vr casino games

vr casino games Democrats strike deal to get more Biden judges confirmed before Congress adjournsPolitics is the art of the possible. And more often than not, the gradual erosion of the political soil by the dirt and debris of decades makes the seemingly impossible also come to pass. That a sullen City and silent Chamber may realise that this shift in the plate tectonics of local politics was almost inevitable will make the transition to new, fresh, welcome modes of governance less painful for all stakeholders in the national interest. Especially the engines of growth that have so much to contribute to growth, development and progress (time to redefine ‘GDP’) in the land we love... Perhaps some perspectives of what has, will and may change on the path ahead might persuade detractors of the Transfiguration of Sri Lanka to put away the hermeneutics of suspicion, and interrogate ground realities with less animosity and possibly welcome support going forward. Despite the depredations of decades laid at the polity’s feet by the so-called mainstream parties, the electorate has repeatedly reverted to one of two major power blocs to meet their sociopolitical and economic needs. Though the then Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was often touted and even fancied as a ‘third force’ to counterbalance the dominance of the left or right wing parties/coalitions, it was more often than not the perpetual bridesmaid or the bride left at the altar. People in urban and suburban centres and pocket boroughs traumatised by its brutality remained apprehensive, bitter, unforgiving. However even a cursory glance at the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2024 will amply demonstrate that the earth has well and truly moved under our feet. Kudos to AKD and his PR gang for reclaiming the high ground through genuine regret expressed and/or convincing distancing from the movement’s radical, violent past... Today, the JVP-led NPP is literally and metaphorically our once financially bankrupt nation’s (moral and ethical) compass. May a dream last. Therefore it behoves those of us who are prone to dismiss the JVP-led coalition’s landslide victory as a black swan event to consider that there may be more to what has come to pass than the natural or organic swing of the pendulum whereby the ‘floating continent’ of some 6.9 million voters – yes time or again a recurring statistic – run rat-like after some Pied Piper’s tune... whether ‘I won the war’ (2010) or ‘I am the state’ (2019). Especially given that Sri Lanka is far from being out of the economic doldrums into which COVID-19, endemic corruption, incompetent governance, abysmal policymaking, facile management of fiscal and fiduciary undertakings, and fatuous decisions leading to defaulting on sovereign debt repayments and subsequent bankruptcy brought us. It behoves us all to know there is more to national happiness than three meals a day and a guaranteed gas cylinder at home. Therefore again, the way we think about politics as traditionally being the art of the possible and the first refuge of the scoundrel can, must, could and should change – if we truly believe all the things we say in private confabs and on social media about loving Sri Lanka and wanting it to prosper. First we must disabuse ourselves of the notion that ‘the Great Man theory’ of leadership holds any water any longer. Far too many civilian and military-minded administrations have come a-cropper because of the popular notion that our island nation needs a benevolent tyrant to boost it into the developmental stratosphere. Then we must realise that autocrats are not always competent, as an evicted president dismally demonstrated before fleeing in ignominy before those voting with their feet. And many of us in the demographic of those reading Daily FT might do well to admit that authoritarian governments majoring on the legality of their leaders over their legitimacy often lack the compassion that is de rigueur for governing a nation that is democratic, socialist, and still a republic in more than merely name. And last not least, we would do well to welcome early enough the ostensibly humble ruler – hat in hand; any reference to race, religion and bogus patriotism refreshingly absent – who underlines his reliance on his team, a party of professionally competent advisors and the general public at large in a first national address on becoming the island’s ninth executive head of state. The super majority that the president enjoys in parliament may well be the silver bullet a nation that was once more than morally bankrupt needs to extricate itself from its present manifold predicaments – endemic/systemic corruption first and foremost among them... IF the endorsement of a subsequent (almost) 6.9 million voters doesn’t turn his head, or the realities of the realpolitik that may become necessary to run the republic cause the ship of state to founder. If it eventuates that AKD’s appeal was not much more than a savvy political manipulator’s attempt to deceive the electorate into accommodating a subversive project to dismantle the state and its ensconced political elites, so what... We have been gulled by worse crooks and charlatans (mass murderers, torturers, clinically certifiable megalomaniacs et al.). And it may be worth the fallout from seeing the regime swing from its present ‘moderate’ or merely ‘left-leaning’ orientation to see those entrenched elites evicted from their corrupting places of power and influence. That the erstwhile Aragalaya raised its clenched fist against those then un-broach-able bastions and failed, yet went underground to emerge two years later as a democratic groundswell that found the exercise of their franchise an irrefutable way to have their say, is but the beginnings of social justice. And it is a seismic wave that those who have proclaimed their allegiance to a better, brighter, cleaner Sri Lanka will do well to ride... It will take a willing suspension of disbelief and a voluntary cessation of one’s modus operandi in interpreting NPP policy with the hermeneutic of suspicion focusing on the JVP to achieve this. A seismic shift took place twice over in as many months with an un-ignorable segment of the voter base islandwide departing from custom and even seemingly throwing caution to the winds. It may be time for the last outposts of conservative myopia to abandon the safety of coffee-morning and cocktail-circuit and smell the kopi. For those who still cling to the vestiges of fear that the Marxists will burn City Hall and raze to ruins the beloved Republic we’ve built up – ahem! – there’s only the incontrovertible evidence of their eyes... that there’s more to the optics that the NPP are putting for show. And the sooner we get with the programme, the better for everyone but the stubbornly sentimental; yearning for the nostalgic days when elites of all types ruled the roost and swaggered about at state and taxpayers’ expense with no ‘Singapore’ to show for all the people’s pains! | Editor-at-large of LMD | The power of a vote |

