4 roulette

4 roulette Daily Post Nigeria Appeal Court sets aside order restraining release of funds to Rivers State Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Appeal Court sets aside order restraining release of funds to Rivers State Published on December 13, 2024 By Matthew Atungwu The Appeal Court in Abuja has set aside all orders barring the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government. The three-member panel, presided by Justice Hamman Barka, ruled that the subject matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court relating to the revenue of the state. The appellate court, while allowing the appeal of the Rivers State Government, also set aside all the orders made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, stating that it was unconstitutional for her to make orders restricting Rivers State Government to receive funds due to the state from its consolidated revenue fund. The court ruled that the lower court overreached itself and didn’t have the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. DAILY POST recalls that in October, Justice Abdulmalik of the Abuja Federal High Court held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was a breach of the Constitution and an aberration that must not be allowed to continue. The judge held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision. Justice Abdulmalik specifically said that the governor’s action was a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution. The judge subsequently restrained the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account. Related Topics: Appeal Court Rivers State Don't Miss Bauchi’s SSG resigns You may like Appeal Court reverses suspension of Kano Anti Graft Agency boss, Rimingado Appeal Court voids rape conviction of Lagos doctor, Olaleye APC welcomes Appeal Court ruling on Rivers LG election Appeal Court reserves judgement in Rivers State FAAC allocation dispute Appeal Court upholds Rivers LG election Rivers State cases: NJC dismisses $1m, bullet-proof car, land gift allegations against Justice Lifu Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdIowa 72, Washington St. 43Chinese EVs come with hidden costGrand Opening of the Rees Jones "Woods" golf course announced at Boca Woods Country Club

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.

NoneSanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 8: Term of the Jammu and Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission is unlikely to be extended beyond December 17 leaving question mark on 10 percent reservation being granted to Resident of Backward Areas (RBA) as it was the final task assigned to the Panel. Headed by Retired High Court Judge Justice GD Sharma, the Panel comprised Rup Lal Bharti and Munir Khan, Retired IFS and IPS officers and was constituted in March 2020. Work on granting reservations to Pahari Ethnic Tribe, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and some other categories was done by the Commission. Official sources told the Excelsior that another extension for the Commission is now unlikely beyond December 17 when its last extended three-month term will expire. The Commission was now engaged in meeting stakeholders for taking call on reservation under RBA category The Commission was set up in March 2020 on the directions of the Central Government. The National Conference had announced review of the existing reservations policy in its election manifesto as well as after formation of the Government. It has announced that it will set up a Cabinet Sub Committee to review reservations. Present reservations have crossed 60 percent leaving general category in distress. As per the sources, the Commission was working on review of 10 percent reservations in RBA category by meeting stakeholders across the Union Territory. There were reports that in the past the politicians got their villages included as RBA to get benefits of reservations. Reservations under RBA category in Jammu and Kashmir was whopping 20 percent which was subsequently brought down to 10 percent and there were demands from certain quarters for further review of RBA quota as there was no RBA category in other States and Union Territories across the country. “Excepting Jammu and Kashmir RBA category doesn’t exist in any of the States or the Union Territories in the country. Even at the national level, there is no such category for reservation,” the sources said, adding that granting 10 percent reservation under this category has faced lot of criticism especially at a time when reservations have reached 60 percent leaving just 40 percent vacancies in the Open Merit category. The Commission was to take a decision on retaining or excluding villages from the RBA list after meeting stakeholders. “Areas which as per the parameters would have gained facilities were to be removed from the list of RBA while the villages which are yet to gain requisite facilities would have continued in the category,” the officials said and added that if the Commission is not granted further extension the task will remain unfulfilled and RBA will continue to enjoy 10 percent reservations. The Commission had also received a large number of representations from the people across Jammu and Kashmir for inclusion of their villages under RBA category. Inclusion of Pahari Ethnic tribe, Paddari tribe, Koli & Gadda Brahmins in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category was also recommended by the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission. After the Government raised reservation under Scheduled Tribes (ST) category to 20 and granted eight percent quota to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the reservation in Open Merit category has come down to 40 percent. However, if horizontal reservation for Ex-Servicemen (6 percent) and Persons with Disabilities (4 percent) is taken into account, the Open Merit vacancies further come down. While STs already had 10 percent reservation, the Government granted another 10 percent reservation to Pahari Ethnic Tribe, Paddari Tribe, Koli & Gadda Brahmans taking total reservation under ST category to 20 percent. Previous four percent reservations under Other Social Castes (OSCs) was abolished and eight percent reservation was given to the OBCs. Besides, there is eight percent reservation to Scheduled Castes (SCs), 10 percent to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), four percent to the people living on International Border/Line of Control and 10 percent to RBA.

