2 jili casino PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MISTRAS Group, Inc. (NYSE: MG)—a leading "one source" multinational provider of integrated technology-enabled asset protection solutions—today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Natalia Shuman as MISTRAS Group’s new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2025. Ms. Shuman brings over two decades of leadership experience to MISTRAS Group, having held executive roles at prominent global organizations in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry. Most recently, as Group Executive Vice President and Group Operating Council Member for Eurofins Scientific, she led over 12,000 employees, driving growth strategies, operational excellence, and strategic value creation. Known for scaling billion-dollar enterprises through organic growth and M&A, Ms. Shuman has a proven track record of fostering strong teams and delivering innovative, value-driven solutions. Building on a Strong Foundation Ms. Shuman succeeds Manuel (Manny) N. Stamatakis as the CEO, who has been serving as both Interim CEO and the Executive Chairman of the Board since October 2023. Mr. Stamatakis will continue in the role of Executive Chairman of the Board, providing strategic oversight and support to the CEO and the Company’s leadership team. The Board of Directors extends its gratitude to Mr. Stamatakis for his exemplary service as Interim CEO during a pivotal time for the Company, helping to advance key initiatives and positioning MISTRAS Group for future growth. Mr. Stamatakis expressed the Board’s confidence, stating: "Today's announcement is the result of a deliberate, rigorous search to find the right leader to continue MISTRAS Group’s pursuit of profitable growth and sustainable improvement in shareholder value. Natalia’s extensive experience, proven leadership, and fresh perspective make her the ideal choice to guide MISTRAS toward achieving its strategic goals and unlocking its full potential.” “I’m honored to join MISTRAS Group to lead the Company into its next phase of growth,” said Ms. Shuman. “Working alongside Manny, the Board of Directors, and the leadership team, I am committed to building on the strong foundation established and driving meaningful value for all our stakeholders." Leadership Excellence in TIC and Across Global Industries A global business leader with extensive experience across diverse industries and cultural landscapes, Ms. Shuman has demonstrated a strong ability to achieve results in business-to-business services, spanning manufacturing, energy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial services, and construction. As North American CEO for Bureau Veritas, Ms. Shuman oversaw 7,000 employees across 130 offices and laboratories in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. She spearheaded a period of significant growth and transformation, steering the company to a diversified, more resilient business model. She also championed a unified “one company” culture, elevating brand recognition in North America. Before joining Bureau Veritas, Ms. Shuman led international business operations at Kelly Services, a global staffing and human resources outsourcing company. She is also recognized as a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, receiving accolades from several prominent organizations. Ms. Shuman earned a dual Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia Business School and London Business School. About MISTRAS Group, Inc. - One Source for Asset Protection Solutions ® MISTRAS Group, Inc. (NYSE: MG) is a leading "one source" multinational provider of integrated technology-enabled asset protection solutions, helping to maximize the safety and operational uptime for civilization’s most critical industrial and civil assets. Backed by an innovative, data-driven asset protection portfolio, proprietary technologies, strong commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, and a decades-long legacy of industry leadership, MISTRAS leads clients in the oil and gas, aerospace and defense, renewable and nonrenewable power, civil infrastructure, and manufacturing industries towards achieving operational and environmental excellence. By supporting these organizations that help fuel our vehicles and power our society; inspecting components that are trusted for commercial, defense, and space craft; building real-time monitoring equipment to enable safe travel across bridges; and helping to propel sustainability, MISTRAS helps the world at large. MISTRAS enhances value for its clients by integrating asset protection throughout supply chains and centralizing integrity data through a suite of Industrial IoT-connected digital software and monitoring solutions. The company’s core capabilities also include non-destructive testing field and in-line inspections enhanced by advanced robotics, laboratory quality control and assurance testing, sensing technologies and NDT equipment, asset and mechanical integrity engineering services, and light mechanical maintenance and access services. For more information about how MISTRAS helps protect civilization’s critical infrastructure and the environment, visit https://www.mistrasgroup.com/. Contact: Nestor S. Makarigakis Group Vice President, Marketing and Communications MISTRAS Group, Inc. marcom@mistrasgroup.com +1 (609) 716-4000 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a06ebcd-e31e-4295-892e-c6b91f4b67fbWednesday was an off day for Newton County football teams. No player put on pads, played in a game or practiced. Yet the hotbed of the highly recruited area made noise by putting pen to paper. 