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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 45m

The United States and South Korea are deepening their strategic alliance, senior officials said, even as Seoul works to reclaim wartime control of its military from Washington.

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US-South Korea alliance is evolving after Trump-Lee summit, top diplomat says

The U.S. and South Korea are deepening their strategic alliance even as Seoul works to reclaim wartime control of its military from Washington.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 46m

Some people living at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa sheltered in place for about an hour after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.
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Shelter-in-place lifted at Kadena after ordnance discovery near historic building

Some people living at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa sheltered in place for about an hour after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 7h

TUG-OF-WAR | Hundreds of thousands of people, including U.S. service members, recently took to the streets on a hot, humid afternoon to witness and take part in this city’s annual Tug-of-War festival.
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American troops join locals for Okinawa’s centuries-old tug-of-war festival

Hundreds of thousands of people, including U.S. service members, watched and took part in Naha’s annual Tug-of-War festival on Okinawa.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 7h

Chinese pilots made the fewest approaches toward Japanese airspace in more than a decade this spring and summer, even as Beijing increased its drone flights near Japan’s westernmost island, according to Japan’s Joint Staff.

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Beijing scales back airspace challenges but boosts drone activity, Tokyo says

Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots scrambled 265 times to meet foreign aircraft from April to September, down from 358 during the same period last year.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 7h

ICYMI: The Army announced late last week that it has suspended in-progress permanent-change-of-station moves by soldiers for the entirety of the federal government shutdown, leaving some families in limbo. (from @wyattwolson.bsky.social)

Army leaves families in limbo with suspension of in-progress PCS moves

The Army has suspended in-progress permanent-change-of-station moves for the entirety of the federal government shutdown, leaving some families in limbo.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 8h

Authorities on Monday identified the 16 people killed in a devastating blast at a rural Tennessee explosives plant last week, as investigators promised a painstaking process to figure out what happened by tracking down pieces of evidence that may now be miles apart.

Authorities name the 16 killed in Tennessee plant blast, with a painstaking investigation promised

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 8h

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said Monday he would not tolerate sending soldiers into a modern conflict with decades-old weapons, using an expletive in a public speech to highlight his distaste for the service’s slow acquisition system.

Soldiers should fight with tech as good as they ‘use at home,’ Army secretary demands

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll pledged at the AUSA Conference to adopt a Silicon Valley-like approach to weapons and tech development and procurement.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 9h

ICYMI: The Texas National Guard sent home some of the 200 troops who deployed to Illinois after they were found to be out of compliance with certain standards, state military officials said this weekend.

Officials did not say what standards the soldiers did not meet or how many were sent home.

Some Texas Guard troops fail to meet standards, return home

Some of the National Guard troops that Texas sent to Chicago on President Trump’s orders were found to be out of compliance with some standards.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 10h

Since the end of the Cold War, elected leaders in Alaska had grasped for arguments to justify continued federal investment in the state's major military installations.

But now, amid twin threats from Russia and an ascendant China, Alaska is again becoming a priority for U.S. military leadership.

With twin threats from Russia and China, US military puts new focus on Alaska

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 10h

A senior North Korean diplomat who defected two years ago spoke at a recent event in Tokyo and painted a grim picture of life in the country, even for the elite, as he described his disillusionment and escape from the totalitarian regime. (from @alexmwilson.bsky.social)

No ‘free life’ in North Korea, even for the elite, former diplomat says in Tokyo

A senior North Korean diplomat who defected two years ago painted a grim picture of life in the hermit kingdom as he described his disillusionment and escape from the totalitarian regime.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 11h

For years, U.S. and Chinese scholars worked shoulder to shoulder on cutting-edge technologies through open research, where findings are freely shared and accessible to all.

But that openness, a long-standing practice celebrated for advancing knowledge, is raising alarms among some U.S. lawmakers.

China and the US have long collaborated in ‘open research.’ Some in Congress say that must change

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 11h

The Uber ride-hailing app is now available for airmen and their families for traveling on and off Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo. (from @hanakusumoto.bsky.social)

People can now book Uber taxis through new service at Air Force base in Japan

Uber is now an option for airmen and their families traveling on and off Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 12h

The Army's drone evolution continues in southern Germany with the recent test of the "Widowmaker," a new 3D-printed ordnance dropper.