Tyrone GAA is winning the war against organised crime gangs who have illegally intercepted live streams of its championship matches. A number of pirate operations have been shut down due to a combination of criminal prosecutions and enhanced computer software. A dramatic drop in revenue from its streaming service has been reversed, and Tyrone GAA TV is flourishing once again. The county’s IT Officer Gerard Bradley confirmed that subscriptions to coverage of the renowned Tyrone Championship have recovered to healthy levels once again, following a huge drop-off last year. “The live stream of this year’s championship attracted a very substantial increase in subscribers,” he said in his annual report. “The increase was due to range of factors including the deployment of software technologies and identification of the accounts used by the IPTV pirates. “Tyrone GAA has to strike a delicate balance between a highly secure service for genuine subscribers that requires a level of IT expertise to access the live stream and a service that is open to piracy. “Making the pirate services unreliable did lead to many of those with ‘dodgy firesticks’ not being willing to take a risk with an unreliable illegal service for subsequent fixtures. “The civil authorities have recently successfully prosecuted a number of pirates, including high profiles cases north and south of the border.” And Bradley warned: “Anyone subscribing to these illegal pirate services are putting their credit card and banking details in the hands of criminals.” Every championship game, in all three grades, Senior, Intermediate and Junior, is broadcast live by Tyrone GAA TV in what has proven to be a hugely popular service, with some of the county’s best known GAA figures providing expert analysis alongside popular commentators. “Our live stream continues to set the highest standards for quality and production, this is due to two main factors. MacAV, a local company delivers excellent video production with ongoing innovation,” said Bradley. “In conjunction with our commentators and analysts, Mac AV provide a very professional service that matches and consistently exceeds anything provided by other broadcasters.” Meanwhile, the Tyrone GAA website is on course to hit the three million mark in hits this year. “The website continues to see an exceptionally large viewing audience and by the time this report is published it is likely to have exceeded three million views in this calendar year,” said the IT chief. “The website continues to be the most popular online platform for Tyrone GAA, dominated by viewers looking at club fixtures and results. While not on the same scale as Fixtures and Results, there are also significant numbers using the website for reference material and club information. The website peaked for views on the biggest championship Sunday of the year in September of this year, when it attracted 48,243 visitors.Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — When Lilly Goyah struggled with mental health, she found comfort in Christian music. Now, as a 22-year-old senior at the College of St. Benedict, Goyah is pursuing an individualized major that blends music and business. She’s part of the university’s Entrepreneur Scholars program, a selective course designed to help students launch business ventures. For Goyah, the program became a launchpad for her idea: ANP Streaming, a Christian-based music platform tailored to users’ emotional needs. Her vision stems from her personal experiences. Born to Liberian immigrants, Goyah’s childhood was marked by frequent moves between shelters, government and transitional housing on the East Coast and, later, in Minnesota. She had a brief hope of housing stability when she was in eighth grade, when she and her brother moved to live with her father in Champlin, a northwest suburb in the Twin Cities. That hope shattered when the family returned one day to find the locks changed and their belongings gone. “We had been through a lot of instability, obviously and homelessness before that. But I had a lot of hope once we were able to move into that house,” Goyah said. “When we were put back in that shelter, I had this feeling of we were never going to get past that part of life.” The upheaval, combined with school struggles and a falling out with her father, plunged Goyah into depression and suicidal thoughts. By the end of her freshman year at Anoka High School, Goyah had made the decision to end her life. “For me, that was one of the worst moments ever. Because while I was also struggling with mental health, I didn’t relate to or feel a genuine feeling when it came to religion, Christianity, or God ... I had this disconnection from religion as a whole,” she said. Before she could act, her mother sent Goyah on a life-changing youth retreat in Olney, Maryland. On the first night, Goyah watched a skit depicting a child grappling with depression and suicidal thoughts. “That kind of changed my mind and my thoughts toward Christianity,” she said. Her views on Christian music, the only genre she was allowed to listen to growing up, also changed on the trip. At one point, she viewed the genre as “corny” and “not a real representation of life.” Those views quickly shifted during the