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Poland gets first U.S. HIMARS launchers amid security concerns over war in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland has received its first shipment of U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launchers, part of an upgrade of its defenses amid security concerns due to the war in neighboring Ukraine. Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak and other military officials attended the acquisition ceremony Monday at an air base in Warsaw. He stressed the HIMARS launchers had been proven in combat in Ukraine and that NATO member Poland was seeking to procure additional launchers, to reach a total strength of some 500 units. Under a 2019 contract, Poland is spending some $414 million (380 million euros) to buy 18 advanced combat HIMARS launchers and two HIMARS training launchers, with ammunition and related equipment. Poland is buying billions of dollars’ worth of weapons, chiefly from the U.S. and South Korea, to modernize its armed forces. The deal includes logistics and training.Some of the equipment will replace weapons – including over a dozen Soviet-made MiG-29 jet fighters –...

Government supporters call for Pakistani chief justice to quit over releasing ex-Premier Imran Khan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Thousands of Pakistani government supporters converged on the country’s Supreme Court on Monday, in a rare challenge to the nation’s judiciary. Protesters demanded the resignation of the chief justice over ordering the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.The Pakistan Democratic Alliance, a grouping of 13 political parties affiliated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, called for the protests.Khan’s dramatic detention from a courtroom in Islamabad last week sparked outrage among legions of his supporters, who set buildings and vehicles ablaze across major cities and attacked military facilities. At least 10 people died in pitched battles with police. Dozens were injured and thousands of Khan’s supporters from his Tehreek-e-Insaf party were arrested.The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, intervened and ordered him to be freed. Bandial criticized the way Khan was arrested and said that his detention was unlawful. But ...

Hormone therapy should be offered to more women with severe menopause: review

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

More women suffering from “debilitating” symptoms of menopause should be presented with the option of hormonal therapy, according to a paper published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on Monday.“There’s a whole constellation of menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, some of which can be extremely debilitating, especially to what is relatively a young woman in our day and age,” said Dr. Iliana Lega, an endocrinologist at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and the paper’s lead author.“Every day we see how few women are asked about menopausal symptoms (and) are informed about the treatment options and we just feel there’s an ongoing need to improve education on this topic,” she said.Women in their 40s and 50s are raising children and could be at the peak of their careers while trying to live with distressing symptoms, she said.“Having disrupted sleep, having frequent hot flashes, having irritability a...

Liz Weston: 3 steps to downsize in a hurry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

Ideally, you’d spend months or even years carefully purging excess belongings — but life may have other plans. Maybe you or someone you love has a health crisis and needs to move into assisted living. Or someone has died and their home has to be cleared before next month’s rent is due. Maybe you’re just moving soon and want to significantly lighten your load.If you need to downsize in a hurry, here’s how to go about it while minimizing stress — and avoiding sending something valuable to the dump.1. GATHER PAPERWORK, PHOTOS, PRESCRIPTIONS, PERISHABLESDealing with paperwork and photos takes time you may not have, says professional organizer Katherine Lawrence of Ashland, Virginia. Consider boxing unsorted documents and photos for temporary storage in a climate-controlled area, Lawrence suggests.Make a plan to sort through the boxes later, since you don’t want to store old bills and blurry photos indefinitely any more than you want to risk throwing away something important if you rush....

South Korean president urges expanded technology cooperation with Japan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese business leaders on Monday and called for expanded technology cooperation between the countries, which he described as a key element in broader efforts to improve relations.Yoon has met twice with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in recent weeks, demonstrating their intent to overcome historical grievances that have strained ties for years and to strengthen cooperation in response to shared challenges, including a nuclear-armed North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.They will meet again this weekend at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations in Hiroshima, where they will also hold talks together with U.S. President Joe Biden, who has been seeking to strengthen alliances with Japan and South Korea to counter North Korea and China.Meeting with a delegation led by Mikio Sasaki, the former chairman of the board of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. who heads the J...

