Splunk, Zoom Patch Severe Vulnerabilities
Security vendors Splunk and Zoom released emergency patches this week to remediate multiple critical and high‑severity vulnerabilities across their product lines. Zoom fixed a critical privilege‑escalation flaw in Workplace for Windows and three high‑severity defects in its Windows client software. Splunk addressed a high‑severity CVE‑2026‑20163 that allowed arbitrary shell command execution via a REST endpoint, along with several medium‑severity XSS, credential exposure, and third‑party library issues. The updates span the latest Enterprise, Workplace, and VDI versions, and no active exploits have been reported.
The American Army Is Introducing a New Hand Grenade Into Service. The First Such Change Since the Vietnam War
The U.S. Army will field the new M111 hand grenade, the first major ordnance update since the Vietnam era. It replaces the asbestos‑lined MK3A2, addressing long‑standing health hazards and limited tactical flexibility. Designed for urban combat, the blast‑over‑pressure grenade reduces...
Scotland Set for Skills and Innovation Boost as £50 Million Defence Growth Deal Unveiled
The UK government has unveiled a £50 million defence growth deal for Scotland, funding two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges and £10 million for innovation facilities at the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus and Clyde Engineering and Innovation Centre. The programme aims to create...
Situational Unawareness
At 1:15 a.m. EST on Feb 28, the U.S. and Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran, prompting a flood of real‑time OSINT dashboards such as WorldView that stitch together satellite, traffic and social feeds. Built in days by an ex‑Google Maps manager...
US Charges Another Ransomware Negotiator Linked to BlackCat Attacks
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged former DigitalMint ransomware negotiator Angelo Martino with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion. Martino allegedly supplied BlackCat (ALPHV) operators with confidential negotiation details and received a 20% cut of ransom payments...
Attackers Don't Just Send Phishing Emails. They Weaponize Your SOC's Workload
Attackers are weaponizing phishing campaigns to overload Security Operations Center (SOC) analysts, turning the investigation process into an informational denial‑of‑service (IDoS) attack. By flooding the SOC with thousands of low‑sophistication emails, they force analysts to triage quickly, allowing a few...
HMS Anson’s Milestone Stay in Australia Cut Short During AUKUS Deployment
The UK Royal Navy’s Astute‑class submarine HMS Anson arrived at HMAS Stirling on 23 February, marking the first time a UK nuclear‑powered attack submarine received maintenance in Australia. The deployment supported the AUKUS partnership, which aims to develop a new generation...
Lawmakers Give Cabinet Nod to Sign LOAs for 4 U.S. Weapons Systems
Taiwan's legislature is set to empower the Cabinet to sign Letters of Offer and Acceptance for four U.S. weapons systems—M109A7 self‑propelled howitzers, Javelin anti‑armor missiles, TOW 2B missiles and HIMARS—completing a US$11.1 billion arms package announced in December. The three systems have...
Former FBI Counterintelligence Agent Jeffrey Parsons Joins GWU Program on Extremism as Senior Research Fellow
Jeffrey Parsons, a former FBI counterintelligence and counterterrorism specialist, has been appointed senior research fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. He brings more than three decades of experience from the FBI, MITRE’s AI‑focused counterintelligence work, and a naval...
Four Companies Form UK Defence Supply Chain Alliance
Amentum, GXO Logistics, Accenture and A.P. Moller‑Maersk have launched Torus Defence Supply Chain, a new alliance aimed at strengthening UK defence supply‑chain resilience. The partnership will deliver integrated logistics, digital transformation and global freight services to support evolving defence requirements....
American Rheinmetall Tests Drone Hunter Vehicle
American Rheinmetall demonstrated its counter‑UAS ultra‑short range air‑defense (U‑SHORAD) system mounted on GM Defense’s ISV‑C vehicle at the Big Sandy Range in Arizona. The live‑fire trial engaged both fixed‑wing and rotary‑wing drone targets, confirming detection, tracking and engagement performance as...
