Comment on Taliban deny report that they are ready for peace talks

WASHINGTON — It is unclear who will take over at the Pentagon and the military services when the top leaders all step down Monday as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office. As of Friday, officials said they had not yet heard who will become the acting defense secretary. Officials said the military chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force were getting ready to step in as acting service secretaries — a rare move — because no civilians had been named or, in some cases, had turned down the opportunity. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] As is customary, all current political appointees will step down as of noon EST on Inauguration Day, leaving hundreds of key defense posts open, including dozens that require Senate confirmation.

(To get this story in your inbox, subscribe to the TIME CO2 Leadership Report newsletter here.) In my job writing about climate change, I’ve had the opportunity to visit communities around the world in the wake of climate-related disasters: flood-devastated Iowa, wildfire-torn Colorado, and drought-stricken Costa Rica. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Over the last week, I faced a uniquely challenging visit: returning to Los Angeles where my parents lost my childhood home and much of my hometown community burned to the ground.

The wildfires that are currently devastating Los Angeles are not just a natural disaster; they are a multi-faceted crisis that will reverberate through the city’s economic, emotional, and social fabric for years to come. Even when the flames are extinguished, their impact will remain—leaving thousands displaced, jobs lost, and a sense of stability shaken. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] As we take a collective breath to assess the damage thus far, we must ask ourselves the same question Dr.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republican Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will succeed Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U. S. Senate, the state’s governor announced Friday. Gov. Mike DeWine’s decision ends months of jockeying among top Ohio Republicans for the coveted seat, which Vance had held for less than two years before resigning Jan.

A yellow crane hovers above a building site in Sickla, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s home to one of Stockholm’s biggest real estate projects. But instead of delivering concrete, it’s manoeuvring giant chunks of wood to construction staff working in sub-zero winter temperatures. This is the beginning of what Swedish property developer Atrium Ljungberg describes as “the largest mass timber project in the world.” On the outskirts of Sweden’s capital, construction of ‘Stockholm Wood City’ began in October, several months ahead of schedule, and is set to provide 2,000 new homes by 2027.

Safety downtown and “wishful thinking” Re: “16th Street Mall: Man arrested in stabbings,” Jan. 14 news story After the horrific stabbings of four people, two fatally, the mayor’s assurances of safety on the 16th Street Mall appear to be wishful thinking. Where is the backing for adequate police protection, i.e., funding for a viable police force?