None

Legislature Crucial In Shaping Nigeria’s Constitutional Future – Kalu

NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to goPercentages: FG .522, FT .722. 3-Point Goals: 14-26, .538 (Pinzon 4-5, Withers 4-9, Evans 3-5, Farris 2-5, Mitchell 1-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 6 (Cramer 3, Withers 2, Mitchell). Turnovers: 20 (Pinzon 7, Withers 4, Evans 2, Farris 2, Mitchell 2, Timberlake 2, Cramer). Steals: 5 (Mitchell 2, Farris, Pinzon, Withers). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .425, FT .731. 3-Point Goals: 4-19, .211 (Lorick 1-1, C.Williams 1-2, Weston 1-5, Wood 1-5, Jackson 0-3, Nkrumah 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Langlais, Nkrumah). Turnovers: 10 (Lorick 3, Langlais 2, Weston 2, C.Williams, Jackson, Wood). Steals: 14 (Weston 6, Jackson 3, C.Williams 2, Lorick 2, Nkrumah). Technical Fouls: None. A_268 (10,928).

David Beckham posts emotional tribute to Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps and shares image of his last visit to 'the heartbeat of the club' after her death at the age of 85 Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps passed away at the age of 85 David Beckham was one of several former United stars to pay tribute to Phipps By WILL PICKWORTH Published: 22:36 GMT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 23:39 GMT, 5 December 2024 e-mail 5 shares 6 View comments David Beckham has paid tribute to Manchester United 's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps after she passed away at the age of 85. United announced news of her passing on Thursday and shared a heartfelt 454-word statement to honour Phipps, who worked for 55 years in a variety of roles at the club. In the tribute, United hailed Phipps as an 'omnipresent figure since the late 1960s' and a 'one-woman institution'. Several former United players and staff members also paid tribute to Phipps and Beckham penned his own message to her on Thursday evening. Taking to Instagram alongside a photo of him holding Phipps' hand, Beckham said: 'Forever in our hearts... The first and last face I would always see was Kath sat at reception at Old Trafford waiting to give me my tickets for the game. 'She was the heartbeat of Manchester United, everyone knew who Kath was and everyone adored her. David Beckham has paid tribute to Manchester United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps Beckham hailed Phipps, who appeared in his Netflix documentary, as the 'heartbeat of Manchester United' and said 'Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile' United announced news of Phipps' passing at the age of 85 on Thursday and paid tribute to her 'I moved up to Manchester at 15 and Kath made a promise to my mum and dad: "I'll look after your boy for you don't you worry", and from that first day till the last day I spent with her that's exactly what she did ❤️. 'Old Trafford will never be the same without your smile as we walk through those doors... We love you.' Phipps, who appeared in Beckham's Netflix documentary about his life, started working at United as the club's first switchboard operator back in 1968 during Sir Matt Busby's reign. In May 2022, after over five decades of service, she was honoured with a Service to Football Award - with Beckham admitting the 'amazing' receptionist 'really deserved' the honour for her services to football and United in general. In a statement earlier on Thursday, United had said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved colleague Kath Phipps at the age of 85. 'An omnipresent figure at Manchester United since the late 1960s, Kath worked for the club for over 55 years in a variety of roles, but her contribution went beyond any particular job title. 'Having become a key member of the club's office staff in the ensuing years, Kath later became a matchday fixture at Old Trafford's directors' entrance and took on the role of training ground receptionist, ensuring that any visitor to Carrington was greeted by the cheeriest of welcomes. 'For regulars, that greeting would extend to warm hugs and friendly chats as Kath came to embody the familial atmosphere underpinning the club's culture. Wayne Rooney was among the first to pay tribute to Phipps with an emotional post on Instagram Harry Maguire (left) and Patrice Evra (right) also paid tribute with heartfelt social media messages United legend Paul Scholes described Phipps as 'the heart and soul' of the football club 'If Kath ever had a bad day, she never brought it to work; her positive attitude helped set the mood for everyone entering the training ground, always ready to lend an ear and offer words of encouragement to anyone who needed them – be they megastar footballers, casual staff or occasional visitors. 'Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her. She said last year: "I can't imagine doing anything else." Well, we can't imagine the place without her. 