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By Giacomo Leccese  On 23 February 2026, the Council of the EU decided to extend the mandate of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR Aspides, launched in March 2024 to safeguard the sea lines of communication (SLOC) in the Red Sea and protect European commercial vessels from Houthi attacks. Aspides has marked the most demanding naval engagement of the Union to date, moving beyond the low-intensity context that has traditionally characterized EU maritime operations. The choice to operate separately from the U.S.-led Prosperity Guardian coalition also signaled a deliberate effort to assert European strategic autonomy, with distinct assets, rules of engagement,…

Bipartisan legislation introduced in March 2026 would consolidate federal lending systems onto a shared services platform, a move that would require agencies to migrate their loan programs or justify exemptions under the Federal Loan Systems Modernization Act (H.R. 7789 and S. 3980).According to the bill’s main sponsor Sen. Marsha Blackburn. R-Tenn., outdated systems have cost billions and allowed tens of billions in fraud, and modernizing federal lending through Lending.gov will help make government more user-friendly, combat fraud and save taxpayer dollars.The policy goal is clear, but the success of the effort will depend heavily on execution, a factor that has…

A new study by the American Psychological Association has found that repeating the same meals and calorie counts could help people to lose more body fat. The research suggests that individuals who stuck to a set routine, like eating the same meals, and keeping calories intake consistent over time, displayed more weight loss after 12 weeks than those who consumed different dishes. How The Study Was Conducted? Scientists observed 112 overweight or obese adults over the course of 12-weeks, and asked them to track everything that they ate via a mobile app. Participants also recorded daily weigh-ins and during the…

U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island do not represent a change in American strategy, Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday, as a U.S. official separately told Reuters the additional strikes on military targets did not impact oil infrastructure.The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, described at least some of the strikes as targeting sites that had been previously struck before and said the attack occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday.Vance, speaking separately in Budapest, said the strikes were not a change in U.S. strategy, with the Trump administration confident that it can get a…

Malaysia’s Anka-THS medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs are based on the satellite communication-equipped version of the Anka. (Gordon Arthur)The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) successfully flight tested an Anka-THS medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone in Malaysian skies for the first time on 3 April 2026.This milestone was announced by the RMAF the following day, stating that No. 11 Squadron performed the three-hour flight from Labuan Air Base in East Malaysia. It was “part of the preparations before the handover of the new asset to the RMAF”.Three of these Turkish Aerospace aircraft had arrived in Malaysia by sea in mid-January, before completing ground tests…

This article is part of a series published by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center and the GeoStrategy Initiative of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security exploring the nexus between US security and economic interests across Africa. The previous edition can be read here. Fraught with ethnic conflict, political turbulence, and economic constraints—and facing an ongoing conflict just across its border—Burundi remains highly fragile. At the same time, the Central African nation holds growing strategic significance both on the continent and globally. Roughly the size of Maryland and home to nearly fifteen million people—making it one of Africa’s most densely…

Photo source: U.S. Air ForceDefense Feeds, Washington – The Pentagon’s latest fiscal 2027 defense budget request seeks funding for 85 F-35 Lightning II jets, including just 38 A-model variants for the Air Force. Military analysts argue this falls far short of addressing the service’s growing fighter aircraft shortage.As President Donald Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense spending plan rolls out, it promises to boost military readiness and combat power. Yet the details reveal tough choices in US military aircraft funding priorities.This budget allocates $30.6 billion for Air Force plane purchases, a solid jump from recent years. Still it skips specific figures for…

Dismantling the League of Nations: The Quiet Death of an International Organization, 1945-8By Jane MumbyBloomsbury, 2023 Dismantling the League of Nations carefully traces the final chapter of the international organization, focusing on the complex process of its dissolution from 1945 to 1948. Mumby’s work is distinguished by its detailed archival research, pulling from official documents, personal correspondences, and interviews with key figures involved in the liquidation process. It offers an innovative perspective by emphasizing the human agency and bureaucratic intricacies involved, challenging the simplistic view that the League simply faded away. Instead, Mumby illustrates that the liquidation was a drawn-out,…

Saab’s C-UAS will strengthen and complement Sweden’s existing air defence and drone defence posture. Credit: Saab. Saab has secured an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for a mobile and modular counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS), valued at about Skr2.6bn ($273m). The system is intended to protect the Swedish Armed Forces and civil infrastructure against drones, according to a press release by Saab on 2 April 2026. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more The defence contractor is working with the Swedish Armed…

Jiri Prochazka has built a career on not only being one of the best light heavyweights in the sport, but he’s also an incredibly exciting fighter with a style built for highlight reel finishes.Taking big risks often comes along with big rewards, but Prochazka’s unorthodox approach can also put him in harm’s way from time to time. As he prepares for his fourth title fight on Saturday at UFC 327, Prochazka seeks to become a two-time champion while facing Carlos Ulberg in a battle between two fighters who are both well versed in vicious finishes.But retired UFC veteran Matt Brown,…