Dont say yes when you want to say no

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s long-estranged former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, says Manhattan prosecutors recently took his cellphones to preserve evidence related to a hush-money payment he made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the waning weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign. The payment to Daniels, which Cohen says was intended to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, has been the subject of law-enforcement scrutiny for years, but a new grand jury is giving it a fresh look by a new grand jury. Cohen said Wednesday that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office asked for the phones because it wants to extract voice recordings of conversations he had with a lawyer for Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, as well as emails and text messages. “That way it could be used as evidence if in fact they proceed forward, which, I would … [Read more...] about Cohen says DA took phones for renewed Trump hush-money probe

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 20 ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed Wednesday that Turkey won’t allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance as long as the Scandinavian country permits protests desecrating Islam’s holy book to take place. Turkey, which had already been holding off approving Sweden and Finland’s membership in the Western military alliance, has been infuriated by a series of separate demonstrations in Stockholm. In one case a solitary anti-Islam activist burned the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy, while in an unconnected protest an effigy of Erdogan was hanged. Even before that, Ankara had been pressing Sweden and Finland to crack down on exiled members of Kurdish and other groups it sees as terrorists, and to allow arms sales to Turkey. Turkey has … [Read more...] about Erdogan: Sweden can’t join NATO if Quran-burning is allowed

Guenther Steiner has no intention of spending money on “other stuff”, the Haas team boss adamant their only investment right now is “in the car”. Haas unveiled their new-look 2023 livery , the American outfit swapping out last year’s white for a predominantly black car that is sponsored by MoneyGram. It’s Haas’ third title sponsor in the team’s brief Formula 1 history having previously partnered Rich Energy and Uralkali, neither of which ended on a good note. That has at times left the team in a financial hole, but it’s one Steiner says was never as bad as it was made out to be. “I’d say we were never in a bad position,” he told Motorsport.com in an interview when asked if MoneyGram’s arrival had put the team in a better position. “2020 was not an easy position, because of the pandemic when that broke out. But I think yes, it puts us in a very solid position.” PlanetF1 recommends Ranked: The 10 possible F1 2024 destinations for Daniel Ricciardo in order of … [Read more...] about Guenther Steiner vows all resources will be invested into striking new VF-23

Even before a single lap has been run in the 2023 Formula 1 season, never mind a race result decided, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has twice been asked to pin his colours to the mast – Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz. He went with neither, adamant it’s too early to back one driver over the other. “But,” he wrapped up the first time around, “if at one stage we have to take action, I will take action.” The second time, he ended with “and if at one stage I have to take action for Carlos or for Charles, I will do it.” It’s an action that, should it come, will have long-term consequences. Team-mates at Ferrari for the first time in 2021 it was widely-speculated that Leclerc could have the measure of Sainz, but that wasn’t to be with the Spaniard winning the first round – although only by 5.5 points. However, that was a season in which Ferrari were still trying to get their horse (powers) into order in the wake of their 2019 engine scandal. Once they’d sorted that out, … [Read more...] about Ferrari need to pick Charles Leclerc as No.1 driver, or risk losing him to a rival team

Former Force India and Red Bull Racing engineer Blake Hinsey has questioned Haas’ decision to bring in Nico Hulkenberg, calling it a “really weird appointment”. Haas announced on the eve of the 2022 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix they would not be renewing Mick Schumacher’s contract. Instead the team went with “solid, reliable racer” Hulkenberg. The German will partner Kevin Magnussen in an over-30 line-up, Hulkenberg at 35 years of age the third oldest driver on the grid. Although Hulkenberg hasn’t had a permanent race seat for three seasons, team boss Guenther Steiner firmly believes he’s the right man for the job, saying every team he has been with “always made a step forward” because he knows “exactly what needs to be done to make the team better”. But Hinsey, who worked with Hulkenberg at Force India, isn’t convinced. “I like Niko, because he was on the other car when I was at Force India,” he said as per GPFans . “He’s a good driver. “Is he going to be better … [Read more...] about Former F1 engineer questions Nico Hulkenberg’s ‘really weird appointment’ at Haas

With a new American sponsor behind them, it seems Haas are finally embracing their American heritage. Although Haas have been established since 2014 and have always branded themselves as the ‘American team’ it is not until now that statement seems justified. Of course, their base is in North Carolina but with offices also in the UK and Maranello, it is understandable that some American fans have felt no great affinity towards their supposed team. Team boss Guenther Steiner has suggested moving the team away from their European bases and to America would actually set them back but there are other parts of their operation which suggest they are trying to appeal to their home country a bit more. For starters, out goes the Russian Urakali and in comes the American MoneyGram, a move that will have won them support in the US and it comes at a time when Formula 1 is exploding in the region including three races Stateside in 2023. Perhaps then it was once Andretti began threatening … [Read more...] about Haas are now starting to embrace American roots with Andretti-Cadillac bid developing

Pedro de la Rosa has told Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and appreciate that they have two drivers on the F1 grid in Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. And while they aren’t winning World titles at the moment, there are still race wins and podium results. The last time Spain celebrated a World Champion was back in 2006 when Alonso won his second successive championship with Renault. He went onto record runner-up results in 2007 with McLaren and twice with Ferrari in 2010 and 2012 but wasn’t able to add a third title to his tally. This season Spain could be in the hunt but with a different driver, Sainz. Last year the 28-year-old clinched his maiden race win, P1 at the British Grand Prix, while overall he managed nine podium results. De la Rosa says Spanish fans should appreciate that they have two drivers rather than lament the 16-year draught for World Championship titles. PlanetF1 recommends ‘Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s key man, like Max is in Red Bull … [Read more...] about Pedro de la Rosa tells Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and embrace ‘golden age’

Tom Brady, the legendary quarterback who established himself over more than two decades as the NFL's most prolific winner and arguably its greatest player, announced Wednesday that he is retiring. This time, he said, he will not change his mind. "I'll get to the point right away: I'm retiring, for good," Brady said in a 53-second video posted to social media. "I know the process was a pretty big deal last time. So when I woke up this morning, I figured I'd just press record and let you guys know first. So I won't be long-winded. You only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year." Brady, 45, won seven Super Bowls over his 23 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is the league's career leader in passing yards and touchdown passes, among many other categories. He was a three-time league MVP and a five-time Super Bowl MVP. "I really thank you guys so much . . . for supporting me - my family, my friends, my teammates, … [Read more...] about Tom Brady announces he is retiring from the NFL ‘for good’

On a down-at-the-heels strip of Telephone Road off the East End's Harrisburg corridor, the Tlaquepaque Marketplace bursts into view like an exotic flower in the desert. Colors assault the eyes: Dusty orange, bright fuchsia, turquoise — all the hues favored by Mexican villages and startling against the sleek downtown skyline that looms to the west. Built in Mexican Colonial style, the marketplace is the vision of Bolivian-born architect Julio del Carpio , whose projects are part of an ongoing renaissance in this historic but gritty community. A crackhouse until recently stood across the way. Now a snow-cone vendor occupies the cleared but shaggy lot. Improvements come in increments. "I believe in grabbing old buildings that most people would probably demolish and making something original out of them," del Carpio says. In the 2000 Census, Hispanics surpassed whites and blacks to become the dominant population group in Houston. But while more than 38 percent of city … [Read more...] about Tlaquepaque Marketplace revamps East End