328 in a grudge match fueled by bad blood and prior training experiences. According to retired UFC fighter and current analyst, Chael Sonnen, there’s more on the line than just titles and hurt feelings. Per Sonnen, Strickland is the UFC and America’s last hope against the Chimaev era and overall Russian invasion.“Strickland is the last hope,” Sonnen told Ariel Helwani. “He is the last line of defense between the martial arts community and having to watch Chimaev for the next period of time.…

CWL gets new league tiers, with temporary medal adjustments and a bonus league planned.Some events are now targeted, giving you boosts if your village progress has slowed. Supercell has shared its plans for May 2026 in Clash of Clans, and this time, it is for a section that has needed some attention for a long while. After the multiple Ranked tweaks earlier this year, the focus now moves toward Clan War Leagues, while progression and how events are being handled are also going to see some changes. Clash of Clans May 2026 plans and updates explained New tiers for the…

The notice comes after months of uncertainty over the future of FEMA’s term-limited disaster workers, who make up roughly half the agency’s workforce. GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA May 4, 2026 6:31 pm 3 min read An attorney representing the Trump administration informed a U.S. District Court Friday evening that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts the agency did not renew in January, reversing a controversial decision that prompted a coalition of labor unions, scientific groups and local governments to sue the administration. FEMA has “initiated contact to offer new appointments” to term-limited…