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⚡️The Pentagon says the US is not planning to scale down its military presence in Europe
Sputnik
⚡️The Pentagon says the US is not planning to scale down its military presence in Europe
Washington doesn't plan to change troop numbers in the Baltics and Poland, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby tweeted.
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▪️ A man who became trapped in a collapsed mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania on Friday has died at the scene, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
A rescue operation lasted for hours and continued through the night. Officials reportedly believe that a roof fell on the equipment the man had been working at and fatally injured him.
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A rescue operation lasted for hours and continued through the night. Officials reportedly believe that a roof fell on the equipment the man had been working at and fatally injured him.
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Sputnik International
Washington doesn't plan to change troop numbers in the Baltics and Poland, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby tweeted. Subscribe to @sputniknewsus
⚡️ US has no plans to deploy offensive missile systems in Ukraine, says progress possible – official
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🇷🇺🇺🇸 The White House briefing on the Monday talks with Russia on strategic stability:
🔻the delegations will likely hold initial talks on Sunday night ahead of the main meeting;
🔻the US not optimistic about the outcomes of the talks, but has realistic approach;
🔻the US willing to find overlapping areas with Russia where progress can be made, including issues of offensive missile systems in Ukraine and scope of military exercises near each other's territories, but only on the basis of reciprocity;
🔻the US will NOT discuss reducing its military presence in Europe.
🔻the delegations will likely hold initial talks on Sunday night ahead of the main meeting;
🔻the US not optimistic about the outcomes of the talks, but has realistic approach;
🔻the US willing to find overlapping areas with Russia where progress can be made, including issues of offensive missile systems in Ukraine and scope of military exercises near each other's territories, but only on the basis of reciprocity;
🔻the US will NOT discuss reducing its military presence in Europe.
💰 PayPal confirms it's exploring the launch of its own stablecoin
PayPal has been expanding its cryptocurrency business since it opened trading to all users in 2020. It allowed US customers to check out with cryptocurrency and increased its crypto buy limit over the past year.
A developer named Steve Moser found hidden code and images for a "PayPal Coin" in the company's app and shared them with Bloomberg. Based on what he discovered, the PayPal Coin will be backed by the US dollar.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies backed by fiat currencies and are typically more, well, stable than their decentralized counterparts. Meta (formerly Facebook) has big crypto plans, as well, and was supposed to launch a digital wallet that supports its own stablecoin called Diem.
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PayPal has been expanding its cryptocurrency business since it opened trading to all users in 2020. It allowed US customers to check out with cryptocurrency and increased its crypto buy limit over the past year.
A developer named Steve Moser found hidden code and images for a "PayPal Coin" in the company's app and shared them with Bloomberg. Based on what he discovered, the PayPal Coin will be backed by the US dollar.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies backed by fiat currencies and are typically more, well, stable than their decentralized counterparts. Meta (formerly Facebook) has big crypto plans, as well, and was supposed to launch a digital wallet that supports its own stablecoin called Diem.
Subscribe to @sputniknewsus
📲 Mobile sports betting is now legal in New York State
You can now use your phone to bet on sports if you live in New York. CNBC reports the state has legalized mobile sports betting as of January 8th. Multiple companies are already taking bets as of 9AM Eastern, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook and Rush Street Interactive.
The move came after former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo changed his mind on online sports betting. He saw it as an opportunity to keep more tax revenue and make the state the largest betting market in the US.
New York's 51 percent tax rate on gambling revenue is much steeper than New Jersey's 13 percent, and that could prevent the Empire State from claiming the lead for years
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You can now use your phone to bet on sports if you live in New York. CNBC reports the state has legalized mobile sports betting as of January 8th. Multiple companies are already taking bets as of 9AM Eastern, including DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook and Rush Street Interactive.
The move came after former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo changed his mind on online sports betting. He saw it as an opportunity to keep more tax revenue and make the state the largest betting market in the US.
New York's 51 percent tax rate on gambling revenue is much steeper than New Jersey's 13 percent, and that could prevent the Empire State from claiming the lead for years
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❄️ The snowstorm took reporter Laura Trevelyan by surprise, hitting her in the face. Ms. Trevelyan recounted the backstories of the shocking events of a year ago, unaware of the impending snowdrift.
