FORMER Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed appreciation for the warm welcome she received from the Filipino community on Saipan. She and her husband, Jose Miguel “Mike” Tuason Arroyo, with Tuloy Foundation officials, including its chairman, Raymond Tan, the twin brother of Tan Holdings Corp. CEO and President Jerry Tan, had lunch at Pepoy’s Café & Restaurant on Thursday. Joining them were officials of the NMI Football Association.

Former Philippine president arrives for 2-day Saipan visit

The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A recently signed agreement will open a direct line of communication between the presidential offices of China and the Philippines to help prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea, according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday. China and the Philippines have created such emergency telephone hotlines at lower levels in the past to better manage disputes, particularly in two fiercely disputed shoals where the Philippines has accused Chinese forces of increasingly hostile actions and China says Philippine ships have encroached despite repeated warnings. The territorial disputes, however, have persisted since last year, sparking fears of a larger armed conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, a key Asian treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed waters. U.S. Gen. Charles Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner in Manila on Tuesday and discussed ways to further boost defense ties, enhance the militaries’ ability to operate jointly and ensure regional ability, the Philippine military said.

New deal establishes a hotline Chinese and Philippine presidents can use to stop clashes at sea

Defense News

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea have persisted between the two countries since last year, sparking fears of a larger armed conflict.

China, Philippines set up hotline to prevent South China Sea clashes

The Week

Clashes bring U.S., China closer to conflict

Could World War III start in the Philippines?

Business Insider

Thousands of Chinese migrants trekked last year to the US border after arriving in Ecuador, which is cutting their visa-free access.

The thousands of Chinese migrants headed to the US-Mexico border just lost their key entry point to America

Georgia State

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Tallahassee, FL

Daily Coffee Press

The FBI is investigating the disappearance of a now 13-year-old girl who went missing from Florida last year and has ties to Georgia and Tennessee. A $15,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that can lead to her location.

FBI Investigating Disappearance of 12-Year-Old Girl Who Has Ties to Georgia

Local media reported that while Japanese authorities believe the ship made a mistake, its captain is still being questioned for the 20-minute incident.

Japan is scrambling to explain why its naval destroyer pushed into Chinese waters where Beijing was conducting live-fire drills near Taiwan

The Independent

 Philippine forces will defend themselves with “the same level of force” if they come under assault again from China’s coast guard in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese personnel armed with machetes and spears injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged two of their boats in a chaotic faceoff last month, the Philippine military chief said Thursday.Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. asked China to pay 60 million pesos ($1 million) in damages for the two navy boats and return seven rifles which he said were seized by Chinese coast guard personnel during the June17...

Philippine military chief warns his forces will fight back if assaulted again in disputed sea

Kentucky State

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Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

Chicago, IL

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Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

THE Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau will seek the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s laboratory assistance in examining an “incomplete set of bones” found in a Marpi cave by hikers on July 7, 2024. Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop, the acting DPS public information...

DPS will ask FBI to examine skeletal remains found in Marpi cave

Savannah, GA

Newly returned indictments in the Southern District of Georgia include felony charges for illegal firearms possession and drug distribution, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal gun charges.

Federal Charges in Southern GA: Indictments and Sentences for Firearms and Drug Offenses

Ocilla, GA

Last Thursday, agents from the South Central Drug Task Force (SCDTF) made an arrest following a successful execution of a search warrant at a residence in Ocilla. According to officials, the search yielded a significant quantity of drugs, including tablets suspected to contain fentanyl, associated with a criminal street gang.

Successful Drug Bust in Ocilla Leads to Arrest Linked to 'Local Criminal Street Gang'

The dirt airstrip on Peleliu, 2,500 kilometres from the Chinese coast, played a pivotal role in World War II, when China was a US ally and Japan the adversary. Now, the modest airfield, immortalised in several books, documentaries, and the 2010 HBO mini-series "The Pacific," finds itself at the centre of a modern arms race between Washington and Beijing.

US Reopens Historic WWII Airstrip Amid Rising Pacific Tensions

Missouri State

Fulton, MO

CJ Coombs

Updated on July 17, 2024, concerning two of the missing children listed below. Bringing them home: for 40 years, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has been helping to locate missing children.

Seven teenagers have been missing in Missouri since June 2024

Reuters

DARWIN, Australia (Reuters) - An Italian carrier strike group on its first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region will sail through the South China Sea to the Philippines after participating in war games with U.S. allies in Australia, a senior Italian navy official said on Thursday.

Italy carrier strike group joins Australia war games, will visit Philippines

Washington State

Mill Creek, WA

Timothy A Gruver

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries reported on Wednesday that it fined four roofing contractors more than a million dollars for letting their workers perform on top of homes without fall protection gear, among other safety violations.

Roofing Companies Fined $1.27M for Endangering Workers

The Hill

Although 80 world democracies rejected that approach, the largest democracies of Latin America looked atomized, small, and faint-hearted in the face of a great and extraordinary threat to humanity and world peace.

Opinion: Brazil, Mexico and Colombia say no to peace and yes to Putin

Hawaii State

WashingtonExaminer

If the United States were attacked by an adversary, NATO members would be obligated under Article Five of the treaty to view it as an attack on themselves — that is unless the attack occurs in Hawaii, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Article Six of the NATO treaty specifically lays out the geographic limitations of Article […]

Why Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam aren’t covered in NATO’s defense pact

Adel, GA

Last Friday, two men were arrested on charges following a joint investigation into drug trafficking in Adel, culminating in a search at their home. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the search took place on Friday, June 28, at the residence of 28-year-old Shyiem Marquon Banks and 36-year-old Roderick Dion Collins. Investigators discovered a substantial quantity of drugs, including 210 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 3.2 pounds of suspected marijuana, 13 grams of suspected alpha-PVP (Flakka/bath salts), over 90 suspected oxycodone tablets, and 2 firearms.

Two Arrested in South Georgia Drug Bust Uncovering Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Firearms

NewsBreak

Youth group asks the Philippine Congress to investigate ‘revenue loss’ at Malampaya gas field

MANILA, the Philippines (NYMWPS) — The National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea has officially addressed a letter dated July 15, 2024 to Philippine Senate President...

Youth group asks the Philippine Congress to investigate ‘revenue loss’ at Malampaya gas field

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