Open Conflict With Iran is Now Likely. Sweden Upgrades Nuclear Bunkers.

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, news of a bid solar flare, and we look at some global conflicts.

Sun Unleashes Powerful Earth-Facing M5.6 Solar Flare

Reader Mike in Alaska sent this news: Sun unleashes powerful M5.6 solar flare and Earth is in the firing line — are auroras incoming?

Germany Deploys Troops to Lithuania

Germany launches first permanent foreign deployment since WWII – and it’s on Putin’s doorstep.

Open Conflict With Iran is Now Likely

Some quite load and clear war drums…

SECDEF: One Standard for Men, Women With a Combat MOS

T.T. sent this: SECDEF Orders One Standard for Men, Women in Combat Jobs. The article’s opening lines:

“Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military services to develop ‘sex-neutral’ physical standards for combat-arms jobs.

‘As the nature of warfare evolves and the demands on our service members grow more complex, it is imperative that we assess and refine the physical fitness standards that enable our readiness and lethality,’ he wrote in a March 30 memo.

He ordered the service secretaries to develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat-arms occupations from noncombat-arms jobs.

‘This effort will ensure that our standards are clear, mission-focused, and reflective of the unique physical demands placed on our Service members in various roles,’ Hegseth wrote.

The review follows past concerns from Hegseth that military readiness has diminished since 2016, when combat roles were first opened to women.”

‘UK Must Consider Conscription Now’

Reader Pat A. sent us this from The Sun: ‘UK must consider conscription NOW’…Calls for Labour to follow Europe’s frontline & ramp up readiness for war with Putin.

Sweden Upgrades Its Nuclear Bunkers

From The UK Express: Crisis in Sweden as nuclear bunkers are readied for WW3 clash. The articlke begins:

“Sweden has announced a £7.7million plan to modernise its civil defence bunkers after warning Swedes to prepare for the risk of war. The Scandinavian country which shares a border with Russia has 64,000 such bunkers. Space is said to be sufficient enough for seven million people, almost three quarters of Sweden’s 10.5 million population.

The country’s Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is reported to be inspecting the shelters, some of which can accommodate thousands of people. The bunkers offer protection against the blast and heatwaves triggered by a nuclear weapon as well as radioactive fallout, gas from chemical or biological weapons and bomb fragments.”

YETI Won’t Make Cups With The Word ‘Conservative’

Reader D.S.V. spotted this: YETI Refuses To Customize Cups With The Word ‘Conservative’. JWR’s Keep that in mind, the next you need a camping cooler.

Philippines ‘Inevitably’ Involved if Taiwan is Invaded

Military chief says Philippines ‘inevitably’ involved if Taiwan invaded. A quote:

“The Philippines’ military chief said Tuesday the country would ‘inevitably’ be involved if neighboring Taiwan was invaded while warning China was working to infiltrate the Filipino military and other institutions.

General Romeo Brawner made the comments as Beijing’s military surrounded Taiwan in large-scale exercises it said was practice for a blockade of the self-ruled island which China has vowed to one day bring under its control.’Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan,’ he told troops in northern Luzon island.’Because if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved,” Brawner said without naming the potential invader.'”