234win slot login But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”

After cutting ties with 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, Jr., the Washington Commanders are looking for a new face of the future at the cornerback position. In his latest mock , SportingNews.com's own Vinnie Iyer believes Washington will get its guy. Iyer has the Commanders selecting Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison with the 19th-overall pick, despite having just traded for veteran Marshon Lattimore. Morrison would ideally be a long-term piece in Washington's defensive backfield. Morrison already has family ties to the Commanders, as his father Darryl played for Washington between 1993 and 1996 as a safety. He grew up in Leesburg, VA, a short drive from the Commanders' headquarters in Ashburn. Morrison has been sidelined with a hip injury for most of this season, but was highly productive in the previous two. In 31 games at Notre Dame, he's intercepted nine passes and deflected 18 of them. He's also a strong tackler for his position, with 84 total tackles including five for losses. Selecting Morrison would be a risk given the injury, but the upside certainly seems to be there. Washington will have plenty of options if it wants to address its biggest need, and Morrison might be the best available.

A deal which could see the Elgin Marbles returned to Greece is “still some distance” away, George Osborne has signalled. The former Tory chancellor, now chairman of the British Museum, suggested Sir Keir Starmer had contributed to a warmer spirit of the negotiations over the famous ancient artworks. Greece has long called for the return of the Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, and maintains they were illegally removed from Athens’ acropolis during a period of foreign occupation. The British Museum – where they are currently on display – is forbidden by law from giving away any of its artefacts, and the Government has no plans to change the law to permit a permanent move. But under Mr Osborne’s leadership, the museum is negotiating the possibility of a long-term loan of the sculptures, in exchange for rolling exhibitions of famous artworks. No 10 has indicated the Prime Minister is unlikely to stand in the way of such a deal. Speaking on Political Currency, the podcast he hosts alongside former Labour politician Ed Balls, Mr Osborne said the museum was “looking to see if we can come to some arrangement where at some point some of the sculptures are in Athens, where, of course, they were originally sited”. He added: “And in return, Greece lends us some of its treasures, and we made a lot of progress on that, but we’re still some distance from any kind of agreement.” The Greek government has suggested negotiations with the museum have taken a warmer tone since Labour came to power in the summer. Mr Osborne appeared to concur with this view and praised Sir Keir’s hands-off approach, adding: “It is not the same as Rishi Sunak, who refused to see the Greek prime minister, if you remember, he sort of stood him up. “So it seems to me a more sensible and diplomatic way to proceed.” Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek premier, discussed the Elgin Marbles with Sir Keir when they met on Tuesday morning at Downing Street, he said after returning to Athens. Mr Mitsotakis has signalled his government is awaiting developments on the negotiations. A diplomatic spat between the Greek leader and Mr Sunak emerged last year when the then-prime minister refused to meet his counterpart. Mr Mitsotakis had compared splitting the Elgin Marbles from those still in Athens to cutting the Mona Lisa in half. The marble statues came from friezes on the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple and have been displayed at the British Museum for more than 200 years. They were removed by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Some of the remaining temple statues are on display in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum in Athens, and Greece has called for the collections to be reunited.COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with a neck injury late in the first half of Saturday's game at No. 24 Missouri. Jackson appeared to injure his neck while trying to tackle Missouri running back Jamal Roberts. Medical personnel tended to Jackson for approximately 10 minutes before he was placed on a backboard and driven to a waiting ambulance. Jackson gave a thumbs-up sign as he was carted off the snow-covered field. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said Jackson had movement in his arms and legs but was experiencing pain in his neck. He said Jackson was taken to the hospital as a precaution. Jackson leads the Razorbacks with 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks, and is considered a potential first-round pick in next year's NFL draft. 