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Senators Aren't Ready to Blame Themselves for Silicon Valley Bank Implosion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

On their first day back in Washington since the public and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. reaped what Congress sowed in 2018, senators who supported a controversial rollback of banking regulations warned that it was far too early to say what precisely caused the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, but wanted it known that they were all trying to find the guy who did this.“I think that we need to see what has actually transpired and understand what has transpired, then make a judgment going forward so we’re not just looking backward, but we’re also looking prospectively, so we can make sure the American banking system is sound and that people don’t color outside the lines in ways that’s destructive to them or to the broader banking industry,” said Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, when asked if he regretted his vote in favor of the 2018 deregulation bill.“Whatever he’s saying is probably true,” added Sen. Angus King of Maine — a fellow yes vote on the 2018 bill — w...

The Architects of the Iraq War: Where Are They Now?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

The U.S. and its allies invaded Iraq 20 years ago in Operation Iraqi Freedom. President George W. Bush’s press secretary Ari Fleischer twice accidentally referred to it as Operation Iraqi Liberation, which was definitely not its official name and would have generated an unfortunate acronym.The men and women who launched this catastrophic, criminal war have paid no price over the past two decades. On the contrary, they’ve been showered with promotions and cash. There are two ways to look at this.One is that their job was to make the right decisions for America (politicians) and to tell the truth (journalists). This would mean that since then, the system has malfunctioned over and over again, accidentally promoting people who are blatantly incompetent failures.Another way to look at it is that their job was to start a war that would extend the U.S. empire and be extremely profitable for the U.S. defense establishment and oil industry, with no regard for what’s best for America or tell...

Trudeau names ex-governor general to examine China meddling

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named a former governor general Wednesday as a special investigator to look into allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s last two elections. Trudeau announced Wednesday that David Johnston will take the role of special rapporteur. Johnston will decide if a public inquiry is needed and Trudeau said he will abide by recommendations. The Globe and Mail, citing unidentified intelligence sources, reported last month that China preferred to see Trudeau’s Liberals re-elected in the 2021 election and worked to defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to BeijingThe governor general is the representative of Britain’s monarch as head of state, and holds a mostly ceremonial and symbolic position. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Johnston governor general in 2010 and his term was extended under Trudeau until 2017. Johnston has law degrees from the University of Cambridge and Queen’s University. He was a law pro...

Lil Wayne, Wu-Tang Clan, and more to perform at Pharrell’s 2023 ‘Something in the Water’ festival in Virginia Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

The “Something in the Water” music festival held in D.C. last year is making its move back to its roots in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this April, and released its star-studded lineup on Wednesday.Host Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne, Wu-Tang Clan and Machine Gun Kelly are among the artists taking the stage during the concert set from April 28 to April 30.PHOTOS: Something in the Water 2022More Music NewsMore Local NewsOther performers at the three-day concert include Lil Uzi Vert, Latto, Kid Cudi, Mumford and Sons, Maren Morris and more.Passes to the concert are on sale and the festival says there are still three-day passes available for $399 plus fees.  See you in Virginia Beach for SOMETHING IN THE WATER presented by @Walmart April 28-30! A limited number of passes are still available at https://t.co/Ul2je8C4F5 pic.twitter.com/OePdUG4kyK— SOMETHING IN THE WATER (@sitw) March 15, 2023The festival first started in 2019 in Pharrell’s hometown of Virginia Beach.Events DC...

MGM to renovate, rename Water Club hotel in Atlantic City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The owners of Atlantic City’s top-performing casino are renovating and renaming its stand-alone non-casino hotel.MGM Resorts International said Tuesday it is spending $55 million to renovate and rename the Water Club hotel next to the Borgata casino hotel.It will be named the MGM Tower.The first re-done rooms will be available in April, and the project should conclude by Memorial Day weekend.“We are incredibly proud of Borgata and its industry-leading team of employees, and we believe this significant reinvestment will drive visitation to Atlantic City well into the future,” Corey Sanders, MGM’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.It will feature more than 700 renovated guest rooms and will add luxury suites at the tower’s corners with wraparound views of the Atlantic City skyline. The project is being done as part of the Borgata’s 20th anniversary this year.The 43-story Water Club opened in 2008 as a $400 million complemen...