U.S. Navy Restarts Railgun Firing Trials in New Mexico
The U.S. Navy resumed electromagnetic railgun testing at White Sands Missile Range in February 2025 after years of budget‑driven pauses. The three‑day trial, conducted by Naval Sea Systems Command and the Dahlgren Division, collected data on high‑velocity projectile launches. The...
Risk of Instability in Iraq Following Strikes on Iran Examined in New Report
A new EdgeTheory report warns that the U.S. strike on Iran‑backed militia Kataʼib Hezbollah on Feb. 28 has heightened instability risks in Iraq. The analysis links rising militia retaliation and amplified narrative activity to Iraq’s already fragile Shi’a‑dominated political system. Researchers...
UK 'Must Link Energy with National Security'
A RenewableUK‑commissioned report urges the UK government to treat energy security as a core component of national security. The study, conducted with Public First and the Royal United Services Institute, warns that reliance on imported fossil fuels leaves the country...
Cisco Patches High-Severity IOS XR Vulnerabilities
Cisco issued its semiannual IOS XR security advisory, addressing four high‑severity vulnerabilities. Two CVEs (CVE‑2026‑20040 and CVE‑2026‑20046) each score 8.8 and enable privilege escalation to root via crafted CLI commands. A third flaw (CVE‑2026‑20074) can cause an IS‑IS process restart,...
Norwegian Jets Shadow Russian Coot-A Spy Plane
Norwegian Air Force F‑35 fighters intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il‑20M “Coot‑A” reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace off Finnmark on two consecutive days. The missions occurred while NATO conducted its Cold Response 2026 exercise, prompting Quick Reaction Alert sorties from Evenes...
The $11 Billion Cost for One Week of War, and a New ‘Millionaires’ Tax’
Pentagon officials disclosed that the first six days of the Iraq war have already cost more than $11.3 billion, driven largely by high‑priced munitions. The conflict has pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel, even after a coalition released record...
Israel and the US Are Fighting Iran Together. Are They on the Same Page Though? | Yousef Munayyer
The United States and Israel have entered their first fully coordinated joint war against Iran, now in its third week. While Washington frames the conflict as a response to Iran’s alleged nuclear ambitions, Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian oil infrastructure,...
The Limits of Iran’s Proxy Empire
After the United States and Israel assassinated Iran’s supreme leader, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al‑Houthi publicly vowed solidarity and readiness to support Tehran, yet the group has remained largely absent from the ensuing conflict. Iran’s other proxies, including Hezbollah and Iraqi...
U.S. Navy Awards $19.5M Contract for Zumwalt Support
The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $19.5 million contract modification to provide engineering and technical support for the Zumwalt‑class destroyers through March 2027. The work, performed mainly at Bath Iron Works in Maine, continues the shipyard’s role as...
US Eliminates 16 Iranian Minelayers Near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command announced that on March 10 U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian vessels identified as minelayers operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were part of Operation Epic Fury, which has targeted more than 60 Iranian naval assets since its launch...
Polyfill Supply Chain Attack Impacting 100k Sites Linked to North Korea
Security firm Hudson Rock has linked the 2024 Polyfill supply chain attack, which infected over 100,000 websites, to North Korean threat actors, overturning earlier attributions to China. The attack stemmed from the acquisition of Polyfill.io by Chinese CDN Funnull, which...
Accredited Official Statistics: MOD Trade, Industry and Contracts: 2025
The Ministry of Defence’s Trade, Industry and Contracts bulletin for 2025 presents detailed spending figures, defence‑export data and cross‑departmental comparisons. The edition removes the Major Equipment Projects section after data gaps, signalling a transition from the Defence Equipment Plan to...
Inside the Cold War Program Where the U.S. Tested Psychics Abilities
During the Cold War, U.S. intelligence agencies launched a two‑decade program to test psychic phenomena, chiefly remote viewing, under various code names that later merged into Project Stargate. The CIA initially funded the research, which the Defense Intelligence Agency took...