'Rest in peace, Kath.' Several of Beckham's former team-mates also shared similarly heartfelt messages towards Phipps. This included Wayne Rooney, who said: ' The heart and soul of Manchester United. Everything what the club is about. A legend who will be greatly missed. Thanks for the memories Kathy. Thoughts with family and friends.' Manchester United defender Harry Maguire also posted: 'A legend that will never be forgotten. I will miss you. We will miss you. RIP Kath.' Meanwhile, former Red Devils captain Gary Neville shared the club's emotional tribute, simply adding a broken heart emoji. Fellow ex-United skipper Patrice Evra, displayed a photograph of him hugging Phipps and said: 'Losing a family member is never easy.' The long-serving receptionist meeting new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in 2024 Phipps with Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick after winning her Service to Football Award Man United loanee Jadon Sancho - who currently plays for Chelsea - also penned an emotional farewell to Phipps on social media. Sancho wrote: 'I'm grateful that I've had the pleasure of meeting you. Such a lovely kind hearted soul. She always made sure I was OK and always put a smile on my face whenever I felt down, I appreciate you Kath. 'My condolences go out to her family through this tough time'. Former Red Devil Scott McTominay, now at Italian club Napoli, added: 'You were loved and adored by everybody Kath. You made me smile each and every time I saw you and could brighten up any room you walked into. Rest in peace'. Mike Phelan - who worked alongside legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson - also paid a touching tribute to Phipps. He said: 'RIP Kath Phipps. The Real Assistant Manager'. United legend Rio Ferdinand added: 'Kath. An absolute mainstay of Manchester United. 'Always welcomed me and everyone else who visited with a warm smile! Looked at life positively, incredibly selfless & would put others first! RIP'. Club legend Paul Scholes was another who shared an emotional tribute to Phipps as he posted: 'The heart and soul of our special football club, will be sadly missed by all and impossible to replace... RIP Kath'. Former Man United assistant coach Mike Phelan shared a touching tribute to Phipps online Ex-United defender Ferdinand labelled Phipps 'an absolute mainstay' at the Red Devils In loving memory of Kath Phipps: friend, confidant and treasured colleague. United will never be the same. pic.twitter.com/CHJCIcohz2 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 5, 2024 It didn't take long for United to release an emotional tribute to Phipps in the form of a two minute video on social media. The caption to the video read: 'In loving memory of Kath Phipps: friend, confidant and treasured colleague. United will never be the same.' Speaking in 2022 after she collected her Service to Football Award alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Michael Carrick, Phipps had reflected on the 'great honour' and opened up on her role at the club. 'In September 1968, I just applied for the job to Les Olive and got it within a couple of days,' she told United's website. 'Sir Alex was my longest-serving manager. He's always been there for me, every time. He's absolutely brilliant to work for. 'I don't think we've ever had a cross word all these years I've known him. Even on matchdays. We're like brother and sister – he talks to me like that. 'I just get up every morning as a happy person. I come here and I just love seeing them all. I'll miss them one day, when I'm not here, but I don't want to give it up just yet.' David Beckham Instagram Manchester United Share or comment on this article: David Beckham posts emotional tribute to Man United's much-loved receptionist Kath Phipps and shares image of his last visit to 'the heartbeat of the club' after her death at the age of 85 e-mail 5 shares Add comment

The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”In a thrilling display of football prowess, Arsenal surged to a 5-2 victory over West Ham United, signaling their intent to challenge Premier League leaders Liverpool. The match, filled with first-half scoring drama, saw Arsenal leap to second in the standings. Key players Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka orchestrated an exhilarating Arsenal attack, contributing significantly to their team's resurgence. With 25 points, Arsenal trails Liverpool by six points, illustrating a formidable chase for the top. Concurrently, Brentford, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest achieved notable victories, adding to a weekend rich in football excitement. As the Premier League action shifts to Sunday, all eyes will be on Liverpool's clash with Manchester City at Anfield, with the potential to widen their lead against the defending champions. Other significant matches include Chelsea facing Aston Villa and Manchester United up against Everton. (With inputs from agencies.)

