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Republicans have dealt a pair of stinging rejections to President-elect Donald Trump over the past week, a sign of how Trump’s immediate lame-duck status could limit his influence despite his enormous sway over the GOP’s most dedicated voters. There’s little doubt Trump, like any president, remains the leader of his party, and is certain to have a mostly unified GOP rooting for him as he pushes for tax cuts for the wealthy, conservative judicial appointments and assaults on democratic norms. And there have long been limits to how far Republicans would actually go in service of a man many of them privately find ridiculous even as they lavishly praise him in public. But the two prominent rejections in the past week ― Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis resisting Trump’s entreaties to his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to Florida’s open Senate seat and more than three dozen House Republicans denying his request to include a debt ceiling hike in a government funding bill ― show how Trump lacks the power to simply dictate the GOP’s behavior in either politics or government, and function as warning signs for Trump allies hoping for seamless enactment of his agenda, from his plans for a complex piece of tax legislation to his vision for trillions in spending cuts engineered by Elon Musk. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told HuffPost the GOP would obviously remain by Trump’s side, but noted some of his requests ― like a debt ceiling hike ― simply aren’t feasible. “I think he’s going to continue to lobby, and I think they respect the fact that he’s the incoming president of the United States, and they all want to have a good relationship with him, but they also know that certain things are doable and some things are not doable, and in the political process, there is no way at this stage of the game to effectively address the debt ceiling,” he said. “And so it was a matter of we do the best we can, and we’re all on the same team.” “We want to make things work out, right?” Rounds said. Trump’s demand that Republicans add a debt ceiling provision to their government funding bill tanked House Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial legislation, but set up a standoff that he wound up losing. Republicans hate raising the debt ceiling, and they weren’t willing to abandon their stubborn position just because Trump wanted them to. Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the legislation that Johnson hastily assembled to placate their leader. The president-elect even threatened to back a primary opponent against Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), only to see Roy openly defy him. “My position is simple - I am not going to raise or suspend the debt ceiling (racking up more debt) without significant & real spending cuts attached to it. I’ve been negotiating to that end. No apologies,” Roy wrote on X, tagging Trump to make sure he saw. Trump’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of House lawmakers followed a stiff-arm by Senate Republicans, who refused to support scandal-plagued Matt Gaetz for attorney general, forcing the would-be nominee to withdraw from consideration. In that confrontation, Trump backed down even after threatening to try to go around the Senate and use recess appointments to fill his cabinet. DeSantis’ resistance was less explicit. Lara Trump was never firmly rejected, instead withdrawing her name from consideration on Saturday night. The Washington Post reported Trump had pushed DeSantis to name her to the seat , which will become vacant when Sen. Marco Rubio is presumably confirmed as Trump’s Secretary of State. But when asked about it at a press conference earlier this month, Trump was skeptical he would get his way. “I probably don’t, but I don’t know,” the president-elect said at Mar-a-Lago. “Ron’s doing a good job and that’s his choice. Nothing to do with me.” Trump likely lost leverage over DeSantis when it became clear he was sticking by his troubled nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who stands accused of workplace drinking and sexual assault. Trump allies had floated DeSantis as a potential replacement nominee if Hegseth faltered. Former Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.), a Trump critic, said DeSantis and other Republicans were already looking past the time when Trump ruled the party. “That episode clearly reflects Trump’s lame duck status when it comes to who will be fighting for control of the party starting in December of 2026,” Jolly said. “DeSantis clearly sees Trump as a lame duck with fading currency, and the Florida Governor still has plans to demonstrate his own Republican leadership. Surely DeSantis isn’t alone.” Another prominent Florida GOP consultant noted the “ceiling” of Trump’s ask could also decline in the future. “If there is obvious cognitive decline from Jan. 20, [his problems] will accelerate,” said the consultant, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about his party’s leader. Mike Davis, a former Senate GOP staffer known for his pro-Trump bombast, insisted the president-elect was charging full steam ahead. “Trump forced Biden, a Democrat-controlled Senate, and a barely Republican-controlled House to surrender on their annual end-of-year spending frenzy,” he said. “Trump’s just getting warmed up.” Still, it’s clear there’s also something of an indirect challenger for Trump’s throne atop the GOP. While Trump did not get any of what he requested from House Republicans, his top donor, tech billionaire Elon Musk, did. And Musk’s trillions may be able to power political careers years in the future when Trump’s social media missives have disappeared from the scene. On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will reclaim the most powerful seat in our nation's government. HuffPost will continue to fearlessly report on the new administration — but we need your help. We believe vital information during this unprecedented time should be free for everyone. With your support, we can provide critical news without paywalls. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Trump, in a speech in Arizona on Sunday, aimed to downplay the idea Musk could somehow supplant him, noting ― correctly, for once in his life ― that Musk is ineligible to be president. “I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country,” Trump said jokingly. Related From Our Partnergenie lyrics snsd 。