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-footballShould You Buy Netflix Stock Before Dec. 25?Chhapra: State health minister Mangal Pandey on Wednesday inaugurated a 100-bed modern “Matri-Shishu” (mother & child care unit) unit at Chhapra Sadar Hospital . Constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore, the unit is equipped with modern facilities for mothers and children, including a ramp for patients. Speaking at the event, Pandey said, “The hospital is capable of providing advanced healthcare services to mothers and children.” Pandey also inaugurated a 42-bed prefabricated hospital, constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore, on the sadar hospital premises. “Prefabricated hospitals offer several advantages, including cost-effectiveness,” he said. The minister also inaugurated seven health centres in blocks such as Jalalpur and Manjhi and laid the foundation for a new model hospital on the sadar hospital premises, to be built at a cost of Rs 39 crore. Highlighting the state’s healthcare progress, Pandey said, “The Bihar govt, under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, is committed to providing better healthcare services. It has been our effort to ensure modern health facilities are available at the block level.” “There is no block in the Saran district where a 30-bed community hospital is not available. Prior to this, people could never have imagined facilities like CT scans and dialysis in sadar hospitals. Both are now available in Chhapra Sadar Hospital,” the minister said. Pandey added that Bihar is emerging as a leader in healthcare among Indian states. “In providing modern health facilities, Bihar has joined the ranks of leading states and secured a front place in immunisation and medicine availability,” he said. We also published the following articles recently Min opens mother & child care unit at Chhapra hosp Bihar's Health Minister, Mangal Pandey, inaugurated a new 100-bed mother and child care unit at Chhapra Sadar Hospital. The Rs 21 crore facility boasts modern equipment and a patient ramp. A 42-bed prefabricated hospital and seven block-level health centers were also opened. Hospitals garner 50% share in healthcare FDI India's healthcare sector is experiencing a surge in foreign investment, with hospitals now the prime focus. Their share of FDI has more than doubled since FY21, reaching $1.5 billion in FY24. This shift is driven by factors like a growing demand, increasing insurance coverage, and successful buyouts of major hospital chains. Manipur-based hospital interested to set up facility in Tripura: Chief minister Manik Saha Manipur's SHIJA Hospital plans a 700 crore super-specialty hospital in Tripura, boosting the state's healthcare infrastructure. In collaboration with SHIJA, Agartala Govt Medical College has successfully performed two kidney transplants, with more planned. Chief Minister Manik Saha aims to introduce bone marrow and liver transplants, attracting specialist doctors back to Tripura. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people

Ukraine’s allies have shifted their focus from seeking a victory to trying to put President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the best position to counter Russian advances or negotiate a possible ceasefire, people familiar with the matter said. For now, that means NATO is redoubling efforts to rush more weapons to the war-torn country as Kyiv forces are slowly losing ground, raising the specter the eventual truce may freeze the conflict with swathes of Ukraine under occupation by Vladimir Putin’s troops. Putin has shown no willingness to discuss a ceasefire, but the return of Donald Trump to the White House has focused NATO allies on how to shore up the political will to sustain the nearly three-year war as morale starts to fade. As foreign ministers gathered in Brussels this week have focused on how to supply more weapons, governments have begun considering various negotiated scenarios to end the war, the people said. The discussion includes the kind of security guarantees that would protect Ukraine, while not provoking Putin, the people said. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity given the political and security sensitivity of the planning, which is private and still incomplete. One possible option for a cease-fire includes creating a demilitarized zone. In case of a cease-fire, European troops would probably secure and patrol it, according to one senior NATO diplomat. Those discussions come amid recognition that the situation in Ukraine is unsustainable and negotiations should begin soon, according to another senior western diplomat. For European allies, the scenarios also offer an opportunity to show Trump they can stay relevant if cease-fire talks eventually crystallize. The private considerations over how the war may end took place as NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, tried on Wednesday to keep the focus on surging weapons to Ukraine, setting aside for now the contours of any cease-fire. “We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight,” Rutte said in his closing remarks at the NATO meeting. “We must provide enough support to change the trajectory of this war once and for all.” “Changing the trajectory means that where the frontline is now moving westwards we have to make sure that Ukraine is in a position of strength” when it comes to potential talks, he added. Zelenskyy himself signaled in recent interviews that a diplomatic solution is needed and that he’d accept an end to hostilities with parts of eastern Ukraine occupied, an outcome recent polls have shown a majority of Ukrainians would tolerate. “Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment that Ukraine won’t be able to liberate all Russian-occupied territory militarily is more than a recognition of reality,” said Lucian Kim, International Crisis Group analyst and author of recently published Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine. “It is also an opening to future peace efforts by a second Trump administration.” The key for Zelenskyy — and the complication for NATO — is his request that the alliance provide security guarantees over the portions of the country that Kyiv still controls, as well as the uncertain possibility of regaining that territory later through diplomacy. The Ukrainian president said on Sunday that any invitation to join the alliance must apply to his entire country, within its internationally recognized borders. His country’s previous experience with security guarantees, provided jointly by Russia, the U.S. and Britain by the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 in return for Kyiv giving up its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal, proved worthless when Putin invaded. Membership for Ukraine in NATO — with its security guarantee that a war against one is a war against all — is out of the question in the short term. It would also be a red line for Putin, who sees NATO on Russia’s border as a threat and Ukraine ultimately a part of his sphere of influence. Instead, Kyiv would need security guarantees that potentially bind the U.S. or other allies to come to its defense if Russia were to breach any cease-fire. Those would go beyond the commitments by the U.S. and dozens of allies to bolster Ukraine’s military over the long term, including with training. One goal of bulking up Kyiv’s military, and allowing it to strike deeper into Russia with western weapons, is to convince Putin that talks are better than fighting, which now is unlikely with Russian forces continuing to advance. “We don’t want to sugarcoat anything,” General Christian Freuding, head of the German Defense Ministry’s planning and command staff, said in comments posted online. Russia is taking the initiative “on all fronts, in all areas” and making continuous territorial gains. That includes on the eastern transport hub of Pokrovsk, which he sees Ukrainian forces needing to abandon by early next year. According to a NATO senior official, the pace of Russia’s advances is increasing, putting Ukrainian frontlines under additional pressure. And while Russia is sustaining casualties of about 1,500 killed and wounded a day, they have also been able to recruit around 30,000 new personnel a month, cementing the country’s manpower advantage. “Putin is clearly in the lead and doesn’t particularly want any negotiations,” Estonia’s ambassador to NATO, Juri Luik, said in an interview with the nation’s public broadcaster ERR. Worries within the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden that a Russian victory would embolden Moscow allies China, Iran and North Korea are at least partly behind the renewed surge of artillery shells, missiles, land mines and air defense systems. NATO’s Rutte said in an interview with the Financial Times this week that he delivered a similar warning to Trump about America’s rivals when he visited the president-elect recently in Florida. Even without a shift to Trump, who has criticized the billions the U.S. has pledged to support Ukraine, dwindling manpower and weapons mean talks would need to begin next year anyway, according to Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at Rand. “Ukraine lacks the manpower to stop the Russian offensive, and the west has little left to give in terms of existing stocks of weapons,” Charap said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Brussels this week, planning to discuss how to protect Ukraine over the long term, despite