Iran jails female ISIL militants

16 women have been sentenced to Iranian prison by the Iranian judiciary system, the “Islamic Revolutionary Court.” According to an Iranian news outlet, they were charged with traveling to Syria and receiving “terrorist training” before returning to Iran. They will reportedly have to serve their sentence in prison, as well as pay Iran any money […]

United States Cyber Command: The new functional combatant command

The Department of Defense recently added the United States Cyber Command to its list of combatant commands. This is a direct response to the growing number of threats found in the cyber realm, from both state actors as well as independent ones. The program was initially meant to be defensive in nature, but it will […]

On this day in history: Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space

May 5, 1961 — Former WWII combat veteran and Naval pilot Alan Shepard was strapped tight into his seat as he blasted upward out of the earth’s atmosphere. The Mercury-Redstone 3 rocket barreled through the sky, subjecting Shepard to 6.3g forces as he entered space and the engines shut off. The “tower,” or the main body of […]

Rohingya refugees prepare for oncoming monsoon season

Rohingya refugees just over the Myanmar/Burma border are preparing for the oncoming monsoon season, which generally hits in the summer and can last into the fall. The rains that precede the monsoons have already been hitting the refugee camps, which house just under 700,000 people. According to The International Rescue Committee, the population of the […]

May 4, 1939: A demonstration of British aerial firepower

May 4, 1939 — The Royal Air Force (RAF) lines up its premier fighter planes on the tarmac at the RAF Duxford airfield in England — the Supermarine Spitfires, pictured above. The plane had only been introduced into the RAF the year prior on this very airfield, piloted by men from 19 Squadron, RAF Duxford. Spitfires […]

On this day in history: The birth of Niccolò Machiavelli

May 3, 1469 — Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence, in the Republic of Florence located in modern-day Italy. He was a politician, a philosopher, a diplomat and an early Italian humanist. He was devoted to the unification of Italy and penned many politically inclined philosophy books that would eventually make him (according to some) the […]

Air National Guard plane crashes, 9 presumed dead

Update: Nine presumed dead, as opposed to the initial report of five. Savannah, GA — An Air National Guard WC-130 has crashed, killing at least nine crew on board. Firefighters responded to the scene and put out the fires from the burning wreckage, but unfortunately were unable to find any survivors. The total number of […]

A Quiet Place: Silence has never been so terrifying

Directed by John Krasinski Starring: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward This movie is the definition of non-stop. It manages to capture a level of intensity in a post-apocalyptic world that far transcended the overdone zombie and monster films and shows that have been so popular in the last few years. […]

Coordinated suicide attacks in Afghanistan kill approximately 25

Kabul, Afghanistan — Suicide bombers coordinated with each other to conduct attacks near the National Directorate of Security, or the primary intelligence arm of the Afghan government. 25 were reported killed, though some estimates say the number was higher. Approximately 45 people were also wounded. ISIS-K (the ISIS branch operating in Afghanistan) has claimed responsibility for […]

Metropolis: The head, the hands and the heart

“Head and hands need a mediator. The mediator between head and hands must be the heart!” – “Metropolis” If you haven’t seen the version of “Metropolis” (1927) that was recovered in 2008 and restored in 2010, I would recommend going and seeing that before reading. However, if you need convincing to go see a 2.5 […]

Vietnam helicopter pilot and crew member memorial unveiled at Arlington

A new monument stands in Arlington National Cemetary, VA, that honors the fallen pilots and crew members of helicopters during the Vietnam War. The memorial was dedicated on April 18, 2018, and according to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) approximately 3,400 were in attendance, including Vietnam veterans and Gold Star families. Air Force Bell UH-1N […]