After 20 seconds of broadcast, a huge flurry of snow smacks her in the face, putting the poor reporter on hold.
Looks like the spirit of the Capitol has risen
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After 20 seconds of broadcast, a huge flurry of snow smacks her in the face, putting the poor reporter on hold.
Looks like the spirit of the Capitol has risen
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🏥 Hospitalizations skyrocket in kids too young for COVID shots
Hospitalizations of U.S. children under 5 with COVID-19 soared in recent weeks to their highest level since the pandemic began, according to government data released Friday on the only age group not yet eligible for the vaccine.
Since mid-December, with the highly contagious omicron variant spreading furiously around the country, the hospitalization rate in young kids has surged to more than 4 in 100,000 children, up from 2.5 per 100,000.
The severity of illness among children during the omicron wave seems lower than it was with the delta variant, said Seattle Children’s Hospital critical care chief Dr. John McGuire.
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Hospitalizations of U.S. children under 5 with COVID-19 soared in recent weeks to their highest level since the pandemic began, according to government data released Friday on the only age group not yet eligible for the vaccine.
Since mid-December, with the highly contagious omicron variant spreading furiously around the country, the hospitalization rate in young kids has surged to more than 4 in 100,000 children, up from 2.5 per 100,000.
The severity of illness among children during the omicron wave seems lower than it was with the delta variant, said Seattle Children’s Hospital critical care chief Dr. John McGuire.
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🎼 Marilyn Bergman, Oscar-winning lyricist dies at 93
The Oscar-winning lyricist who collaborated with her husband, Alan Bergman, on some of the most enduring pop songs heard at the movies, among them “The Way We Were” and “The Windmills of Your Mind,” died Jan. 8 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 93.
Their songs, many of them full of romance and regret, were interpreted by entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and — most frequently — Barbra Streisand.
In an interview, Streisand compared their lyrics to “miniature three-act plays. They have a poetic grace that’s completely unique.”
Ms. Bergman became the first woman elected to the board of the American Society of Composers and Lyricists and served as president from 1994 to 2009.
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The Oscar-winning lyricist who collaborated with her husband, Alan Bergman, on some of the most enduring pop songs heard at the movies, among them “The Way We Were” and “The Windmills of Your Mind,” died Jan. 8 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 93.
Their songs, many of them full of romance and regret, were interpreted by entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and — most frequently — Barbra Streisand.
In an interview, Streisand compared their lyrics to “miniature three-act plays. They have a poetic grace that’s completely unique.”
Ms. Bergman became the first woman elected to the board of the American Society of Composers and Lyricists and served as president from 1994 to 2009.
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☃️ Just look at the cutest photos of country singer Lee Greenwood, who might be best known for his mega-hit "God Bless the USA".
Greenwood shared a photo with his family and a snowman decorated with an American flag.
Do you like it?
Greenwood shared a photo with his family and a snowman decorated with an American flag.
Do you like it?
🚓 Austin sees hundreds of sex offender cases removed from police officer supervision due to defunding
As of 2019, there were about 1,600 registered sex offenders in Austin according to the state's sex offender database. There is no law preventing any of them from living near schools or other places where children tend to congregate.
Those cases once handled by sworn police officers are now being monitored by civilian employees, including two who only work part-time. The civilian monitors lack arrest authority and some question whether they are able to keep up with the increased caseload.
Following the city’s decision to defund the police, Austin experienced a record-breaking 89 homicides in 2021, shattering the previous mark of 59.
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As of 2019, there were about 1,600 registered sex offenders in Austin according to the state's sex offender database. There is no law preventing any of them from living near schools or other places where children tend to congregate.
Those cases once handled by sworn police officers are now being monitored by civilian employees, including two who only work part-time. The civilian monitors lack arrest authority and some question whether they are able to keep up with the increased caseload.
Following the city’s decision to defund the police, Austin experienced a record-breaking 89 homicides in 2021, shattering the previous mark of 59.
