Latest news with #FriendshipDay
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Shows Off New Missile Made for China Air War
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States showcased its airpower by displaying advanced air-to-air missiles in Japan, which are capable of defending a valuable aircraft carrier fleet from China's threats. A U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson told Newsweek that the AIM-174B missile, also known as the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Air-Launched Configuration (ALC), was operationally deployed. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment. Why It Matters The AIM-174B is the air-launched variant of the SM-6 missile, which was initially designed for deployment on surface warships. It is capable of executing missions for antiair and anti-surface warfare, as well as ballistic missile defense, with an estimated range of 290 miles. The introduction of this new air-to-air missile, which is equipped on U.S. Navy fighter jets, comes as China has been pursuing the development of anti-access/area denial capabilities, which seek to prevent American aircraft carriers from approaching the first island chain. The island chain is a naval blockade formed by Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines, which are allies and partners of Washington, under a U.S. maritime containment strategy. It seeks to restrict China's military access to the wider Pacific Ocean using U.S.-aligned territories. What To Know On Sunday, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, an air base in the southwestern region of Japan's Honshu Island that's operated jointly by American and Japanese forces, hosted an opening event known as Friendship Day, highlighting the mutual support between the allies. A number of U.S. military aircraft were on display during the event, including a U.S. Navy F/A-18F fighter jet. An official released photo shows the aircraft carried two missiles under its left and right wings, which were identified by local visitors as the AIM-174B missiles. United States Navy aviators posing with an F/A-18F fighter jet during Friendship Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan on May 4. United States Navy aviators posing with an F/A-18F fighter jet during Friendship Day at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan on May 4. Lance Cpl. Rylan Adcock/U.S. Marine Corps The fighter aircraft, commonly known as the Super Hornet, is assigned to the Strike Fighter Squadron 102. The unit is attached to the Carrier Air Wing 5, an operational naval aviation organization that embarked aboard the Japan-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington. The aircraft carrier is homeported at Yokosuka naval base near Japan's capital city of Tokyo. It returned to its home port in November following maintenance work in Virginia. The specialist outlet the War Zone wrote that the AIM-174B missile would be able to intercept Chinese anti-ship ballistic missiles, which pose a great threat to American aircraft carriers, if it retains the SM-6's ballistic missile defense capability, extending the fleet's defense layer. The new American missile would also make China's critical surveillance aircraft vulnerable, which provide and update targeting data to ship-sinking missiles, the War Zone said, making Chinese long-range weapons unusable or usable in a "highly degraded state." What People Are Saying A spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Fleet told Newsweek: "The SM-6 ALC integrated advanced technology into weapon systems will be executed incrementally to balance today's readiness with tomorrow's capabilities." The specialist outlet the War Zone reported: "China poses a major threat to carrier strike groups unlike any we have seen, ever. The height of the Soviet-era cruise missile threat was quite remarkable, but Beijing's ability to layer in many types of anti-ship weapons, including anti-ship ballistic missiles of various types, especially those with very-long range, is a uniquely vexing problem." The specialist outlet Naval News reported: "With the induction of AIM-174B into service, the U.S. Navy joins allies and adversaries in fielding an extra long range beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM)." What Happens Next It remains to be seen when the AIM-174B missile will be deployed aboard the George Washington. The aircraft carrier remained at its home port as of Wednesday, according to a Kanagawa prefecture government website that tracks port visits by U.S. nuclear-powered warships.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Legally Blind Walmart Employee Never Expected to Go Viral with Videos from His Store. Then His DMs Started Blowing Up