Urgent Meeting in Bucharest. Romania to Assist the United States in the War with Iran?
Romanian President Nicușor Dan convened an emergency Supreme Council of National Defence meeting on 11 March to consider a U.S. request for Romanian airfields to host communications, radar and aerial refuelling assets as part of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. The proposal revives...
US-Israeli War on Iran May Spark Nuclear Arms Race, Carnegie Scholar Says
Carnegie fellow Zhao Tong warns that a US‑Israeli military confrontation with Iran could ignite a regional nuclear arms race. He argues that Tehran may view a direct strike as justification to fast‑track a nuclear weapons program. The escalation would likely...
Honeywell Chosen by U.S. Air Force to Design Prototype Engine System for CCA
Honeywell Aerospace secured a U.S. Air Force prototype contract to design a propulsion system for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) using its new SkyShot 1600 engine. The SkyShot 1600 can operate as a turbojet or turbofan, delivering 800‑2,800 pounds of...
Lacson: Filipinos Should Be Loyal to Philippines, Not Other Nations
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson warned that Filipino officials should prioritize national interests over foreign agendas, targeting Senator Rodante Marcoleta for echoing China’s positions. Lacson highlighted the diplomatic boost a non‑permanent UN Security Council seat would give the...
New National Timing Centre to Protect Critical Services
The UK government is allocating £180 million to build a National Timing Centre (NTC) that will safeguard critical services such as mobile networks, banking and emergency response from GNSS disruptions. Led by the National Physical Laboratory, the NTC will employ atomic...
The Cloud Dies First In A Fight - Distributed Computing's Days At Hand
The article warns that cloud‑based AI systems crumble when communications are contested, as adversaries can jam satellites, cut fiber, or target data centers. It argues that true edge computing—independent, local processing—remains functional without network handshakes, eliminating latency and synchronization gaps....
ISACA to Build a Skilled Cyber Security Workforce in the Age of AI
ISACA has been named the Department of Defense’s official CMMC Assessors and Instructors Certification Organisation, giving it authority to deliver the full suite of CMMC credentials worldwide. The CMMC framework blends NIST standards with a maturity model, becoming a global...
Video Shows US Forces Destroying some of Iran's Old American-Made Warplanes
U.S. Central Command released video showing airstrikes that set fire to an Iranian Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a P-3F Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and an Ilyushin Il-76 freighter. The footage, posted on X, confirms the destruction of several legacy American-made planes...
The Autonomous Battlefield
Autonomous warfare is moving from theory to practice, with Ukraine deploying millions of drones and AI‑assisted systems that operate even when communications are jammed. The conflict has demonstrated that autonomous formations can execute coordinated attacks without human pilots, compressing the...
Pentagon Seeks System to Ensure AI Models Work as Planned
The Pentagon and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence are issuing an Area of Interest for a modular "harness" that can evaluate any AI model against mission‑specific benchmarks. The system must test isolated AI performance, human‑AI team outcomes,...
Is Beijing Stepping up Island Building in South China Sea After 10-Year Pause?
Satellite imagery shows China rapidly expanding Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, deploying more than 30 dredgers and construction vessels. The reclamation effort, the first major South China Sea project since Beijing announced a halt over a decade ago, appears...
Learning the Wrong Lessons? Counterterrorism Amid a Jihadist Revival
The UN sanctions committee warns that global jihadism has rebounded, with Al‑Qaeda’s core network now estimated at 25,000 members and its affiliates operating across the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and South Asia. Extremist groups are exploiting cheap commercial technology—satellite links,...
DHS Shutdown Continues with No Deal in Sight
The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for nearly a month after a February continuing resolution expired without a new funding deal. Congressional attempts to pass a bipartisan funding bill have stalled, with the House approving a measure...
