Latest news with #MAPS
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
What the Army is doing to keep its tanks alive against drones
Despite the claims of internet experts, tanks and other armor aren't obsolete, but they have a major problem. On modern battlefields, main battle tanks that were once the lords of the plains are being taken out by cheap quadcopter drones that some had written off as toys for idle hobbyists just ten years ago, despite their almost immediate weaponization by militant groups. Other threats, like loitering munitions, and a proliferation of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) with top-attack capability like the Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), make this one of the most dangerous times for armor since the British Mark I became the first tank to see combat on Sept. 15, 1916, on the Somme. With armor facing threats like never before, the Army is requesting $108 million in the fiscal year 2026 budget for technology to enhance its survivability. Leaders are funding a modular suite of protection technologies that can be added to current and future armed vehicles to keep them relevant and survivable. The branch, with thousands of Abrams tanks and armored vehicles like the Bradley and Stryker, is building the future fleet to detect threats early, disrupt them with jammers or sensor spoofing, defeat them with interceptors or directed energy weapons, and disappear using camouflage, signature reduction, and deception. At the heart of this new approach is the Modular Active Protection System (MAPS). It is essentially an operating system for vehicle defense, designed to let the Army, or anybody else, mix and match sensors, launchers, jammers, and countermeasures across its vehicle fleet. A MAPS-compatible Bradley or Abrams could field different defensive kits depending on the mission or threat environment. One of the key components of MAPS is the hard-kill interceptor — typically short-range projectiles designed to knock out incoming rockets, ATGMS, or drones. They're most commonly called active protection systems (APS). Systems like Trophy and Iron Fist have seen real-world success on Israeli vehicles. The Iron-First Light Decoupled was chosen to protect Bradleys while the Trophy APS has been on Abrams for some time. These systems have their drawbacks, however. They can be easily overwhelmed, require reloading, and are expensive, though a bargain if they keep a vehicle and the crew alive. Top Stories This Week News The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks By Matt White News A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time By Matt White News Marine who criticized leaders for Afghanistan withdrawal to head promotions review Marine who criticized leaders for Afghanistan withdrawal to head promotions review By Jeff Schogol According to the budget documents, $92 million of the $108 million requested is going to manufacture top attack defenses, commonly called 'cope cages.' The design hasn't been finalized, so it's yet unknown how effective they will be against drone-dropped munitions, which active protection systems can struggle with due to their angle of drop and the speed of the falling munition. Systems like Iron Fist are being updated to deal with this particular top attack threat, but as we mentioned, it can be easily overwhelmed. Another big piece of how the Army plans to protect against small drones is lasers, particularly the 50-kilowatt units mounted on Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD Stryker variants. These systems have undergone multiple rounds of testing and have been deployed to Europe and the Middle East. In these tests, the lasers proved capable of downing small drones, but not without problems. Soldiers identified that the weapon's power draw, which is significant, was complicated by the need to remain mobile and move often. Things like dust, rain, fog, and other common environmental elements on a battlefield also proved to be an issue. Leaders are also aware that the harder you are to see, the harder you are to kill, so they're investing in other passive protection measures. Technologies such as signature management paint are mentioned in the budget, but other efforts like noise-reduction and modular camouflage systems are being implemented as well. Reducing the electromagnetic, thermal, and acoustic signatures emitted from a vehicle can give crews time to identify a threat before it identifies them, and allow soldiers to employ whatever countermeasure is appropriate. What still remains to be seen is how effective all this will be, and if it can keep armor from sliding into irrelevance. In our latest YouTube video, we get deeper into what all these systems do well, what they don't, and if this will just turn tanks into even more expensive targets. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
7 Medications You Shouldn't Mix with Alcohol, According to Doctors