Set to host the Ravens on Christmas Day, the Houston Texans claimed wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers on Monday after Baltimore waived him last week. Thin at receiver behind star Nico Collins due to season-ending injuries to Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Tank Dell (torn ACL, dislocated kneecap), the Texans are hoping Johnson, 28, can provide depth at the position alongside Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III. With the Ravens, Johnson reeled in just one catch for 6 yards and received a one-game suspension for what the team said was refusing to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1. Baltimore waived him on Friday. An unrestricted free agent after this season, Johnson is joining his fourth team this calendar year after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March and then moved from the Panthers to the Ravens in October. A third-round draft pick in 2019, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games (all starts) for the Panthers earlier this season. In six career seasons, the 2021 Pro Bowl selection has 422 receptions for 4,726 yards and 28 TDs for the Steelers (2019-23), Panthers and Ravens. --Field Level MediaFloating LNG import terminals pose cost and climate challenges for Asian marketsA massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said Monday. The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a "training center" where many were dismembered or burned after being killed. A civil society organization had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son's illness was caused by followers of the religion. "On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang -- around 300 -- to carry out a brutal 'manhunt.' They stormed into about ten alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighborhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes," said the report, authored jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR). In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighborhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape. Some of the bodies "were then burned with gasoline, or dismembered and dumped into the sea," the report concluded. A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said. A mosaic of violent gangs control most of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. The impoverished Caribbean country has been mired for decades by political instability, made worse in recent years by gangs that have grown in strength and organizational sophistication. Despite a Kenyan-led police support mission, backed by the United States and UN, violence has continued to soar. "According to BINUH and OHCHR, since January 2024, more than 5,358 people have been killed and 2,155 injured," the report said. "This brings the total number of people killed or injured in Haiti to at least 17,248 since the beginning of 2022." The UN Security Council "strongly condemned the continued destabilizing criminal activities of armed gangs and stressed the need for the international community to redouble its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population." A spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "these crimes touched the very foundation of Haitian society, targeting the most vulnerable populations." Voodoo was brought to Haiti by African slaves and is a mainstay of the country's culture. It was banned during French colonial rule and only recognized as an official religion by the Haitian government in 2003. While it incorporates elements of other religious beliefs, including Catholicism, voodoo has been historically attacked by other religions. gw/nro

NFTs Are Back: Illuvium Launches New Collection with G-SHOCK after Wave 3 Alpha's sell out in 1 hour 12-02-2024 11:02 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Ed Cal Media Agency Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/e31510cee1ac00ced93ac9669407e32d.jpg DUBAI, UAE - December 2, 2024 - The resurgence of NFTs continues as Illuvium, a leader in blockchain-based gaming, announces its collaboration with the iconic G-SHOCK brand. Following the US election, the Web3 market has experienced renewed momentum, with a notable rise in NFT transactions and an increase in the overall NFT market cap. In this bullish environment, Illuvium is making waves with its latest release. Launching on December 9, 2024, Illuvium Beyond x G-SHOCK Wave 3 Collection features six fan-favourite Illuvitars reimagined in G-SHOCK style, blending digital collectibles with real-world allure. The lineup includes Aapon , the mystic monkey; Earth Doka , a fierce fighter; Pho , a powerful brawler; Flare , a resilient protector; Archos , a healing turtle; and Lynx , a sleek hunter. Each Illuvitar wears unique G-SHOCK gear with three distinct collectible backgrounds, adding depth and variety for collectors. As a special bonus, collectors who purchase 20 or more D1SKs will receive an exclusive Illuvium x G-SHOCK watch, a limited-edition physical collectible that celebrates this exciting partnership