Brandon Johnson to be sworn in as Chicago's 57th mayor Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago will get a new mayor Monday when Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is sworn in.Johnson will arguably be the most progressive mayor Chicagoans have elected. WATCH: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot leaves city hall for last time He will become the 57th mayor and the leader of America's third-largest city.His administration will face several challenges on day one, including choosing a new police superintendent and coming up with a plan to fight violence, which normally spikes during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and summer. On Saturday, Brandon Johnson resigned as a Cook County Commissioner. His full resignation letter is below. “Today, I announced my resignation from the Cook County Board of Commissioners. As excited as I am about my future as mayor of Chicago, I am also sobered and humbled to be leaving my constituents and colleagues on the Board, because together, we have done so much important work to transform Cook County government.“As I look back on these last fou...

Woman found in U-Haul during traffic stop; Maryland man arrested for kidnapping

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WDVM) - A 62-year-old Maryland man was arrested Friday night after allegedly kidnapping a woman and making her sit, naked, in a U-Haul as he drove around for hours. Maryland State Police said Dennis Bell of Lanham faces 14 criminal charges including first-degree assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, fourth-degree sex offense, possession of suspected crack cocaine, and driving while impaired. Bell also faces 19 traffic charges related to the incident. Who is Tonya Dawn Hughes? The story behind Netflix’s new true crime doc According to authorities, Bell was driving a U-Haul truck in Washington, D.C. Friday morning when he encountered the victim at a convenience store. He allegedly pushed her into the truck and threatened to kill her if she didn't do what he told her, the woman explained to police. The woman said Bell drove around all day as she sat on the floorboard, Maryland State Police wrote in a press release. She added that, at one point, Bell ...

Under the sea: Florida professor sets record for living underwater

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP) — A university professor broke a record for the longest time living underwater without depressurization this weekend at a Florida Keys lodge for scuba divers.Joseph Dituri’s 74th day residing in Jules’ Undersea Lodge, situated at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep lagoon in Key Largo, wasn’t much different than his previous days there since he submerged March 1.Dituri, who also goes by the moniker “Dr. Deep Sea,” ate a protein-heavy meal of eggs and salmon prepared using a microwave, exercised with resistance bands, did his daily pushups and took an hour-long nap. Unlike a submarine, the lodge does not use technology to adjust for the increased underwater pressure.The previous record of 73 days, two hours and 34 minutes was set by two Tennessee professors -- Bruce Cantrell and Jessica Fain -- at the same location in 2014.But Dituri isn't just settling for the record and resurfacing: He plans to stay at the lodge until June 9, when he reaches 100 days and com...

How to keep mosquitoes away: Tips from Texans, pest control experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Texas is getting hotter as summer draws near, which means mosquitoes are out and about. Mosquito bites are itchy and annoying, but the insects can also pose health risks by spreading diseases and viruses like Zika, West Nile, dengue fever, encephalitis and canine heartworm. Austin Public Health (APH) said Austin-Travis County saw one case of West Nile in a patient just last year and identified six positive mosquito pools throughout the county. Mosquito preventionAPH said mosquitoes can be avoided through the "Four D's": Dusk and dawn: Although different species of mosquitoes are active at different times of day, the species that spread West Nile Virus are most active between dusk and dawn. Dress: Wear pants and long sleeves when you are outside. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing; mosquito-repellent clothing is also available  DEET: Apply insect repellent that contains DEET. Read and follow label instructions. Spray both ex...

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to veto pared-down school choice bill, warns of special sessions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) – Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday said he would veto a toned-down version of a bill to offer school vouchers in Texas, and threatened to call legislators back for special sessions if they don't "expand the scope of school choice" this month."Parents and their children deserve no less," he said in a statement. His dramatic declaration came the night before the House Public Education Committee was scheduled to hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 8, the school voucher bill. That measure passed the Senate more than a month ago, but has so far been stalled in lower chamber as it lacks sufficient support.The committee is set to vote Monday on the latest version of SB 8, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, which would significantly roll back voucher eligibility to only students with disabilities or those that attended an F-rated campus. This would mean that fewer than a million students would be eligible to enter the program.Abbott doesn't b...