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US ambassador thanks Japan for defense upgrade and allowing a Patriot missile sale to US

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised Japan’s contribution to drastic “reform and modernization” of their alliance, particularly its military capability and spending, as well as a decision to allow Japanese-made Patriot guided missiles to be shipped to the United States to make up for its decreasing inventory.In a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Wednesday, Emanuel noted a series of steps Japan has taken to bolster its military power and the countries’ alliance, saying it brings the “level of deterrence to capital D deterrence.” In the latest move, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government on Friday eased its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, a move seen as a major break from Japan’s postwar self-defense-only principle. It also approved a 16.5% increase in defense spending next year to a record 7.95 trillion-yen ($56 billion) with a focus on missile strike and defense capabilities.The revision to the a...

Add an old English twist to your holiday cocktails with sloe gin. Here are 4 recipes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Sloe gin is a festive old English drink that’s especially well-suited to the winter holidays. You can drink it over ice, try it in a cocktail, or forage for sloe berries and make a home batch. Family recipes have been passed down for generations, but for novices, it’s easy to experiment at home.THE BERRIESSloe gin’s origins go back to the hedgerows of blackthorn bushes that served as fences all across England when common farmland was divvied up in the 17th century. Their plum-like, inky blue-purple sloe berries became synonymous with the English countryside.After realizing that the raw berries tasted tart and astringent, people tried to make wine from them. But the astringency remained, and then “someone had the bright idea of resting it on a spirit,” says Joe Horning, the liquid quality and innovations manager at the London-based Sipsmith Gin.By steeping sloe berries in alcohol, the low-quality gin of the time was transformed into a more palatable tipple. ...

Man trapped for 6 days in wrecked truck in Indiana rescued after being spotted by passersby

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

PORTAGE, Ind. (AP) — A man who had been trapped for days in his crashed pickup truck was rescued Tuesday after two fishermen spotted the wreckage, Indiana State Police said.Two men were scouting fishing locations when they found the man in his badly damaged vehicle, Sgt. Glen Fifield told local news outlets.“They touched the body, and the person turned their head and started talking to them. So, that got a little rise out of them,” Fifield said.The driver told the men he had been trapped since Dec. 20. The pickup had wrecked along Interstate 94 near Portage below an underpass where it could not be seen from the highway above.The man, in his 20s, was airlifted to a hospital in South Bend for treatment of life-threatening injuries, Fifield said.The driver’s name hasn’t been released. He had not been reported missing, Fifield said.Portage is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Chicago.The Associated Press

Concealed carry holder foils attempted carjacking on city's West Side; multiple gunshots fired: CPD

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

CHICAGO — An attempted carjacking was foiled in the Garfield Park neighborhood on the city's West Side, resulting in multiple gunshots fired.In a preliminary investigation, Chicago police report that two victims, a 65-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, were inside a car in the 100 block of N. Kostner Ave. when four unknown armed male offenders exited a silver SUV and approached them just before 5 a.m. Wednesday.The offenders demanded the vehicle, but the male victim produced a handgun and fired shots at the offenders, which did not strike anyone. Police say the man is a valid Concealed Carry License and Firearm Owners Identification Card holder in the state of Illinois.According to police, one of the offenders then returned fire at the victims, striking the female in the chest and grazing the male's right calf. The offenders then got back in the silver SUV and fled the scene. Man shot, killed while parking car in Cicero Police say both victims were transported to West Suburban ...

Disney claims in lawsuit that DeSantis-appointed government is violating Florida public records law

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Disney has filed a lawsuit claiming that the oversight government for Walt Disney World, which was taken over by appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year, has failed to release documents and properly preserve records in violation of Florida public records law.Disney said in the lawsuit filed Friday that the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, often referred to as CFTOD, has been so slow in fulfilling its public records duties that it has failed to respond completely to a request the company made seven months ago when it paid more than $2,400 to get emails and text messages belonging to the five district board members appointed by DeSantis.Disney, DeSantis and the DeSantis appointees already are battling for control of the government in two pending lawsuits in federal and state court. Marvel, Disney drop actor Jonathan Majors after he’s convicted of assault The public records lawsuit is asking a judge to review any documents that the district c...

Dean shares recipes for 3 New Years Eve appetizers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards shares three recipe ideas for New Years Eve appetizers.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too! Spicy Greek Feta Dip Ingredients:  10 ounce block Greek feta cheese, broken into chunks, plus more for garnish 1 red chili pepper or jalapeno, trimmed and roughly chopped (leave the seeds for extra spice)  2 small roasted red bell pepper,  (homemade or 12-ounce jar fire-roasted red peppers, drained) 1 small garlic clove, chopped 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar Extra Virgin Olive Oil  2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley leaves, for garnish 4-5 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped, for garnish ½ French baguette, for serving (optional, or substitute with lettuce cups or pita chips) Instructions:Make the d...

Crash closes lanes on I-35 southbound in Kyle, causes major backups

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) -- A crash on Interstate 35 closed all but one lane on the southbound side of the interstate.The crash was reported just before 7 a.m. and is located near Windy Hill Drive, near exits 215 to 217. Real Time Traffic Map Traffic was backed up for about two miles as of 8:30 a.m. Details on the incident are limited, but KXAN has reached out to first responders and will update this story when we receive a response.

Car seat inspection by Colonie Police Department

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Colonie Police Department will be inspecting car seats from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Shaker-Road Loudonville Fire Department on Wednesday. No appointments are necessary. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! This year, the Colonie Police Department inspected over 250 car seats this year and only seven were installed correctly.

Free family skate day at North Adams Ice Rink

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

NORTH ADAMS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Get all the holiday festivities in while you can! From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a free family ice skating day will be held at the North Adams Ice Rink, located at 1267 South Church Street. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! There will be free rentals, light snacks, and hot chocolate offered. No registration is required.

'The Gilded Age,' shot in the Capital Region, renewed for season 3

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:39 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The HBO series "The Gilded Age" has been renewed for a third season. The season 2 finale aired on December 17 and HBO announced it was renewed for season 3 on December 21. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “The Gilded Age” is a series set in 1882, starring Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, and Carrie Coon. The show follows the social war between the old ways and new systems in 1880s New York City."There is much more story to tell with 'The Gilded Age.' We're delighted that HBO is giving fans another season of Julian Fellowes' incredible storytelling," said Erin Underhill, President of Universal Television. "The cast and crew put so much of their heart and soul into the last two seasons, and we're so proud that all this hard work is paying off with another season… you won't want to miss what's next." Capital Region restaurants set to open in 2024 "The Gilded Age" filmed in Troy for the first season in May 2021. T...