and bridges the digital and physical worlds. Since its debut in 2022, Illuvium Beyond has solidified its place in the NFT gaming space, generating over $12.1 million in revenue and partnering with major brands like GameStop and Team Liquid. The G-SHOCK collaboration represents the next step in elevating the Illuvium brand and community. "The G-SHOCK x Illuvium collab isn't just a drop; it's about bringing something fresh and exciting to the community," said Kieran Warwick, Co-Founder of Illuvium. "With the market turning up and new energy in the Web3 space, this is the perfect moment to release a collection that combines nostalgia, innovation, and unparalleled craftsmanship." And Takahashi Oh, Senior General Manager of Timepieces at Casio said "Partnering with Illuvium allows us to start a new approach where the G-SHOCK brand integrates into the world of gaming. We are excited to provide a new user experience while utilizing the toughness design and brand colors that are a symbol of G-SHOCK." Collectors can purchase D1SKs, containing Illuvitars adorned in G-SHOCK gear, during the limited sale window from December 9th to December 22nd, 2024. Mark your calendars to collect, customise, and claim a piece of this historic collaboration. Don't miss the chance to own digital Illuvitars and the exclusive Illuvium x G-SHOCK watch. Project Overview Dates of sale December 9 - December 22 (UTC) Sales price $35 Blockchain Ethereum Sales place Illuvium Official website: https://beyond.illuvium.io/ About Illuvium Illuvium is a blockchain-based gaming studio that combines the thrill of collecting, battling, and exploring with the benefits of decentralised finance and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Its suite of games allows players to discover and collect Illuvials, engage in strategic battles, and participate in a thriving community. For more information, visit illuvium.io [ https://www.illuvium.io/ ]. About G-SHOCK Casio's shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe's dream of 'creating a watch that never breaks.' Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan. The watch is packed with Casio's innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. Since its launch, G-SHOCK has continued to evolve, continuing to support Mr. Ibe's mantra "never, never give up." Media Contact Company Name: Illuvium Labs FZCO Contact Person: Kieran Warwick Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=nfts-are-back-illuvium-launches-new-collection-with-gshock-after-wave-3-alphas-sell-out-in-1-hour ] Country: United Arab Emirates Website: https://illuvium.io/ This release was published on openPR.None

By Amanda Rosa Miami Herald / Tribune News Service There are many ways to go viral on social media, but one Broward resident had a sure fire idea: a tattoo of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Not a temporary tattoo or a fake one to trick people online. Levi Jones, a 33-year-old business owner, pulled up to Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood last week and sat for eight hours getting a photorealistic black-and-white portrait of Mangione on his leg. The tattoo, complete with the words “Deny. Defend. Depose.” written on Mangione’s face, is one of many tattoos, artworks, songs, T-shirts and memes inspired by Mangione to pop up online since he was named NYPD’s prime suspect in the shooting. Just a few days after posting the video, Jones’ tattoo has gotten over 1 million views on Instagram. TikTok removed it from its platform as it was gaining traction, said Anthony Medina, the 27-year-old tattoo artist behind the piece. “I definitely think it’s gonna get a little bit more viral, probably like five to 10 million views, hopefully,” Jones told the Herald. “But that was the plan.” It’s all part of fiery online discourse over the shooting and the wave of public support for Mangione as many people expressed frustration over the healthcare insurance industry and its practice of denying legitimate claims . Prosecutors accused Mangione of shooting Thompson in Manhattan on Dec. 4 and fleeing to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested at a McDonald’s days later. To some, Mangione has become a folk hero , while law enforcement and elected officials—from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch to President-elect Donald Trump —have condemned those who valorize the alleged killer. Ironically, neither Medina nor Jones have a particularly strong opinion on Mangione or Thompson’s death. “Well, I don’t support murder, that’s for sure. I understand the frustration. I love the kind of vigilante aspect behind it. I’m in no means supportive of assassinating CEOs because you disagree with them or whatever immoral compass they have,” Jones said. “But, I’m kind of neutral on it. I don’t really know enough about it to even say if I’m with or against him.” Medina had a similar response: “I don’t have an opinion on what happened. I haven’t done research into it to even form an opinion whether it was justified or not. Killing someone in general is never justified, but I’m sure he had his reasons behind it.” So how did the permanent portrait come to be? “He’s a very impulsive person,” Medina said. Jones and Medina were already in talks about getting a different tattoo. Out of the blue, Medina said Jones texted him that he wanted to get a portrait of Mangione. Medina wasn’t buying it. “I said, ‘No shot you’re actually serious about this,’” Medina said. “Two days later, it actually happened.” In the past, Medina said, the two tried their hand at creating a viral moment with a fake Instagram video of Jones getting a suggestive face tattoo. “He was trying to go viral with that, but it didn’t go as well as this one apparently,” the tattoo artist said. “I was expecting us to