Development of Coruna iOS Exploit Kit Pinned on US Military Contractor
U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, through its Trenchant surveillance‑tech division, was identified as a developer of the Coruna iOS exploit kit. Former employees disclosed that the kit, comprising roughly two dozen components originally built for a government surveillance client, has been...
US Marine Corps Pursues Thermal Cloaks to Hide Troops From Heat Sensors
The U.S. Marine Corps has issued a Sources‑Sought notice for a Multispectral Camouflage Overgarment (MCO) that can obscure Marines across visual, near‑infrared, short‑wave infrared, mid‑wave infrared and long‑wave infrared bands. The program targets delivery of 13,000 cloaks by 2027 and...
We Just Got Our First Look Ever At The B-21 Raider Performing This Risky Maneuver
The U.S. Air Force captured its first public glimpse of a B‑21 Raider linking up with a KC‑135R Stratotanker for mid‑air refueling, a risky maneuver that validates the bomber’s operational envelope. The test, part of a series of flight trials,...
Reports of Tanker Attack in Southern Iraq
An oil tanker near Iraq's Umm Qasr port caught fire, with early reports indicating a possible direct attack on the vessel. Witnesses said multiple tankers were ablaze, suggesting a coordinated incident. The event adds to a series of recent assaults...
Trump Considers Raids to Recover Iran's Enriched Uranium
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing a covert special operation to seize any remaining enriched uranium in Iran’s stockpile. The plan, still under discussion, would involve a rapid raid on Iranian nuclear facilities to physically remove the material. Non‑proliferation experts...
U.S. Air Force B-1 And B-52 Bombers Now Striking Iran From The UK
The U.S. Air Force has positioned eight B‑1B Lancer and three B‑52H Stratofortress bombers at RAF Fairford, UK, to conduct Operation Epic Fury strikes against Iran. Forward‑based aircraft cut flight times to Iranian targets by more than half, enabling a rapid, high‑tempo...
Rheinmetall Withdraws From Mynaric Bidding Process; Rocket Lab Acquisition Clears Major Competitive Hurdle
Rheinmetall AG announced it will not submit a formal bid for laser‑communications specialist Mynaric AG, ending a brief period of speculation about a German “national solution” to block Rocket Lab’s $150 million acquisition. The withdrawal leaves Rocket Lab as the sole...
Trump on Iran: We Won, but Don't Want to Leave Early
U.S. President Donald Trump told a Kentucky rally that the United States has "won" the war against Iran, claiming the destruction of 58 Iranian naval vessels. He emphasized that the U.S. will stay engaged to "finish the job" and avoid...
Army Taps Elbit America To Join SBMC Development Effort, Will Test Prototypes This Year
The U.S. Army has added Elbit Systems of America to the Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) development team, joining Anduril Industries and startup Rivet. Elbit will deliver and test its prototype hardware later this year as part of the SBMC...
Trump Says U.S. Will Tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve As Iran War Surges Gas Prices
President Donald Trump announced that the United States will draw 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next four months, the first release since 2022. The move comes as the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran has pushed...
MQ-9s Over Iran: Striking and Finding Targets—But Taking Some Losses
U.S. MQ‑9 Reaper drones are conducting persistent ISR and precision strikes against Iranian missile and drone launchers as part of Operation Epic Fury, having hit more than 5,500 targets since the conflict began. Iran’s air defenses have managed to down...
Ex-Trump Envoy Makes Case for Iran Attack
Former Trump deputy special envoy Morgan Ortagus defended the February 28 U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran, arguing they were a necessary response to a cumulative threat from Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional destabilization. She claimed the Trump administration had repeatedly offered...
G7 Explores Ship Escorts in Gulf as Middle East War Threatens Energy Supply Routes
G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Russia sanctions while confronting the ripple effects of the U.S.–Israeli conflict on Iran and global energy markets. They agreed to deepen coordination with Gulf partners to safeguard shipping lanes and stabilize oil supplies. A...