If you like to have a glass of wine or a cocktail every now and then but also take certain medications, you may have wondered if you shouldn't be mixing them. Well, we've got you covered. When it comes to drinking alcohol, there are plenty of warnings that come with it and guidance on how to do it responsibly. One of the most common warnings we tend to see is not to mix alcohol with medications. But what exactly does this mean? Does this mean you shouldn't take a pill and sip on an alcoholic beverage at the same time? Does this mean that you shouldn't drink alcohol if you're regularly taking medication? And what medications could actually be negatively affected? There are a lot of questions surrounding this particular warning, so we decided to ask medical doctors about what you really need to know about how alcohol can affect your medication. 'Alcohol and medication can interact in different ways based on the medication and the individual's physiology,' says Thomas Pontinen, M.D., co-founder of MAPS, an interventional pain management clinic based in Chicago. 'Many medications can become less effective with alcohol, which can be of concern for individuals who need their medication to stay healthy. This is because alcohol can affect the body's ability to absorb medication.' Here's the science behind which medications don't mix well with alcohol and what happens to your body—and the effectiveness of the medication—when you do drink alcohol while taking them. How Alcohol and Medication Interact 'Alcohol should be avoided while taking medication because, in general, it can make side effects worse, diminish the intended benefit of the medication, and threaten the health and well-being of the individual taking it,' Pontinen explains. 'It's also important to mention that alcohol and many medications are metabolized by the liver, so combining them can put a lot of stress on the essential organ and worsen other conditions like liver disease.' 'There are a range of side effects and symptoms that may occur, including change in blood pressure, fainting, change in behavior, maybe even nausea and vomiting or dizziness and headaches,' says Laura Purdy, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician and the medical director at EXILERA. 'When it comes to operating heavy machinery and driving a car, there are additional concerns because lack of coordination, change in mood, emotion and behavior can also be an issue. The effects might be stronger than you are used to, and you may feel more impaired after having one drink than you would typically plan for. Bottom line, your body can respond totally differently then, when both are consumed versus when just taking medications.' Here are 7 medications that shouldn't be mixed with alcohol: 1. Pain Relievers 'When alcohol is mixed with medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen, liver damage and gastrointestinal bleeding can be a result,' says Katy Dubinsky, Pharm.D., a pharmacist and the founder and CEO of Vitalize. 2. Antidepressants According to Purdy, antidepressants won't be as effective when mixed with alcohol, and in some cases, could even make symptoms worse. This includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Dubinsky explains that mixing the two can also make you feel more sleepy and less coordinated. 3. Antibiotics 'Taking certain antibiotics with alcohol might have serious side effects, such as headaches, flushing and nausea,' says Dubinsky. 'Examples of these include metronidazole and tinidazole.' In particular, alcohol causes dehydration in the body by inhibiting the release of vasopressin. Because getting enough fluids is vital for fighting an infection, drinking alcohol isn't advised because of the ways it can make symptoms worse—and prolong recovery. 4. Antipsychotics 'Alcohol may intensify the sedative effects of antipsychotic drugs, causing impairments in mental and physical abilities,' Dubinsky explains. Some of the more common symptoms of mixing the two include difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, fainting and, in severe cases, seizures or coma. 5. Anxiety Medication and Sedatives Alcohol coupled with drugs like benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium) and sleep aids (Ambien) can result in extreme drowsiness, respiratory difficulties and potentially life-threatening sedation, according to Dubinsky. 'Anxiety medications and alcohol consumption can cause abnormal behaviors, loss of memory and motor function control and, as with sleeping medications, difficulties breathing normally,' says Purdy. 6. Diabetes Medication Alcohol's interference with certain medications can put someone with diabetes at risk for low or high blood sugar, depending on what drink is consumed and the medication. Additionally, certain alcoholic beverages like beer and sweetened mixed drinks are high in carbohydrates, which can negatively affect a person's blood sugar levels. Symptoms of low blood sugar include double or blurry vision, sweating, tingling and numbness, tiredness or trouble sleeping, fast or pounding heartbeat, shaking or trembling, unclear thinking and more. The symptoms of high blood sugar to watch out for are feeling thirsty, tired or weak, headaches, peeing frequently and blurred vision. Dubinsky says this can occur for diabetes drugs such as insulin or sulfonylureas. 7. Blood Thinners Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, help prevent blood from clotting. People with certain heart conditions or congenital heart defects or those preparing for surgery take these medications. 'Drinking alcohol may interfere with the way warfarin and other blood thinners function, increasing the risk of clotting or bleeding,' says Dubinsky. Additional Consequences While these particular medications are important to keep in mind before consuming alcohol, in general, Purdy warns that there could be other underlying health conditions that could result in adverse (or even life-threatening) side effects when mixing the two. 'In some situations, the end result could be deadly, or overdosing can be a concern,' warns Purdy. 'If you have any underlying health conditions that you take medications for, or maybe are not aware of, there could be additional side effects and new symptoms that you could experience that could be life-threatening.' Plus, alcohol can make medicine less effective or even useless, and in some cases, it can react poorly with certain ingredients that are in your medications. How to Stay Safe No matter the medication—whether it's prescribed, over-the-counter or otherwise—Pontinen says it's important to speak with your doctor about the side effects before safely consuming alcohol. 