have a lot more views by now just because it’s so controversial, but that was the intent behind it,” Jones said. “I wanted something that was going to be kind of intense and extreme. People would see it, shake their head like, ‘What the hell are these guys doing?’” In person, Jones said he’s only gotten positive reactions from people. While shopping at Total Wine on Friday, Jones said the cashier noticed the tattoo and gushed about how she had seen it online. On Instagram though, the comment section is more heated. Some like the tattoo, many do not. Comments range from “this is nuts but awesome work my boy like always” to “WHY” to “Celebrating a death that resulted in no change what so ever.” One Instagram user joked: “Imagine you got an infection from that tattoo and you went to the doctor and then your claim got denied.” Medina gets a kick out of people online who assume the artist and client are politically liberal, like one commenter that wrote, “I can tell by the shape of the leg this person is a lib” with laughing emojis. “I think it’s hilarious because we’re both Republicans, and he’s a full Trump supporter,” Medina said. Both Jones and Medina said they understand why some may find the tattoo offensive, but Medina noted that people have been getting tattoos of violent and controversial figures for years. Clients have asked Medina, who specializes in realistic, black-and-white portraits, for tattoos of mobsters, drug cartel leaders and Miami’s infamous “Cocaine Cowboys.” “Idolizing people that do bad things is not new,” Medina said. “I think because [the situation] is so recent, the tattoo is a little out there, but it’s definitely not the first time that something like this has gone around. I think I was just the best to do it.” Regardless of how people feel about it—or whether Mangione is found to be innocent or guilty—Jones said the tattoo makes for a great story and he doesn’t regret getting it. As someone who used to work in the medical field, Jones added that there is one positive thing to come out of social media’s Mangione mania: people are seriously talking about the healthcare insurance industry. “I know firsthand how corrupt it is, how people care more about money than patients. At the end of the day, people are paychecks,” Jones said. “I do like the fact that people are kind of waking up and seeing this because before this, no one would have cared.”AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:56 p.m. EST'Some voters feel betrayed' as Trump gives 'middle finger' to campaign promises: analystMumbai, Dec 28 (PTI) The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) should work as a guiding force for boosting priority sectors so that the state maintains its reputation of being the leader in the country, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday. During a meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai, he listed mining, group farming, solar energy projects and bio-fuel as among the priority sectors, a government press release said. MITRA should work as a guiding force for giving a fillip to the priority sectors, it said, quoting Fadnavis. The state has set up MITRA along the lines of NITI Aayog. The CM talked about group farming and said there are presently 400 such groups in the state and most of them have performed well. The integrated benefits of the schemes under the agriculture, water resources, horticulture, marketing and other allied departments will be passed on to farmers to make them economically and socially capable, he said. Fadnavis called for efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit and pitched for consolidation of assets, convergence of various schemes, expediting water conservation projects, and state data and mining policies for Maharashtra’s overall development, the release said. The CM also took stock of the Jayakwadi solar project, the production of biogas from agricultural waste, and the international zoo at Gorewada in Nagpur district, it added. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesNDC Threatens Legal Action Over EC’s Potential Reversal of Ablekuma North Election Result

Johnny Gaudreau’s father skates with Flames ahead of emotional return to CalgarySuriname's government announced Saturday that the small South American nation will not hold a state funeral for its ex-president Desi Bouterse, who this week died a fugitive from justice aged 79. Current President Chan Santokhi "has decided, based on his powers and advice received, that there will be no state funeral... No period of national mourning," Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told a press conference. Bouterse was a former military man who twice mounted coups, in 1980 and again in 1990, to take charge as a dictator. He eventually returned to power after being elected president in 2010 and governed for a decade. He died Tuesday in the unknown location where he had been holed up as a fugitive, with in-absentia convictions for cocaine trafficking and murder. Bouterse's body was dropped off at his residence in the capital Paramaribo. An autopsy was ordered, though police said there were "no signs of criminal activity." Bouterse had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in December 2023 for the 1982 execution of political opponents, including lawyers, journalists, businessmen and military prisoners. He remained a popular figure with the poor and working class in the former Dutch colony. The foreign minister said that, out of respect for Bouterse's status as an elected former president, flags would be flown at half-staff on government buildings on the day of his funeral, whose date has not yet been given. str-jt/rmb/acbRavens coach John Harbaugh briefly addressed Diontae Johnson's future with the team during a Monday press conference.