Jacoby Brown, a legally blind employee at a Walmart store in Arkansas, says he sees himself as an advocate for the disabled community 'We face a lot of discrimination,' he tells PEOPLE. 'A lot of people don't hire us because they see us as a liability' He hopes to finish college and become a social worker to help those who are disabled find jobs An overnight stocker at a Walmart store in Little Rock, Ark., is opening up about what his life is like as a legally blind man, and at the same time, hoping to inspire others with disabilities. Jacoby Brown, 24, was born with four different eye conditions — optic nerve atrophy, nystagmus, exotropia, hyperopia astigmatism — and has a visual acuity of 20/200, meaning that what others see from 200 feet away, he needs to be 20 feet away. Brown admits that it's made life difficult sometimes, especially finding work. 'A lot of the people that I come across, they're not nice,' he tells PEOPLE. 'If you have a disability out there, you know this, a lot of people that we come across, they are not nice.' So when Brown applied for a job at Walmart in 2023, he decided to share with Brenda Draper, the store's 'people lead,' about his disability. Thankfully, Draper gave him a chance. 'I started off here as a zoner (an employee who cleans up an area or zone in the store),' he adds. 'That was just them accommodating me because of my legal blindness. And then, after a few months, I started stocking, which was really scary, but I kind of got the hang of it.' Related: Woman Makes Daring Trip Across the Grand Canyon on Horseback, Breaking Barriers for Disability Representation Since then, Brown has documented his journey on his TikTok account as 'theblindguy_' — sharing his daily struggles that he's faced due to his condition, though usually with an infectious dedication. He's had that same upbeat attitude for years. Brown says he started creating videos on Snapchat when he was at Henderson State University, but people would bully him. He decided to harness that negativity, naming his account after one of the labels he was called to show people, 'You call me this, but I don't care.' 'I used to make funny videos on my Snapchat, and a lot of people would tell me … 'Oh, you should create a TikTok,' and I would never really get on TikTok,' he adds. 'Then I finally got on a little bit into COVID because I got bored, and I was just like, 'Oh, well, maybe I'll get on.' ... But I wasn't really posting. And then I started to post. And then my videos kind [of didn't] do well.' But in November 2024, Brown explains that all changed when he created the since-deleted TikTok while on break from one of his 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts, discussing the need for people with disabilities to put themselves 'out there.' Related: BFF Goals! Teacher and Woman with Intellectual Disability Celebrate 20-Year Bond on Friendship Day 'I was walking through the fitting room, and I was just like, 'Well, I want to create a TikTok about me being legally blind and an overnight stocker,' ' he recalls. 'I didn't even know that the video was going to go viral, but it did.' He says he didn't expect all the attention, with the post amassing over 20,000 views in two hours. After a week and a half, he says it had over 300,000 views. Walmart's executive vice president and chief people officer even shared the video on her LinkedIn, praising him for this 'hard work.' 'The comments that I was getting and all the DMs, I was shocked,' Brown recalls. 'I knew that I would probably inspire people within my community, but to inspire other people who aren't disabled as well, it made me really happy. It brought me a lot of joy.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Brown now uses his account to discuss issues he and members of his community are facing, including joblessness and affordability issues. 'We face a lot of discrimination,' Brown says. 'A lot of people don't hire us because they see us as a liability.' He argues that people with disabilities are often taken advantage of, too. 'We are scared to ask for things,' he says. 'I noticed that a lot when it comes to getting rides and things like that, people will try to take advantage or just because they know that we can't do it, we can't do it on our own or we'll never be able to do it.' Brown, who left college during his senior year due to some mental health issues, has previously worked at Chick-fil-A and several factories. He admits he has had "some challenges at every job." Related: Woman with Muscular Dystrophy Signed Up for Dating App on a Dare. 2 Months Later, She Found Love (Exclusive) 'I would say that the difference about this job is that I feel, like I said, 'Brenda, I look at this, [it has] always been different,' ' he adds. Draper tells PEOPLE that Brown has been eager to work since his initial interview. And though there were some 'bumps' along the way, she says he has made incredible progress. 'I'm really excited that he's made it that long because even people without disabilities only make it a few weeks or a few months for various reasons,' she says. 'For him to still be here and still enjoy what he does, that's exciting.' For the first time, Brown says he feels he's working at a place where he belongs. 'Although it takes me a little bit longer than my peers to complete my task and things like that, they don't make me feel bad about it,' he adds. Beyond his social media platform, he shares that he wants to go back to college to become a social worker to work with people with disabilities and help them find jobs. 'They're really scared to just put themselves out there because they're scared of people being mean and things like that,' he says. 'But I just say, 'You may get 5, 6, 7 no's, but just keep going because I promise you you're going to get that yes.' ' If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. Launches Initiative to Empower Youth Through Leadership and Entrepreneurship