his short time left. “You’ve got me, you’ve got us,” Blinken told Rutte before their meeting. “Until the 20th of January,” he added, referring to Biden’s last day in office.ASHFIELD — Combining creativity and community, Double Edge Theatre is working to create a sustainable future by providing eco-friendly housing and renovating old buildings into new apartments, while also constructing a Community Design Center. Between a housing crisis, a climate crisis and economic challenges, artistic communities often struggle because there are limited capital resources to support them, said Adam Bright, executive director of Double Edge Theatre. To help combat some of these issues, the theater is working to transform old properties into eco-friendly housing. On its main campus off Route 116, Double Edge Theatre has a farmhouse in addition to a residential site downtown where it houses its residents and guest educators, as well as a few Ashfield locals. “We do a lot of subsidized housing for low-income individuals in the area,” Bright said. Bright said the housing shortage is a major issue facing the community, and investing in housing infrastructure is a big goal for the theater as it crafts its future budgets. The topic is also being discussed with the Energy Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals and other town officials. Finding solutions to these various problems will take a lot of creativity and teamwork between residents, businesses, government and arts organizations, Bright said. “There’s no separation in my mind,” Bright said. “These things have to come together; there’s no rural community that will survive divided.” He added that Double Edge Theatre is lucky to be based in Ashfield, where town officials and residents have been incredibly supportive of the theater’s efforts. Residents work together to find creative solutions to problems, Bright said, and he believes they will continue to do so. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess “Whenever we can invest in the community, we try to do so,” Bright said. The theater’s next investment will involve taking a few old buildings that have plenty of unused space and renovating them, making them habitable and eco-friendly. “An enormous push for us is renewable energy,” Bright said. “We’re working with cutting-edge tech to be as sustainable as we can.” Sustainability is a big part of Double Edge Theatre’s operations. On its main campus, it has a chicken coop, a goat barn, a garden and a small orchard that produces food for its members. Double Edge Theatre is also working to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings by installing solar panels, improving insulation, upgrading its heating and cooling systems, and more. Double Edge Theatre has three buildings that it plans to renovate into apartments, and is working on securing building permits to start construction. Although the theater doesn’t need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals as an educational nonprofit, the organization has kept town officials apprised of the plans, which were briefly shared at a recent ZBA meeting. In addition to giving some old buildings a new look, the theater will also be constructing a new Community Design Center. The center will be open to the public, offering open workspaces and design rooms for puppet-making, visual arts, textiles, beading, sewing and costuming, as well as Indigenous practices such as traditional woodworking. The venue will also provide a space for workshops and classes on various trades. “That building is being created to offer design spaces,” Bright said. “It’s got a lot of things and a lot of communities we’re working with.” Bright said the new building will be net zero, meaning 100% of its energy demand will be met by on-site renewable energy. The center will be built using the latest technology and construction practices as well as local and sustainable materials, marking a big step toward the theater’s goal of having a sustainable campus. “We don’t want to just buy plywood from who knows where and have it shipped across the country,” Bright said. “We want to use materials that are cleanly sourced.” The Community Design Center is being funded with $1.2 million in grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Barr Foundation and The Beveridge Family Foundation, as well as appropriations from the state budget. Construction is slated to begin next spring, with a hopeful completion and opening at the end of 2025. While Double Edge Theatre continues to plan renovations and construction over the next five to 10 years and beyond, Bright hopes community members will share their thoughts and ideas. Bright said community input sessions will be planned in the future as they continue. Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.

