Titans are their own worst enemy as they fail again to string together wins
The headline signing of IPL auction day two is ... a 13-year-oldby Linda Straker Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell has written to the Commissioner of Police requesting that an investigation be conducted into a claim made on the social media platform Facebook by a poster named Kennedy Budhlall which alleges that there were plans by the duo to kill a man for politics. “I am writing to formally request an investigation into a concerning post made on Facebook on or about November 21, 2024, under the profile name of Kennedy Budhlall. This post alleges that a “Dr Mitchell” is engaged in a plot to commit murder in collaboration with Mr Budhlall,” said the letter which was sent on 6 December. “The content of the post appears to reference me, as I have been vocal about issues related to murder in the political context and specifically mentioned “Innocent Belmar” during a discussion at a political meeting around the same timeframe,” the former Minister for National Security said in the letter. Pointing out to the Police Commissioner that he has received numerous calls and comments from concerned individuals who also believe that the reference pertains to him, Dr Mitchell wrote, “Given the gravity of the allegation that involves a potential murder plot, it is imperative that this matter be addressed promptly. The implications of such accusations can be damaging not only to my reputation but also to public safety.” “I kindly request that your office investigate this allegation to clarify the identity of those involved and the nature of their claims. Any findings would be greatly appreciated, as they could help dispel misinformation and ensure no threats to individuals arise from this situation,” concludes the letter from the former Prime Minister. In an interview last Friday, Dr Mitchell said that he thinks it strange that such a claim was made publicly, and the police service has done nothing. “Someone has claimed that they were in on some plot to kill someone, and the police have not moved, so we wrote them,” he said. Days after the post was published, well-known political activist Kennedy Budhlall was scheduled to be a guest on a social media talk show to discuss the issue according to the promotional flyer, but he did not appear on the show.
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US monitors Syria after Assad's fallPredictive Safety Announces Partnership with DISA Global SolutionsAP News Summary at 3:47 p.m. ESTBiden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn't all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president's devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
Predictive Safety Announces Partnership with DISA Global Solutions
COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provider of global aviation service operations, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a transaction with Pratt & Whitney for the purchase of nine new PW1133G-JM aircraft engines, with all purchases expected to occur by December 31, 2024. Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines enable up to 20% better fuel efficiency compared to aircraft powered by the prior generation of engines, are certified for operation on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and have been successfully tested on 100% SAF. The transaction, valued at approximately $200 million based on Pratt & Whitney’s 2024 list prices, is another big step towards providing the most modern and in-demand engines to airlines over the long term. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business. “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Pratt & Whitney as we continue to invest in cutting-edge, fuel-efficient, engines that deliver environmental benefits. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our growth strategy and will help our customers keep their A320 aircraft flying for the foreseeable future,” said Austin C. Willis, WLFC’s Chief Executive Officer. For more information on Willis Lease Finance Corporation, visit www.wlfc.global . Willis Lease Finance Corporation Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center ® , Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. CONTACT: Lynn Mailliard Kohler Manager Corporate Communications lkohler@willislease.com 415.328.4798President Joe Biden 's decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden , could undermine Democrats ' messaging against President-elect Donald Trump , political experts said. Biden announced Sunday that he would pardon his son, who had been convicted on firearms charges and pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges this year. He wrote it is "clear that Hunter was treated differently" than other defendants and that the charges "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election." In June, Hunter Biden was convicted of lying on a federal form when he bought a gun in 2018 and swore he wasn't a drug user. In September, he pleaded guilty to charges of trying to avoid paying more than $1.4 million in taxes. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son—and that is wrong," Biden wrote. "There has been an effort to break Hunter—who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution." The pardon divided Americans, with some arguing he should never have been charged while others were more critical . Experts told Newsweek that the pardon may create a messaging headache for Democrats. "It undermines the Democratic Party 's message that it is the party of small 'd' democracy, and democratic legitimacy," Grant Davis Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University, told Newsweek . The pardon gives "more ammunition" for Republicans to use a "you too" defense of their actions, as well as "fuels efforts to put the two parties into an equivalent standing on the issue of democracy," he said. "And it further undermines the public's view of and confidence in the entire governmental and political system," he said. Anne Danehy, a professor at Boston University's College of Communications, told Newsweek that while the pardon could undermine Democrats' messaging against Trump, that message wasn't particularly effective anyway. She said the pardon will be a "blip" that will matter little to voters in six months. "It feeds into peoples' distrust of government, the anti-Washington sentiment," she said. Democrats have spent years criticizing Trump over legal issues. Trump has similarly claimed the legal cases against him were politically motivated, painting himself as someone who has been unfairly targeted. Democrats have dismissed the claims, arguing that he should not receive any special treatment as a result of his status as a former president, and now president-elect. Robert Y. Shapiro, a Columbia University political science professor, told Newsweek that the pardon leaves Democrats in an "awkward" position while also making it easier politically for Trump to issue pardons that may be received negatively by his critics surrounding the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. "It has opened the door for Trump whenever he wants to issue blanket, sweeping pardons to those imprisoned or accused for the January 6, 2021, assaulting of the Capitol, and any other crimes coming out of the attempt to overturn the 2020 electoral vote," he said. Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email. Democrats Distance Themselves From Biden Pardon Many Democratic officials have already distanced themselves from Biden . "While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden's natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation," Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter . Danehy said that Democrats may be smart to avoid commenting on the pardon, as much of their base may be more sympathetic to why Biden decided to pardon his son. It would also avoid drawing attention to the issue, she said. Most Americans, meanwhile, are still more concerned about putting food on the table, she said. "They have bigger issues, in terms of how do you rebuild the Democratic Party, and how do you find a leader for the Democratic Party that will be able to beat the Republicans in four years," she said. "If they get stuck on this, it's not going to do anything to help them." Costas Panagopoulos, professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek that the pardon isn't particularly surprising, and that most voters will likely move on quickly as other political news breaks. "It will be perceived through partisan lenses, but most people will likely forget all about it by the time the next election comes around. Republicans will try to keep the issue alive, but it will likely pale in comparison to other developments in the coming months and years," he said. Reeher, however, said Democrats have little choice but to distance themselves from Biden. "It's true that past presidents have used the pardon power on their way out to make some very unpopular pardons," he said. "Trump and Clinton come to mind. But the context always matters, and this particular pardon goes against so much of the Democratic Party's heated rhetoric in the campaign that it's really a black eye for the party."
Pancreatic Cancer Research Surfaces Treatment Developments and Challenges: With John Strickler, MDHigh drama in Parliament complex: House of push & shove, bruises & blame game
The former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of FTX, Gary Wang, has recently been given a chance to avoid a prison sentence by US District Judge Lewis Kaplan after a recent hearing in Manhattan. Wang is known for having a notorious hand in helping Sam Bankman-Fried defraud its customers and steal as much as $8 billion from FTX's crypto exchange customers. Wang was spared incarceration for his massive help in testifying against FTX's founder and former CEO, following the conviction and sentencing of Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison. FTX's Former CTO Gary Wang is Not Getting Any Prison Time According to the latest report by Reuters, the former close ally and high-ranking FTX executive, Gary Wang, was not sentenced any time to serve behind bars in his latest hearing under Judge Kaplan. It is known that during the course of the investigations behind FTX's downfall, Wang was charged with four counts of felony in fraud and conspiracy to which he pleaded guilty. However, like other FTX executives like Caroline Ellison, Wang chose to cooperate with the prosecution and admit to their crimes, with this... Isaiah RichardSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general's office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to potential attacks by the Trump administration on state policies regarding civil rights, climate change, immigration and abortion access. “While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times to various levels of success. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said at a recent news conference. Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. Democrats, which hold every statewide office in California and have commanding margins in the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Trump called the Democratic governor “New-scum” during a campaign stop in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its large number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, homeless population and thicket of regulations. Trump also waded into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt , a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and threatened to withhold federal aid to a state increasingly under threat from wildfires. He also vowed to follow through with his campaign promise of carrying out the mass deportation of immigrants without legal status and prosecuting his political enemies. Before the special session was set to begin, state lawmakers swore in more than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Hundreds of people also demonstrated around the Capitol on Monday to urge the Legislature to try to stop Trump's mass deportation plans . They carried banners that said “Not one cent for mass deportation” and “MAGA out of California.” “With the results of the presidential election, we need our state elected officials to use every tool and every resource they have available to them to protect our immigrant Californians,” protester Deborah Lee said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office will protect the state’s immigration population, while Newsom last week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars. Newsom is also considering creating a backup disaster relief fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats. Bonta announced legislation Monday aimed at bolstering reproductive rights in the state, including by allowing the attorney general to seek monetary penalties against local governments that infringe on those rights. The proposals are part of the state's efforts to safeguard against threats to abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the special session. Rep. Vince Fong, who represents the state’s Central Valley farm belt, said California should work with the incoming Trump administration instead. “Gavin Newsom’s actions are tone-deaf to the concerns of Californians who disapprove of the direction of our state and country,” Fong said in a video on social media. Legislators also are expected to spend the year discussing ways to protect dozens of laws expected to be targeted by the Trump administration, including one that has made the state a sanctuary for people seeking abortions who live in states where such practices have been severely limited. California, the nation’s most populous state, was the first to mandate that by 2035 all new cars , pickup trucks and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. Newsom hasn't provided details about what actions the lawmakers will consider but said he wanted funding in place before Trump's inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation costs during the first Trump administration, officials said. California is projected to face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, with bigger shortfalls ahead. Gabriel, who sued the first Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to end a program to shield young immigrants from being deported, said lining up the funding now is “a wise investment." California successfully clawed back $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from putting immigration enforcement conditions on certain federal law enforcement grants. Another legal victory over the citizenship question in the 2020 census forced the federal government to return $850,000 to the state, according to the attorney general's office. “We are positioned, if necessary, to be the tip of the spear of the resistance and to push back against any unlawful or unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration,” said Gabriel, who chairs the budget committee. During Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys general banded together to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s travel ban for residents of Muslim countries, the environment, immigration and other topics. But Trump has one possible advantage this time around: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. Associated Press journalists Haven Daley and Sophie Austin contributed to this report.
