Philippines Gunning For Fast And Massive Military Build-Up + More

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MANILA –“We are not satisfied with minimum [deterrence capability alone]…movement is life, stagnation is death,” Colonel Micheal Logico, a top strategist at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), recently told this reporter when asked about the country’s evolving defense strategy.“We [need] to elevate ourselves into a world-class armed forces,” he added.

Philippines Gunning For Fast And Massive Military Build-Up

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Batanes eyed for Balikatan military drills

Report: US Military Advisors Deployed to Taiwan-Controlled Islands on China’s Coast

US Merchant Marine Sailors Were Target Of Houthi Attack + World War II Combat Tactics Return To The Red Sea

BREAKING Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the Iranian-backed militants fired a large number of ballistic and naval missiles and drones at a U.S. flagged ship manned by US Merchant Marine sailors who were “providing support” to Israel. No update yet from the head of the US Merchant Marine, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

US Merchant Marine Sailors Were Target Of Houthi Attack

H/T: What is Going on With Shipping?

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Greyhound Day: World War II Combat Tactics Return To The Red Sea

What is clear is that the US military has repeatedly warned ship owners and officers against sharing information with journalists, Wall Street analysts, and supply chain experts. While journalists and supply chains may be under-reporting the issue, ship owners are sharing more alarming stories among themselves. This information asymmetry could lead to more ships avoiding the region, while freight forwarders, cargo brokers, and other professionals further down the supply chain may be unprepared for the full extent of the delays.

Indonesia trashes Pentagon’s ‘joint statement’ on China and Russia

Jakarta stressed its “non-aligned” status and said it seeks good ties with all countries.

Indonesia trashes Pentagon’s ‘joint statement’ on China and Russia

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No joint statement with US on China’s South China Sea claims: Subianto

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Chinese Embassy Spokesperson’s Remarks

U.S. Now Promising To Fast-Track F-16 Fighters For Ukraine

The U.S. government has reportedly assured authorities in Denmark and the Netherlands that it will expedite approval of any requests they submit to transfer F-16 Viper fighters to Ukraine. When the Ukrainian Air Force might actually get any of those jets is still unclear amid uncertainty that has been brewing about the multi-national program to train the country’s pilots to fly them and support personnel to maintain them.

U.S. Now Promising To Fast-Track F-16 Fighters For Ukraine: Report

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US calls on NATO states to send F-16s to Ukraine – Reuters

Speaking in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin predicted that F-16s “will burn” just like the Western tanks supplied to Kiev, and said that Russia will find ways to strike at sites outside Ukraine if the jets end up being based there. Operating the F-16 requires pristine runways, which Ukraine does not possess.

CDC: Illicit biolab found in California posed no dangers, while FDA recalls certain pregnancy, ovulation, and UTI tests

Jesalyn Harper, the only full-time code enforcement officer for the small, agricultural city of Reedley in California’s Central Valley, was responding to a complaint about vehicles parked in the loading dock of a cold-storage warehouse when she noticed a foul smell and saw a garden hose snaking into the old building.

CDC: Illicit biolab found in California posed no dangers

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Do not use certain pregnancy, ovulation, UTI tests, FDA warns

The tests may have been distributed under brand names such as AC&C, HealthyWiser, Home Health US and Prestige Biotech.

The US should be very careful about what it promises to do for Ukraine

  • US shouldn’t support or extend a security guarantee — through NATO or bilaterally — to Ukraine.
  • Doing so would endanger US national security and increase the odds of a direct clash with Russia.
  • Daniel L. Davis is a senior fellow at Defense Priorities and a retired US Army lieutenant colonel.
The US should be very careful about what it promises to do for Ukraine

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Why NATO Won’t Back Automatic Membership For Ukraine

It is understandable that Zelensky passionately desires to join NATO. But the alliance is composed of 31 current members and their individual and collective needs must be considered in equal amounts to the desires of the Ukrainian president. The harsh truth is that there is no viable path to a military victory for Ukraine, now or in the foreseeable future, regardless of how many planes, tanks, and missiles the West may contribute.