U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the United States is investigating an airstrike that Iran says struck a wedding party in Iran.
“We’re investigating it because obviously we care. We want to know,” Vance told reporters during a White House press briefing.
“If we do make mistakes, again, this is a big difference between us and Iran, when our military makes mistakes, they learn from them to try to get better from them,” Vance added.
Iranian officials say four people died and nearly 70 were wounded by a strike that hit a home during a wedding. Iranian state TV reported on Thursday that a fifth person, a 22-year-old woman, had since died at a hospital.
The U.S. military has said it was aware of the Iranian reports but that it “never targets civilians.”
A federal appeals court restored Bowe Bergdahl’s conviction on Tuesday, undoing a 2023 decision that wiped away the court-martial of the former U.S. Army soldier who walked off his base in Afghanistan, kicking off an intensive search that wounded other troops.
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit ruled that the federal court that overturned Bergdahl’s military conviction did not have the jurisdiction to do so, arguing that only the military justice system could reverse Bergdahl’s judgment.
“District courts lack jurisdiction on collateral review to vacate court-martial judgments,” Judge Robert Wilkins wrote on behalf of the panel.
The former U.S. Army soldier, then 23, walked off his base during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 and was subsequently captured by the Taliban. American soldiers were severely injured and one military working dog, Remco, was killed during the operations to find him. Bergdahl said he left his post in an attempt to reach another headquarters and report perceived issues with leadership. Instead, he was abducted, tortured and held in brutal conditions.
Then-President Barack Obama negotiated Bergdahl’s release in a 2014 prisoner swap. He was exchanged for five members of Taliban leadership who were held at Guantanamo Bay.
Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy during a 2017 military court-martial, after which he was dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay. Though prosecutors sought 14 years’ imprisonment, he was not sentenced to any time after presenting evidence that he was tortured.
The prisoner swap, case and sentencing set off political fireworks, with former Sen. John McCain and President Donald Trump calling for Bergdahl to be harshly punished. Trump called for Bergdahl’s execution during his 2016 campaign, and the former soldier’s attorneys argued that Trump’s comments could have influenced the military judge.
Around three years ago, a civilian judge vacated Bergdahl’s conviction, arguing that the military judge in his initial court-martial did not disclose an application for an executive branch job as an immigration judge, which could have been a potential conflict of interest.
The D.C. panel did not rule on whether the case was influenced by Trump’s incendiary comments or whether the initial military judge should have disclosed that he was looking for a Justice Department job.
Eugene R. Fidell, Berdahl’s attorney, in an interview with Military Times, said the case is about “the integrity of the military justice system,” and added that “there is a grave command influence problem that has pervaded this case from the very beginning.”
He said he had hoped the appeals court would address that issue, but it did not. Fidell’s team has 45 days to weigh several options for challenging the ruling, including asking the same panel to reconsider or seeking a discretionary review by the Supreme Court.
The U.S. Army awarded a $464.8 million production contract to AeroVironment, Inc., this week for the Enduring-High Energy Laser program (E-HEL), marking the first production contract for a directed energy system in the U.S. military’s history, the company stated in a release Wednesday.
Rather than deploying missiles to shoot down unmanned aircraft, the E-HEL fires a laser beam at its targets and can reload its magazine through the system’s power supply, according to the Army.
“This first-of-its-kind directed energy program will enable our formations to defeat unmanned systems and dominate from the outset,” Vice Chief of Staff of the Army General Christopher LaNeve said in an Army statement. “Pairing human ingenuity with advanced technology is what ensures our Army will continue to outpace America’s adversaries.”
Under the Other Transaction Agreement, AV will deliver dozens of 30 kW LOCUST laser weapons capable of taking down smaller drones that fit within what the Defense Department characterizes as groups one through three. Those include miniature UAVs comparable to the Air Force’s Wasp III to the Army’s RQ-7B Shadow in the larger class.
The E-HEL production announcement also notches a much-needed win for the service’s laser program, following soldiers’ disappointing feedback on the Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) performance in the Middle East.
While those prototypes were tailored for the Stryker combat vehicle, AV’s LOCUST X3 laser weapon is platform-agnostic and can fit on the Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).
The contract follows LOCUST’s successful testing at White Sands Missile Range, led by Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) and PAE Fires, which demonstrated safe, effective counter-drone operations in U.S. airspace and directly enabled a DOW–FAA safety agreement validating the system for domestic use.
The U.S. Air Force provided relief supplies and equipment to Nepal following flash floods in the South Asian country that have killed over 1,000 people.
The service used two C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Wednesday to provide bobcat front loaders, first aid kits, stretchers and specialized disaster victim recovery supplies, delivering them to Tribhuvan International Airport, a U.S. Pacific Command spokesperson told Military Times on Thursday.
