| Stars and Stripes | Disabled veterans living overseas say they pay thousands of dollars for health care to cover delayed VA claim payments
Vietnam veteran Jim Esposito, who retired to the Philippines from Oklahoma in 2010, receives spinal treatments and pain medication at the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Manila for injuries suffered during military service 50 years ago. Terrence Michalski, a disabled Navy veteran also residing in the Philippines, has had frequent hospitalizations for a heart condition and degenerative disk disease related to combat duty. Both veterans said they must pay thousands of dollars each year for their medical care because the VA’s paper-based claims system leads to delays and uncertainties for health care reimbursement.
AP News | How two strikes on militant leaders in the Middle East could escalate into a regional war
The targeting of two senior militant leaders in two Middle Eastern capitals within hours of each other — with each strike blamed on Israel — risks rocking the region at a critical moment.
Military.com | A Nearly $3 Billion Shortfall in VA Benefits Is Looming. The Senate Has Proposed a Fix, But Time Is Running Out
Seeking to avoid a disruption in veterans benefits payments later this year, a bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill to fix a nearly $3 billion shortfall for disability and education benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs expects to face by October.
Bloomberg | Veterans Affairs Secretary McDonough Plans to Step Down After US Election
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough told staff he plans to step down from the cabinet-level post after the current presidential term has finished, according to people familiar with the matter.
New York Times | As War Gets Bleaker, More Ukrainians Appear Open to a Peace Deal
Increasingly frustrated, more Ukrainians appear to be opening up to the idea of a negotiated peace, even as they remain vague about what that means. Most Ukrainians still oppose ceding any territory to Russia, not even the Crimean Peninsula that was seized by Russia 10 years ago, polls show. But those polls and recent remarks by the country’s leaders also highlight a palpable shift in the conversation around peace talks — from a no-deal-not-ever to a maybe-compromise-at-some-point.
Pew Research | War in Ukraine: Wide Partisan Differences on U.S. Responsibility and Support
A 62% majority of Republicans say the United States does not have a responsibility to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s invasion. Americans remain divided on levels of U.S. aid to Ukraine. Today, 29% of Americans say the U.S. is providing too much support to Ukraine, and a similar share say it’s providing about the right amount (26%). About two-in-ten (19%) say the U.S. is not providing enough support, while a quarter are not sure.
Stars and Stripes | VA worker errors when reviewing claims for full disability cost $100M, auditors say
Workers with the Department of Veterans Affairs made mistakes costing $100 million when reviewing veterans claims for full disability connected to injuries and illnesses from military service, a new report from the agency’s inspector general concluded. | 
