Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

View in browser

July 29, 2021

 

Senate unanimously passes bill that would keep National Guard from halting training operations The spending bill would provide $521 million to reimburse the National Guard, as well as more than $70 million to support more U.S. Capitol Police officers, plus hazard pay, overtime and retention bonuses for the police. The bill also includes $1.1 billion in relief to Afghans who worked with the U.S. during nearly two decades of war in the country. READ MORE

‘Surprised and unready’: Afghan forces have faced surge of attacks since US-Taliban deal, report says Afghanistan faces an “existential crisis” after a continuing rise in Taliban attacks that began well ahead of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country, a government watchdog agency said. READ MORE

US Navy sends warship through the Taiwan Strait for seventh time this year The guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold’s passage comes just after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman’s visit to China this week. READ MORE   US could become involved in another conflict like Afghanistan, inspector general warns John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, made the comments as the SIGAR office released its latest quarterly report, which provided a grim outlook on the state of Afghanistan as the U.S. military ends its involvement in the war by Aug. 31. READ MORE   New bill extends access to mammograms in 15 states where VA doesn't perform them The bill, titled the Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act, gives the VA one year to start a pilot program for veterans who live in states where the department doesn’t offer in-house mammography services. Those states are Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. READ MORE

More than 370 National Guard troops fighting wildfires in western states Oregon, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California and Wyoming have contributed soldiers and airmen to help combat fires across the West. The latter three states have contributed a total of four C-130 transport planes outfitted with firefighting equipment. READ MORE   COVID-19 has had ‘very little impact’ on Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia, admiral says Rear Adm. Chris Engdahl, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7, said certain components of Talisman Sabre, which began in late June and runs through mid-August, have been adjusted in light of COVID-19, but the pandemic also provided unplanned training opportunities. READ MORE   Coast Guard Sector Guam rebrands itself during cutters’ triple commissioning ceremony The cutters Frederick Hatch, Myrtle Hazard and Oliver Henry were commissioned together during a ceremony on Guam. READ MORE   Green Beret who died at Special Forces dive school was a husband and father of three Staff Sgt. Micah E. Walker, of Peyton, Colo., is survived by his wife and three children, 1st Special Forces Command said in a statement Thursday. He was serving with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at the time of his death. READ MORE   Japanese court decision forces Okinawa to approve coral transplant project for Marine base Forced by a decision by Japan’s Supreme Court, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki announced the prefecture’s acquiescence to a plan to move the coral colonies from Oura Bay, just offshore of the Marine Corps’ Camp Schwab READ MORE   Free meals will be provided at DODEA schools through upcoming school year Officials with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, which provides meals at 76 school cafeterias throughout Europe and the Pacific, said breakfast and lunch will be free at the DODEA schools. The meals are also available to students learning virtually, said Chris Ward, an AAFES spokesman. READ MORE

 

© 2021 Stars and Stripes · 633 3rd St. NW Suite 116 Washington, DC 20001-3050 VISIT STRIPES.COM