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EDITORIAL: Stumbling from one mess to another
How to Make a French 75, the Gin Cocktail That’s Even Better With Real Champagne
Sand deposition for work reinforcing soft soil as part of the U.S. military base transfer within Okinawa Prefecture began Saturday, Japan's Defense Ministry said, marking progress in the controversial plan. As part of land reclamation at the relocation site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, sand is being embedded in the soft ground on the Oura Bay side of Henoko before the installation of approximately 70,000 piles into the seabed at depths of up to 70 meters. At about 1:45 p.m., a year to the day since the government took the unprecedented step of overriding the Okinawa prefectural government to greenlight its modified landfill plan, a digger on a boat took sand and soil from a neighboring boat and dumped it in the bay. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the ministry hailed the development as a "major step forward for the full return of Futenma air station," adding it will continue to do its utmost to achieve the base transfer. While the ministry asserts that the site will be stabilized to support the base, the project may encounter challenges due to some areas reportedly reaching depths of up to 90 meters below sea level. The government submitted a revised landfill plan to the Okinawa governor in April 2020 to address the issue of soft soil. After the Okinawa prefectural government refused to approve it, the central government granted approval in its place on Dec. 28, 2023. Construction work is expected to take until around April 2033, while arrangements to hand the facility over to the United States are projected to take an additional three years. Tokyo and Washington agreed in 1996 to return the land used for Futenma, located in a densely populated area of Ginowan on Okinawa's main island in southern Japan. The Japanese government selected the coastal Henoko area in Nago as the relocation site in 1999, but the plan has been delayed by political wrangling and strong local opposition. The central government has maintained that the relocation plan is the "only" solution to removing the dangers posed to the local community by the Futenma base without undermining the perceived deterrence provided by the Japan-U.S. alliance.MIAMI – Typically when the call “UCLA” is made from the sideline, it’s for a simple pass-and-cut motion off a screen set on the side of the foul line. For the Miami Heat, when coach Erik Spoelstra turns to his bench and shouts “UCLA,” there’s an entirely different connotation. It means it’s time for Kevin Love and Jaime Jaquez Jr. to jump into action, as in the duo of UCLA alums, the Heat’s Bruins off the bench. “I usually just turn to the bench and say ‘UCLA,’ so they both know to get off the bench and go in there,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat taking on the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night at Kaseya Center. “And they sit by each other by their lockers. Yeah, they do have a good connection.” Even with the age difference, Love at 36, Jaquez at 23, the UCLA connection is real, albeit with Love leaving the Bruins in 2008, when Jaquez was just 7. While the Heat rotation has been altered by injury and illness, including absences by both Love and Jaquez, Spoelstra said there is an ongoing comfort playing the two together. “That goes from last year, too,” Spoelstra said of Jaquez’s rookie season. “They had good chemistry. When we’re pretty consistent with our rotation – it tends to change – when we’re stable, usually those two guys are going in roughly the same time.” Those comments came after Spoelstra again advocated for Love ‘s ongoing value. “You need veteran experience that is real in this league,” Spoelstra said. “This league, as has been well documented, has gotten younger. And you need guys that have done it, know how to communicate to different guys in the locker room and still can do it out on the court. Related Articles “Kevin’s skill set is super high. He can do so many things that can help you offensively. He helps our best players and he’s really smart. So that ties a lot of things together for us. And then his rebounding for us is something that’s really welcomed.” Having scored his first NBA points on a dunk Monday night in Boston, undrafted Heat rookie forward Keshad Johnson said a followup text made the moment even more memorable. “Nassir Little, he texted me and said there’s less than 5,000 people in the world that said they scored an NBA basket. So that changed my whole perspective,” Johnson said of his teammate with the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “For me to tell my children or whoever I tell in the future that I got it on a dunk, that’s going to be a bigger story to tell.” Having thrived in his G League action on his two-way contract, Johnson said he would expect the same benefit for Heat first-round pick Kel’el Ware, who currently is with the Skyforce. “With the game reps, it’s going to automatically prepare him for when he comes back here.” Johnson said. “That’s going to help him a lot. Ultimately, the game will slow down for him, and he’s also going to get his wind. This is all going to be for a benefit.” Ware is scheduled to be back in action Sunday with the Skyforce against the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets. Heat center Bam Adebayo will hold his annual toy drive Monday at Kaseya Center for 1,000 pre-selected children ages 4-13 from various foundations across the Miami area. “This event is one of the highlights of my year,” Adebayo said. “The holidays are a time for giving, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing these kids so happy as they choose toys and enjoy the festivities. I’m honored to be able to bring some joy to their lives during this special time.”
