Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

June 19, 2017     Policy experts urge Congress to back new round of base realignments and closures A bipartisan group of policy experts issued an open letter Monday urging members of Congress to drop their opposition to what would be the first round of base realignments and closures in more than a decade, saying it could save billions of Pentagon dollars and offset spending on other military needs.   After Russian threat, Dunford says US forces 'have the capability to take care of themselves' “I’m confident that we are still communicating between our operations center and the Russian Federation center,” Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the National Press Club in Washington. “I’m also confident that our forces have the capability to take care of themselves.”   Navy finds $500 million for 2nd littoral combat ship in 2018 The U.S. Navy has found $500 million to buy a second Littoral Combat Ship in next year's budget after scrounging that was required because the vessel was left out of the Trump administration's proposed budget sent to Congress last month.   Flooding, weak bulkheads remain problems for USS Fitzgerald after collision Sailors from multiple ships across 7th Fleet are volunteering to assist the USS Fitzgerald’s crew with damage-response efforts in the aftermath of a fatal collision off the coast of Japan.   Navy identifies 7 sailors killed in USS Fitzgerald collision near Japan The Navy has named the seven USS Fitzgerald sailors who died after the destroyer collided with a cargo ship Saturday off the coast of Japan.   Dozens of S. Koreans hold pro-USFK rally to counter 2ID concert boycott Dozens of South Koreans waved American flags and signs with slogans like “Deploy THAAD immediately” and “Strong ROK-US alliance” during a rally Monday to support the 2nd Infantry Division after several musicians boycotted a recent concert celebrating its centennial.   Guided-missile destroyer Dewey to visit S. Korean island ahead of joint war games A guided-missile destroyer will make a port call to the South Korean island of Jeju on Tuesday ahead of joint maritime exercises, the Navy said, amid rising tensions with the North.   US student Otto Warmbier dies, days after release from North Korea Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was released by North Korea in a coma last week, died Monday afternoon. He was 22.   Scientists are testing the political waters Across the country, scientists — card-carrying members of an elite that prizes expertise — are exiting their ivory towers to enter the political fray.   UK moves to ease tensions after van attack on London Muslims British authorities and Islamic leaders moved swiftly to ease concerns in the Muslim community after a man plowed a large van into a crowd of worshippers outside a north London mosque early Monday, injuring at least nine people.   Car rams police vehicle on Paris' Champs-Elysees; attacker dies A man on the radar of French authorities for extremism was killed Monday after ramming a car carrying arms and explosives into a police convoy on Paris' famed Champs-Elysees Avenue, setting off a fiery blast and a cloud of orange smoke, officials said. France's anti-terrorism prosecutor opened an investigation.