Titans place 2nd-round tenders on Teair Tart, Aaron Brewer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans placed second-round tenders Wednesday on a pair of restricted free agents in offensive lineman Aaron Brewer and defensive tackle Teair Tart. The Titans also announced they tendered exclusive rights free agent defensive tackle Naquan Jones.Tart was an undrafted player out of Florida International in 2020, and the 6-foot-3, 304-pound lineman has started 27 of 34 games played. Tart is coming off his best season, starting 16 games with his first career interception, 1 1/2 sacks, a fumble recovery and six passes defended. Brewer is an undersized offensive lineman at 6-1 and 274 pounds. But the lineman who went undrafted out of Texas State has been with Tennessee the past three seasons, starting 23 of 41 games played. He started every game last season with 15 at left guard and two at center. Tart and Brewer can negotiate with any NFL team through April 21, and the Titans can either match any offer from another club or decline and receive a seco...

UN warns gangs consuming Haiti despite help for police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.N.’s special envoy to Haiti warned Wednesday that the ongoing training and resources the international community is providing to Haiti’s national police force is not enough to fight increasingly violent gangs.Helen La Lime, head of the U.N.’s Integrated Office in Haiti, unexpectedly joined an Organization of American States meeting in Washington, D.C., saying it’s time to look at new partnerships as she called once again for the deployment of a specialized foreign force.“We’re not getting the job done,” she said. “We need to get down to the business of building this country back.”Powerful gangs have been infiltrating once peaceful communities in the Haitian capital and beyond, with experts estimating that they now control about 60% of Port-au-Prince. They have pillaged neighborhoods, raped adults and children and kidnapped hundreds of victims ranging from U.S. missionaries to a hot dog street vendor in a bid to control more territory, with vi...

Kevin Hart signs new deal with SiriusXM, rebranded show airs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Hart will keep his comedic candor going with SiriusXM. But this time he’ll bring along more recognizable figures from outside the comedy realm.The satellite radio company announced Wednesday that it has signed Hart and his entertainment company, Hartbeat, to a multi-year deal. As part of the deal, the superstar actor-comedian will continue to curate content involving comedy and culture on his Laugh Out Loud Radio channel.“At the end of the day, this is a great partnership,” Hart said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “When you put yourself in a position to create partnerships that will last and can grow, those are the big wins. You’re looking at a relationship that has evolved, that is growing and going in the right direction. I think this is one where the hard work has been put into the growth of the station and the platform is just paying off.”Hart will host his podcast “Gold Minds with Kevin Hart,” a rebranded show that will premiere its ne...

Watchdog pledges ‘demanding’ oversight of nuclear sub deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the global nuclear regulatory agency pledged Wednesday to be “very demanding” in overseeing the United States’ planned transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, amid complaints that the U.S. move could clear the way for bad actors to escape nuclear oversight in the future.Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke to reporters during a Washington visit. Grossi was also meeting with senior National Security Council officials to discuss matters including the newly announced deal among the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom on nuclear-powered submarines.President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and the United Kingdom announced Monday in San Diego that Australia would purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S. to modernize its fleet amid growing concern about China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. It would be the first transfer by a nuclear-weapon state of nuclear-power...

‘What You Won’t Do for Love’ singer Bobby Caldwell dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:16:17 GMT

Bobby Caldwell, a soulful R&B singer and songwriter who had a major hit in 1978 with “What You Won’t Do for Love” and a voice and musical style adored by generations of his fellow artists, has died, his wife said Wednesday. Mary Caldwell told The Associated Press that he died in her arms at their home in Great Meadows, New Jersey, on Tuesday, after a long illness. He was 71. The smooth soul jam “What You Won’t Do for Love” went to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on what was then called the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart. It became a long-term standard and career-defining hit for Caldwell, who also wrote the song. The song was covered by artists, including Boyz II Men and Michael Bolton, and was sampled by Tupac Shakur on his posthumously released song “Do For Love.” Other Caldwell songs were sampled by hip-hop artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Common, Lil Nas X and Chance the Rapper. Stories abound, many of them shared on social media after his death, ...