Bill Clinton hospitalized in DC for fever, in 'good spirits,' spokesperson saysNone

An embattled Las Vegas Strip casino facing serious allegations from Nevada gaming regulators of allowing illicit gambling activities and anti-money laundering failures has named a new top executive who will work with a recently formed oversight committee in an effort to turn the struggling property around. Genting Berhad, parent company of Resorts World Las Vegas, announced the appointment of Jim Murren, former chief executive officer and board chairman of MGM Resorts International, as chairman of a four-person board of directors that will “bolster the property’s governance structure to help drive the go-forward business strategy,” according to a news release. “Resorts World Las Vegas has transformed the Vegas Strip with its unceasing focus on providing the ultimate guest experience, which is why I’m thrilled to join the team and help continue setting the standard for premier hospitality,” Murren said in the news release. “The board and I are excited to continue building on the strong foundation set by the executive leadership team and driving continued growth and innovation to benefit all of RWLV’s key stakeholders.” Alex Dixon, who has held executive roles for both MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, has been named CEO of Resorts World Las Vegas. The news release did not mention Peter LaVoie, who had been serving as the property president since 2023. “As Resorts World Las Vegas continues to establish itself as the premier resort destination in Las Vegas, we are excited to welcome this group of industry leaders overseeing and guiding the leadership team to deliver unparalleled guest experiences while fostering our commitment to compliance,” said Kok Thay Lim, chairman and CEO of Malaysian-based Genting Berhad. “With over 40 years of collective experience in the global gaming and hospitality industry, we are confident that Alex and Jim, alongside the board, will help drive the company forward in pursuing our strategic goals for years to come.” Worst financial quarter in two years The top-level overhaul at Resorts World comes on the heels of the Strip property posting its worst financial quarter in two years . The company pointed to external factors, such as the summer heat and domestic election concerns, as causes for the lagging returns in the third quarter of 2024. The announcement also comes just days before Resorts World and Genting must respond to a 12-count disciplinary complaint filed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in August. The board is expecting a response from the Las Vegas casino operator by or before Dec. 9 . Resorts World could be on the receiving end of severe sanctions based on the charges levied against the operator by state gaming regulators in the Aug. 15 complaint , including a multimillion-dollar fine and a possible license suspension or revocation. The Nevada Gaming Commission has yet to adjudicate the matter. Murren will head up a board comprised of: A.G. Burnett, former chair of the NGCB and gaming attorney; Michelle DiTondo, a seasoned human resources executive who worked at MGM and Caesars; and Kong Han Tan, Genting’s president and chief operating officer. Murren currently holds a leadership position with Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and is the chairman of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority in the United Arab Emirates. He is also involved with Cirque du Soleil and Playstudios. The new Board of Directors assumed their roles on Dec. 4, according to the news release. Dixon, a Las Vegas native, recently resigned from his position as CEO of Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association in Iowa. He will begin his tenure as CEO of Resorts World Las Vegas on Jan. 16. “We have a bright future ahead of us, and I look forward to supporting and collaborating with Resorts World Las Vegas’s leadership alongside the board to continue showcasing the best the Strip has to offer,” Dixon said in the release. “We have an incredible team of talented and committed employees throughout the organization and are confident we can achieve amazing things together.” Scott Sibella worked under Murren Multiple industry sources believe Murren’s involvement with Resorts World could elicit a new round of questioning from Nevada gaming regulators, specifically as it relates to Scott Sibella, the former RWLV chief executive who was let go in 2023. Prior to joining Resorts World, Sibella was the president of the MGM Grand casino-hotel while Murren was overseeing MGM Resorts. Federal authorities charged Sibella with failing to properly report suspicious financial activities of a since-convicted illegal bookmaker during his tenure at MGM Grand. Sibella pleaded guilty earlier this year and was sentenced to one year of probation and a fine of less than $10,000. A 2019 email to Murren and MGM’s corporate compliance from high-stakes gambler Robert “R.J.” Cipriani , who goes by the moniker Robin Hood 702 on X, outlined potentially illegal happenings at MGM properties involving Sibella and other MGM managers. The email — which was provided to the Review-Journal — was also sent to Nevada gaming regulators and federal law enforcement. MGM’s chief legal counsel responded to Cipriani’s email, acknowledging receipt of the correspondence and suggested the company had “initiated an investigation into these serious allegations.” The current NGCB complaint against Resorts World coincides with Sibella’s time as chief executive of the property. The NGCB alleges that Resorts World, under Sibella, cultivated a culture in which “individuals with suspected and actual ties to illegal bookmaking, with histories of federal convictions related to illegal gambling businesses, and with a history of ties to organized crime,” were “welcomed” and enticed to gamble. In its 31-page