'Combining medication and alcohol can be dangerous and even life-threatening, so do not willingly take risks and be sure to avoid alcohol while taking medication unless you're sure it's safe,' he says. 'Individuals who are under heavy sedative effects need to be monitored to make sure they do not risk injury or choking.' But what if you do consume alcohol while you're on medication? Pontinen says it's important to be in close contact with a loved one in case you fall out of consciousness. 'If you begin to experience severe symptoms of headache, gastrointestinal pain, nausea, dizziness or drowsiness after combining medication with alcohol, seek medical attention immediately and remain with a loved one who is prepared to help if need be until medical help arrives.' Our Expert Take There's a reason medical professionals recommend not consuming alcohol while on regular medication, especially medications such as pain relievers, antidepressants, antibiotics, antipsychotics, sedatives, diabetes medications and blood thinners. Not only could the medication not be as effective when mixed with alcohol, but your body could react poorly to the combination of the two. The side effects of mixing alcohol with medications could range from mild to severe, with some even being life-threatening. This why it's crucial to speak to a doctor before drinking alcohol while taking regular medication—whether it's a prescription or over-the-counter. If you do consume alcohol, be sure to connect with a trusted friend or family member to ensure that you're not alone if adverse side effects occur or if you need to seek medical attention. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Holt tackles bond vote, homelessness in annual State of the City address
Oklahoma City has climbed mountains in the last three decades, but still has more to climb, Mayor David Holt said in his annual State of the City address. Speaking to a sold-out crowd of about 1,475 people including elected officials, city employees, developers, business owners and others lucky enough to get a seat, Holt said the state of the city is 'assured.' The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber hosted the event at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on Wednesday, July 16. While the capstone of the event was the unveiling of renderings for the city's new NBA arena, Holt had much more to discuss. He reflected on the last three decades and pointed out the investments that Oklahoma City has made in itself that have paid off many times over. Those include efforts such as MAPS, bond initiatives and single-issue sales taxes, among others. He said the city stands at the metaphorical peak of a mountain and the city's rise is complete, though he joked that geographically, OKC is bereft of actual elevation. More: A 360-degree skyline view: Arena designs reveal a glass encased downtown jewel 'Now we stand upon the peak of that mountain that we were climbing for 33 years, and you know what you see when you stand upon the peak of a mountain? New mountains to climb,' he said. The arena's unveiling and Holt's address received a positive reaction. Krystal Yoseph, owner of Konjo Concepts, said the video of the arena brought tears to her eyes. 'I know we're all here because we love the city, and so that was awesome punctuation to the summer that we've had, and it'll be an exciting timeline leading up to that opening,' she said. Ward 7 Councilmember Camal Pennington said the arena design represents the city's vision for unity and standing together. 'I think it's going to look so unique and be a centerpiece for downtown Oklahoma City,' he said. 'You'll be able to be a part of everything that's going on in the community when you're inside the arena. And just the fact that it's going to be designed for basketball, it's going to make the experience inside watching the game even better.' City officials, chamber leaders anticipating October bond vote One of the first topics Holt discussed during his address was the Oct. 14 vote on a list of proposed bond projects, which encompass a whopping $2.718 billion worth of infrastructure, city maintenance, parks and recreation, drainage, libraries and learning centers, and economic development. The bond would be the largest in the city's history. Holt previously told The Oklahoman the bond issue is timed to follow the payoff of prior bonds and will not result in an increase in property taxes. About 56% of the funds are allocated to maintaining and upgrading city streets with a total of 433 potential projects if the bond is passed. The city has nearly 9,000 lane miles of roads to maintain, but the city's Pavement Condition Index, which ranks street conditions on a scale of 0 to 100 has increased in recent years. In 2010, the score was 60, but after investment in streets in bond issues for 2007 and 2017, the citywide average score is 70, which is considered satisfactory, Holt said. '... This is not sexy stuff. These are the city's fundamental needs. But if we want to maintain our ability to dream big, to have the luxury of pursuing more ambitious improvements in quality of life, we have to take care of the basics first,' he said. 'We've routinely done that in the modern history of our city, and this is the next chapter of that story.' Pennington said the bond issue will allow the city an opportunity to invest in affordable housing initiatives that will help increase the supply of affordable housing. 