Schmidt scores 19 off the bench, Valparaiso downs Eastern Illinois 81-53What is it about a good newsgathering movie? The pleasure of watching skilled, doggedly determined people coming together to tell a story, to shape the chaos of the world into something comprehensible makes for evergreen cinematic fodder, from “All the President’s Men” to “The Insider” to “Spotlight.” Add “September 5” to that list, which tackles the slippery madness of live television reporting, essentially invented by the ABC Sports team during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, during the hostage situation that unfolded in the Olympic Village, which ended in tragedy. The massacre still looms large in the historical memory, especially for the Munich-based filmmaking team behind the crackerjack newsroom thriller “September 5.” Since these were the first Olympic Games broadcast live via satellite, it was also the first time an attack such as this was broadcast to a global audience of millions, a watershed moment in media evolution. At a quick and gripping 95 minutes, it’s remarkable how writer/director Tim Fehlbaum marshals a large ensemble cast, makes an already well-known event feel like an urgent and unpredictable crisis, and allows the audience to ponder the larger implications of the characters’ choices. The script is by Fehlbaum, Moritz Binder and Alex David, and Fehlbaum’s crew delivers an impeccably crafted piece of filmmaking that spills the guts of live TV in fascinating ways. Cinematographer Markus Förderer’s camera restlessly roves around the dim production office, perfectly designed by Julian R. Wagner, stuffed with analog tech. Hansjörg Weißbrich’s edit seamlessly weaves together everything — including extensive archival footage — tracking many different characters, movements and screens in this film that immediately plunges you into this world but allows the situation to unfold moment-to-moment. It’s not easy to make things look effortless, and Fehlbaum’s film fluidly captures that behind-the-scenes effort: the sweat, the teamwork, the disagreements, the problem-solving, the cunning, the pleading and, yes, the mistakes that went into the ABC reporting that day. There’s a trio of decision-makers running the show, played by the terrific threesome of Peter Sarsgaard as Roone Arledge, Ben Chaplin as Marvin Bader and John Magaro as Geoff Mason, our ostensible lead, as we follow him throughout the day. Geoff is a young upstart, having directed live television covering golf tournaments and minor league baseball. He’s suddenly thrust into the highest-pressure live-television directing situation of all time as it becomes clear that a group of Palestinian commandos known as Black September have taken the Israeli Olympic team hostage in their apartments in the Olympic Village. Improvising on the fly, the team — normally used to covering sports — has to weigh their competitive desire to own the story, represented by the hard-charging Roone, with the cautious temperance of Marvin, who urges restraint in case they broadcast violence to concerned families watching at home. Much of the appeal of “September 5” lies in simply watching people who are very good at their jobs do them well, as these well-trained, knowledgeable professionals utilize their skills, emotional intelligence and critical thinking in their storytelling craft, even as they falter and flail in the chaos of the situation. Avoiding any significant comment on the longtime conflict between Israel and Palestine, “September 5” is tightly focused on how television news systems work and how this unique moment supercharged its evolution. While it is a thrilling, compulsively compelling watch, a good old-fashioned character ensemble piece, the message at hand is about the burden of responsibility in telling a story like this and the catastrophic mistakes that can happen in these moments, too. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Rice builds up big lead early, hangs on to beat USF 35-28

Mount Sinai Hospital to Host Sixth International Prostate Cancer Symposium and World Congress of Urologic Oncology

CTE study of 77 dead hockey players: Risk for brain disease increased with each year playedCommitted to compliances, every attack makes us stronger: Gautam AdaniIlankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi celebrates 75th birth anniversary

NFL limits use of boundary cameras to automatic reviews, for now

TikTok's future uncertain after appeals court rejects its bid to overturn possible US banAcross the Asia-Pacific region, especially in urban centres, electric cars and buses are increasingly replacing petrol-powered ones as a means of transportation. Aided by the ubiquity of smart devices, smart mobility and other transport innovations are significantly reshaping everyday life through ride-sharing apps, driver assistance technology and real-time traffic management. With new highways and railways operationalised in the last decade, the region is getting yet more connected, while the ongoing digitalisation of road, rail and maritime freight transport further improves efficiency and cost reduction. These are part of the wider trend of sustainable transport development, which benefits everyone through making the transport of people and goods safer, "greener", more efficient and more accessible. Countries across Asia and the Pacific have made great progress towards