complaint, the NGCB describes an “overall lack of control,” and “acceptance among Resorts World executives,” toward illicit behavior to such an extent that it resulted in the “perception and/or reality” that the casino is “an avenue to launder funds” and “further criminal activity.”Jubilation. Joy. Relief. Wonder. Pick your word for it — emotions, each and all of them felt by the masses, came pouring out as the clock struck zero inside Memorial Stadium. The Nebraska football program’s long eight-year bowl drought finally came to an end on a 50-degree November afternoon in downtown Lincoln. That achievement is worth celebrating on its own, but the way Nebraska got it done — dominating, rather than eking over the line against an opponent it knows well — made the accomplishment that much sweeter. Nebraska never trailed in a 44-25 win over Wisconsin on Saturday, securing the program’s first bowl game since the 2016 season. The victory also snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Badgers, and the four-game losing skid which NU entered the day with. For a Nebraska (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) senior class which had never made the postseason before, their level of play on the field matched the seriousness of the opportunity in front of them. Particularly on the offensive side of the ball, improvements from last week’s loss to USC were evident. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, calling his second game as a member of the Nebraska coaching staff, dialed up a blistering six-play, 55-yard touchdown drive to start the game. A 45-yard kickoff return from freshman Jacory Barney Jr. set Nebraska up on the drive, with junior Heinrich Haarberg scoring the 5-yard run to secure NU’s early 7-0 lead. Having parted ways with its offensive coordinator during the week, Wisconsin, (5-6, 3-5) showed no ill effects from that shakeup as it immediately responded with a scoring drive of its own. Helped by a key missed tackle near midfield, Wisconsin found the end zone on a 4-yard passing score from Braedyn Locke to Bryson Green. After the initial scoring drive, Wisconsin took three of its next four possessions into Nebraska territory but came away with just three points from those chances. A Janiran Bonner fumble deep inside Nebraska territory set up Wisconsin with a prime scoring opportunity, but a three-and-out and delay of game penalty contributed to a 34-yard field goal sailing wide. The Badgers pushed across a 33-yard kick later in the half but also missed a second field goal from 41 yards out, a miss which resulted in a 10-play drive netting zero points. Not all of Nebraska’s first-half drives were perfect — the Huskers punted twice and fumbled once — but when things clicked, Wisconsin could do little to slow down the surging Nebraska offense. Nebraska utilized its quick passing game during its second touchdown drive, with a 27-yard gain from Emmett Johnson on a screen pass quickly being followed by a 21-yard Barney gain on a touch pass in the backfield. Running back Dante Dowdell capped off the eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with a 12-yard rushing score in which Jahmal Banks and Nate Boerkircher sealed the edge with a pair of punishing blocks. Nebraska also took advantage of Wisconsin’s field goal miscues by scoring touchdowns immediately following both misses. An efficient drive just prior to the halftime break ended with a toe-tap catch from Banks in the back of the end zone, a 5-yard passing score from Dylan Raiola which extended Nebraska’s lead to 21-10. Taking the ball with just 17 seconds left in the half, Wisconsin could’ve kneeled out the clock but instead opted to give running back Tawee Walker a first down carry. NU’s Nash Hutmacher made Wisconsin regret that decision by jarring the ball loose for a Bager turnover. One completion later and Nebraska brought kicker John Hohl onto the field for a 37-yard try, one he dispatched to give the Huskers a 14-point halftime lead. The 24 first-half points scored by Nebraska marked the team’s second-most all season, and the most since NU’s win over Colorado in September. The Huskers came out firing after the halftime break, too, forcing a Wisconsin three-and-out prior to putting together a scoring drive of its own. While the Nebraska drive stalled out prior to the end zone, a 45-yard Hohl field goal gave the Huskers a three-score advantage, 27-10 in their favor. Unable to trust its kicker in a similar situation, Wisconsin instead opted to keep its offense on the field for a fourth down outside the NU red zone. Walker’s carry up the middle was stuffed by the Blackshirts, resulting in a turnover on downs midway through the third quarter. When Nebraska turned that opportunity into a touchdown of its own, the game just about escaped Wisconsin’s reach. Another well-executed scoring drive, this time a seven-play march down the field which took three-plus minutes, ended in a Dowdell 3-yard touchdown run. As Nebraska’s lead reached 34-10, it marked the most points NU has scored against a Big Ten foe under head coach Matt Rhule. Wisconsin did fire back with a touchdown drive late in the third quarter and another midway through the fourth quarter. A third made field from Hohl helped keep Nebraska’s lead safe to the end, though. Nebraska can take away many positives from its win over Wisconsin, with the all-around performance of Johnson at running back and its much-improved offense taking center stage. Most important of all was the fact that Saturday’s win meant six on the season, a mark Nebraska fans hadn’t celebrated since the 2016 season. That major season milestone now secured, Nebraska’s regular season will come to a close during a Black Friday matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

California voters – with their interstate activism and cash donations, probably did influence some races far beyond this state’s borders.

THE donkey work is over, now the horse trading begins. Ireland's general election 2024 managed to be both dramatic and stale, fascinating and mundane. Cue the messy and protracted negotiations currently taking place in the aftermath to form a government by St Valentine's Day. Or more likely by Donald Trump's Inauguration on January 20th. Being up close and personal with key national players at Cork's election count centre offered me quite an insight. Current Tánaiste, former - and now next - Taoiseach Micheál Martin appeared cautiously victorious. He patiently awaited the national results with his Fianna Fáil foot soldiers. He had an air of vindication and relief, as rival parties' candidates looked on. The Rebel City's other national figures, outgoing Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Fine Gael's Simon Coveney mingled effortlessly among election staff, canvassers and reporters also with a sense of quiet reassurance for their parties' fortunes. The long expected 'Sinn Féin surge' did not materialise. From the party's highwater mark of 36% popularity in 2022, its leader Mary Lou McDonald has boisterously presented herself as Taoiseach in waiting. Her party's confident stance on anti-poverty measures and particularly as champions of the housing crisis solution was seemingly neutered by a resurgent Fianna Fáil -Fine Gael counteraction. The British Conservatives' past election slogan under Theresa May was 'Strong and Stable' and was widely ridiculed. In Ireland, this approach seemed to work in the incumbent parties' favour, who promised more of the same. Yet both incumbent parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael fell two TDs short of the overall combined majority needed of 88 in the Dáil. The fragmented nature of Irish politics means that the dubious dating game of coalition building and maintenance is built into elections and their aftermath. With it comes temptation, thrills and dangers for smaller parties. They often act as the 'mud-guard' on the wheels of larger government parties and then face the wrath of the electorate afterwards. The Green Party's decimation from 12 seats to a solo TD, in its leader- and only just, was a salutary reminder last week. Now the two mainstream parties look around for likely coalition partners, perhaps with Irish Labour and the Social Democrats - the latter securing a certain 'novelty party' status. However, Irish Labour will be painfully aware of their bruising experience of losing 30 TDs after their 2011 government partnership with Fine Gael. Their subsequent decimation at the 2016 election should make Labour allergic to even the thought of contemplating the current coalition. It is likely to be down to a marriage of convenience between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and a hotchpotch of Independents. This disproportionate mix will be fascinating to see in its working out. Hitherto nationally unknown names such as Verona Murphy, Michael Fitzmaurice, Michael Collins, Carol Nolan and Ken O'Flynn may secure unexpectedly exalted status. They could join established independents such as Marian Harkin and Noel Grealish. These probable and unlikely 'king makers' of Irish politics will want to exact a price from the finances of the state to ensure continued loyalty. See the Healy-Rae fortunes for their constituency in Kerry for prior proof. The adage that politics is the art of the possible is about to be played out. But we are also reminded that a week is a long time in politics, and that any outcome is possible. Electoral acrobatics is no doubt being performed behind the scenes in Dublin to shape government formation as we speak. Like an electoral form of papal conclave, we await the white smoke and ultimate, final outcome of Election 2024. Time will tell. See More: Election, IrelandFCT: We did not construct road for EFCC — Wike clarifies new project

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