'Maybe with some changes in policy, we can better make the investments to just increase our housing supply to make more people be able to have a great place to live all across our city,' he said. Holt recognized the eight city council members, City Manager Craig Freeman, who is now the third- longest serving city manager, and city employees for the work they do. The mayor thanked and acknowledged city employees for their efforts during times of celebration, such as the Thunder victory parade, but also in times of crisis, such as the aftermath of tornadoes that ripped through parts of the city last November. Holt also said the city broke a record with the longest streak of unemployment below 4% since the city started keeping track in 1990. Two months ago, the city had the lowest unemployment rate in the country, he said. 'Our economy is still strong, and is actually on a run that might qualify it as the most stable economy we've had in modern OKC history,' Holt said. 'I think we're just at the beginning of the OKC economic boom.' Holt: OKC making progress in public safety, homelessness Holt highlighted the creation of the Mobile Integrated Health unit, managed under a fire department program developed through the city's Public Safety Partnership — that is meant to divert mental health emergency calls away from police and toward trained behavioral health professionals who can better address the caller's needs. He talked about public safety and said crime rates against persons and property have declined by more than a third over the last decade. Holt spent time talking about homelessness and affordable housing, noting that a smaller percentage of people are experiencing homelessness today than they were two decades ago. 'One person experiencing homelessness is too many and that's always the attitude we'll take,' he said. The average annual population of people in OKC experiencing homelessness in the three years from 2005 to 2007 was 1,656. The most recent three-year average of people experiencing homelessness is not much larger than it was in 2007, Holt said. Holt acknowledged there was an increase in the number of unsheltered homeless people in 2020, but the number has decreased over the last four years. 'Our population growth is not slowing down, so this issue isn't going away,' he said. 'Homelessness numbers fairly predictably correlate to overall population, and so as our city continues to grow, we will have to work harder to maintain these numbers or even reduce them, and our population growth will also put pressure on housing prices, which will contribute to the challenge.' OKC looking forward to 2028 Olympic events Along with the excitement of the new Thunder arena, OKC is anticipating another high-profile event: the 2028 Olympic games. The city gets the honor of hosting the first and only competition on 'Day Zero,' the day of the opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, as canoe slalom commences at 9 a.m. at Riversport. Canoe slalom and softball events will be held back to back, which means 16 straight days of Olympic sports in the city. 'The magnitude of this opportunity is still really beyond comprehension. No other city outside of southern California is slated to host the entirety of any sport in 2028, much less two, as we are,' Holt said. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city, our state and this entire region of the country.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's recent achievements highlighted in Mayor Holt's annual address Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Naming rights extension keeps Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark through 2033
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Comets and Chickasaw Nation announced a multi-year ballpark naming rights extension on Tuesday. 'Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark has played such an integral role in the story of Oklahoma City's development,' said OKC Comets General Manager Kyle Daugherty. 'Along with our partners at the Chickasaw Nation, we are proud to know our facility will continue to shine under the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark name. And with the rebranded Newcastle Casino Club, we are looking forward to refreshing that area for our dedicated club ticket members.' LOCAL NEWS: Paycom to retire arena naming rights in 2028, Thunder seek new partner for future downtown OKC arena Officials say the ballpark was funded by the initial MAPS package approved by Oklahoma City voters in 1995 and opened April 1998. The ballpark was named the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2012 and will keep the name through 2033. 'The Chickasaw Nation is honored to continue our long-standing support of the Oklahoma City Comets,' said Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby. 'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to community and to creating meaningful experiences for families and fans throughout the region. We have enjoyed this strong partnership for many years and look forward to building on this tradition in the years to come.' In addition to the extension, the OKC Comets say the premium seats on the second floor of the ballpark will now be known as the Newcastle Casino Club. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Mid East Info
17-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
UAE-IX Powered by DE-CIX Introduces 400 Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity, Strengthening Position as the Largest Internet Exchange in the Middle East