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BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored a hat trick including two penalties for Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Friday. The win stretched Bayern’s lead to eight points ahead of the rest of the 11th round, and Kane took his goals tally to a league-leading 14. The England forward is the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Bundesliga in what was his 43rd game. However, coach Vincent Kompany should be concerned by his team’s ongoing difficulty of scoring in matches it dominates. Bayern previously defeated St. Pauli and Benfica only 1-0. Kompany’s team had to wait until stoppage time before Kane sealed the result with his second penalty. Two minutes later, Kane scored with a header after controlling Leon Goretzka's cross with his first touch for a flattering scoreline. “We had to be patient,” Kane said. “And at halftime that’s what we said, to keep doing what we’re doing. We had a few chances in the first half and we just had to be a bit more clinical and obviously, thankfully, we got the penalty to kind of open the game up.” Mads Pedersen was penalized for handball following a VAR review and Kane duly broke the deadlock in the 63rd. Bayern continued as before with 80% possession, but had to wait for Keven Schlotterbeck to be penalized through VAR for a foul on Kane. Kane sealed the result in the third minute of stoppage time and there was still time for him to grab another. It’s Bayern’s seventh consecutive win without conceding a goal since it conceded four at Barcelona (4-1) on Oct. 23 in the Champions League. “You can see now that we have a solid defense and that's the basis, also in games like today's,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich said. “When it's a game of patience, then it's important for us to know that sometimes one goal will have to do. Like today we added two more before the finish, but in the end you only need to score one more than the opponent.” Bayern next hosts Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, then Borussia Dortmund away in the Bundesliga next weekend, before defending champion Bayer Leverkusen visits in the third round of the German Cup. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 9 medics in GazaAsia shares dip as high yields test valuations

NoneBitcoin shot past $100,000 for the first time on Thursday, taking the limelight away from stock markets that wavered as investors tracked political crises in France and South Korea. Oil prices fell modestly despite a move by the OPEC cartel and its allies to extend their supply cuts amid concerns about oversupply.Melbourne, Dec 30 (PTI) The all-time attendance record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was smashed on Monday when the total attendance of the fourth Test touched an unprecedented 350,700. The presence of 51,371 spectators at lunch time meant the overall turnout had surpassed the previous high of 350,535 set way back during the 1937 Ashes when the great Don Bradman was at the peak of his powers. Also Read | Will Rohit Sharma Play in India vs Australia 5th Test 2024-25 Match at SCG? Here’s the Possibility of Team India Captain Featuring in Playing XI for Sydney Test in Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The number crossed the 60,000 mark post lunch on day five with India chasing a daunting 340-run target. Also Read | IND vs AUS 4th Test 2024: Australia Run Rampant To Leave India Three Down and 307 Runs Away From Win at Lunch on Day 5. "Day 5 current attendance is 51,371. The total attendance of 350,700 is the greatest for any Test match at the MCG exceeding the total of 350,534 v England in 1937 over 6 days. This is also the greatest attendance for any Test match played in Australia," said Cricket Australia in a release. The fourth Test between India and Australia has also become the second highest attended game of all time behind only the India-Pakistan game at the Eden Gardens in 1999 when the overall turnout stood at 4,65,000. It was not a record but as many as 87,242 fans watched the proceedings on day one. Day two turnout was a record with 85,147 people thronging to the stadium and so was day three when 83,073 fans walked into the iconic venue. On Sunday, the count was 43,867. All tickets for the action on Monday were priced at 10 Australian dollars. "I've not seen anything like it at a cricket match," Melbourne Cricket Club boss Stuart Fox was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "I think that just the spirit in the stadium ... all of our staff on day one just said how happy the crowd were. I thought Taylor Swift was big, but this has been something else. "But I think with Taylor Swift coming in, a fantastic AFL season, then this Boxing Day Test, it's (2024) going to be hard to beat, I can assure you," he added. 