Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. Shield AI revealed a revised planform configuration and new details about its extremely ambitious X-BAT jet-powered autonomous stealth ‘fighter’ drone at April’s Sea-Air-Space 2026 convention, as detailed by TWZ. At the event, I was able to speak at length with Armor Harris, the chief designer of X-BAT, who was keen to discuss the status of the project. You can read TWZ’s original deep dive exclusive interview with Harris that was published when X-BAT first emerged from the shadows last October here. The tail-sitting…

Kid Yamamoto is one of the biggest combat sports stars to ever come out of Japan, and he continues to inspire his combative compatriots to this day. This is embodied by Kate Lotus, who is a surging star in the Japanese MMA scene today, and she takes on Katie Perez at Rizin 53 on May 10th. Lotus showcases a set of striking proclivities where she is clearly quite sharp, but where there’s also that demonstrable growth in her anti-grappling on a fight-to-fight basis. When asked how much pride she takes from the clearly evident levelling up in her submission grappling…

Proponents for the use of ibogaine to treat severe mental illness, including veterans, received promising news recently with President Trump’s executive order opening the door for treatments through psychedelics. The measure prompts the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow more access to psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which is derived from plants found in Central Africa that can carry a hallucinogenic effect. The drug interacts with multiple neurotransmitters inside the brain. The president’s executive order comes on the heels of a new study released in March in the scientific journal, Cell, reporting that Special Operations veterans with traumatic brain injuries…

Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. The software-defined vehicle will expose the automotive supply chain to potentially higher cost pressures. That’s the view expressed in a Moody’s blog article, which pointed out that as cars start to behave more like updatable software platforms, supplier failures, outages or vulnerabilities can have immediate operational, regulatory and reputational consequences for manufacturers. To find out more, WardsAuto talked to Moody’s Andrei Quinn‑Barabanov, supply chain industry practice lead, who said the SDV poses a structural change to the automotive supply base. One key…

Global Times By Global Times Published: May 02, 2026 12:54 PM The newly upgraded Y-20B transport aircraft of the Y-20 fleet, which has recently carried out a mission to repatriate the remains of the 13th batch of Chinese People’s Volunteers martyrs from South Korea, features its major core upgrade in the full installation of the larger-diameter domestically developed WS-20 turbofan engines, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported on Saturday. Equipped with four domestically built high-bypass turbofan engines, the Y-20B has solved the problem of relying on imported core power systems. This results in lower fuel consumption, longer range, greater payload…

Twin Sails Interactive and Snake Tower Games confirmed the launch date for their deck builder with a twist. A deck builder with a twist will arrive on Steam on May 28, 2026. The deck builder was born as a game jam prototype called Fallowtide by Snake Tower Games. Now, Twin Sails Interactive is releasing it as Moonsigil Atlas. The release date alongside a new gameplay trailer was announced a few hours ago. Also, the demo has been rebuilt and is currently available, allowing players to see the final product before launch. The game’s original concept came when Snake Tower Games…

Two U.S. service members participating in the African Lion joint military exercises were reported missing near the city of Tan Tan in southern Morocco, U.S. Africa Command and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said on Sunday.U.S., Moroccan and other partner forces have launched coordinated search-and-rescue operations — using ground, air and maritime assets — to find the service members who went missing near the training site of Cap Draa, the two militaries said in separate statements.The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff.The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing, they added.African Lion is…

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s latest proposal to the United States calls for issues between the two countries to be resolved within 30 days and aims to end the war rather than extend the ceasefire, according to Iran’s state-linked media. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the war but also expressed doubt it would lead to a deal. Iran’s 14-point proposal calls for an end to the war, rather than just an extension of the truce. The proposal, a rebuttal to the U.S. nine-point plan, also calls for…

Global Times By Xinhua Published: May 02, 2026 07:26 AM The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Friday strongly condemned attempts made by an anti-China organization and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying by releasing a so-called press freedom index and presenting him with a so-called “award.” The despicable attacks and smearing campaign against the HKSAR totally disregarded the rule of law and twisted the facts, said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government. As guaranteed by the HKSAR Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, all defendants charged with a…

UFC 328 builds steam as middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland exchange heated words online. The event headlines at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9, 2026. Chimaev captured the 185-pound belt with a unanimous decision over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August. Strickland held the title before that, dropping it in a split decision rematch to du Plessis at UFC 297. “Control Your Whore” Strickland Dares Chimaev Pre-Fight Strickland posted on X about UFC efforts to separate the camps. He wrote, “The @UFC is trying to limit my interactions with the dog. Listen…