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📡 FAA lists 50 airports that will have 5G buffer zones ahead of C-band expansion
With AT&T and Verizon set to bring their 5G expansion live on January 19th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has chosen 50 airports that will have buffer zones to help prevent flight disruptions.
The FAA notes that AT&T and Verizon have agreed to turn off their 5G transmitters at these specific buffer zones for six months, which should “minimize potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft instruments used in low-visibility landings.”
AT&T and Verizon have been itching to deploy their improved 5G service ever since they spent a combined $70 billion last year on securing chunks of the C-band spectrum.
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With AT&T and Verizon set to bring their 5G expansion live on January 19th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has chosen 50 airports that will have buffer zones to help prevent flight disruptions.
The FAA notes that AT&T and Verizon have agreed to turn off their 5G transmitters at these specific buffer zones for six months, which should “minimize potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft instruments used in low-visibility landings.”
AT&T and Verizon have been itching to deploy their improved 5G service ever since they spent a combined $70 billion last year on securing chunks of the C-band spectrum.
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🛰 Colossal Webb telescope completes a phenomenal feat in space
On Saturday, Jan. 8, two weeks after JWST successfully blasted into space, NASA and its Webb partners successfully unfolded and deployed the final major piece of the telescope, the second wing of its gold-coated mirrors. Now the telescope's honeycomb-like, over 21-foot-wide mirror, is in place.
The giant mirror it’s over 21-feet across — over two and a half times wider than the Hubble telescope's mirrors — to capture more light, and hence see deeper into space. The JWST will peer back over 13.5 billion years into the past, when the first galaxies were forming.
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On Saturday, Jan. 8, two weeks after JWST successfully blasted into space, NASA and its Webb partners successfully unfolded and deployed the final major piece of the telescope, the second wing of its gold-coated mirrors. Now the telescope's honeycomb-like, over 21-foot-wide mirror, is in place.
The giant mirror it’s over 21-feet across — over two and a half times wider than the Hubble telescope's mirrors — to capture more light, and hence see deeper into space. The JWST will peer back over 13.5 billion years into the past, when the first galaxies were forming.
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⚡️ Russia will not bow to US pressure or make any concessions, Deputy FM says ahead of Geneva meeting
Forwarded from Sputnik
🇷🇺🇺🇸Russia is disappointed by the signals from the US and NATO ahead of Geneva talks on security guarantees, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik.
What Russia is highly likely to see in Geneva is that the US and NATO do not want to really understand Moscow's point of view, according to Ryabkov.
Moscow regrets Washington's insistence on unilateral concessions from Russia, the diplomat said. However, Moscow will not give in to pressure from the West and will not make concessions, Ryabkov said.
What Russia is highly likely to see in Geneva is that the US and NATO do not want to really understand Moscow's point of view, according to Ryabkov.
Moscow regrets Washington's insistence on unilateral concessions from Russia, the diplomat said. However, Moscow will not give in to pressure from the West and will not make concessions, Ryabkov said.
💬 US veteran: Russia not bluffing and has 'all options on the table' for security talks with US & NATO
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on negotiations with the United States on security guarantees:
- Moscow will not succumb to US pressure and will not make any concessions, "this is completely out of the question"
- It is highly likely that in Geneva the Russian side will be faced with a US and NATO reluctance to perceive Moscow's position
- The Russian side arrived at the meeting with the United States with a clear task that needs to be solved on the terms announced by Moscow
- The unilateral approaches that the United States and NATO are promoting cannot serve as the basis for a discussion of security guarantees; if the partners prefer this approach, then further dialogue will lose its meaning
- Moscow will not succumb to US pressure and will not make any concessions, "this is completely out of the question"
- It is highly likely that in Geneva the Russian side will be faced with a US and NATO reluctance to perceive Moscow's position
- The Russian side arrived at the meeting with the United States with a clear task that needs to be solved on the terms announced by Moscow
- The unilateral approaches that the United States and NATO are promoting cannot serve as the basis for a discussion of security guarantees; if the partners prefer this approach, then further dialogue will lose its meaning
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Close shave: A Wyoming trooper jumps out the way of an SUV just in time