The assassination of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, deprived the Asia-Pacific region of a statesman whose greatest legacy is that of a staunch foe of China and North Korea. Americans may remember him as pro-American, an advocate of the U.S.-Japan alliance, but above all he was pro-Japanese.

As the recruiting crisis across the entire military continues to concern leadership, the Army has suspended the need for recruits to have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate. This is only the latest in a list of dramatic steps the branch has taken during the most challenging recruiting year since the inception of the all volunteer force.

Tonight, the University of Pittsburgh Panthers take on the Michigan State Spartans in the Peach Bowl. The big news leading up to the game being Pitt taking the field without their Heisman candidate, Kenny Pickett, under center.