these goals, but major challenges remain. More cooperation will be needed to advance these trends and overcome obstacles. The transition to sustainable transport leads to interlinked benefits that are felt across multiple aspects of life. The move towards public transport, walking and cycling not only improves general mobility by relieving congestion stress, but also significantly cuts down on emissions from personal vehicles, reduces the risk of road accidents and promotes physical fitness. Ride-sharing or ride-hailing apps offer personalised transport solutions tailored to individual needs, reducing fuel consumption and waste, while connected and autonomous vehicle technology improves traffic flow and prevents crashes -- by UN estimates, up to 80% of non-alcohol ones -- by minimising human error. Coupled with inclusive transport planning, these developments make it much easier for the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and other underserved populations to access transport solutions and fully engage in society. The knock-on effects across economic growth, health, climate action and social inclusion thus make sustainable transport a key enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. The good news is that the Asia-Pacific region has made solid progress towards sustainable transport. Coordinated regional development of transport infrastructure continues to advance economies of scale to meet increased demand in freight transport. Currently, approximatively 145,000 kilometres of Asian Highways, 121,000km of Trans-Asian Railways and 275 dry ports cover all parts of the region and almost 99.7% of the total population, while the region also hosts the world's ten largest container ports and accounts for more than half of the global maritime trade. In addition to the widespread adoption of smart mobility solutions, countries are in general committed to the decarbonisation of their roads, railways and maritime transport, with plans to electrify transport modes and promotion of fuel efficiency and the use of clean sources of fuel. Most countries saw a decline in road traffic deaths in the last decade, and several have made progress in improving gender equality in the transport sector. However, this path is fraught with challenges. Most of the projected future growth in global transport demand will take place in the Asia-Pacific region, owing partly to rapid urbanisation and a growing appetite for personal vehicles. While the most tangible effect of this growth will be the rise in greenhouse gas emissions due to the ongoing heavy reliance on fossil fuels, these trends also add additional strain to existing urban transport systems, many of which are underinvested. Missing links and sub-standard quality of infrastructure, coupled with lack of transport facilitation, continue to increase costs and delays of international transport, especially in landlocked developing countries. Likewise, small island developing states continue to show limited and often stagnant levels of their maritime connectivity, hindering their integration into the regional and global economy. The disparity in technological capabilities between countries, as well as current gaps in meeting low-carbon transport goals, hinder the effective adoption of region-wide smart mobility systems and net-zero strategies, respectively. And despite improvements, a person in Asia and the Pacific loses their life in a road accident every 45 seconds. Women only make up approximately 16% of the regional transport workforce, a slightly lower figure than the global average. Government representatives gathered in early November and assessed these achievements and challenges within the framework of the Regional Action Programme for Sustainable Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific. Many tasks, such as transport decarbonisation, cannot be overcome by any country alone; meanwhile, the benefits of transport innovations such as digitalisation and automation will only be fully realised if widely implemented. With Asia and the Pacific 32 years behind in achieving the SDGs, accelerating sustainable transport development benefits everyone, so everyone needs to get on board to make it happen. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

On Thursday, Fox News host and pundit Tomi Lahren floated the idea that the failed nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general was really an “Art of the Deal” plan orchestrated by Donald Trump. Gaetz announced that he was withdrawing his name for consideration as a series of stories about his alleged sexual misconduct began to emerge. But during an appearance on Fox’s “The Story,” Lahren saw a victory for Trump. “I think this whole thing was very strategic and in my estimation it has the ‘Art of the Deal’ written all over it,” Lahren told host Martha MacCallum. “Obviously, Matt Gaetz was a very controversial pick, some would say maybe the most controversial pick that Trump could of selected. So now whoever he picks as his second choice, they'll probably receive a little bit less scrutiny, they won't have as much heat on them.” x YouTube Video Lahren further argued that Trump’s other nominees would also have less “heat” and that Gaetz’s departure “kind of gave cover for some of the other controversial picks.” MacCallum then asked Lahren if she thought Gaetz himself was a part of the storyline she was