Stars and Stripes
@starsandstripes.bsky.social
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Stars and Stripes provides independent news and information to the U.S. military community from reporters and bureaus located around the world.
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Hello, new followers! Welcome to the 🦋 app. Nothing but blue skies ahead 🌤️

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A shooting last week in Colorado involving an airman assigned to F.E. Warren Air Base has been ruled a murder-suicide as an act of domestic violence.
Deaths involving FE Warren Air Force Base airman ruled murder-suicide
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A teen cadet who attended a boot camp-style program for at-risk youth run by the Maryland National Guard claims he was beaten and concussed by other cadets, but sergeants turned a blind eye to the attacks.
Maryland National Guard program teen cadet says he was beaten, concussed at camp
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Police in Michigan say an initial investigation has found that a military vehicle caused an eight-vehicle crash this week on I-94 that left a 10-year-old child seriously injured and closed the highway for nearly eight hours.
Military vehicle started Michigan interstate chain-reaction crash, police say after initial probe
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The U.S. under the Biden and Trump administrations has provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the start of the Gaza war, according to a study published on the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that provoked the conflict.
US has given Israel at least $21.7B in military aid since war in Gaza began, report says
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu' office said Tuesday it was "cautiously optimistic" after a second day of peace talks between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar’s prime minister and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to join the talks Wednesday in a sign of their momentum.
Gaza peace talks appear to gain momentum on the war’s anniversary
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President Donald Trump has reportedly called off U.S. diplomatic engagement with Venezuela, a decision that favors Secretary of State Marco Rubio's more hard-line approach and may lead to further military escalation.
Trump halts Venezuela talks as US considers cartel targets on land
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One week into a federal government shutdown, U.S. service members, DOD civilian employees and their families in Japan and South Korea were taking stock and asking how much longer, with affording groceries and rent the main concerns.
Rent, groceries on minds of US military families in Asia Pacific as government shutdown continues
Americans with the U.S. military in the Pacific are concerned about how they will afford groceries and rent if the shutdown continues.
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Defense Department travelers headed to two air bases in Japan will find significantly higher lodging expenses thanks to changes in per diem rates, according to recent Air Force memos. (from @alexmwilson.bsky.social)
New fiscal year brings hike in lodging costs at Air Force bases in Japan
Defense Department travelers headed to Yokota and Misawa in Japan will find significantly higher lodging expenses.
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ICYMI: Defense Department schools in the Pacific and Europe got the OK on Tuesday for high school sports and extracurricular activities to resume despite the government shutdown.
DODEA athletes get green light to play again
Practices will resume and sports and other extracurricular activities could continue through government lockdown under policy reversal.
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With restoration work complete, the USS Arizona Memorial is ready again for visitors.

Pacific Historic Parks announced funding last week to keep Pearl Harbor National Memorial sites operating during the federal government shutdown. (from @wyattwolson.bsky.social)
With restoration complete, USS Arizona Memorial ready again for visitors
Regular shuttle boat service to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor has resumed after several months of preservation work that curtailed visitor access.
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Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, where they will spend up to two months protecting federal functions, personnel and property despite opposition from state and local officials.
Texas National Guard arrives in Illinois for federal protection mission
Texas sent roughly 200 members of its National Guard, staging at an Army Reserve center south of Chicago ahead of expected deployment into the city.
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Veterans of Foreign Wars — the national advocacy group for former service members — has signed a deal with a national beverage maker to offer cannabis-infused drinks at VFW chapters in states and jurisdictions where recreational marijuana use is legal.
www.stripes.com/veterans/202...
VFW to offer cannabis drinks at local posts under a co-branding agreement with Florida beverage company
Veterans of Foreign Wars will put its branding on some Torch Hemp-derived beverages with proceeds supporting initiatives for veterans.
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The U.K. has flown its MQ-9A Reaper drones for the last time, closing out an era of Middle East operations as it prepares to field new U.S.-built unmanned aircraft designed for Europe’s modern threats.
UK’s Reaper drones give way to new NATO-focused fleet of Protector aircraft
The U.K. retired its MQ-9A Reaper drones, and now prepares to field new U.S.-built unmanned aircraft designed for Europe’s modern threats.
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A new memo being circulated by the White House says that legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law in 2019 does not require back pay to be given to some 750,000 furloughed federal workers.

That would be a reversal of a longstanding policy.
Trump administration threatens no back pay for federal workers in shutdown
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ICYMI: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired U.S. Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison.
Hegseth fires Navy secretary’s chief of staff
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#ARCHIVES: Change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2018

Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii: Marines stand at attention with the passing of the color guard during a ceremony marking change of command of Marine Corps Forces Pacific at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, 2018
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STORM TRACKER: In a bit more than a day, Halong has rapidly intensified from a tropical storm into a Category 4-equivalent typhoon.

The latest forecast track shows Halong peaking a shade below super-typhoon strength late Wednesday but staying well south of the Japan coast.
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A $12.9 million contract was recently awarded for the construction of new multiplex family housing units at Coast Guard Station Portage in Michigan.
A $12.9 million housing development is coming to Coast Guard Station Portage in Michigan
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REPORT: The U.S. under the Trump and Biden administrations has provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the start of the Gaza war.
US has given Israel at least $21.7B in military aid since war in Gaza began, report says
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