retreat after she heard the song “My World Needs You” by Kirk Franklin for the first time. He quickly became her favorite artist, and still is to this day. The retreat sparked a new hope for Goya, who graduated from Anoka High School in 2020. “Music was really pivotal in helping me get through those moments and have a healthy coping mechanism,” said Goyah, who was also part of her high school choir. After graduation, Goyah followed her friends to Augsburg University in Minneapolis. However, she quickly found herself isolated and again struggling with her mental health. She realized a need for change and, on the advice of her high school counselor, transferred to the College of St. Benedict in the fall of 2021. When she hit campus, Goyah took up her individualized major and discovered the Entrepreneur Scholars program. That program is a cohort of about a dozen students, according to academic director Paul Marsnik. He noted the program’s selectivity, which usually sees about 30 to 35 applicants a year. “We’re looking for students with what we call an entrepreneurial mindset, young people who see opportunities and get things done,” Marsnik said. The program launched 20 years ago. One day, Goyah appeared in his office, eager to learn more about the program, which includes trips to Silicon Valley and Vietnam. Those trips allow cohort students to talk and network with companies. “I could see her face light up; she was like, ‘Oh, this is exactly what I’m looking for,” Marsnik said. Despite a full cohort, there was a last-minute opening that allowed Goyah to join. Marsnik said the program has featured many talented students, but he thinks Goyah is one of the best. “She’s an inspiration to a lot of people and could be to a lot more, I think,” Marsnik said. Goyah's original idea was a record label, but she pivoted toward ANP Streaming, a platform that she said would fill a unique need in Christian music. ANP — which stands for "A New Psalm — Streaming will offer Christian music tailored to emotional needs, filling a gap in the market, Goyah said. “I’m really excited to put this in the space for people,” said Goyah. “If you’re not talking niche, then obviously it would be like Spotify or YouTube Music or Apple Music." She envisions ANP as a way for users to connect with faith and find solace through music, just as she did. “The No. 1 mission with the application, of course, with it being Christian-based, is kind of helping people to discover individual relationships with God, which can be fostered through music,” Goyah said. During her time in Vietnam, she secured a partnership with Saigon Technology to develop the app for an estimated $50,000. Goyah has opened a crowdfunding campaign to support development costs. She is securing licensing and catalog agreements to make the platform a reality. ANP Streaming will launch a “freemium” model, Goyah said. That will include a free version with advertisements and a premium version with no ads and additional features. The application will be available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Development for the application is underway and will launch in middle to late 2025. As music remains vital to Goyah, she has also recently started to write original songs, including "Freedom," which she performed last year on the Johnnie Bennie Media YouTube channel. While unsure if she’ll remain in the area or head somewhere like Nashville, Goyah is eager to see where her vision can have the most significant impact as the app is developed. “I’ve just been so overwhelmed with how amazing this community is and how resourceful it is,” Goyah said. “So part of me really wants to stay, but I think wherever this journey takes me and where I can have the most impact is really, ultimately, where I’m looking to go.” Lilly Goyah has launched a campaign on Indiegogo to help fund her Christian music mobile app, ANP Streaming. To donate to the campaign, visit tinyurl.com/ANPStreaming-donate. For more about ANP Streaming, visit anpstreaminginfo.com.Let’s pretend I’m the Superintendent of the Department of NBL Education (otherwise known as the DNE). My role at the DNE is to assess the clubs as we hit the half-way point of the year (season). Watch every game of every round this NBL Season LIVE on ESPN, via Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. In this scenario, I reserve the right to grade and critique the students (players) teachers (coaches), and Principals (management). I grade teams primarily on performance and attitude. I always look for solid teamwork and stellar leadership. If there’s a willingness for any team to adjust, adapt, and overcome I look upon that very favourably. If I hear or see a team use excuses, reasons, and justifications for poor performances or losses, I break out the red pen and frown heavily upon them. You’ll get what you earn with me. CAIRNS (3-9) – 10th The Taipans are like the student you see huge potential in, but he keeps missing days of school. They could be anything, but things just don’t go their way. They’re currently on the bottom of the ladder and the season is fast slipping away. Coach Adam Forde and management built the team around NBA hopeful, Taran Armstrong, but because of injuries he’s only played four