AOL: Trump says he won’t testify again at his New York fraud trial. He says he has nothing more to say
MICHAEL R. SISAK AND JILL COLVIN
December 10, 2023 at 4:11 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump said Sunday he has decided against testifying for a second time at his New York civil fraud trial, posting on social media that he “VERY SUCCESSFULLY & CONCLUSIVELY” testified last month and saw no need to appear again.
Trump had been expected to return to the witness stand Monday as the last big defense witness in the trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. The case threatens Trump’s real estate empire and cuts to the heart of his image as a successful businessman.
Trump announced he was canceling his testimony in an all-capital letters, multipart statement on his Truth Social platform, writing: “I WILL NOT BE TESTIFYING ON MONDAY.”
“I HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED TO EVERYTHING & HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY,” Trump wrote, adding his oft-repeated claim that James and other Democrats have weaponized the legal system to hinder his chances at retaking the White House.
NYTimes: Pressure Rising on U.S. After Vetoing U.N. Call for a Cease-Fire in Gaza
As fighting surged in the territory, Arab leaders condemned the move as a “mark of shame,” one that will haunt the United States for years.
Dec. 9, 2023
The United States, diplomatically isolated after casting the sole vote against a United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, came under growing criticism on Saturday by a number of governments, human rights groups and aid organizations that warned of catastrophic consequences for civilians in the war-torn territory.
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, which Washington and others have floated as a potential governing body for postwar Gaza, said the veto on Friday was “a mark of shame that will follow the United States for many years.” He called the United States “aggressive and unethical.”
Nicolas de Rivière, France’s ambassador to the United Nations, called for a “new immediate and lasting humanitarian truce,” and without naming the United States, its ally, lamented that the Security Council had “failed once again.”
“We do not see any contradiction between the fight against terrorism and the protection of civilians,” he said.
Boston Herald: Green Line Extension to celebrate its 1-year anniversary with service disruptions
The Medford-Tufts branch of the Green Line Extension opened with great fanfare on Dec. 12, 2022, but the $2.3 billion project has not brought a smooth ride for commuters in Medford and Somerville. The Medford-Tufts branch of the Green Line Extension opened with great fanfare on Dec. 12, 2022, a milestone decades in the making that officials promised would bring reliable transit service to suburbs just north of Boston.
The project that cost the state $2.3 billion has not brought a smooth ride for commuters relying on the line’s five stops in Medford and Somerville.
Riders will continue to feel disruptions on Tuesday, one year to the day that the GLX opened.
Work to regauge the track, which MBTA officials knew as far back as April 2021 was defective and too narrow, will not be completed by Monday, as initially anticipated under a plan presented by project contractor, GLX Constructors.
That means riders will be forced to forgo train service, and, instead, hop on shuttle buses beginning each night at 8:45 for at least the next week, with the MBTA granting the contractor an additional seven nights to continue the work, General Manager Phillip Eng announced Friday.
Leominster_Champ: Upcoming programs at the Leominster Public Library, week of Dec. 11, 2023
For all programs that require registration, the library staff will hold your spot for 10 minutes past the scheduled start time of the program; after that, your spot may be given to someone who is waiting. Plan your arrival accordingly.
Registration for all programs begins at 9 a.m. one week prior to the date of the program. To register, visit the website or call (978) 534-7522, ext. 5.
Little Spark Theater presents Little Kid Creative Drama: Children ages 3-6 and their caregivers are invited Monday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. for Little Kid Creative Drama with Ali Coes of Little Spark Theater. This class is a high-energy, imaginative, zany silly, super fun theater experience focusing on senses, feelings and movement through fun, energetic and imaginative play. Children build confidence, social awareness, empathy and problem-solving skills. The class will have a sea creature theme and literacy component as well. Registration is required and begins Dec. 4.
Family Fun Night: STEAMing Through the Year – Candy Science: Children ages 3-7 are invited on Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. for Family Fun Night experimenting with candy. Children and their families will engage in a dissolving candy cane challenge. Using a variety of methods, they will test to see which ones make a candy cane dissolve the quickest. They will create a Skittles rainbow and try a candy corn stacking challenge. Registration is required and begins Dec. 4. This program is sponsored by the Leominster Public Library, in conjunction with Project Apples, Leominster’s CFCE.
Winter Animals Story and Craft Time: Children, ages 3 to 7, and a caregiver are welcome on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 10 a.m. for a winter story and craft time. The group will read “Bright Winter Night,” by Alli Brydon, and “A Thing Called Snow,” by Yuval Zommer. Then, children will make a handprint winter fox. Registration is required and begins on Dec. 5.
Rubber Duckie Soap Workshop: Participants, ages 8 and up, teens and adults are invited on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. to make your own soapy creation using glycerin based soap and adding colors. You can also choose to add cosmetic grade glitter and essential oils. Choose from a variety of rubber duckies. Registration is required and underway. This program is sponsored in memory of Jane Maguire.
Playdough Fun Story and Craft Time: Children ages 3-7 and a caregiver are welcome to explore colors and creativity and then make their own playdough on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. The group will read stories and poems about creating art and enjoying beautiful colors. Then, each child will make their own playdough in a zip lock bag, colored with tempera paint, to bring home. (Other ingredients include flour, salt, water, vegetable oil and cornstarch.) Registration is required and begins Dec. 7.
Drop-In: Perler Bead Fun: Children ages 5 and up are invited any time between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. for Perler Bead Fun on Saturday, Dec. 16. Perler Beads are a fun art form that inspires creativity using plastic fusible beads. These colorful beads are arranged on plastic pegboards to form cool patterns and then fused together with a clothes iron. Librarian will do the ironing of the beads. No registration required.
(AP) Awkward lie: Rory McIlroy’s ball lodges in the lap of a spectator at World Tour Championship
It was the most awkward lie of the day for Rory McIlroy. The four-time major winner’s tee shot on the par-3 13th hole at the World Tour Championship somehow landed in the lap of a female spectator as she lay on grass to the right of the green.