7/21/2024 (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Magic's Franz Wagner out indefinitely with torn oblique, the same injury that sidelined Paolo BancheroLIZ Kendall today promises to cut the number of Brits on benefits - as she warns the jobless epidemic is “terrible” for the country. People stuck on welfare are poorer, sicker and less happy, the Work and Pensions Secretary said. She staked her reputation on slashing the welfare bill and getting people back to work. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday at a job centre in Stratford, east London, Ms Kendall said: “I’ve never been swayed from my belief in the value of work. “I believe that the benefits of work go way beyond a pay slip; that work can bring pride, self respect and dignity. “Work is good for your mental health. And as a woman, I believe work can bring you independence and equality.” Asked if she is staking her reputation on cutting the number of people languishing on welfare, Ms Kendall said: “Yes. “I’m not in politics to fail. I am in politics to succeed. “And this will be one of the biggest reforms this government does.” Ms Kendall will this week unveil plans for a radical shake-up of Britain’s broken benefits system to get people into work. Most read in Politics At the heart of it is a tough new ultimatum to get young adults off welfare and in jobs. She will promise every Brit aged 21 and under work or training. Those who refuse will have their benefits withdrawn. Plans to cut £3 billion a year from welfare by reassessing people on long term sick and disability benefits more often will also be set out. Ministers are increasingly worried that the UK is once again turning into the sick man of Europe. Britain spent a staggering £150 billion on non pensioner benefits last year - and the number is predicted to carry on ballooning. Four million people will be claiming long-term sickness benefits by 2030, according to forecasts. This is 60 per cent higher than pre Covid levels. Shocking stats show nearly one million adults aged 24 and under are not in education, employment or training - known as NEETs. Hitting out at the welfare epidemic blighting Britain’s youth, Ms Kendall said: “That is terrible for them. “It’s terrible for businesses, many of whom are desperate to recruit, and it’s terrible for taxpayers seeing an ever higher benefits bill. “And I am determined to bring that down through more and better opportunities for young people to work, to get training and to get skills. “And in return for that, young people will have to take up those offers. “If you’re out of work when you’re young...the consequences can be lifelong. “It can have a long term effect on your job prospects, your ability to earn, and your health, because we know the longer you’re out of work that can be bad for your health too, which increases costs on the taxpayer. “So my commitment to young people is this: I value you. I believe in you. I will offer you the chances and choices you deserve. “But in return for that, you have a responsibility to take them up.” She added: “I’ve always believed, if you can work, you must.” Ms Kendall is “extremely concerned” about the growing number of young adults in their 20s off work because of mental health problems. And she is “worried about the impact of social media on young people”. Her concerns were echoed by the staff at the busy job centre Liz is visiting in east London. They are seeing more and more young adults off work with things like depression and anxiety. The current system of sickness and disability benefits “isn’t working at the moment”, Ms Kendall said. “It’s not working for the people who rely on them, and we are seeing the costs rise”, she warned. Plans to carry out more checks on people on sickness benefits are expected to be set out in the New Year. Brits will also be given more mental health support in schools and via job centres to keep them in training or work. The UK has no choice but to get people back to work - the mission to kickstart economic growth depends on it, Ms Kendall said. “We are the HR department of the growth mission”, she said. But Ms Kendall has come under fire for other welfare cuts announced. Earlier this week, she admitted cuts to winter fuel allowance could force another 100,000 pensioners in England and Wales into poverty. The decision to strip the £300 payments from around 10 million pensioners is hugely unpopular. It will only save the government about £1.4 billion. So, is the cut worth it? “This is not a decision that any of us wanted or expected to make”, Ms Kendall said. “The need to get the public finances sorted, though, is not something we’re going to duck. “I understand how concerned people have been about it, but when money is tight, we took the decision to focus on pensioners in the greatest need.” Britain’s economy is stagnating and business confidence is plummeting. The Labour government says getting people into work and growth going again is their number one mission. READ MORE SUN STORIES They will be judged on the results. Ms Kendall may have the fate of her party in her hands.