forwarding. “This is all just my theory and my speculation, but I wouldn't put it past him. I think that this is a very strategic team,” she concluded. The nomination and withdrawal is an early black eye and political loss for Trump and the first since his election win. Trump gave up on Gaetz , according to reporting from The Bulwark, and called Gaetz to tell him he simply didn’t have the votes to confirm him. Lahren’s attempt to spin victory from a clear defeat is symptomatic of the role that Fox News and its stable of hosts and pundits play in the right-wing media world. Prominent leaders like Trump can never fail in this version of how the world works, but are master manipulators who control events—even when things go poorly for them. It is the sort of tortured logic that led Fox News figures to promote election conspiracies after Trump lost to President Joe Biden in 2020 and it cost the network nearly $800 million . Unfortunately, millions of conservative viewers rely on Fox News’ version of events to guide them and inform them, and it leads to a crisis of misinformation that ends up in votes for figures like Trump. Campaign ActionKansas City Chiefs fans and Hallmark movie lovers alike are in for a treat this Thanksgiving weekend. “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” premieres on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 (11/30/24) at 8 p.m. ET on the Hallmark Channel . The movie spent time filming at Arrowhead Stadium and includes several, star-studded Kansas City Chiefs cameos. How to watch: Fans can watch “Holiday Touchdown” for free via a trial of Philo , DirecTV Stream or fuboTV , which is offering $30 off this month. Here’s what you need to know: What: “Holiday Touchdown” premiere When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: Hallmark Channel Live stream: Philo (free trial), fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) Kansas City Chiefs’ cameos: Head coach Andy Reid , offensive guard Trey Smith , wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. , running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and defensive end George Karlaftis . Donna Kelce , the mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , also plays a role in the Hallmark original. Film Synopsis: Chiefs superfan Alana [ Hunter King ] tries to win the Fan of the Year Award as a Christmas gift for her family, falling in love with someone in the Chiefs front office [Tyler Hynes] along the way. *** Here’s an entertainment story via the Associated Press: Two new Christmas TV movies have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger as a pro football player, who meet and fall in love — not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “It’s clearly inspired by Taylor and Travis, but I don’t know them and I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes. I only know what’s been put out there,” said Eirene Tran Donohue, a longtime, devoted fan who jumped at the opportunity to write a script even loosely based on her favorite musician. She was inspired by the couple’s support of each other’s accomplishments, particularly Kelce’s ease with dating the star despite the glare of the spotlight, adding, “I love the way that he celebrates her.” Tran Donohue wants fellow Swift fans to know she wrote the script with them in mind. “There are so many Easter eggs,” she said of little details added that a Swift fan would pick up on. “I put in as many as I could.” Then, on Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City, so it makes sense why the company chose the Chiefs to be highlighted. In this story, written by Julie Sherman Wolfe, sparks fly when a new employee for the Chiefs organization (Tyler Hynes) meets a woman — played by Hunter King — whose family’s dedication to the team goes back generations. Sherman Wolfe, a San Francisco 49ers fan, said she got the call a week after Super Bowl LVIII, when the Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22. “I was still nursing my wounds,” she said adding that Hallmark asked, ‘Can you can you separate yourself from the loss and do this movie? I said, ’Absolutely. I mean, I’m a professional,‘" Sherman Wolfe said, laughing. While “Holiday Touchdown” has no mention of Swift or Kelce, it does feature a few Chiefs player cameos and Donna Kelce also has a small role. “I kept botching my line,” Hynes said of working with Mama Kelce. “I was just like, Donna Kelce’s about to speak and I’m beside myself. It was so fun.” The actors also got to film at Arrowhead Stadium and on the field. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Which Kansas City Chiefs stars have cameos in Hallmark’s new Christmas movie? | How to watch ‘Holiday Touchdo Nov. 30, 2024, 6:00 a.m. How to watch the Las Vegas Raiders Black Friday game today (11/29/24) | FREE LIVE STREAM, time, TV channel fo Nov. 29, 2024, 6:00 a.m. “Those were just some of the coolest moments I’ve ever gotten to have working on a movie,” King said. (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Published 3:25 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024 By Joshua Windus Press release Washington D.C. — A bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff to ensure women in law enforcement have properly fitting body armor to keep them safe has passed the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act, which Sen. Ossoff cosponsored