“The U.S. military joins U.S. Embassy Nepal, the Government of Nepal, and response partners on the ground to provide urgent life-saving supplies and equipment to areas affected by flash flooding,” a PACOM release says.
On Aug. 26, Rasuwa, located in central Nepal, suffered floods from Bhote Koshi, a river that flows through Tibet and Nepal. The floods occurred after a large glacial collapse and avalanche in the Himalayas of Tibet.
“This rapid delivery reflects the enduring U.S.-Nepal partnership and our shared commitment to helping affected communities through this disaster,” the post says.
The embassy said that the humanitarian and disaster response assistance comes after requests from Nepal’s government, following the $3.6 million already announced by the U.S. for flood support.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a gathering of officers and senior enlisted Marines in North Carolina that they need to do more as front-line leaders to address the rate of suicides. The comments came during Cao’s first public appearance after being formally nominated as Navy secretary Tuesday, a role he has held in an acting role since April.
Cao traveled to Camp Lejeune Wednesday with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith and other senior leaders. The group spent close to two hours in two town halls focused on suicide prevention and mental health.
“It’s a leadership issue, and I’m not blaming you for anything. I’m saying you need to know your Marines really well,” Cao said to a crowd of several hundred Marines stationed at the base. “I need for you guys to know your Marines so well that you know how they smell, when they breathe, and when they walk up, you can hear them behind you. But also when they’re hurting, to be able to pull aside and say, ‘Come here, Marine. Let’s walk for a second here.’”
At Camp Lejeune, Cao and Smith were joined by Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz, Pentagon special assistant and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, and Cao’s senior advisor for mental health. Cao said he is planning other town halls with senior leaders at major Navy and Marine Corps bases in the coming months.
A Task & Purpose reporter traveled with the group to the events.
Though suicide numbers across the military dipped in 2024, the long-term rates have trended upwards since 2011. Pentagon officials say that 472 service members died by suicide in 2024, the most recent year for which data has been released, a decline from the previous year. The Pentagon’s official 2025 report is scheduled to be released this fall, but a quarterly report from the final months of that year showed an increase among active-duty and Reserve sailors and Marines over the year before.
Commandant urges ‘intrusive leadership’ as prevention
At Lejeune, Gen. Smith urged the room of officers and NCOs to practice more “intrusive leadership,” charging the group to learn more about their Marines, their spouses and children, financial needs, stressors, and histories, and to “take risks.”
“No one is going to fault you for being intrusive and getting into the lives of your Marines and your sailors. No one is going to fault you for that. If you get an [Inspector General] complaint, fine. Get an IG complaint. It will be the first of many as a leader,” Smith said.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao spoke about suicide prevention to officers and NCOs at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday. Photo by Patty Nieberg.
Meyer, also a Marine Corps Reserve sergeant, had a similar message and told the group to focus on “taking care” and “showing up for each other.”
“We have leadership problems that’s failing a generation. My NCOs took care of me. My NCOs raised me up,” he said. “They were available 24/7. They showed up to be my solution. They didn’t outsource it. They didn’t look for another program. They didn’t look for a phone number to call when I had a problem.”
Cao has been the acting Navy Secretary since John Phelan left the role in April. On Tuesday, Cao’s nomination was officially announced via social media by President Donald Trump. He still faces a Senate confirmation hearing.
When Cao testified in front of a Senate committee in May, he promised to take care of and invest in people. One of his goals was to establish a Suicide Prevention and Response Task Force to examine existing programs, identify gaps, and recommend new ideas.
Todd Peters, Cao’s senior advisor for mental health and suicide prevention who sits on the task force, told Task & Purpose that the group is meeting once a week and in the process of coming up with policy recommendations for which programs to grow and cut.
One program that Peters said they’re looking to bring to the Navy and Marine Corps is one that’s found success in the Air Force. Wingman Guardian Connect focuses on building peer-to-peer connections and has airmen talk through different scenarios as a group with a facilitator. The program was developed by University of Rochester medical experts who have also brought it to first-responder groups and predominantly Black churches. University experts described it as more “active” prevention training rather than the “passive” approach or what a Pentagon-led committee called a “one-size-fits-all” method of presenting PowerPoints to troops in dark auditoriums.
“It’s the only program that had 10 years of research data points to prove that it worked. The Air Force used it, and it drastically reduced the numbers. It’s measurable,” Peters said. “There’s two gentlemen for the Navy and the Marines. Their job is to make it fit the Marine Corps language and the Navy language.”
Peters also said he is advocating for the Navy to grow its chaplain corps. To date, he said, 25 new positions have been approved for the next fiscal year. Peters, who is a retired Navy SEAL and pastor, said he’s submitted a recruiting plan to the Navy Secretary with the intent to grow the corps.