The Chicago Bears are 4-6 going into their Week 12 matchup as 3.5-point home dogs against the 8-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are 6-4 at Soldier Field over the last 10 years, and 5-5 against the spread. The Vikings are one of the best teams in the NFL against the spread with a record of 7-3. However, they've only covered three of their five road games. Over their last four games, the Vikings have looked beatable. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams by 10, beat the Indianapolis Colts by eight, beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by five, and beat the Tennessee Titans by 10. In that same stretch, quarterback Sam Darnold has thrown for seven touchdowns against five interceptions. Bears On Tap talked through the Vikings' roster and how the Bears could attack them. Before the season kicked off, we spoke with Arif Hasan , the Chief Writer for WideLeft.Football, about the Vikings' strengths, weaknesses, and how the Bears should attack their roster. Both episodes are available on YouTube , Apple , and Spotify . Our conversations led to these concepts for the Bears' victory on Sunday. 3. Let Playmakers (Specifically DJ Moore) Make Plays Last week, the Bears got the ball to DJ Moore in space and let him work. That resulted in one of his more efficient games of the season, catching all seven targets for 8.9 yards per target . When the Bears let Moore work in space, it makes Caleb Williams and the entire offense's lives easier. It creates more space for Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet to capitalize on. Moore is arguably the best offensive player on the team. Get him the football and let him make plays. Last season, Moore caught 16 of 21 targets for 165 yards in two games against the Vikings. That stat line included a lot of screen passes and short-game targets to make him a ball carrier with numbers in space. While a return of the Luke Getsy "screen them to death" isn't ideal for Chicago, it's not a reason to throw away the entire game plan. Take some of what worked against the Vikings last year and use it with a new quarterback with a much quicker release. 2. Manage the Blitz ANDREW VAN GINKEL DOES IT AGAIN #skol #vikings pic.twitter.com/UV1ZgVPiim Against a Brian Flores defense, the blitz will get home at times. It's inevitable. Caleb Williams is going to take some hits in this game. No matter who the Vikings play on a week-to-week basis, their ability to hit the passer is constant. The key for the Bears will be managing the Vikings' attacking fronts and limiting the damage. The Vikings blitz more than any other NFL team at a rate of 37.7%. They also pressure the quarterback more than any other NFL team, impacting the passer on 29.6% of dropbacks. It's not just pressure though. The Vikings have generated three or more sacks in eight of ten games this season. Expect to see the Vikings attack heavily up the middle. If they bring more pressure from the outside, Williams should be able to manage the situation. It'll be a tall task for the Bears' interior blockers and running backs to keep the interior protection strong against A-gap pressures and interior stunts. Meanwhile, it'll be on Williams to process pre-snap as well as post-snap to manage the situation and get the football out when the Vikings bring the heat. Flores will throw him plenty of change-ups to force errors. 1 . Caleb Williams Needs to Play Chess with Brian Flores Brian Flores might be the most difficult defensive coordinator in the NFL to gameplan against. He doesn't want to play chess with the opposing play-caller , he wants to play chess with the opposing quarterback. Flores will force opposing quarterbacks to address what the defense is showing. Quarterbacks who can read what the defense is showing pre-snap, process what they can get into post-snap, and execute on those answers have a chance against Flores. On Sunday, Williams needs to prove he can process at a high level for the Bears to win. Within that, he'll need to find outside-the-box answers at times. One thing that can break Flores' defense is timely athletic playmaking. If Williams leans on his playmaking abilities too heavily though, it'll likely end in mistakes against the exotic fronts and shifts that the Vikings rely on. Balance is key here, between winning in structure and outside of structure. Bears Players to Watch DJ Moore: Moore's ability to make plays after the catch will be important for the Bears to beat the blitz and generate chunk gains. Kevin Byard : The Bears should align safety help over Justin Jefferson at all times, especially because Jaylon Johnson had issues following Jefferson in the slot in the past. Byard will be the key to limiting Jefferson, who is the best receiver in football. Gervon Dexter Sr: The Bears need to stop the run to force the Vikings out of their play-action comfort zone. Sam Darnold is a different quarterback in a true dropback offense. Dexter's presence and ability to be a difference-maker in the run game will be paramount for the Bears' defense. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.YouTuber Paul eyes Joshua showdown
Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHubMALAGA, Spain (AP) — The last man to face — and beat — Rafael Nadal in professional tennis, 80th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp , converted his 10th match point Friday to finally close out a 6-4, 6-7 (12), 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier and help the Netherlands reach its first Davis Cup final by sweeping Germany. Tallon Griekspoor, who is ranked 40th, sealed the 2-0 win for the Dutch in the best-of-three-match semifinal by hitting 25 aces and coming back to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4. When it ended, appropriately, on an ace, Griekspoor shut his eyes, dropped to his knees and spread his arms wide. “We have been talking about this for two, three years,” Griekspoor said. “We believed in ourselves so much. We always felt like this was possible. To do it now feels unbelievable.” The other semifinal is Saturday, with No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner and defending champion Italy taking on Australia . The championship will be decided Sunday. “We don’t have that top 5 player. We don’t that top 10 player. We don’t have that top 15 player,” Dutch captain Paul Harhuuis said. “But it’s a team effort. ... So proud of these guys.” In Friday's opener, van de Zandschulp was up a set and just a point away from leading 5-2 in the second when Altmaier began playing more aggressively and interacting more with the German fans, yelling and throwing uppercuts or raising his arms after key points. In the tiebreaker, Altmaier managed to save five match points before converting his own fourth set point to extend the contest. But van de Zandschulp — who upset four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open — quickly moved out front in the final set, even if he eventually needed five more match points in the last game before serving it out. “At some point, I didn’t know what to do any more on the match points,” van de Zandschulp said. “I had the toughest match of my life on Tuesday (against Nadal), so everything that comes next is maybe a little bit easier.” In the quarterfinals, van de Zandschulp outplayed Nadal for a 6-4, 6-4 result that marked the end of the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s career because the Netherlands went on to eliminate Spain 2-1. The 38-year-old Nadal announced last month that the Davis Cup would be his final event before retiring. Presumably because people purchased tickets ahead of time with plans to watch Nadal compete in the semifinals, there were hundreds of unoccupied blue or gray seats surrounding the indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain on Friday. Now truly a neutral site, the place was not nearly as loud and rowdy as on Tuesday, although there were shouts of “Vamos, Rafa!” that drew laughter while van de Zandschulp played the 88th-ranked Altmaier. It took Griekspoor more than 75 minutes and nearly two full sets to figure out how to break No. 43 Struff and then did it twice in a row — to lead 6-5 in the second set, and then go up 1-0 in the third. That was plenty, because Griekspoor saved the only two break points he faced. The Netherlands hadn’t been to the semifinals since 2001. The Germans — whose best current player, two-time major finalist Alexander Zverev, is not on the team in Malaga — have won three Davis Cups, but not since 1993, when 1991 Wimbledon champion Michael Stich led them to the title. AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Xavier Brown had 18 points in James Madison’s 71-65 win against Jacksonville State on Saturday. Brown had four steals for the Dukes (4-3). Elijah Hutchins-Everett scored 17 points while going 8 of 15 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and added six rebounds. Mark Freeman shot 6 for 10 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 16 points. The Gamecocks (4-3) were led by Jaron Pierre Jr., who recorded 24 points, seven assists and two steals. Mason Nicholson added 15 points and eight rebounds for Jacksonville State. James Madison went into halftime leading Jacksonville State 40-29. Brown scored 14 points in the half. James Madison used a 7-0 run in the second half to build a 12-point lead at 52-40. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .