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Leonardo DiCaprio testifies for prosecution at trial of Fugees rapper Pras Michel

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

(CNN) — Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio took the stand Monday as the first blockbuster witness in the star-studded trial of former Fugees member Pras Michel.Michel is accused of participating in a global campaign-finance conspiracy funded by Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman who allegedly stole billions of dollars from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB. Michel has pleaded not guilty.DiCaprio, who reportedly testified to the grand jury that handed up Michel’s indictment, is not accused of any wrongdoing.Though both Michel and Low are both facing charges in the US, Low remains at large so Michel is on trial alone.DiCaprio testified for about an hour on his relationship with Low in a bid by prosecutors to show that Low used stolen money to curry favor with actors, models and politicians in the United States. It’s likely that prosecutors are using DiCaprio as a charismatic figure to both explain the extent of the alleged Malaysian money scheme, and als...

Mid-Week Roller Coaster

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

We awake to a milder start this morning with temps running in the upper 30s to mid 40s, some 10-20 degrees warmer than our start yesterday morning. The trade off is that we have more clouds and spotty sprinkles and showers. Most of the showers are near and north of Route 2 this morning with a few sprinkles extending down to the Mass Pike. We won’t see a lot of rain today, in fact, late morning, through this afternoon, most of the day is dry. Breaks of sun from time to time will send temps into the 60s inland as an onshore breeze kicks in at the coast, sending temps back to the 50s there. As an east wind freshens up, it’ll cool off early this evening quickly. Heading to Fenway? Plan on temps running in the upper 40s for first pitch with a sprinkle or two possible tonight. As east winds prevail overnight, temps fade into the mid 40s by daybreak tomorrow. Winds bend more northeast through the day and chilly air continues to slide in. Temps backtrack into the upper 30s and l...

A new approach to a Covid-19 nasal vaccine shows early promise

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

(CNN) — Scientists in Germany say they’ve been able to make a nasal vaccine that can shut down a Covid-19 infection in the nose and throat, where the virus gets its first foothold in the body.In experiments in hamsters, two doses of the vaccine — which is made with a live but weakened form of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 — blocked the virus from copying itself in the animals’ upper airways, achieving “sterilizing immunity” and preventing illness, a long-sought goal of the pandemic.Although this vaccine has several more hurdles to clear before it gets to a doctor’s office or drug store, other nasal vaccines are in use or are nearing the finish line in clinical trials.China and India both rolled out vaccines given through the nasal tissues last fall, though it’s not clear how well they may be working. Studies on the effectiveness of these vaccines have yet to be published, leaving much of the world to wonder wheth...

Monday’s high school scores and highlights

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

School roundup/schscores: Brendan Connelly, Tom Mulherin, David PollardMONDAY’S HIGHLIGHTSBASEBALLJack Lasalle fired four clean innings, allowing just one hit to go with nine strikeouts as Seekonk rolled to an 8-0 blanking of South Coast Conference opponent Wareham.Nate Pennini (five-inning shutout, nine strikeouts) dominated from the mound and Brendan Sencaj (three hits, two RBI) dominated from the plate as King Philip routed Stoughton 12-0 in five innings of a Hockomock League bout.In a nonleague contest, Ryan Baker fired a complete-game allowing one run while fanning seven, to lead Whitman-Hanson (1-0) to a 9-1 win over New Bedford. … Zach Bogusz tossed 10 strikeouts over five innings to boost Winthrop to a 9-1 win over Northeast. … With an offensive explosion that saw three batters accrue multi-hit performances, Lincoln-Sudbury rolled to an 11-6 win over BC High for coach Matt Wenthworth’s 100th career win.Emilio Berndt delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning, pushing ...

Battenfeld: The Big Apple circus opens today

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

Donald Trump’s indictment and arraignment is swirled in secrecy – escalating fears of a politically motivated kangaroo court more fit for a totalitarian regime than a democracy.The sealed indictment of the former president, along with a possible gag order on Trump and a camera ban in the courtroom, is exactly the opposite of a transparent process that should be taking place.While the indictment is supposed to be released today when Trump is officially booked, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s decision to keep it secret until now has only fueled speculation about what charges Trump will face. It reportedly includes about two dozen counts related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels.Trump’s lawyers are asking the Manhattan court to ban cameras during Trump’s arraignment, a move that the media is fighting.Trump’s lawyers also reportedly fear the judge in his case will try to implement a gag order on the former president, effectively muzzling him for months in the middle of his ...