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. -- The 10th seed in the 42nd Beardstown Lady Tiger Classic has made its way to the championship game. The West Hancock girls basketball team has taken down 22 seed West Prairie 70-22 and seven seed Havana 69-60 on Thursday,r an past second seed Abingdon-Avon — ranked third in Class 1A in the state of Illinois — on Friday and defeated six seed Carrollton in overtime 48-47 on Saturday. Carrollton beat third seed Macomb to advance to play the Titans, who had lost to Macomb at home the previous Thursday. The Titans advance to Monday's title bout to play top seed and unbeaten Pittsfield. Down 5-0 to start the game, the Titans trailed 11-7 after a quarter but led at halftime 25-22. The Hawks went on a 10-2 run spanning the second and third quarters and led 29-27, but the Titans pulled ahead again 35-33 to start the fourth frame. “It was really aggressive on both ends,” Titans junior Jadyn Climer said. She is making a bid to be the tourney MVP if the Titans win Monday. She had 13 points against West Prairie, a career-high 29 points versus Havanna, and 14 points versus Atown. She made the free throws to send the game with the Hawks into overtime and finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. She is a combined 31-of-41 on free throws in the tournament. The Titans were tied or led in the fourth quarter until a turnover and a layup created the fifth lead change of the game at 41-39 for the Hawks with with 1:21 remaining in regulation. With a 1:12 still on the clock, Climer was fouled and made both free throws. She was 8-for-10 at the foul line in the game. With the score at 41-41, Carrollton threw the ball away. West Hancock took a timeout with 58 seconds left and held the ball for a final shot, but missed. The Hawks were able to launch a wild three but missed — overtime. Carrollton took a 44-41 lead in the first minute of overtime but didn’t score again until one second remained. West Hancock's DeeDee Church scored inside then was fouled getting a defensive rebound. She converted the first free throw to tie the game for the ninth time, then made the second free throw for the sixth lead change. Church rebounded a Hawks miss and quickly tossed an outlet pass to Grace Grothaus, who streaked downcourt for a layup and a 47-44 lead with 1:47 remaining. The Hawks turned it over on the ensuing possession, the Titans missed a shot, then the Hawks missed a 3-pointer and Church grabbed a crucial rebound again. The Titans played keepaway briefly but the Hawks stole the ball and called timeout, then missed a three. Grothaus was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws. Carollton missed two free throws with 11 seconds left but got the rebound and called timeout with 1.5 seconds. “(Coach Jerry Jerome) JJ told us to all stay in the paint and don’t foul,” Climer said. Blake Driskill hit a three at the buzzer for the final margin. Grothaus finished with 15 points. Church had eight points and four rebounds, three of them in overtime. Jaiyden Huston had seven points. Titan teammate Lucy Woodworth had two points. The Titans were 15-for-19 on free throws while the Hawks were 5-of-11. Each team made three 3-pointers. Lauren Flowers produced 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks (13-4). West Hancock (11-5) will face top seed Pittsfield for the title on Monday night. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Reese Ramsey scored 20 points for Pittsfield in the semifinal defeat of Brown County 60-53.

Kylian Mbappe’s spot-kick woe goes on as Real Madrid lose at Athletic Bilbao

NoneEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Jonathan Greenard was gassed, gasping for breath and gulping some water late in the game on Minnesota’s sideline, having chased around Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray to the point of sheer exhaustion after fighting through an illness all week. The Cardinals faced fourth down in those closing seconds on Sunday , trailing by one, and Greenard needed a break. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell let defensive coordinator Brian Flores see the formation the Cardinals sent out and deftly called timeout. The Vikings badly wanted Greenard, who’d been battling an illness all week, back in the game. “‘You ready to go? You ready to go? You ready to go?’” O’Connell asked, smiling later as he reflected on his eagerness and the rarity of using a timeout to give a defensive player a rest. “No doubt, he was going back on the field and going to have a really impactful snap.” Greenard and the rest of the pass rush put enough heat on Murray to force a hurried throw that Shaquill Griffin intercepted to seal a 23-22 comeback victory that stretched Minnesota’s winning streak to five. “He’s playing some high-level football. I don’t know where we’re at with postseason accolades, but he should be in the conversation for a number of those,” Flores said. “I feel like I say this every week: We’re lucky to have him.” RELATED COVERAGE Bears interim coach Thomas Brown insists he’s focused on task at hand and not what his future holds Falcons QB Cousins is looking to avoid interceptions, have bounce-back game in Minnesota homecoming Tua Tagovailoa shoulders blame for Dolphins’ 5-7 start and addresses criticisms of team’s toughness Greenard is tied for fourth in the NFL with 32 pressures, according to Sportradar tracking. He’s also tied for fourth in the league with 10 sacks. “He’s always popping off the tape, no matter what week it is,” teammate Harrison Smith said. “Especially in crunch time.” Those basic statistics only begin to show the impact Greenard has made on the Vikings, who made him their top priority in free agency this year once it was clear Danielle Hunter priced himself out of the plan. The AP Top 25 college football 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 . Greenard has not only blossomed into one of the league’s most effective edge rushers after four injury-limited seasons