“What I’ve learned from every Marine and sailor so far is they all love chaplains, and they wish they had more. And when I looked at the numbers, the Army has twice the number of chaplains. They have 1,800 to our 980, and we have more people to serve and care for,” he said. “I put a package together because, again, I’m fluent in that world as a pastor. Well, let’s go recruit.”
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988 and you’ll be connected to trained counselors.
Picture yourself on a warm winter cruise with a Latin beat, filled with bucket list sights to see along with dreamy beach days. My first Panama Canal cruise made me feel like we had broken free from our regular lives. There’s a slower pace, a strong sense of culture, and a pull on your heart to see more.
Windstar’s small ship cruises let you see both iconic and lesser-known monuments and attractions in Latin America and the Panama Canal. It’s possible to escape for just a week or immerse yourself on a multi-week, two-ocean sojourn. Costa Rican cruises feature a local naturalist onboard to expand your knowledge of the region. Many Latin America cruises have options to lengthen your trip with cruise tours and back-to-backs, all with ample time for relaxation. Think multi-colored beaches edged by lush greenery. And then there’s the ship’s watersports marina, providing easy access to clear blue waters.
With 35 distinct Latin America and Panama Canal itineraries, it can be a challenge to choose the perfect one. Are you primarily interested in the canal itself, or are you looking for a cruise that’s as easy to plan as one in the Caribbean, but with some new-to-you exotic ports of call? Perhaps you haven’t given it much thought at all. Read on as we look at the options for exploring Central America and its surrounds with Windstar.
Experience the Panama Canal
Panama Canal cruises on other cruise lines have historically been long cruises, often fourteen nights or more. And they’re often showcased as repositioning cruises (moving ships between Alaska and the Caribbean, for instance). Windstar breaks free of both patterns, offering an entire season of crossings and also giving guests the chance to tailor the cruise your way. Go long if you want — or go short.
The absolute best itinerary for seeing the canal on a short cruise is the 7-night voyage. This is a through-the-canal cruise. Depending on the date, you will either begin on the Atlantic side in Colon, or on the Pacific side in Puerto Caldera.
Getting to these cruises involves easy non-stop flights from either Miami (three hours) or Houston (four hours). Flights to and from cruises starting in Colon are through Panama City (PTY). Transportation between the cruise terminal in Colon and the Panama City airport can be arranged by bus, shuttle or private car. The closest airport to Puerto Caldera is Santamaria International (SJO), which is roughly forty minutes from the airport.
Whether you’ve been through the canal or not, seeing it from the perspective onboard Windstar’s small ships is both fascinating and relaxing. You won’t have to fight a crowd for a view as the ship passes through the locks because there is no crowd. Onboard local guides narrate the transit throughout the day.
Your Windstar ship essentially becomes a river cruise ship for the day. You kick back and enjoy the feat of engineering and the lush Panamanian scenery pass by throughout the day. Ship choices on the seven-night itinerary include both sailing vessels and Windstar’s motor yachts.
Passengers and crew cheer the clearance in the dark of early morning and again on the opposite end in evening twilight. Talk about photo ops!
Insider hints
Flight options will generally require at least one day of advance arrival pre-cruise. No matter which direction your cruise travels though, the old town in Panama City is worth exploring with an additional overnight.
Latin America’s lush wilderness adds to the appeal of a cruise transit through the Panama Canal./Harry Tarbuck
If the Panama Canal itself isn’t as important to you as exploring ports of call in Central America, specifically those on the Pacific coast, you might consider Naturally Costa Rica: Puerto Caldera to Panama City. This is a seven-night itinerary between Balboa, Panama and Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, with stops in both countries. The first thing to know is that there will be beaches. And if beach days aren’t your thing, there is plenty of time to explore the rainforest on excursions.
Ports of call include exotic spots like Isla Parida where excursion choices are a bit adventurous, ranging from snorkeling, fishing, and hiking, to wildlife viewing (and yes, there will be monkeys). Next up is Golfo Dulce where you can do a sloth walk excursion or try some kayaking. Quepos offers a lot of choices, with more options for hiking and wildlife viewing, but also plenty of culinary treats to sample.
Insider hints
For water lovers, this cruise offers six potential watersports marina days. And for those, like me, who are always looking for places to scuba dive, this cruise offers the opportunity to book dives independently in most of the ports of call. I easily found dive operators all along the way. Days in ports are long enough to go out on your own for a couple of boat dives, then return to the ship for a leisurely afternoon.
Cultural deep dives
In Latin America, food trucks bring culinary treasures to the islands./Harry Tarbuck
For those driven to experience the culture of this region in-depth, there are over a dozen Star Collector Series cruises, ranging from thirteen to 55 nights. These offer the opportunity to stay aboard longer, experiencing multiple segments of the region (and often beyond). Choosing a Star Collector comes with a bonus perk of complimentary daily laundry, allowing you to travel a bit lighter.