DE-CIX and datamena have upgraded the UAE-IX to offer 400 Gigabit Ethernet, enhancing its status as the largest and most advanced Internet Exchange in the Middle East and supporting the region's digital growth. Dubai, UAE, May , 2025: datamena, carrier neutral data centre and connectivity platform from du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, and DE-CIX, the global leader in Internet Exchange (IX) operations, announced a significant upgrade to the UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX, making it the first IX in the region to offer 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400 GE) access. This enhancement solidifies the UAE-IX's position as the largest and most advanced Internet Exchange in the Middle East, enabling unmatched connectivity and interconnection capabilities for enterprises, carriers, and content providers across the GCC and beyond. In the last year alone, connected customer capacity on the UAE-IX grew by two terabits, representing a 30% increase. With over six terabits of aggregate connected capacity and close to 110 participating networks—including Internet service providers, carriers, cloud platforms, content providers, and global enterprises—the exchange has evolved into a critical digital infrastructure hub for the region. Karim Benkirane, Chief Commercial Officer at du, said: 'We are proud to partner with DE-CIX in leading digital growth in the Middle East with the upgrade of the UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX to 400 GE access. It is our vision to foster a seamlessly interconnected landscape where businesses and consumers alike can benefit from unparalleled Internet exchange capabilities, heightened performance, and robust security. This milestone aligns with our commitment to maintaining the UAE-IX as a pioneer in interconnection and marks a transformative leap for regional digital ecosystems.' The UAE-IX stands out not only as a leading peering exchange but also as a provider of advanced enterprise-grade interconnection services, including cloud exchanges, cloud routing, and application connectivity such as the Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS). Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX said: 'The UAE-IX today stands as a global Internet hub, bringing together the network operators, content, applications, and cloud services to serve the entire GCC region with resilient and low latency connectivity. This upgrade further reinforces the importance of the UAE-IX, now ready to serve the rising demand for everything digital. The excellent collaboration with our partner du has enabled the UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX to shine as the most important aggregation point for network interconnection in the Middle East. I look forward to a bright future working together for the next decade of digital development.' DE-CIX, renowned for its neutral interconnection ecosystem and extensive global footprint, has been active in the Middle East for over a decade, with IX operations spanning Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE. The UAE-IX powered by DE-CIX in Dubai is operated under the DE-CIX as a Service (DaaS) model, offering a turnkey solution for partners—including carriers and data center operators—through comprehensive services such as setup, maintenance, provisioning, marketing, and sales support. This upgrade is set to empower regional businesses, foster technological advancement, and support the rapidly growing demand for high-performance, low-latency digital connectivity, paving the way for continued innovation and growth in the Middle East. About datamena: datamena is the UAE's fastest growing carrier neutral data centre and leading digital hub serving the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. It is owned and operated by du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC). Carriers, hyperscalers, cloud and content providers and enterprises choose datamena because it provides a growing ecosystem of partners that enables them to meet, connect and do business to accelerate growth in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. datamena provides customer access to critical digital infrastructure and partners within a simple and seamless ecosystem to allow them to benefit from global cloud and content hubs by providing a seamless and high-performance data centre, connectivity and interconnectivity solutions dedicated to enabling local and global digital transformation and we're only just getting started. The simple, secure and open ecosystem has been awarded 'Best Internet Exchange Innovation' at the 15th edition of the prestigious Global Carrier Awards 2019, which took place in London, United Kingdom. About DE-CIX: DE-CIX, pronounced DEE-KICKS dˈi:-kˈɪks , is the world's leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs). Founded in 1995, the company is celebrating its 30 th anniversary in 2025. DE-CIX offers its interconnection services in 60 locations in Europe, Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Today, accessible from data centers in over 600 cities world-wide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, and offers peering, cloud, and other interconnection services. DE-CIX Frankfurt is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world, with a data volume of over 45 Exabytes per year (as of 2024) and close to 1100 connected networks. Close to 250 colleagues from over 35 different nations form the foundation of the DE-CIX success story in Germany and around the world. Since the beginning of the commercial Internet, DE-CIX has had a decisive influence – in a range of leading global bodies, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) – on co-defining guiding principles for the Internet of the present and the future. As the operator of critical IT infrastructure, DE-CIX bears a great responsibility for the seamless, fast, and secure data exchange between people, enterprises, and organizations at its locations around the globe.