games. Yeah, health issues have hit hard with imports Pedro Bradshaw only available for eight games and Tanner Groves five and put simply, they can’t take a trick. Rob Edwards is their leading scorer averaging a very respectable 20, and Forde has coached extremely well, considering all the challenges. What I love about Fordey, is that he’s made ZERO excuses, and that is commendable. They continue to unearth young and raw talent in Jackson Makoi and Alex Higgins-Titsha. The Taipans will always scrap and fight and while I respect that, I can’t grade them go too highly when they’re dead last. GRADE: Coach: B- Players: D Management: B+ MELBOURNE (10-4) - 1st Here we have the student who always shows up early to class, sits in the front row and leaves an apple on the teacher’s desk at the bell. You always wanna sit next to him and cheat off his papers. No team lost more high-octane firepower in the off-season, yet coach Dean Vickerman has found a way to retool and flex on the rest of the competition. The two-headed monster of Marcus Lee and Rob Loe are consistent, the four-headed monster in the backcourt, Matthew Dellavedova, Shea Ili, Ian Clark, and Flynn Cameron are playing outstanding, and the most lethal sniper, Chris Goulding, is as hot as any player in the League. Melbourne United is an institution. GRADE: Coach: A Players: B+ Management: A TASMANIA (5-8) - 9th This is the student who was voted class president the year before, and showed up the next year only to find that the teacher rearranged all the desks, and now he doesn’t know where to sit or how to participate in class. Losing Jack McVeigh so close to the season threw a big spanner into the works and the replacements haven’t quite found their groove. New import Craig Sword and his skill set looks a little out of place, while imports Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford can’t get going on the same night. Scoring has been like watching grass grow. Coach Scott Roth has been more testy than usual and has used a range of excuses along the way which doesn’t sit well with me. He went into way too much detail about their travel schedule and injuries and even disrespected a fellow commentator. Did I mention that I hate excuses? GRADE: Coach: D Players: D+ Management: A NEW ZEALAND (7-3) - 2nd Here is the student you forgot was even in your class because he went overseas on a family holiday just as school started. When he got back, he slipped back in, sat quietly and just got his work done. A rookie coach in Petteri Koponen, a 70% roster change in the off-season, yet the Breakers are right up there. The MVP front-runner and Vice President of the “Lil Big Man Society” in Parker Jackson-Cartwright is balling! New import Matt Mooney is riding shotgun beautifully and they’re getting contributions from just about everyone. Coach ‘Kop’ has implemented a Euro ball flavour and it’s been a joy to watch. But ... for some yet to be explained reason, Breakers’ management decided to ‘allow’ import and League leader in blocked shots, Freddie Gillespie, to find another team to play for, and they just happened to have a replacement handy in Tacko Fall. Tacko has been rehabbing with the team, attending training sessions, and even sitting on the bench on game days. I don’t like how all this has shaken out and of all the teams that should be making such big changes, the Breakers ain’t one of them. GRADE: Coach: A Players: B Management: D- ILLAWARRA (7-4) - 3rd Now we have the once battling student who was ridiculed by the cool kids. He used to come to school with his lunch in a brown paper bag wearing his big brother’s clothes, but now he’s fully respected and wears fresh new gear, and is popular in the hallways. With 90 per cent of last season’s playoff team returning, the Hawks have arguably the best club harmony in the League. Coach Justin Tatum is in his first full season and has a team full of belief, and they believe in him. The only chink in Justin’s armour has been the recent run-ins with the officials, which resulted in a public apology. If they can move past the distraction, the Hawks are primed for a serious run at the title. GRADE: Coach: B Players B- Management A SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE (5-8) - 8th You know that student who is a bit of a loner? He just appeared out of nowhere and nobody quite knows where he came from. He tries to fit in but has had four new home-room teachers in the last two years and is still trying to find a way to belong. Their third coach of the season, Josh King, is passionate and enthusiastic. He has weapons at his disposal, none more potent than import Matt Hurt who is a certified bucket getter averaging 20. Four NBL champions from Sydney made their way to the ‘Heartland’ in Tom Vodanovich, Angus ‘Danny’ Glover, Derrick Walton Jr, and Jordi Hunter. Former coach Simon Mitchell is now the Basketball GM, who sacked the coach that replaced him, Mike Kelly. Oh, and CEO Tommy Greer resigned and an interim boss has stepped in. Management also brought in proven scorer and Olympian Nathan Sobey, who’s had an up and down season so far. Look, it’s been a mess and coach King has a lot of cleaning up to do. GRADE: Coach: C+ Players: D Management: E BRISBANE (4-6) - 7th You can tell this