with Houston, but he has also been a major part of Minnesota’s success against the ground attack to the tune of an NFL-leading average allowance of 81.3 rushing yards per game. “The underrated part is just the all-down aspect of the physicality, setting edges, playing blocks and making some plays at or behind the line of scrimmage that set up his chances to then rush the passer,” O’Connell said. “He’s played a ton. We’re trying to be aware of just how much he’s played and see if we can give him some spurts here and there where we can kind of keep his play count where we want it, but at the same time he’s one of our best players. As I like to call him, he’s the closer.” Never was that nickname more evident than against the Cardinals. Pushed wide on his rush by left tackle Paris Johnson Jr., Greenard stabbed at Murray with his left hand to graze just enough of the ball to poke it loose. Murray fell on it to maintain possession, but the sack put the Cardinals in an uphill third-and-13 play. This time, Greenard deftly slid to the inside to keep full vision on one of the NFL’s most elusive quarterbacks. Pressure by Patrick Jones prompted Murray to take off as he barely avoided another sack, and Greenard was in ideal position to minimize the scramble. Once Murray hesitated to try to juke him and approaching cornerback Byron Murphy for more yardage, Greenard caught up and corralled him — inbounds, forcing the Cardinals to burn another timeout — for a 3-yard gain. Afterward, Greenard drew a straight line from those plays back to his offseason training. “If your tongue ain’t on the ground after your workouts, I feel like you’re not doing enough, especially the guys on the quarterbacks,” Greenard said. With the U.S. Bank Stadium crowd roaring, Greenard doubled over and asked to be subbed out. “I just wanted to show that I’m running my tail off to that football. It just so happened that he cut back and I was like, ‘Oh, perfect,’” Greenard said. “That was tough.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

None(CNN) — Senior Biden White House aides, administration officials and prominent defense attorneys in Washington, DC, are discussing potential preemptive pardons or legal aid for people who might be targeted for prosecution by President-elect Donald Trump after he retakes power, multiple sources told CNN. Reports of these conversations have captured the attention of Trump’s legal advisers, who, according to a source familiar with their strategy, believe President Joe Biden would be setting a new precedent in terms of the scope of pardons that they could take advantage of, down the line, to help their own allies. Biden’s senior aides inside the White House have been deliberating for weeks about the possibility of issuing preemptive pardons, according to the sources familiar with the discussions. The move, which would cover people who haven’t ever been formally accused of any crimes, would be an extraordinary step and shows the grave concerns many Democrats have that Trump will prosecute a range of figures that he considers to be his enemies. Trump has publicly called for the jailing of people like Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney, who served as vice chair of the House select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack, as well as special counsel Jack Smith , who brought federal criminal cases against Trump. One former senior White House official said aides inside the White House and across various federal agencies are intensely worried about the possibility that the incoming Trump administration will prosecute anyone deemed as having antagonized the president-elect. Additionally, several prominent white-collar lawyers across Washington have fielded calls in recent weeks from government officials, including investigators from Smith’s office, who are concerned they could be targeted by the incoming Trump administration. Biden and his top aides view Trump’s public threats – particularly against current and former government officials – as unprecedented, and some believe that it would be reckless and irresponsible for Biden to leave office without granting preemptive pardons. “You have got (an incoming) president that has basically said he’s going to go after all these people,” a source familiar with the discussions told CNN. “Why not do it?” A White House spokesperson declined to comment. According to Politico, which first reported on the internal debate, the discussions are being led by White House counsel Ed Siskel and other senior aides to the president, including chief of staff Jeff Zients . The former White House official who spoke to CNN, who is intimately familiar with the workings of the White House counsel’s office, said it would be typical for Siskel and his team to first put together a detailed memo to be presented to Biden. In that situation, that memo would include a list of individuals that Biden might consider pardoning preemptively, the context about any prior legal precedent, and a discussion of the wide range of potential ramifications if the president does move forward with these pardons. The calls among worried government officials and top white-collar defense lawyers in DC, appear, at this point, to be precautionary. One private attorney told CNN that they’re “feeling out what they should do if something happens” once Trump takes over. A spokesman for Smith’s special counsel office declined to comment on whether he would seek a preemptive pardon. CNN previously reported that Smith intends to step down before Trump takes office, instead of being fired, as the president-elect has pledged to do . As Democrats brace for the political and legal scrutiny that could come from the new president, his administration, and the GOP-run Congress , one significant concern for many current and former administration officials is the possibility of mounting legal bills. Multiple sources said there have been discussions about setting up legal funds to help support those who would not