Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

After more than 80 years — and a decade after he was recognized by Yad Vashem as one of the “Righteous Among the Nations” — Roddie Edmonds will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor, a White House official confirmed to Military Times on Thursday. A master sergeant serving in the 106th Infantry Division, 422 Regiment Headquarters Company, Roddie Edmonds had been serving along the Siegfried Line in Bastogne, Belgium, for a mere six days in December 1944 when the Germans began their fanatical final offensive of World War II. He, alongside thousands of other Americans, were captured by the Germans…

Washington, Feb. 18, 2026 – The U.S. Navy has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee the acquisition of the new Medium Landing Ship (LSM). This strategy is designed to maximize commercial practices to accelerate delivery, improve cost discipline, and expand the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base, with a contract award anticipated for mid-2026. For initial production, the Navy will direct the VCM to manage LSM construction at two shipyards: Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Bollinger Shipyards was awarded a contract to support LSM long lead time procurement and lead ship engineering design…

Prologue: The Missed Approach The first warning does not come from an intelligence summary. It comes from a missed approach over Vilnius. On the operations floor of the new Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest in Mikkeli, Finland, Captain Henrik Nyman watches a civil aviation display he is not supposed to care about. It lives in the corner of his screen as context, a way to judge how commercial traffic is flowing around military transit routes. A Boeing on final approach to Vilnius drops through one thousand feet, hesitates, then claws its way back into the sky and bends west. A…

Indra Group is an European company focusing on defence and advanced technologies. Credit: © Indra. Indra Group and ELT Group have entered into a strategic framework agreement to strengthen industrial and technological coordination across multi-domain defence sectors. The new partnership will focus on joint initiatives in land systems, space technologies, and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more Both entities aim to combine resources within the European defence landscape by integrating complementary abilities in order to support critical European capabilities,…

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.–Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) conducted a knowledge exchange with military representatives of the Argentine air force, Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA), in support of their Peace Condor program, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Jan. 6-9, 2026. The Argentine air force’s Peace Condor program supports the integration of its six newly acquired F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, received in late 2025. Through mentorship from the United States, the FAA is developing the plans and programs required to operate and sustain the modern fighter platform. The addition of the F-16 enhances Argentina’s ability to defend its airspace and contribute…

The Department of Veterans Affairs has retreated from enforcing a controversial regulation it rolled out Tuesday that required medical examiners to factor in the effects of medication when weighing disability ratings decisions. In a post on X on Thursday, VA Secretary Doug Collins said the VA will continue collecting public comment on the rule but it “will not be enforced at any time in the future” as a result of the veteran community’s reaction to it. “Many interpreted the rule as something that could result in adverse consequences. While VA does not agree with the way this rule has been…

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Soldiers from across the U.S. Army showcased drone warfare skills and ideas in the service’s first annual Best Drone Warfighter Competition held here this week.The competition, launched on Tuesday, is an Army event sponsored by the Army Aviation Association of America. It drew over 800 attendees and competing teams drawn from every Army unit. It mirrors existing Army competitions such as Best Sapper, Best Ranger and Best Sniper, with emphasis on drone warfare. Soldiers compete in three lanes for the titles of Best Operator, Best Tactical Hunter-Killer Team, and Best Innovation. The lanes include a drone racing…

By RFE/RL February 17, 2026 US Special Envoy Witkoff said the first day of the latest round of US-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia had “brought about meaningful progress” in stopping the war. The delegations of the two countries were set to continue talks in Geneva, Switzerland, in working groups on February 18. Writing on X, Witkoff added that “both parties agreed to update their respective leaders and continue working towards a deal.” “Discussions focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions,” Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said in a social media post. Russian media quoted a…

PFL Africa returns to South Africa on Friday, April 10, 2026, when Season 2 kicks off at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. The event marks the promotion’s first continental outing since the 2025 finals in Benin and will feature a mix of African prospects and international opponents drawn from more than 10 different nations. PFL Africa Season 2 Headlining the card is a bantamweight showcase between reigning PFL Africa champion Nkosi “King” Ndebele (11‑3) and Italy’s Michele “The Arrow” Clemente (7‑1). Ndebele, a South African native, enters the bout with a perfect 3‑0 record in the PFL Africa format after…

NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 17 February 2026 On Monday (16 February 2026) NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska welcomed members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) to NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Ms Shekerinska chaired the annual meeting with Permanent Representatives of the North Atlantic Council and NPA members as well asPresident Marcos Perestrello. They discussed progress made on the commitments Allies made at the NATO Summit in The Hague, as well as strengthening resilience, cooperating with partners, and innovating with industry. The Deputy Secretary General opened with remarks on the recent Defence Ministers meeting and noted the shift…