World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc; announces new programs to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills in teens and preteens, fostering future leaders. United States, January 31, 2025 -- World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. Unveils Bold New Programs to Empower the Next Generation of Leaders and Entrepreneurs The World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc., founded by Charles Awodu in 2018, has announced new initiatives aimed at preparing teens and preteens for leadership roles through mentorship and skill-building programs. The organization's focus on character development, entrepreneurship, and leadership training seeks to address the growing need for morally grounded and capable young leaders in today's ever-changing world. Awodu, an author, social entrepreneur, and member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team, holds an MSc in Leadership from Northeastern University, Boston. Through his foundation, he has mentored hundreds of young individuals, empowering them to overcome challenges and realize their potential. 'Our programs are designed to inspire young people to lead with integrity, excel academically, and contribute meaningfully to society,' said Awodu. 'By equipping them with soft leadership skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, we are building a stronger future.' Equipping Youth for Success Through Leadership The foundation's mentorship programs are tailored to instill leadership qualities and foster personal development. Teens and preteens who participate learn essential soft skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and creative problem-solving. Awodu's unique approach also emphasizes the importance of moral character, ensuring participants are equipped to lead responsibly. Many mentees of the foundation have gone on to excel in academics, hold leadership positions in their schools, and positively influence their peers. One notable mentee, an eight-year-old author, had their book adopted by a Massachusetts school as part of a Friendship Day celebration. Additionally, some participants have started their own businesses or achieved financial independence by publishing books and applying lessons from the foundation's programs. These success stories highlight the tangible impact of Awodu's mentorship efforts. Supporting Reintegration and Community Engagement A key focus of the foundation is supporting young people in correctional facilities, providing mentorship to help them reintegrate into society successfully. Through guidance and skill-building activities, the program gives these individuals a chance to rebuild their lives and make positive contributions post-release. This unique initiative demonstrates the foundation's commitment to empowering marginalized youth and ensuring no young person is left behind. By addressing character development and equipping participants with essential skills, the program provides a second chance for many at-risk youth. The Young Leaders Summit: A Platform for Change One of the foundation's flagship events is the Young Leaders Summit, a weekend program designed to help teens and preteens develop leadership and creative writing skills. This summit provides a transformative experience, offering participants the tools to express themselves confidently, collaborate effectively, and think critically. 'The Young Leaders Summit is more than an event; it's a launchpad for young minds to discover their potential,' Awodu explained. 'We see young people leaving with not just skills but the confidence to make a difference.' Driving Change Through Education and Writing Awodu's passion for leadership education extends to his writing. He has authored books, such as The Voice of Wisdom: 121 Transformational Insights for Everyday Success, which serves as a practical guide for young readers. Awodu also began writing books as a way to fund the foundation's early projects, setting a powerful example for his mentees, many of whom have since followed suit. 'Writing is a powerful tool for transformation,' Awodu shared. 'We encourage our mentees to write not only as a means of self-expression but also as a way to contribute to their communities and achieve financial independence.' Call for Sponsors and Support The World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. is calling on sponsors and donors to help expand its programs and reach more young people globally. Contributions will fund leadership summits, mentorship initiatives, and resources for participants. To learn more or to support the foundation's mission, visit About World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc Founded in 2018 by Charles Awodu, the World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to equipping teens and preteens with leadership, entrepreneurship, and character development skills. Through mentorship and transformative programs, the foundation inspires young people to excel academically, lead responsibly, and make a positive impact in their communities. Media Contact Charles Awodu Founder, World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. Website: Email: [email protected] Contact Info: Name: Charles Awodu Email: Send Email Organization: World Leadership and Inspirational Foundation Inc. Release ID: 89151982 Should any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies arise from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our efficient team will be at your disposal for timely assistance within 8 hours – taking necessary measures to rectify identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. We prioritize delivering accurate and reliable information.