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Brendan Rodgers praises Celtic and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ mentalityWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — It wasn’t how Duke drew up the final play, but it worked out perfect for the Blue Devils in Saturday’s 23-17 victory over Wake Forest. Maalik Murphy threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Moore as time expired, allowing Duke to end the regular season with three consecutive victories. Murphy said he realized he took too long to make a decision after the last snap. “I knew at that point I had to make a play,” he said. “The damage was already done, time was ticking.” With the score tied at 17, the Blue Devils (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) moved 76 yards in 1:22 after forcing a Wake Forest punt. It appeared that Duke might run out of time in the slow-developing play, but Moore improvised and broke free along the right side, caught the ball at the 10-yard line and spun into the end zone to complete a comeback from 14 points down in the second half. “The play that Maalik and Jordan put together was magical,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “Nobody thought a 5-yard route would turn into a (long) touchdown.” So instead of a long field-goal attempt, Duke had something better. “I just decided to take it down the field,” Moore said. “I think that’s a testament to our chemistry. ... Maalik had the confidence in himself to make that kind of play.” It resulted in Duke’s sixth victory by seven points or less. “It’s like a perfect exclamation point to our season,” Diaz said. “An unbelievable way to finish our season.” Murphy racked up with 235 yards on 26-for-34 passing. Moore, who was down with an injury after a reception earlier in the second half, made five catches for 98 yards. Hank Bachmeier threw for 207 yards and a touchdown as Wake Forest (4-8, 2-6) ended its second straight four-win season with a four-game losing streak. “A heartbreaking loss,” Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson said. “It’s a tough way to lose a game and a tough way to end the season.” Tate Carey’s 8-yard run, Matthew Dennis’ 37-yard field goal and Horatio Fields’ 9-yard reception across 11 minutes of game time gave Wake Forest a 17-3 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter. Duke took advantage of a short field following a punt, moving 42 yards in four plays to score on Star Thomas’ 3-yard run. The Blue Devils recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and converted on Murphy’s 2-yard run with 12:57 left to pull even. “What has been proven is that we’re mentally tough,” Diaz said. “We’re not going to do everything perfect.” Taylor Morin became Wake Forest’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,974. He picked up 47 yards on eight catches on Saturday. Morin, in his fifth season, passed former NFL player Ricky Proehl, who had 2,929 yards in the late 1980s. Duke: The Blue Devils have secured at least a nine-win season for the second time in three seasons, this one coming in Diaz’s first season. They racked up a 4-0 record against in-state opponents, including comebacks to top North Carolina and Wake Forest. “Every quest that we have for championships starts in our own state,” Diaz said. Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons punted on their final three possessions of the season. They finished with a 1-6 record in home games. “It’s been a tough year, a long year, and I’m proud of our team and how hard they fought,” Clawson said. Duke: Awaits a bowl invitation Wake Forest: Enters the offseason with a losing record for the third time in five seasons. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballPercentages: FG .522, FT .722. 3-Point Goals: 14-26, .538 (Pinzon 4-5, Withers 4-9, Evans 3-5, Farris 2-5, Mitchell 1-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 6 (Cramer 3, Withers 2, Mitchell). Turnovers: 20 (Pinzon 7, Withers 4, Evans 2, Farris 2, Mitchell 2, Timberlake 2, Cramer). Steals: 5 (Mitchell 2, Farris, Pinzon, Withers). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .425, FT .731. 3-Point Goals: 4-19, .211 (Lorick 1-1, C.Williams 1-2, Weston 1-5, Wood 1-5, Jackson 0-3, Nkrumah 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Langlais, Nkrumah). Turnovers: 10 (Lorick 3, Langlais 2, Weston 2, C.Williams, Jackson, Wood). Steals: 14 (Weston 6, Jackson 3, C.Williams 2, Lorick 2, Nkrumah). Technical Fouls: None. A_268 (10,928).