Colombia’s Cartagena offers an historic old town, a gleaming metropolis, and fabulous white sand beaches./Shutterstock
Mixing the Caribbean and Latin America
If you love remote islands in the Caribbean, San Blas’ isles, part of Panama, are mostly uninhabited.
Don’t fancy giving up your Caribbean winter adventures? It’s okay, there are options that combine Latin America with some of the Caribbean’s most delightful island escapes. Take the previously mentioned six-day hop between Aruba and Balboa, including a transit through the canal if you’re trying to squeeze it all into a weeklong cruise.
Insider hint
Melinda Crow admits that the Caribbean’s Bequia is one of her favorite places in which to return.
If you’re like me and can’t bear the thought of being so close, yet missing out on the other two islands of the ABCs (Bonaire and Curacao), start your Star Collector in Bridgetown, Barbados on Windward Ways and Tobago Cays. This seven-night addition hits the best of the Southern Caribbean: Bequia, Mayreau, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Curacao, and ends in Aruba. It would be hard to ask for more.
A U.S. Coast Guard jet with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin on board landed safely after one of its engines failed during the flight.
The Pentagon is temporarily rescinding recently published clinical guidance for a new, mandatory testosterone-deficiency screening policy for service members aged 30 and older, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon posted the “Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization” on its website. By Thursday, the memo and an accompanying statement from spokesperson Sean Parnell had been removed.
“The draft (document) published on September 2, 2026, has been temporarily rescinded to allow for updates,” the official said, adding that interim guidance remains in effect.
The detailed clinical guidelines had laid out separate testosterone deficiency screening paths for men and women that were to happen during their annual health assessments.
The guidance was set to take effect immediately, and the Pentagon said it is aimed at improving military readiness by identifying and managing hormonal and energy-availability issues.
“Page Not Found” appeared on websites for both the Pentagon and Defense Health Agency when clicking on links for the memo and statement.
Wednesday’s guidance said that men aged 30 and older would be screened through a questionnaire that could then trigger a blood test for testosterone levels and, if needed, testosterone hormone therapy.
Women would also be screened through a questionnaire, which could then move to treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalance. Testosterone would be used in women only for one of the diagnoses for which there is evidence of efficacy, such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, characterized by a distressing level of low sexual interest.
The Pentagon is temporarily rescinding recently published clinical guidance for a new, mandatory testosterone-deficiency screening policy for service members aged 30 and older, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon posted the “Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization” on its website. By Thursday, the memo and an accompanying statement from spokesperson Sean Parnell had been removed.
“The draft (document) published on September 2, 2026, has been temporarily rescinded to allow for updates,” the official said, adding that interim guidance remains in effect.
The detailed clinical guidelines had laid out separate testosterone deficiency screening paths for men and women that were to happen during their annual health assessments.
The guidance was set to take effect immediately, and the Pentagon said it is aimed at improving military readiness by identifying and managing hormonal and energy-availability issues.
“Page Not Found” appeared on websites for both the Pentagon and Defense Health Agency when clicking on links for the memo and statement.
Wednesday’s guidance said that men aged 30 and older would be screened through a questionnaire that could then trigger a blood test for testosterone levels and, if needed, testosterone hormone therapy.
Women would also be screened through a questionnaire, which could then move to treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalance. Testosterone would be used in women only for one of the diagnoses for which there is evidence of efficacy, such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, characterized by a distressing level of low sexual interest.
The Pentagon is temporarily rescinding recently published clinical guidance for a new, mandatory testosterone-deficiency screening policy for service members aged 30 and older, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon posted the “Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization” on its website. By Thursday, the memo and an accompanying statement from spokesperson Sean Parnell had been removed.
“The draft (document) published on September 2, 2026, has been temporarily rescinded to allow for updates,” the official said, adding that interim guidance remains in effect.
The detailed clinical guidelines had laid out separate testosterone deficiency screening paths for men and women that were to happen during their annual health assessments.
The guidance was set to take effect immediately, and the Pentagon said it is aimed at improving military readiness by identifying and managing hormonal and energy-availability issues.
“Page Not Found” appeared on websites for both the Pentagon and Defense Health Agency when clicking on links for the memo and statement.
Wednesday’s guidance said that men aged 30 and older would be screened through a questionnaire that could then trigger a blood test for testosterone levels and, if needed, testosterone hormone therapy.
Women would also be screened through a questionnaire, which could then move to treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalance. Testosterone would be used in women only for one of the diagnoses for which there is evidence of efficacy, such as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, characterized by a distressing level of low sexual interest.