Testing the ‘Widowmaker’: Army drone evolution continues in southern Germany

Drones with ordnance droppers are not a new concept, but what makes the Widowmaker special is its ability to be mass-produced.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 12h

President Donald Trump called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East on Monday during a global summit on Gaza's future, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting Israel to celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

Trump urges leaders to put ‘old feuds’ aside as he calls for new era of harmony in Middle East

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 13h

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he will travel to the United States this week for talks on the potential U.S. provision of long-range weapons, a day after President Donald Trump warned Russia he may send Kyiv long-range Tomahawk missiles.

Zelenskyy to visit Washington this week seeking long-range weapons and Trump meeting

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 14h

Several news organizations, including the New York Times, Associated Press and Newsmax, said Monday they will not sign a Defense Department document about its new press rules, making it likely the Trump administration will evict their reporters from the Pentagon.

New York Times, AP, Newsmax among news outlets who say they won’t sign new Pentagon rules

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 14h

Israel and Hamas moved ahead on a key first step of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement Monday by freeing hostages and prisoners, raising hopes that the U.S.-brokered deal might lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that has ravaged the Palestinian territory.

After hostages and prisoners are freed, complex issues remain for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 15h

The Army has yet to open new privatized dining facilities planned at five bases, but the service is already looking to privatize 10 more facilities within the next year and a half.

Army looks to expand dining privatization, says it’s ‘learning for all the services’

The Army not yet opened new privatized dining facilities planned at five bases, but the service is already looking to privatize 10 more facilities.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 15h

An appeal deadline that Army prosecutors missed by 20 minutes ultimately led to the permanent dismissal of a case against a West Point colonel who had once been ready to plead guilty to charges that involved drinking with cadets and then interfering with the investigation.

Missed deadline with a plea deal on the line led to West Point colonel’s case being permanently dismissed

The Army missed an appeal deadline by 20 minutes in the case involving Col. William Wright, who was charged with drinking alcohol with cadets.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 16h

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY ⚓️ | Philadelphia celebrated the Navy’s 250th birthday with a city parade and a “Victory at Sea” concert, continuing a week of events honoring the Navy and Marine Corps. www.stripes.com/branches/nav...

Happy birthday US Navy: Philadelphia continues weeklong celebration of the sea service

Philadelphia celebrated the Navy’s 250th birthday with a city parade and “Victory at Sea” concert as part of a weeklong celebration across the city.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 17h

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said he would not tolerate sending soldiers into a modern conflict with decades-old weapons, using an expletive in a public speech to highlight his distaste for the service’s slow acquisition system. www.stripes.com/branches/arm...

Soldiers should fight with tech as good as they ‘use at home,’ Army secretary demands

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll pledged at the AUSA Conference to adopt a Silicon Valley-like approach to weapons and tech development and procurement.

www.stripes.com

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 18h

NAVY 250 ⚓️ | Sailors participate in a photo exercise for the Navy’s 250th birthday on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima, Oct. 9, 2025.

The Iwo Jima is currently deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission.

📸: Andrew Eggert/U.S. Navy

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 19h

The Navy marks 250 years of service on Monday, and it will kick off a weeklong celebration in Philadelphia on Thursday despite an ongoing government shutdown that has paused smaller celebrations. www.stripes.com/branches/nav...

Navy goes ahead with big 250th birthday bash despite shutdown

The Navy will mark 250 years of service with a weeklong celebration in its birthplace of Philadelphia despite an ongoing government shutdown.

www.stripes.com

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 20h

A Gold Star family’s volunteer efforts with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors will be featured on CBS as part of NCIS’ “Tuesdays of Honor” campaign. www.stripes.com/living/enter...

‘NCIS’ spotlights Gold Star family’s volunteer work with TAPS

Jasmine Lopez and her family’s volunteer efforts with TAPS will be featured on CBS as part of the NCIS’ “Tuesdays of Honor” campaign.

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Stars and Stripes @starsandstripes.bsky.social · 21h

The Texas National Guard sent home some of the 200 troops who were sent with 24 hours’ notice to a federal mission in Illinois after they were found to be out of compliance with certain standards, state military officials said Saturday. www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...

Some Texas Guard troops fail to meet standards, return home

Some of the National Guard troops that Texas sent to Chicago on President Trump’s orders were found to be out of compliance with some standards.

www.stripes.com

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