China claims the island as its own and has vowed to unify it by force if necessary, while Taiwan, whose occupants have no desire to be ruled by Beijing, says it would defend itself alone to preserve its hard-won democratic freedoms. Beijing’s designs on Taiwan were thrust into the international spotlight in early August when a visit to Taipei by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi triggered an unprecedented response from China....
“There was nothing that I, or anyone else, saw that indicated a collapse of this army or this government in 11 days,” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday. Intelligence assessments showed a rapid collapse was possible, but estimates mostly ranged from weeks to months to even years following the departure of U.S. military forces, Milley said. The United States is now scrambling to evacuate thousands of American citizens and Afghan allies who are trapped in the country as the Taliban takes control....
Where will James go after Madrid? The Colombia international stated following Sunday’s Club World Cup final that he is considering offers from elsewhere after growing frustrated with his role at the Santiago Bernabeu. Club captain Sergio Ramos questioned James’ decision to speak publicly about his concerns and speculation has mounted that his outburst has caused irreparable damage to his relationship with boss Zinedine Zidane. But Valdano, twice a league champion in his Madrid playing career and once as head coach, understands the frustration on the part of the 25-year-old....
In a deal with prosecutors, Odom entered the plea to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and was also ordered to pay $1,814 in fines and penalties, Los Angeles city attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan said. Odom had faced a maximum sentence of six months in jail. The status of his suspended driver's license will be determined at a separate hearing in front of the Department of Motor Vehicles....
Memphis (Al White), the cafe’s pragmatic proprietor, is obsessed with getting a fair price for his property from the city, which wants to tear it down. With his new money, he plans to return to Mississippi to confront the white man who ran him off his land decades ago. The retired Holloway (Roscoe Lee Browne), the resident barstool philosopher, puts his faith in the ancient wisdom of a 322-year-old seer named Aunt Esther....
title: “Off Base” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-28” author: “Phyllis Waller”
A few weeks after his death, I flew to Pennsylvania to meet with the two surgeons at the hospital. My family and I needed to know what had happened. Too many unanswered questions lingered. One of my brothers wanted to hire a lawyer and turn him loose but had agreed to wait until he knew the results of my meeting. At noon, I stood before the hospital, a solid collection of brick and concrete and glass rectangles–a massive promise of competence and power....
John Michael Goulart Jr., an officer in Pineville, Louisiana, is accused of having “altered the facts” after shooting himself on Sunday, the police department said. Goulart said he had been shot once in the leg, with a second bullet hitting the rear door of his police car, while he was at a shopping center in the city. On Monday, Deputy Chief Darrell Basco, the Pineville Public Information Officer, said the officer had come under fire after being “ambushed....
Officers from the Metropolitan Police arrived at Zone Gym in Wood Green, London, on November 10 at 6pm to find people working out, despite the lockdown. After being asked to close and risking a £10,000 ($13,194) fine, the owner of the gym Andreas Michli, reopened the gym as soon as the police left. Officers arrived at gym again yesterday morning to shut it down once more. A nationwide lockdown is in place across England until December 2, meaning that all non-essential businesses are required to close until then....
The 65-year-old’s position has come under increasing scrutiny this season, with Leicester unable to get close to the standards they hit in last term’s remarkable Premier League title triumph. Rooney is right to wait - but the end is nigh The Foxes have lost seven of their last nine matches, including Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Sevilla, while a return of just five wins in 25 league matches has left them one point above the relegation zone....
Why Hazard should stay a Chelsea The former Manchester United midfielder has been on loan at Walter Mazzarri’s side this season, making 20 appearances in all competitions. And the 27-year-old is thrilled to have secured a permanent move to Vicarage Road on a five-year deal after the club exercised an option on a transfer. “I’m delighted,” he told Watford’s official website. “I think I made it clear I had feelings for the club when I came down here on loan and it was always the view to sign a permanent deal, so I’m over the moon....
The England Under-20 international has forged a reputation as one of English football’s brightest prospects at Charlton and Everton emerged as favourites for his signature following a season-ending injury sustained by Yannick Bolasie last month. The Toffees have now forked out a reported £10 million to sign the 19-year-old, who only broke into Charlton’s first team last season as the Addicks were relegated from the Championship. Bolasie facing year on the sidelines...
Keep up to date with all the Deadline Day rumours! The transfer of the 25-year-old forward for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be approximately £15million plus potential add-ons, was announced on only an hour before the deadline. Former Atalanta and Juventus player Gabbiadini has been a regular in Napoli’s first team since moving to the San Paolo from Sampdoria in 2015, but has found himself on the fringes at times this term, making 13 appearances in Serie A and scoring three goals....
Bayern take legal action on Kimmich Watford have confirmed the 55-year-old’s time in charge of the club will come to an end after their final Premier League game of the season at home to Manchester City on Sunday. Mazzarri, formerly head coach of Napoli and Inter, signed a three-year contract when he took charge in July 2016 but will now depart after only one season in the job. “After the board discussed with Walter Mazzarri the club’s future goals and aspirations, it was decided he will be stepping down from his position as the club’s head coach after the final game of the 2016-17 season,” read a statement from Watford chairman Scott Duxbury on Wednesday....
City close in on Bernardo Silva The right-back, 32, spent nine seasons at the Etihad Stadium, but is one of five players whom Pep Guardiola has let go this summer. And he becomes Slaven Bilic’s first summer signing as he looks to improve on an 11th placed finish in 2016-17. Zabaleta turned down a number of offers from clubs in Italy, Spain and England to join West Ham, and is looking forward to a new challenge....
Images of the hornet proved the nature of its true size and, simply put, it’s huge—reaching more than two inches in length. With its distinctive orange and black striped coat, the hornet large head features teardrop-shaped eyes while its body holds broad wings similar to that of a small dragonfly. Nicknamed the “murder hornet” in its origin country of Japan, the discovery of the giant insect has brought immense concern among wildlife and agriculture officials mostly because of the hornet’s penchant for attacking and killing honeybees....
The next morning, housewarming gave way to war-rooming. Bill phoned Hugh’s lawyer, demanding that Hillary’s brother return the cash–and another $200,000 he got for winning a commuted sentence for a convicted cocaine dealer. Clinton lawyers checked official records and drafted a cautiously worded denial. Then there was the stagecraft. It was decided that Bill had to scram before the story broke. He needed to be safely out of microphone range at the family’s other new home, in Chappaqua, N....
“We will be issuing an order closing all bars and restaurants in #Ohio beginning at 9:00 tonight,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a tweet Sunday afternoon. In a follow-up post, he clarified that “establishments can stay open for carry-out and delivery.” “What we can’t have is people congregating and seated,” DeWine continued. “I’m aware that this will impact many, many good workers. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but we will work to mitigate the suffering....
“Both Senator Josh Hawley and Senator Ted Cruz have betrayed their oaths of office and abetted a violent insurrection on our democracy. I am calling for their immediate resignation,” Brown said in a tweet on Saturday. “If they do not resign, the Senate must expel them,” he continued. Cruz and Hawley, who represent Missouri and Texas respectively, have faced backlash following the Capitol riot this past Wednesday. Democratic lawmakers have claimed the two Republicans acted as provocateurs, fanning the flames that led to the riot when they planned to object to the electoral vote certification over baseless claims of voter fraud....