be able to afford thousands of dollars in lawyers’ fees. Some of the private practice bar have discussed if influential white-collar practices could work together to help career Justice Department workers – and others who are exiting the federal workforce – to possibly provide them low-cost or pro-bono representation. And at least one progressive group is working on assembling resources – such as lawyers, security experts and communications professionals – who could help government officials placed under investigation during the Trump years, some of the people familiar with the discussions said. A source familiar with Trump legal strategy says his team believes Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter has set a new precedent for presidents to issue expansive pardons to their children – and this could be something Trump chooses to do before he leaves office. The Hunter Biden pardon was notable for not only forgiving the crimes in his tax and gun indictments, but also for protecting him from being charged with any offense he “may have committed or taken part in” between January 2014 and December 2024. There’s also the president’s brother James Biden, who hasn’t faced charges but whose overseas business dealings attracted intense scrutiny from congressional Republicans. Several GOP-run House committees urged the Justice Department to prosecute James Biden in connection with lying to Congress. (He denies all wrongdoing and declined to comment for this story.) If Biden goes even further and grants preemptive pardons to an expansive list of individuals, Trump’s team believes that move would also create a new precedent and give Trump political cover to do the same for his allies, according to the source. CNN reported in 2021 that before Trump left office during his first term, he considered – but did not grant – preemptive pardons for family members , political allies, his personal attorneys, and even for himself , including in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. Attorneys across the political spectrum have raised concerns about blanket pardons to protect against future investigations or prosecution. “It’s just such a different use of the pardon power,” said Neil Eggleston, former White House counsel to President Barack Obama. “You would create the beginning of a tit for tat where, when any administration is over, you just pardon everybody.” Presidential pardons protect against federal Justice Department prosecutions, but do not shield individuals from state-level criminal cases or congressional investigations. While Trump has publicly said he wants his Justice Department to go after his perceived adversaries, the system has built-in checks against abuses of power, such as judges that can throw out charges, grand juries that can refuse to indict, juries that can return “not guilty” verdicts, and other safeguards to protect against purely vindictive prosecutions. Some prominent former Justice Department officials have said they wouldn’t want a preemptive pardon from Biden, because it might imply they’re conceding there was wrongdoing during their work for the federal government, according to a source familiar with their thinking. Trump has a well-documented history of pushing – both publicly and privately – for investigations and prosecutions of his political opponents, almost always based on unproven, baseless and conspiracy-tinged allegations about their supposed activities. Many of his recent threats targeted prosecutors who charged him with crimes: Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. He has publicly called for investigations into prominent lawmakers: Cheney and the rest of the January 6 committee members (who he said “should go to jail”), former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (for her supposed “ties to Russia”), Senator-elect Adam Schiff (for his role in the Trump-Ukraine impeachment saga) and a host of other Democratic lawmakers. Still, members of Congress have immunity from the Constitution’s “speech or debate clause” that offers such broad protections for their legislative work that even members of the defunct January 6 committee would be unlikely to take seriously any legal threats. Trump also has said Vice President Kamala Harris “should be ... prosecuted” for letting undocumented immigrants into the country. After the election, Trump called for probes of Iowa pollster Ann Selzer (for “election fraud,” by releasing a poll with Harris ahead), and into stock traders who spread “illegal rumors” about his investment in Truth Social. During his first term, some of Trump’s calls for probes were apparently heeded, leading to investigations into 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton , former FBI director James Comey , and former FBI deputy director Andy McCabe , now a CNN contributor. None of them were ever charged with crimes. Some of Trump’s longtime foes who worked on the Russia probe around the 2016 election may not have much legal exposure now because their government service ended so long ago and statutes of limitations may have lapsed. There are plenty of other figures that, despite Trump’s calls, weren’t investigated during his first term, but could be scrutinized when he returns to power: former President Barack Obama (for “treason”), former Secretary of State John Kerry (for his contacts with Iran), and even MSNBC host Joe Scarborough (based on a conspiracy theory that he was possibly able to “get away with murder” after one of his interns died in 2001). Attorneys who might defend top targets have their own fears, too. Representing Trump administration and political officials had largely gone out of fashion for large DC defense firms in recent years, with few willing to take on clients, especially after January 6. The view at Washington’s elite firms – which tend to lean liberal – may be shifting back toward getting involved, but it’s still not clear how much pushback the next Trump presidency may receive from the capital’s