ASK IRA: Should there be a preference among potential opponents for Heat in play-in round?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

Q: Hello, Ira. Should Heat fans be praying that Atlanta and not the Bulls nor the Raptors capture the No. 7 seed? – Carlos, West Park.A: There always is a be-careful-what you-wish-for reality with such opponent shopping. And beyond that, the only control the Heat have in the process is where they finish, already done with their season series against the Hawks, Raptors and Bulls. All of that said, I can appreciate your concern, with the Heat having gone 1-3 against the Raptors and 0-3 against the Bulls. Yet, while the Heat went 3-1 against the Hawks, there always is the possibility of Trae Young single handedly sparking a win. The bottom line is that unless the Heat secure a No. 7 or No. 8 play-in seed, they will have to face at least two of those teams to advance.Q: Well, well, Ira, if the Heat are in the play-in, they would wind up against the Celtics or Bucks. That could be humiliating. – Andy.A: And that certainly is a possibility, something resembling the Heat’...

Mike Preston: With or without QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens’ offense can succeed under OC Todd Monken | COMMENTARY

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

It’s not all doom and gloom at The Castle.Regardless of the outcome of the team’s negotiations with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, there is faith in the Ravens’ new coordinator Todd Monken and his ability to turn around a sputtering offense.Monken, who left Georgia after winning back-to-back national championships to join the Ravens in mid-February, has yet to call a play and spent the last two seasons as a college offensive coordinator, but his resume is certainly more impressive than Jackson’s postseason statistics and win-loss record.Because of the stalled negotiations with their dynamic signal-caller, there seems to be some worry surrounding the Ravens and their ability to build a championship contender. There is more doubt than ever in general manager Eric DeCosta being able to sign a highly touted free agent receiver like Odell Beckham Jr. or make a trade for Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins, but the Ravens have always been reluctant to make those types...

Editorial: Don’t gag Donald Trump

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

It’s folly to slap a gag order on former President Donald Trump. It’s a recommendation Manhattan DA  Alvin Bragg will probably make and the judge should immediately reject.Let Trump maintain his right to free speech as this case plays out in the courts.If Bragg is really being nonpolitical — and we have serious doubts about that — he should allow Trump to speak his mind. A gag order will speak volumes about Bragg’s true intentions. What is he afraid of?If the indictment really is robust, then that’s what will stand up in court — not a paper-thin example of prosecutorial abuse a weak case will say.Former Suffolk prosecutor Timothy M. Burke, one of the more straight-talking legal experts in the city, also cautions against “prior restraint” — or a gag on a defendant and all involved in a case.“It just adds more complications to an already complicated case,” Burke told the Herald Monday. “And good luck trying ...

Finland set to join NATO, dealing major blow to Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Finland is poised to join NATO on Tuesday, a historic realignment brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the head of the military alliance said it would not send more troops to the Nordic country unless it asked for help.Russia has already warned that it would bolster defenses along its border with NATO if the alliance deploys any additional troops or equipment to its new member.“There will be no NATO troops in Finland without the consent of Finland,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels a few hours before the country joins.But he refused to rule out the possibility of holding more military exercises there and said that NATO would not allow Russia’s demands to dictate the organization’s decisions.“We are constantly assessing our posture, our presence. We have more exercises, we have more presence, also in the Nordic area,” he said.Later Tuesday, Finland is set to officially become the 31st member of NA...

Swedes arrest 5 suspected of terror, ties to Quran burning

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:11:58 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Five men have been arrested “on suspicion of aiding and abetting terrorist offenses,” Sweden’s SAPO domestic security agency said Tuesday, adding the case was related to the burning of a Quran in January in Stockholm and that an attack is not imminent.In a statement, Susanna Trehörning, deputy head of SAPO’ s counterterror unit said that the case had “international links to violent Islamist extremism.” Swedish public radio said the suspects had links to the Islamic State group.Trehörning said that Tuesday’s arrests came following “extensive intelligence and investigative work “after the protests that were directed at Sweden in connection with the high-profile burning of the Quran in January and where there are international calls for attacks.” She told Swedish broadcaster SVT that the suspects were in ”a planning phase” and that they “had not immediately thought of doing anything here and now.”In January, a far-right activist from Denmark received permis...