Top Ten Presumptive Burn Pit Illnesses

For military veterans, burn pit coverage is this generation’s Agent Orange coverage. For years, the VA denied that this defoliant caused health problems. Finally, the VA conceded what seemed logical all the time, which was that the toxic substance that killed plant cells in Southeast Asia also killed human cells in the people who handled this chemical. Yet even today, …

FDA, MDMA, and PTSD

The Food and Drug Administration seemed poised to approve MDMA (3,4-methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine, a/k/a molly or ecstasy) PTSD treatments by mid-2024, but a recent report may derail the approval process. Proponents hope the efforts could yield the first major new therapies for mental illness since the introduction of modern antidepressants in the 1980s. But not all researchers are convinced that their benefits …

Rising Threats to Japan Prompt U.S. Response

Accelerated military activity by China and North Korea has prompted the United States to completely reverse course regarding a planned military withdrawal. U.S. Space Force Indo-Pacific Commander Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir said Tuesday that his agency is working closely with the Japanese government to set up a component in the country, which he said would be similar to the one …

Delays Plague International Police Force in Haiti

Citing logistical issues, an advance team of Kenyan peacekeepers packed up and left Haiti, leaving the troubled island nation in the hands of armed gangs. A senior Kenyan official who declined to be named as they are not the official spokesperson said the bases are still under construction and crucial resources including vehicles are needed before deployment of the first …

Israeli Airstrike Kills Three Contractors in Gaza

Officials said Israeli forces mistakenly attacked a World Central Kitchen relief convoy. The airstrike killed seven WCF employees, including three people in the security detail. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday Israel mistakenly killed seven people working for the aid charity. Israel’s military voiced “sincere sorrow” over the incident, which ratcheted up international pressure for steps to ease the …