powerful law firms, several prominent attorneys told CNN this week. “There could well be a fear now by law firm leaders that if we take on those cases, could we ourselves be targeted?”one white-collar lawyer who regularly represents high-profile political figures told CNN on Thursday. Some liberal-leaning and criminal justice reform groups are pushing Biden to focus his final clemency efforts less on family members, political allies or Trump’s potential targets – and instead to help incarcerated Americans whom they believe deserve relief. One group, FWD.us , is airing TV ads in the Washington, DC, market, pressing Biden to “give people a second chance,” by granting clemency to Americans with “outdated” prison sentences that they argue would be shorter under today’s laws and policies. They’ve pointed to Obama’s record-setting commutations as a model. He reduced the punishments of more than 1,300 convicts, including 500 people serving life sentences. “The thousands of people serving disproportionately long and racially disparate sentences in federal prison have been waiting for relief long before the politics of this particular moment,” Zoë Towns, executive director of FWD.us , said in an email. “It is our hope that whatever comes next includes a robust clemency effort focused on them.” CNN’s Curt Devine contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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AP News Summary at 5:05 p.m. EST

The contest between the two captains—Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins—has been decisively one-sided. Cummins has now dismissed Rohit on six occasions, with four of those coming in this very series. India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, found himself at the center of unwanted history once again as he was dismissed for just 9 runs on Day 5 of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This marks yet another disappointing performance in what has been a torrid series for the Indian opener. His early departure came off the bowling of Australian captain Pat Cummins, who now holds a unique record—having dismissed Rohit six times in Test matches, the most by any bowler against an opposition captain in the format. A Tough Road for Rohit Sharma Rohit’s struggles have been well-documented during this Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Despite his patient start, where he faced 40 balls in a bid to anchor India’s second innings, he once again faltered under pressure. His dismissal was a result of an ambitious flick shot off Cummins, which found the edge and was brilliantly caught by Mitchell Marsh at gully. The wicket marked yet another failure for Rohit, who has struggled to convert his starts into substantial scores. The challenges for Rohit go beyond just a poor run of form. His inability to adapt to the testing conditions in Australia has been a growing concern for both fans and experts alike. With his form continuing to dip, calls for his retirement from the longest format of the game are gaining momentum. His current series average stands at a dismal 6.20, a stark contrast to the aggressive and confident opening batter India has known in him. The Cummins Factor: A Captain’s Duel The contest between the two captains—Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins—has been decisively one-sided. Cummins has now dismissed Rohit on six occasions, with four of those coming in this very series. This statistic speaks volumes about the dominance Cummins has had over Rohit’s game in the Australian conditions. Rohit’s struggles are compounded by the fact that he has managed just 31 runs in five innings in this series, an average that ranks among the lowest for any Indian top-order batter in an away series. The Indian captain’s poor run also contrasts sharply with the form he displayed earlier in 2024, when he scored 455 runs in a high-scoring series against England. Since then, his form has seen a steep decline, raising doubts about his place in the Test team moving forward. Australia's Dominance Australia’s strong position in this Test match is a reflection of their commanding performance throughout the series. On Day 5, they set India a challenging target of 340 runs after being bowled out for 234 in their second innings. The Australians were once in trouble at 91/6, but a resilient performance from Pat Cummins and the tailenders ensured they extended their lead. Australia’s batting depth has consistently made life difficult for the Indian bowlers, and with the series on the line, every dismissal from India seems to come under greater scrutiny. India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was once again the standout performer with the ball, claiming 5 wickets for 57 runs, a performance that included trapping Nathan Lyon in the morning session to end Australia’s innings. Bumrah’s wicket haul was a significant milestone, taking him past 200 Test wickets, a remarkable achievement in his career. The Road Ahead for India With India now needing 340 runs to win, the chase looks steep. The onus will be on the remaining batsmen to stage a miracle, and India’s hopes largely rest on players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has shown the ability to build innings despite the mounting pressure. However, with key players like Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul failing once again, India’s prospects of securing victory in the final Test match are looking slim. The final innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will go down as a pivotal moment in the career of Rohit Sharma. His inability to rise to the occasion in the face of fierce Australian bowling, particularly from Pat Cummins, has led many to question his future in Test cricket. As the series concludes, all eyes will be on whether India’s captain can regain his form and restore his reputation, or whether his time as a Test opener for India is drawing to a close. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.