The Polish Army has deployed M142 HIMARS rocket artillery systems to Finland to participate in NATO’s Swift Response 25 military exercises, as part of a broader contribution that includes personnel from both the 1st Rocket Brigade and the 6th Airborne Brigade. The exercise have been spread across the territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which are in close proximity to Russian forces. The deployment of HIMARS systems to Finland highlights the considerable challenges Russia faces from the effective doubling of NATO’s land border with the country, which occurred when Helsinki acceded to the alliance on April 4, 2023. Each HIMRAS launcher can deploy either six GMLRS rockets with 80 kilometre ranges, or an ATACMS ballistic missile with a range exceeding 300 kilometres. New PrSM rounds are currently under development for the system with a range of over 400 kilometres. The range of these systems, and the vastness of Russia’s territory, places significant further strain on Russian air defences, with the ability of NATO members and Poland in particular to surge rocket artillery deployments in Finland at times of high tensions posing a major new security challenge.
For years, we’ve been told that sugar is a major culprit behind the global rise in type 2 diabetes. Now, emerging evidence from BYU researchers adds nuance to that message, suggesting not all sugar sources carry the same risk.
In the largest and most comprehensive meta-analysis of its kind, BYU researchers—in collaboration with researchers from Germany-based institutions—found that the type and source of sugar may matter far more than previously thought. Researchers analyzed data from over half a million people across multiple continents, revealing a surprising twist: sugar consumed through beverages—like soda and even fruit juice—was consistently linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Meanwhile, other sugar sources showed no such link and, in some cases, were even associated with a lower risk.
“This is the first study to draw clear dose-response relationships between different sugar sources and type 2 diabetes risk,” said Karen Della Corte, lead author and BYU nutritional science professor. “It highlights why drinking your sugar—whether from soda or juice—is more problematic for health than eating it.”
After correcting for body mass index, excess energy intake and several other lifestyle risk factors, the researchers found the following dose-response relationships:
With each additional 12-oz serving of sugar-sweetened beverages (i.e., soft drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks) per day, the risk for developing T2D increased by 25%. This strong relationship showed that the increased risk began from the very first daily serving with no minimum threshold below which intake appeared to be safe.
With each additional 8-oz serving of fruit juice per day (i.e., 100% fruit juice, nectars and juice drinks), the risk for developing T2D increased by 5%.
The above risks are relative not absolute. For example, if the average person’s baseline risk of developing T2D is about 10%, four sodas a day could raise that to roughly 20%, not 100%.
Comparatively, 20 g/day intakes of total sucrose (table sugar) and total sugar (the sum of all naturally occurring and added sugars in the diet) showed an inverse association with T2D, hinting at a surprising protective association.
Why drinking sugar would be more problematic than eating sugar may come down to the differing metabolic effects. Sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice supply isolated sugars, leading to a greater glycemic impact that would overwhelm and disrupt liver metabolism thereby increasing liver fat and insulin resistance.
On the other hand, dietary sugars consumed in or added to nutrient-dense foods, such as whole fruits, dairy products, or whole grains, do not cause metabolic overload in the liver. These embedded sugars elicit slower blood glucose responses due to accompanying fiber, fats, proteins and other beneficial nutrients.
Fruit juice, even with some vitamins and nutrients, is much less beneficial. Because of its high and
The signs are that Iran is backing away from any ambition to dominate the region as the GCC and others move to become a ‘collective hegemon’, thus sidelining Israel and ending its ambition to be the region’s hegemon and establish its Zionist ‘Greater Israel’ fantasy. I am suspicious Jewish Supremists are goading European tools into attacking Russia as that would provide cover for renewed Israeli violence in the Middle East, while also slaughtering more European Christians, a consistent JS fetish. Trump seems to be fully aware he is juggling many factors like these and that all of them have very serious ramifications. ABN
Putin wants written pledge to halt NATO expansion eastwards, sources say
Russia also seeks lifting of sanctions and protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine
Ukraine has insisted on NATO membership aspirations despite Russian demands
MOSCOW, May 28 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for ending the war in Ukraine include a demand that Western leaders pledge in writing to stop enlarging NATO eastwards and lift a chunk of sanctions on Russia, according to three Russian sources with knowledge of the negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two and has shown increasing frustration with Putin in recent days, warning on Tuesday the Russian leader was “playing with fire” by refusing to engage in ceasefire talks with Kyiv as his forces made gains on the battlefield.
Not providing this NATO non-expansion commitment is so provocative, it’s an act of war. This whole war began due to NATO constantly encroaching on Russia. Europe has not gained anything from WW1 or WW2 but only deeply hurt itself. WW3 with Russia will be more of the same. It is so not in Europe’s interest to act as they have done and are continuing to do, one can only assume a secret behind-the-scenes force is pushing them into further conflict. Give Putin what he wants and what NATO promised Russia when the Soviet Union disintegrated. ABN
Vladimir Putin accused Jews of attacking the Russian Orthodox Church and suggested that they lacked family and “roots,” the latest antisemitic statement from the Russian leader since his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Putin made the allegation during his lengthy annual press conference ahead of the New Year, which lasted four hours on Thursday. In the middle of of the event, Putin addressed punitive actions against the Russian Orthodox Church elsewhere in Europe. The church is considered to be closely tied to Putin’s regime, and its leaders have been expelled from countries such as Bulgaria and Estonia.
Putin said the church was “being tortured” — and blamed Jews.
“They’re tearing the church apart but they’re not even atheists,” Putin said. “These are people without any beliefs, godless people, they’re ethnic Jews, but has anyone seen them in a synagogue? I don’t think so.”
After adding that the alleged opponents of the church were also neither Orthodox Christian nor Muslim, he added, “These are people without kin or memory, with no roots. They don’t cherish what we cherish and the majority of the Ukrainian people cherish as well.”
Other than the Rigged Presidential Election of 2020, the Biggest Scandal in American History is the “AUTOPEN!” Whoever used it was usurping the power of the Presidency, and it should be very easy to find out who that person (or persons) is. They did things that a Joe Biden, of sound mind, would have never done, like, Open Borders, Transgender for everyone, men in women’s sports, and far more. Fear not, however, we will bring America BACK, BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!
The UK, US and the rest of Ukraine’s western allies have agreed to remove all remaining range restrictions on the country’s use of weapons following Trump’s blistering criticism of Putin.
It comes after Russia launched its largest wave of drone strikes at Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began in 2022, leading President Trump to brand Putin “absolutely crazy.”
On Sunday, Friedrich Merz, Germany’s conservative leader, confirmed Ukraine has been granted permission to use “long-range fire”, as France’s President Macron called for “massive retaliation.”
Announcing the new measures, Merz said: “There are no longer any range limits on the weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine: not from the Britons, nor from the French, nor from us, and not from the Americans either.
“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia … with very few exceptions, it didn’t do that until recently. It can now do that.”
Merz says there are no more range restrictions on the weapons supplied to Ukraine
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s new chancellor said Monday that his country and other major allies are no longer imposing any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion.
Friedrich Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany’s leader nearly three weeks ago.
On Monday, he said that “there are no longer any range restrictions for weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine — neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us, and not by the Americans either.”
“That means Ukraine can also defend itself by, for example, attacking military positions in Russia,” Merz said at a forum organized by WDR public television. “Until a while ago, it couldn’t. … It can now.”
“We call this ‘long-range fire’ in jargon, also supplying Ukraine with weapons that attack military targets in the hinterland,” he added.
This is what they have wanted all along. Who is behind this is surely the same as who was behind WW1 and WW2. I doubt there is any way to turn this around. ABN
American Buddhist Net 