JACKSON, Miss. -- The U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Mississippi's Jim Crow-era practice of removing voting rights from people convicted of certain felonies, including nonviolent crimes such as forgery and timber theft, attorneys say in new court papers. Most of the people affected are disenfranchised for life because the state provides few options for restoring ballot access. “Mississippi’s harsh and unforgiving felony disenfranchisement scheme is a national outlier,” attorneys representing some who lost voting rights said in an appeal filed Wednesday. They wrote that states "have consistently moved away from lifetime felony disenfranchisement over the past few decades.” This case is the second in recent years — and the third since the late 19th century — that asks the Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi's disenfranchisement for some felonies. The cases use different legal arguments, and the court rejected the most recent attempt in 2023. The new appeal asks justices to reverse a July ruling from the conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Mississippi legislators, not the courts, must decide whether to change the laws. Stripping away voting rights for some crimes is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual punishment, the appeal argues. A majority of justices rejected arguments over cruel and unusual punishment in June when they cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places. Attorneys who sued Mississippi over voting rights say the authors of the state's 1890 constitution based disenfranchisement on a list of crimes they thought Black people were more likely to commit. A majority of the appeals judges wrote that the Supreme Court in 1974 reaffirmed constitutional law allowing states to disenfranchise felons. About 38% of Mississippi residents are Black. Nearly 50,000 people were disenfranchised under the state's felony voting ban between 1994 and 2017. More than 29,000 of them have completed their sentences, and about 58% of that group are Black, according to an expert who analyzed data for plaintiffs challenging the voting ban. To regain voting rights in Mississippi, a person convicted of a disenfranchising crime must receive a governor’s pardon or win permission from two-thirds of the state House and Senate. In recent years, legislators have restored voting rights for only a few people. The other recent case that went to the Supreme Court argued that authors of Mississippi's constitution showed racist intent when they chose which felonies would cause people to lose the right to vote. In that ruling, justices declined to reconsider a 2022 appeals court decision that said Mississippi remedied the discriminatory intent of the original provisions in the state constitution by later altering the list of disenfranchising crimes. In 1950, Mississippi dropped burglary from the list. Murder and rape were added in 1968. The Mississippi attorney general issued an opinion in 2009 that expanded the list to 22 crimes, including timber larceny, carjacking, felony-level shoplifting and felony-level writing bad checks. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a 2023 dissent that Mississippi's list of disenfranchising crimes was “adopted for an illicit discriminatory purpose."Elon Musk calls for abolishing consumer finance watchdog CFPB — a longtime GOP target

Scorching heat, fire warnings as millions swelterThe 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 . ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Kennard Davis’ 15 points helped Southern Illinois defeat Florida Tech 81-54 on Wednesday. Davis shot 6 for 13, including 1 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Salukis (3-5). Jarrett Hensley added 14 points while going 6 of 9 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and he also had six rebounds. Sheridan Sharp finished 5 of 6 from the floor to finish with 12 points. The Panthers were led in scoring by Donovan Brown, who finished with 17 points. Elhadji Thiam added 14 points, six rebounds and two steals for Florida Tech. Max Polk finished with 14 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Injuries not slowing down Cavaliers, who face dinged-up NuggetsOnstage Hawai'i Emerges as the Premier Local Event Production Company