alongside Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), would provide female law enforcement officers within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with improved ballistic body armor. The bipartisan bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. “Ill fitting body armor threatens the health and safety of law enforcement agents. I continue leading my effort to ensure female military servicemembers have well fitting body armor. By bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we are making progress to now equip female law enforcement officers with the same,” Sen. Ossoff said. According to the Criminal Justice Technology Testing and Evaluation Center, more than 60 percent of female law enforcement officers reported their body armor does not fit properly, and report that it causes pain, abrasions, and other discomforts. Sen. Ossoff’s new push to upgrade Federal law enforcement body armor comes as he continues working to upgrade female body armor for U.S. servicemembers as well. In 2022, Sens. Ossoff, Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) successfully secured a bipartisan provision in the national defense bill to help ensure that women in the military have quality and proper-fitting gear, which came after he met with servicemembers directly and heard about ill-fitting chest plates and other body armor. Click here to read the DHS Better Ballistic Body Armor Act.None

Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League has been cut to seven points after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Newcastle. Chelsea moved up to second by thrashing last-place Southampton 5-1, while Arsenal are third after a 2-0 win over Manchester United. Also on Wednesday night, fourth-placed Manchester City ended their seven-game winless run with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Liverpool's result will give hope to their title rivals after Fabian Schar's 90th-minute equaliser at St James' Park. Arne Slot's team had twice come back from a goal down to take the lead in the 83rd through Mohamed Salah's second goal of the match. But the Merseyside team were denied an eighth-straight win when Newcastle produced a fightback of their own. "I have mixed feelings, we were outstanding in the second half, but we were not good enough in the first half," Slot said. "Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved." Chelsea and Arsenal took advantage. Chelsea's third league win in a row puts them ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. City also reduced the gap and are nine points behind Liverpool after finally ending the worst run of results of Pep Guardiola's managerial career. "We needed it. The club, the players, everyone needed to win," Guardiola said. Liverpool's title credentials were given a stern test by Newcastle, who led at halftime through Alexander Isak and again in the second half through Anthony Gordon. Goals from Curtis Jones and Salah twice levelled the game before Salah looked to have sealed the win late on. Schar equalised after Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged a late free kick. It meant Liverpool dropped points for only the third time this season after drawing against Arsenal and losing to Forest. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said this week that his team was not in the title race, but the standings tell a different story. The London team are Liverpool's closest challengers after their latest win against 10-man Southampton. Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho were all on target in the rout at St Mary's Stadium. Southampton had briefly levelled through Joe Aribo, but Chelsea was already 3-1 up and in control when Jack Stephens was sent off before the break. Arsenal inflicted a first loss on new United head coach Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. Two goals from second-half corners made the difference, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba finding the back of the net. Mikel Arteta's team finished runner-up in each of the last two seasons and look primed to challenge again after making an unconvincing start to the campaign. Making his first start since September, Kevin De Bruyne showed City exactly what they have been missing by scoring a goal and creating another as the four-time defending champions got back to winning ways. The Belgium playmaker provided the cross for Bernardo Silva to give City an eighth-minute lead against Forest at the Etihad Stadium. He produced a trademark finish to sweep the ball past goalkeeper Matz Sels in the 31st to put City on course for a first win in eight games. Jeremy Doku made it 3-0 in the 57th, but it was De Bruyne's performance that stood out after seeing much of his season disrupted by a groin injury. A first win in six games for Everton moved Sean Dyche's team further away from the relegation zone, while back-to-back losses for Wolverhampton left the club second from bottom of the standings. Ashley Young and Orel Mangala put Everton in control before two second-half own goals from Craig Dawson sealed a 4-0 win for the Merseyside club, who are five points clear of the bottom three. Aston Villa ended an even longer winless run by beating Brentford 3-1 to secure a first victory in nine games in all competitions. Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins from the penalty spot and Matty Cash were on target.