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Duke rallies from 14 down, beats Wake Forest 23-17 on final-play pass

BRYANT 97, TENNESSEE STATE 85The head of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ’s governing party on Friday signaled more openness to his removal as president for plunging the key U.S. ally into chaos with a short-lived declaration of martial law , reversing his position the day before an impeachment vote. Han Dong-hoon, leader of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), had earlier said he opposed impeaching Yoon because it would only create more turmoil. But on Friday he said he had learned that Yoon ordered the arrest of prominent politicians in addition to declaring martial law, an order that was lifted six hours later after lawmakers voted to reject it. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 “In light of these new revelations, I have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to suspend President Yoon from exercising his mandate to protect the South Korea and its people,” Han said, adding that Yoon was “not acknowledging his wrongdoings.” If Yoon continues as president, Han said, “I fear that there will be a great risk of radical actions such as this state of emergency repeating, and he will put South Korea and its people in great danger.” Han’s comments increased the likelihood that Yoon will be impeached when a vote is held around 7 p.m. local time Saturday (5 a.m. ET). The opposition bloc holds 192 of the unicameral legislature’s 300 seats, just under the two-thirds majority needed for the motion to pass. The PPP, which repudiated Yoon’s martial law declaration, had asked him to leave the party but said earlier that it opposed the impeachment motion. Before Han changed his position, at least eight lawmakers from the PPP would have had to break with their party in order for it to pass. Six opposition parties had proposed impeaching Yoon over the martial law order, which banned political activity and censored the media. If Yoon is impeached, he will be suspended from office until the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold the motion, with a deadline of 180 days. The deeply unpopular Yoon, whose approval rating was already at 19% before the emergency martial law, had blamed opposition lawmakers in his declaration, accusing them of paralyzing the government by seeking the impeachment of multiple government officials and slashing critical funding from next year’s national budget. Opposition lawmakers have expressed concern that Yoon, who has not made any public appearances since lifting the order, might declare martial law a second time if he is impeached or even earlier. “I feel that danger is imminent tonight,” Lee Jae-myung, leader of the liberal opposition Democratic Party, said Friday. “I have a gut feeling that something might happen again tonight or early morning tomorrow.” Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho, whose predecessor resigned this week over his role in the martial law declaration, dismissed such concerns and said that even if Yoon made such an attempt, the Ministry of Defense and the South Korean military “would categorically reject it.” Yoon’s special forces commander, Kwak Jong-keun, also said Friday that it would be impossible for Yoon to declare martial law again “because I will refuse to comply with any such order.” In a call Thursday with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “deep concerns” about the martial law declaration and welcomed the lifting of the order. “The Secretary conveyed his confidence in the democratic resilience of the ROK during this period, and noted he expects the ROK’s democratic process to prevail,” the State Department readout said, using an abbreviation for South Korea’s formal name, the Republic of Korea. Blinken also reaffirmed the “ironclad” nature of the U.S. alliance with South Korea, which it views as an important bulwark against North Korea, China and Russia, and which hosts almost 30,000 American troops. The U.S. confirmed Thursday that meetings of the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group and related tabletop military exercises that were planned in Washington this week had been postponed amid the turmoil in South Korea. Meanwhile, more details emerged of the chaotic hours between Yoon’s declaration of martial law around 10:30 p.m. local time Tuesday and the lifting of the order around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. South Korea’s National Election Commission said Friday that after Yoon declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address on Tuesday, about 300 troops infiltrated its headquarters and related facilities in what the commission called “a clear violation of the Constitution and the law.” The