student comes from humble beginnings; he lives far away and doesn’t always get the bus to school. He has to walk a lot, but he’s never late. He’s well behaved and you can see he really wants to learn. Moving back to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre is a tick. They’re coming off a great home win where import James Batemon made history with 51 - the highest scoring game in the modern 40-minute era. Next Star Rocco Zikarsky showed some real aggression in his last outing with a career-high 13 points, seven rebounds and one of the biggest blocks you’ll see. Second year coach Justin Schueller cleared out some big names in the off season and is rebuilding the culture. We have to be patient here with plans afoot to improve. GRADE: Coach: C+ Players: D+ Management C ADELAIDE (6-5) - 4th Here we find that student that’s a little rough around the edges, but is a cheeky loveable larrikin who can be volatile from time-to-time. You can tell he’s had a rough upbringing which is why he has that ‘edge’. The 36ers made a late coaching change that caught the locals off guard, with club legend Scott Ninnis shown the door. Ninnis was replaced by his new assistant, Mike Wells. The 36ers have one of the most electrifying backcourts with import guard Kendric Davis the League’s leading scorer and a serious MVP candidate. DJ Vasiljevic aka ‘The Human Torch’, is averaging 19 points. General Manager of Basketball, Matt Weston, pulled off one of the biggest coups in recent history securing former NBA 6th Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell who has 350 games of NBA experience. Harrell has brought a level of intensity and enthusiasm rarely seen but ... things got out of hand in their last game and suspensions are on the cards. While I can’t stand excuses, I also can’t handle a lack of discipline. GRADE: Coach: C+ Players: B+ Management: B PERTH (6-7) - 6th This student loves the finer things in life. He’s got the nicest car out of all his mates, the staff fawns over him, he gets extra sausage rolls from the canteen staff, and the gym coach lets him shoot around whenever he wants. If anyone criticises him, his parents, friends, and the whole neighbourhood comes running to his defence. Is he entitled? Maybe, but he’s worked hard and has set high standards to have what he has. The Wildcats still have the best player in the League in reigning MVP Bryce Cotton. Keanu Pinder has showed flashes of his best, but has been strangely inconsistent. Sometimes he’s in the starting five and other times he’s off the bench - STRANGE. Coach John Rillie signed a contract extension and has some exciting young talent in Elijah Pepper and Ben Henshall. They’ve been far too up and down, and have had some players open cans of whoop-ass on them (Goulding 46 and Batemon 51). The second half of the year needs some consistency across the board. GRADE: Coach: C- Players: C- Management A SYDNEY (7-6) - 5th His older siblings were high achievers, his parents went to the best school and now they’re donors. This student goes to the most prestigious school, has surfing classes and the school uniform comprises a shirt, tie, and blazer. This student always has his shirt tucked in and his expectations are high due to all the past family successes. The Kings were the raging-hot title favourite before the season began when they brought back league MVP Xavier Cooks on what’s been reported as the biggest deal in NBL history. Previous MVP Jaylen Adams also returned but the Kings have been like Forrest Gumps’ box of chocolates. Coach Brian Goorjian is the GOAT, and his team depth is extremely deep. Goorj is still tinkering with his rotations, but he’s struggling to get these dudes to play at a consistently high level. He even labelled them ‘entitled’ which doesn’t go down well with me. The talent is evident, but is the collective heart there? GRADE: Coach: C Players: C Management: B THE NBL Here’s a student who was ready to drop out of school a while ago, but has found a new mentor and has now gone on to higher learning and is considered a top student not only nationally, but internationally. HoopsFest was a great initiative to kick off the season in Perth but there are a couple of minor glitches to sort out including the timing. I think it could be a better event in January, but for the first try - it was a success. Larry Kestelman bought a big slice of the WNBL which is massive for the sport, and will provide those amazing women a chance to thrive. The commentary team added more firepower with Andrew Bogut, Bec Allen, Tom Abercrombie and Ariana Prather. But, there’s always room for improvement. The referees have gotta come down harder on all this sooking and whingin’ from the players and coaches. It was out of hand. Security near players’ benches needs to be looked at, and the Tribunal System (Good Grief) needs a complete overhaul. Lastly, that Damon Lowery guy needs to call more games and feature more in content. Grade: B

Tua Tagovailoa's TD pass to Jonnu Smith gives Dolphins 32-26 overtime win over Aaron Rodgers, JetsThis Is the Best-Performing Vanguard ETF This Year. Will It Be a Winner in 2025?By MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.

Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’