CHICAGO — Seahawks starting running back Kenneth Walker III will miss the final two games of the regular season after the team announced Thursday it has placed him on injured reserve. The team made the announcement hours before its game Thursday night against the Bears in Chicago. Putting Walker on IR opened up a spot on the 53-man roster for rookie George Holani, who will become the third running back behind Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh. The news ends a disappointing third NFL season for Walker, who battled three different injuries and after averaging 977.5 yards per season his first two years in the NFL will end up rushing for just 573 yards in 11 games while averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. The Seahawks also announced cornerback Artie Burns has been elevated off the practice squad to play against the Bears. Walker suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Players who go on IR have to miss four games before they can return. That means Walker could return if Seattle were to get to the playoffs and then win two games to advance to the NFC championship. It guarantees he will miss a game next weekend against the Rams in Los Angeles that could have playoff implications. That game will be either Saturday or Sunday with the date and time set following the games of this weekend. The Seahawks on Wednesday declared Walker out for Thursday’s game against the Bears with the injury Walker suffered on a run on a first-and-goal at the 3 with 5:52 remaining against the Vikings. But coach Mike Macdonald had been vague about Walker’s status beyond that saying only “he’s gonna be out this game’’ when asked if the team had learned anything about a timeline for his return. Walker, who was the 41st overall pick of the 2022 draft out of Michigan State, had 1,050 yards in 15 games as a rookie in 2022, averaging 4.6 per attempt. He followed that up with 905 yards in his second season in 2023, though he saw his yards-per-carry average drop to 4.1. But coach Mike Macdonald had been vague about Walker’s status beyond saying only “he’s gonna be out this game’’ when asked if the team had learned anything about a timeline for his return. Walker, who was the 41st overall pick of the 2022 draft out of Michigan State, had 1,050 yards in 15 games as a rookie in 2022, averaging 4.6 per attempt. He followed that up with 905 yards in his second season in 2023, though he saw his yards-per-carry average drop to 4.1. Walker, who had long gains of 74 yards in 2022 and 45 in 2023, had a long run this season of 28 in Week 4 against the Lions. He didn’t have a run of longer than 14 in his last six games, encompassing 88 carries. The Seahawks will now go the rest of the way — barring a long playoff run — with Charbonnet, a second-round pick in 2023 who has 453 yards and averaging 4.3 per attempt and turned in the best game this season by a Seahawk rusher with 134 in a in at Arizona on Dec. 8; and McIntosh, a seventh-round pick a year ago who has 77 on 17. Holani, an undrafted free agent out of Boise State, has 10 yards on three attempts. Grubb on Tuesday said he was confident the team can put together a good running game no matter who is in the backfield. “Yeah, I don’t think that personnel-wise we should have any limitations,’’ he said. “We should be able to keep building those things up front. We’re in good shape, so I think you just focus more on the offensive line and maybe less on the runners.” Walker will enter the final season of his rookie contract in 2025 when he is due to make $1,856,125, none of which is guaranteed. Teams can extend rookie contracts after a player’s third year, meaning Walker could ask for a new deal following this season. Whether the Seahawks will want to — or for how much — could loom as one of the more interesting questions of the offseason. ©2024 The Seattle Times. Visit seattletimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. She has been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Bondi is from Tampa and spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor. She was Florida’s first female attorney general. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he looks “forward to continuing the fight to save our country,” adding, “Just maybe from a different post.” Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he did not intend to take the oath of office. He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state launched a special election process to fill the vacancy. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped that Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Quinton Morton-Robertson's 16 points helped Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Green Bay 83-67 on Sunday night. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Quinton Morton-Robertson's 16 points helped Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Green Bay 83-67 on Sunday night. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Quinton Morton-Robertson’s 16 points helped Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Green Bay 83-67 on Sunday night. Morton-Robertson had three steals for the Mastodons (10-5, 3-1 Horizon League). Jalen Jackson added 15 points while going 6 of 11 from the field and had five assists. Trey Lewis shot 3 for 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points. The Phoenix (2-13, 0-4) were led in scoring by Preston Ruedinger, who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Green Bay also got 11 points from Ryan Wade. The loss is the 10th in a row for the Phoenix. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. Advertisement

After 20 days in the game, battle lines are drawn, and the stakes cannot be higher in a new episode of “Survivor,” which airs on Wednesday, November 27. The new episode will air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Those without cable can watch the show for free through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream , each offering a free trial to new users. Sling is another option for streaming the show, and promotional offers are available. The popular test of mental and physical endurance will feature 18 new castaways who are stranded in the beautiful islands of Fiji. They will be divided into 3 tribes of 6 and forced to form a new society as they adapt to their surroundings while facing difficult obstacles and navigating a complex social game. The individuals competing in the 47th season are fans from diverse backgrounds and bring fresh perspectives to this new era of the game, with the same ultimate goal: to outwit, outplay and outlast, according to CBS. In the end, only one will remain to claim the title of Sole Survivor and win the $1 million prize. In episode 11, “after 20 days in the game, battle lines are drawn, and the stakes cannot be higher. The winner of a classic immunity challenge guarantees their spot in the final seven.” The show is hosted by Emmy Award winner Jeff Probst. Here is a look at the new episode of season 47 from Survivor on CBS’s YouTube Channel: Those without cable can watch the show for free through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream , each offering a free trial to new users. Sling is another option for streaming the show, and promotional offers are available. What is FuboTV ? FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports. What is DirecTV Stream? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels. What is Sling ? Sling TV is the first app-based TV service letting you stream live television and on-demand content over the internet. With Sling TV, you get to choose the television option that’s right for you, including Channel Add-ons, Premiums Add-ons, DVR Plus and more. More Shopping and DealsPunjab bandh today: Farmers call for shutdown, check what's open and what's closed