soldiers confiscated the mobile phones of five people on duty and restricting access to the premises, the commission said, occupying its headquarters for about 3 hours and 20 minutes. “While it has been confirmed that no internal materials were taken by the troops thus far, a thorough and continuous review will be conducted to verify any potential damages,” the commission said in a statement. Kwak, the special forces commander, said some units at the National Election Commission stayed in their vehicles while others “secured and guarded the external perimeter as instructed.” He said they were in the area for about 20 minutes and then moved to withdraw when Kwak issued an order to halt operations at 1:09 a.m., around the same time lawmakers voted to reject the emergency martial law and ordered soldiers to leave the legislature in central Seoul. Kwak said that no one entered the premises, and that there were no plans to detain or obstruct commission personnel. “Basically, I halted the mission before any actions were carried out,” he said. Stella Kim reported from Seoul and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:FL lawmakers discuss budget, hurricane recovery and insurance issues at 'legislature university'Kingsview Wealth Management LLC Makes New Investment in Reddit, Inc. (NYSE:RDDT)

A video of Mr Harris being challenged by the worker, Charlotte Fallon, in Kanturk last Friday evening went viral online. Mr Harris has rejected suggestions that contact made by Fine Gael with RTÉ was an attempt to influence how the broadcaster handled the controversial clip. However, the Taoiseach and Fine Gael have come under mounting pressure to provide more detail on who contacted RTÉ, and to provide a full account of interactions between Mr Harris’s team and the national broadcaster on the matter. On Wednesday reporters pressed Mr Harris about remarks he made during Monday night’s televised debate where he said he didn’t believe that Fine Gael had requested RTÉ not to broadcast the video from Kanturk . He was also asked about allegations that Fine Gael had suggested to RTÉ that Ms Fallon was a member of Sinn Féin. “Yeah, I’ve asked that question and I don’t believe that was the case,” he said. Pressed as to whether he didn’t believe it to be the case or knew it to be the case, Mr Harris twice repeated: “I’ve asked that question and I do not believe it to be the case”. The main opposition party Sinn Féin has seized on the issue, calling on RTÉ to publish details of any correspondence with Mr Harris’s party. Its director of elections, Matt Carthy, argued that Fine Gael has “refused to come clean on this issue which goes right to the heart of the democratic process. In the interests of transparency and to assure the public that the national broadcaster is not facing undue pressure by government parties, RTÉ needs to publish details of the correspondence with Fine Gael in relation to the Kanturk incident.” RTÉ declined to comment. Mr Harris said there was constant engagement between all parties and RTÉ – and with other media outlets – and that he was satisfied that there was nothing inappropriate about any contacts. Mr Harris added that his party – unlike the Sinn Féin leader – was not suing RTÉ or proposing to review RTÉ. Asked if he would encourage RTÉ to publish the nature of the representations from Fine Gael, Mr Harris said that RTÉ had already commented on the issue, and said it received regular contacts from parties. Elsewhere, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said he was not aware of who made any representations from Fine Gael to RTÉ about the Kanturk video, but has satisfied himself that they were entirely appropriate. Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish TimesTCU's TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. Arizona

With Donald Trump's return to office, Southeast Asia finds itself -- yet again -- paddling between reefs. For Thailand and Malaysia, this means navigating an especially tricky strait. The region is no stranger to this balancing act, or mengayuh antara dua karang, as the Malay proverb goes. But the stakes are higher than ever, and with the US as volatile as it is powerful, the challenge now is whether the traditional "bamboo diplomacy" can bend without breaking. The past four years have seen Thailand and the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members growing increasingly adept at the delicate art of balance, navigating the competitive (and often contradictory) agendas of the US and China. Rather than "navigating", both countries appear to be profiting from the US-China rivalry. Malaysia, for instance, aims to double its global market share of the overall chip trade by 2029, capitalising on the shifting dynamics between the US and China. Similarly, Thailand is preparing for factories relocating from China due to anticipated US tariffs, positioning itself as an attractive destination for semiconductor manufacturing. With Mr Trump back in Washington, Southeast Asia's "strategic ambiguity" faces an unprecedented test. Even in stable times, America's commitment to the region has been inconsistent; under Mr Trump, it's a wild card. The pressing question now is whether countries like Thailand and Malaysia can continue relying on their deft bamboo diplomacy or risk becoming entangled -- too close to China, with an unpredictable America holding the shears. China's economic influence in the region is hardly news, and Thailand and Malaysia have been careful to foster economic ties with Beijing without compromising their autonomy. It's a delicate equilibrium, especially as China remains Southeast Asia's largest trading partner. Assertive China, unpredictable US The panda loves bamboo, and in this case, Thailand and Malaysia's willingness to accommodate Chinese trade, investment, and infrastructure projects has kept the bamboo growing. However, with Mr Trump's expected protectionist agenda -- and his known aversion to multilateralism -- Asean faces a dilemma: how close can it be with China without being fenced in? In Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed concern about potential tariffs on Malaysian exports to the US, a signal of how delicate the economic tightrope is. Mr Trump's transactional approach may appeal to some, but for economies reliant on exports and foreign investment, "America First" could mean America alone. This leaves Malaysia and Thailand in need of a hedge. But rather than putting all their bets on the panda, they might double down on regional partnerships and trade blocs like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to diversify trade and lessen their vulnerability. As China's influence steadily grows in Southeast Asia, the US presence in the region remains erratic, shaped by shifting administrations and domestic political priorities. Mr Trump's first term left Asean countries questioning whether Washington's attention had permanently drifted. With Mr Trump's return, Southeast Asia faces deeper doubts -- not only about America's reliability but also about its strategic relevance to the region's long-term goals. For Thailand, which has historically enjoyed a close relationship with the US, the shifting tides are especially complex. While maintaining security ties with Washington, Thailand has simultaneously been building economic and infrastructure partnerships with China. For Malaysia, the balancing act is similarly delicate. Both countries recognise that a re-engaged US, if focused solely on counterbalancing China, could introduce more risks than benefits. Mr Trump's "America First" agenda, alongside recent US withdrawals from Afghanistan and Washington's limited leverage in crises like Ukraine and Gaza, have spotlighted America's unpredictable commitment, reminding Asean leaders of the potential costs of dependency on any single superpower. Caught between an increasingly assertive China and an unpredictable America, Thailand and Malaysia are reluctant to play pieces in a larger geopolitical game. The only reassurance, however, comes from Mr Trump's "straight talking" credence: What you see is what you get -- or so the hope goes. Bamboo Dilemma: Bend or Break? This brings us back to bamboo diplomacy. Historically, Asean has thrived by bending rather than breaking, cultivating a flexibility that suits the region's collective interest. But flexibility can only go so far before it risks becoming subservience, and the return of Mr Trump's "America First" approach puts Asean's centrality to a serious test. There seems to be no consensus within Asean as to how far the bamboo should bend. Southeast Asia is unlikely to rank high on the new president's agenda, except concerning US-China relations. Thailand and Malaysia, therefore, will have to be nimble with a renewed focus on regional autonomy. Neither country wants to be fenced in by China nor dependent on an unpredictable US. They must engage both powers strategically, keeping their economies resilient and their foreign policies flexible. Southeast Asia's bamboo diplomacy remains resilient, bending just enough to appease both the panda and the eagle. Yet, with Mr Trump's return, this balancing act grows even more precarious. Whether it can keep Asean afloat remains uncertain, but if Asean nations excel at anything, it's navigating turbulent waters. For Thailand and Malaysia, the coming years will be about staying steady -- without capsising or becoming the panda's next meal. For Asean, the search for consensus has never been more urgent. Syed Nizamuddin Bin Sayed Khassim is an administrative and