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World Health Organization (WHO) 28 March 2026 News release Geneva World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have agreed to extend negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, with discussions to resume in late-April ahead of its scheduled consideration by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May. The decision to continue negotiations from 27 April-1 May, with informal intersessional discussions taking place in advance, reflects the commitment by WHO Member States to negotiate the PABS annex, a core component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement last…

USS Tripoli (LHA 7) is an America-class amphibious assault ship. Credit: Derek Fountain/HII The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced on 28 March 2026 that the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has entered its “area of responsibility”. The America-class warship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more It brings approximately 3,500 Sailors and Marines to the region along with its complement of transport and strike fighter aircraft…

Following the last three live firing tests the latest iteration of the AASM (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, modular air-to-ground weapon)) fitted with the dual IIR and SAL seeker is getting close to qualification, while the Thundart/FLP-T long-range land strike missile developed together with MBDA is getting close to its first live fire test, Safran Electronics & Defense announced In early March the French General Directorate for Armament (DGA) carried out the last three live-firing tests of the dual-seeker AASM air-to-ground weapon. Tests were conducted at the Biscarosse missile testing facility on the Atlantic coast, south-west of Bordeaux. The three firings were…

Crack gunners from the RAF Regiment have become ‘aces’ for the first time, having blasted Iranian drones out of the sky during operations in the Middle East, protecting British interests, partners, and personnel in the region.  The four personnel achieved “ace” status by taking out five or more drones during operations in the Middle East.  The ’ace’ title is based on the same definition used in the Second World War, when a pilot was named an ’ace’ if they shot down five or more enemy aircraft.   The evolution of the much-acclaimed mark of respect and recognition demonstrates how no matter…

ONE Championship brings another exclusive card to members of The Inner Circle on Friday, April 3, streaming live from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Five bouts are on the card across Muay Thai and MMA, headlined by a flyweight Muay Thai showdown that pits a Road To ONE Champion against one of the circuit’s most relentless finishers. Kaotaem Fairtex steps into the ring against Spain’s Xavier Gonzalez in the main event. The 21-year-old southpaw from Phetchabun won the 2023 Road To ONE: Thailand Season 2 tournament and has gone 3-1 on the ONE Friday Fights circuit since. He works off…

German Bundeswehr is significantly expanding their PUMA fleet. Credit: KNDS. The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) has placed an order with RENK Group for 188 HSWL 256 transmissions to be used in the Puma infantry fighting vehicle’s 800 kW propulsion systems. RENK expects to start deliveries in June 2027 and complete them by November 2030. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more The latest contract forms part of the second phase of the Puma programme, which includes a total requirement for 213 transmissions. RENK previously…

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798). Credit: Ashley Cowan/HII. The US Navy has commissioned the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) on 28 March during a ceremony at Boston Harbor. The commissioning concluded a multi-year process of construction, testing, and crew training. Discover B2B Marketing That Performs Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms. Find out more The USS Massachusetts becomes the fifth US Navy vessel to carry the name, following previous vessels including USS Massachusetts (BB 59), a South Dakota-class battleship that served in major Pacific campaigns during World War…

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war. The perspectives gathered here are varied, candid, and often surprising, together forming a more complete picture of Ukraine as it really is.Frontline and StrategyМежа —…

The highest-ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Reform Committee last week urged the Office of Personnel Management to rescind its controversial plan to drastically limit how many federal workers are eligible for top annual performance ratings, arguing the move would impede, rather than facilitate, better agency performance.Last month, OPM formally proposed regulations that would formally lift the prohibition on the “forced distribution” of performance ratings, meaning agencies would be permitted to set quotas for how many employees could receive each rating. Despite the prohibition still being in place, federal workers widely reported being subjected to forced distributions during their…

France has deployed Tiger attack helicopters to counter drone threats in the Middle East, French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill said in an interview published Monday. The deployment comes as armed forces across the region continue to face persistent threats from unmanned aerial systems, including one-way attack drones and other low-cost aerial platforms. […]