In a landmark decision nearly two decades after the infamous Abu Ghraib prison scandal, a U.S. federal jury has awarded $42 million to three Iraqi men who endured torture and abuse at the hands of American personnel and contractors. The verdict holds CACI Premier Technology, Inc., a defense contractor, liable for conspiring in the mistreatment of detainees.
A new report from USAID’s inspector general reveals the agency did not monitor the locations or uses of 5,175 Starlink satellite internet terminals sent to Ukraine during the war. The terminals — 1,508 purchased by USAID and 3,667 donated by SpaceX — were intended to restore life-saving connectivity for civilian services like healthcare, emergency shelters, and local governance after Russia’s 2022 invasion.
In a power move as tactful as it was timely, Kuwait pardoned and released 10 American detainees—among them veterans and military contractors—convicted on drug-related charges. The gesture reinforces longstanding U.S.–Kuwaiti ties and underscores the high stakes of serving abroad.