diplomatic officer with the Malaysian government. He is a Khazanah-OXCIS scholar who completed his MSt in diplomatic studies at Kellogg College, University of Oxford. He also holds a masters in public administration from the University of Malaya, and co-founded MyDiplomacy, a movement focused on empowering Malaysian youth with diplomatic opportunities.Lightning in action against the Maple Leafs following overtime win Toronto Maple Leafs (13-7-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (12-8-2, in the Atlantic Division) Tampa, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Maple Leafs -122, Lightning +101; over/under is 6. Canadian Press Nov 30, 2024 1:12 AM Nov 30, 2024 1:20 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Toronto Maple Leafs (13-7-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (12-8-2, in the Atlantic Division) Tampa, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Maple Leafs -122, Lightning +101; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Lightning knocked off the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime. Tampa Bay has gone 12-8-2 overall with a 0-2-0 record in Atlantic Division games. The Lightning have a +16 scoring differential, with 83 total goals scored and 67 given up. Toronto has gone 13-7-2 overall with a 4-3-1 record in Atlantic Division games. The Maple Leafs are 5-3-0 in games they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponents. The teams match up Saturday for the second time this season. The Maple Leafs won the last matchup 5-2. TOP PERFORMERS: Brayden Point has 16 goals and five assists for the Lightning. Anthony Cirelli has eight goals and three assists over the past 10 games. William Nylander has 14 goals and 10 assists for the Maple Leafs. Mitchell Marner has seven goals and nine assists over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lightning: 5-3-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 5.9 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. Maple Leafs: 7-2-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 3.9 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.7 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game. INJURIES: Lightning: None listed. Maple Leafs: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? 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CALGARY, ALBERTA – This time last year, the Wild were starting over. Coach John Hynes arrived 20 games into what ended up being an unsalvageable but still significant season: While the Wild never caught up to a playoff spot, they were laying the groundwork for a transformation that finally sunk in during training camp and has continued to click ever since. Now, after a very different 20 games, the Wild are the second-best team in the NHL. Without an injured Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild picked up a point from a 4-3 shootout loss to the Flames on Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome to finish their road trip 2-0-1. Calgary’s Justin Kirkland and Rasmus Andersson scored in the five-round shootout after the Wild’s Marco Rossi delivered the equalizer with 34 seconds left in the third period to continue a Wild comeback that lacked their best player. Kaprizov didn’t suit up after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Edmonton’s Drake Caggiula in the Wild’s 5-3 victory on Thursday, a collision that knocked Kaprizov out of that game briefly before he returned. This was the first game Kaprizov sat out after the best start in his NHL career; his 34 points through 19 games were tied for the league lead going into Saturday. Marat Khusnutdinov didn’t play either, also due to a lower-body injury, so the Wild tabbed Hopkins native Travis Boyd to make his team debut alongside his Iowa Wild teammates Devin Shore and Ben Jones. After a deflection by Calgary’s Kevin Rooney 15 minutes into the first period put the Wild behind first for only the seventh time this season, they responded just 1:03 later when Marcus Johansson one-timed a 2-on-1 pass from Matt Boldy for Johansson’s second goal in as many games; Boldy’s six-game point streak is a season high. The Flames retook the lead with 31 seconds left in the second period on a redirect by Martin Pospisil during Calgary’s first power play. Jakub Lauko was in the box for a questionable goalie interference penalty. Then the Flames doubled their lead again on the power play, this time courtesy a Yegor Sharangovich shot 3:53 into the third. Finally, Brock Faber converted with 3:59 to go in the third period; that was the Wild’s only fourth power play goal in 33 chances over the past 12 games. Then with goalie Filip Gustavsson on the bench for an extra attacker, Rossi extended the action. Gustavsson had 28 saves, while Dan Vladar had 20 for Calgary.None