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 3:40 p.m. EST
Firefighters and passengers hurt after train hits fire truck on crossing
Philadelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. Eagles player to watch RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. Rams player to watch S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Key matchup Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Key injuries Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. Series notes The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Stats and stuff Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry's 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn't accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Fantasy tip Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia's pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they'll find ways to produce. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLA high-speed passenger train collided with a fire engine at a crossing on Saturday in Florida, injuring three firefighters and at least a dozen train passengers, authorities said. The crash happened at 10.45am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach fire rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Mr Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 – giving the railroad the worst death rate in the United States. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.
Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full a dose of presidential pomp. And they held an impromptu meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. The DNC chair candidates discuss Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and winning Latino voters SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Four Democrats are running for Democratic National Committee chair, looking to take on the task of reinvigorating a party demoralized by a second loss to President-elect Donald Trump. Others may still get into the race as Democrats reckon with what went wrong in the 2024 election, which saw Trump gain with nearly every demographic group in a decisive repudiation of the incumbent party. The 448 DNC members will elect a successor for outgoing Chair Jaime Harrison on Feb. 1. The party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is scheduled to meet next week to approve rules for the contest. 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors are planning to return to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. They are each over 100 years old. They will join active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for a remembrance ceremony hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. Do weighted blankets help you sleep better? Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Weighted blankets are a popular choice to warm up in cold weather, but research on their effectiveness is limited. Such blankets come with extra heft in the form of glass beads, pellets or cotton. They're also more expensive than regular blankets. Scientists think the added pressure could calm the brain’s fight-or-flight response or signal the brain to produce what’s called the love hormone. There isn’t a ton of research on whether weighted blankets actually work, and the studies that do exist are on small groups. Experts say there’s no harm in giving them a try if you're willing to splurge.The Israeli Ambassador has urged candidates in the General Election to address antisemitism and claimed that many Jews in Ireland “do not feel safe”. Ireland has a very small Jewish population and in 2016, only 2,557 people recorded their religion as Judaism in the census. Nevertheless, numerous members of the community have raised concerns about a rise in antisemitism since the October 7th attack on Israel and some have even left the country . “A few weeks ago, a Jewish student was attacked in a pub in the city centre in Dublin,” Ambassador Dana Erlich told The Pat Kenny Show . “The Jewish community [and] the Israeli community are not feeling safe - this is antisemitism.” Ms Erlich said she can “accept criticism” but added that many people continue to hold Irish Jews and Israelis personally responsible for the actions of the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu. “I will separate political opinions - which every person and every Jewish person is entitled to - and attacking all of the Jewish community or all of the Israelis based on the political position of our current Government,” she said. “This is what antisemitism is and if the Jewish community in Ireland are not feeling safe at the moment, I’m asking Irish politicians running in the upcoming election, how are they making sure that the communities are safe? “This is something that needs to be addressed.” Yesterday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Israeli Government described the warrants as “anti-semitic” and argued the IDF’s actions in Gaza amount to self-defence. Supporters of the ICC have accused the Israeli Government of misusing the word ‘antisemitism’ but Ms Erlich claimed international institutions single Israel out for special treatment. “What we see repeatedly is an attack on the most threatened and targeted nation in the world,” she said. “Which is the only State of the Jewish people; we see it by the UN - which has failed Israel and Israelis time and time again. “We see it now in the abuse of the international law mechanism. “We do see it as modern antisemitism when you delegitimise the existence of Israel, when you deny the Jewish people their right to a homeland - that is antisemitism.” According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance , which the Irish Government joined in 2011, antisemitism includes “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination”. The IHRA also describes “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel” as antisemitic. The definition is controversial among some pro-Palestinian activists, who believe it mischaracterises their solidarity as racism. You can listen back here: Main image shows Israel Ambassador Dana Erlich. Image: Newstalk