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NoneWASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump filed a brief Friday urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok the day before his January 20 inauguration if it is not sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance. “In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues,” Trump’s legal team wrote, to give him “the opportunity to pursue a political resolution.” Trump was fiercely opposed to TikTok during his 2017-21 first term, and tried in vain to ban the video app on national security grounds. The Republican voiced concerns — echoed by political rivals — that the Chinese government might tap into US TikTok users’ data or manipulate what they see on the platform. US officials had also voiced alarm over the popularity of the video-sharing app with young people, alleging that its parent company is subservient to Beijing and that the app is used to spread propaganda, claims denied by the company and the Chinese government. Trump called for a US company to buy TikTok, with the government sharing in the sale price, and his successor Joe Biden went one stage further — signing a law to ban the app for the same reasons. Trump has now, however, reversed course. At a press conference last week, Trump said he has “a warm spot” for TikTok and that his administration would take a look at the app and the potential ban. Earlier this month, the president-elect met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Recently, Trump told Bloomberg he had changed his mind about the app: “Now (that) I’m thinking about it, I’m for TikTok, because you need competition.” “If you don’t have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram — and that’s, you know, that’s Zuckerberg.” Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and part of his Meta tech empire, was among the social media networks that banned Trump after attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The ban was driven by concerns that he would use the platform to promote more violence. Those bans on major social media platforms were later lifted. In the brief filed on Friday, Trump’s lawyer made it clear the president-elect did not take a position on the legal merits of the current case. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute,” John Sauer wrote in the amicus curiae — or “friend of the court” — brief. “Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump’s incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case.” A coalition of free speech groups — including the American Civil Liberties Union — also filed a separate brief to the Supreme Court opposing enforcement of the law, citing censorship concerns. “Such a ban is unprecedented in our country and, if it goes into effect, will cause a far-reaching disruption in Americans’ ability to engage with the content and audiences of their choice online,” the rights groups’ filing read, in part. The US apex court agreed last week to hear TikTok’s appeal against Biden’s move to force its owner to divest from it or face a ban. With oral arguments scheduled for January 10, the case would have to be heard at a breakneck speed. TikTok argues that the law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates its First Amendment free speech rights. AFP, among more than a dozen other fact-checking organizations, is paid by TikTok in several countries to verify videos that potentially contain false information.

Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fighting

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ian Schieffelin had 18 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in leading Clemson to a 75-67 win over Penn State on Tuesday and the championship of the Sunshine Slam Beach Division. Chase Hunter added 17 points, Chauncey Wiggins 14 and Del Jones 10 for the Tigers (6-1), who shot 44% and made 9 of 19 3-pointers led by Hunter's three. Ace Baldwin Jr. scored 20 points and had 11 assists, Yanic Konan Niederhauser added 14 points and Nick Kern Jr. 11 for the Nittany Lions (6-1), who shot 46% and were just 4 of 18 from the arc. Neither team had a double-digit lead in the game and it was tied with seven minutes to go. But Penn State had a six-minute drought without a field goal while committing three turnovers and the Tigers went up by six. A hook shot from Schieffelin with a minute to go made it a five-point lead and free throws sealed it from there. The eight-point final margin was the largest of the game. Konan Niederhauser's dunk to open the second half tied the game but a Hunter 3-pointer gave the lead back to Clemson. Penn State took its first lead of the second half on a 9-0 run, seven coming from Baldwin, to go up 57-54 with midway through the period. Penn State had its largest lead of seven in the first half but three consecutive 3s put Clemson ahead with three minutes to go and the Tigers led at 38-36 at halftime. Clemson had a 16-9 edge on points off turnovers. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballGerman Vice Chancellor Flew All The-Way To Kenya to Stop Construction of Russian-Backed Nuclear Power Plant Plan

Mariah Carey's reign as the "Queen of Christmas" continues. The Grammy-award-winning singer's holiday ballad, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," is now the first to have topped Billboard's Hot 100 list for six years in a row. It's the first song to top the Hot 100 in six distinct runs on the chart, according to Billboard . Only one other song, "The Twist" by Chubby Checker, has even led two stays on the chart. Carey has now placed at the top of the Hot 100 for a record-extending 20 years thanks to her holiday song, which was first released in 1994. RELATED STORY | Barbie released a new Mariah Carey doll for the holidays She also holds the record for number of weeks an artist has sat at the top of the Hot 100 chart with 94. Behind her is Rihanna with 60 and The Beatles with 59. In just the first week of December this year, “All I Want For Christmas Is You" drew 38.2 million streams and 24.4 million radio airplay audience impressions, according to data from Luminate. Carey has leaned into her reign as a Christmas queen since her song started to chart again, even attempting to file a trademark for "Queen of Christmas" but was ultimately denied. Each year, as the holiday season starts to peak over the horizon, she releases special videos on her social media saying, "It's time."

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Malek Abdelgowad scored 26 points as UMass beat UMass-Boston 86-52 on Saturday. Abdelgowad also contributed 14 rebounds for the Minutemen (4-7). Daniel Rivera added 11 points while going 4 of 6 and 3 of 7 from the free-throw line while they also had 10 rebounds. Jaylen Curry had 10 points and finished 4 of 7 from the field. The Beacons were led in scoring by Cameron Perkins, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. Xavier McKenzie added 13 points, two steals and two blocks for UMass-Boston. Raphel Laurent also recorded eight points. UMass took the lead with 15:49 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 47-24 at halftime, with Abdelgowad racking up 18 points. UMass extended its lead to 66-36 during the second half, fueled by a 14-2 scoring run. Abdelgowad scored a team-high eight points in the second half as their team closed out the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Media under the sinking lid in 2024

The excitement around space exploration is reaching new heights. With visionary companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin leading the charge, what was once a government-exclusive venture is now being led by the private sector. This shift has investors eager to jump on opportunities in the booming space sector. While SpaceX sparks a lot of enthusiasm, the company isn't planning a public stock offering anytime soon. However, one competitor is available for investors to buy today: Rocket Lab USA ( RKLB -4.29% ) . Rocket Lab has taken off in 2024, surging 409% as it continues to ramp up its launch cadence . Looking ahead to 2025, the company is positioned to grow its margins and profits. Here's why. Its Electron is a top small satellite launch vehicle Rocket Lab has become a go-to partner for companies launching small satellites into orbit. With its flagship rocket, the Electron, the space company has emerged as a top player in the industry and has the second-most-utilized orbital rocket in the U.S. Electron's smaller size makes it ideal for frequent and cost-effective missions for clients with small payloads. Since its inception in 2017, Rocket Lab has completed 57 missions, including 15 in 2024. Rocket Lab competes with SpaceX's Falcon launch vehicle, but the race isn't close. SpaceX currently dominates the market, accounting for 98 launches, or a staggering 90% of the total launches by U.S.-based companies in 2023. On the financial front, Rocket Lab USA is growing steadily. This year, the company has generated an impressive $304 million in revenue and $79 million in gross profit, thanks partly to its launch service business. But that's not all. Rocket Lab has a bustling space systems business providing design and manufacturing services for spacecraft components. This segment alone contributed $220 million to revenue, making up 72% of its total gross profit through three quarters this year. RKLB Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts Looking ahead to 2025 One thing limiting Rocket Lab is its smaller Electron rocket. Although this smaller rocket means more frequent flights, the company earns less profit per launch. Its Electron launch vehicle earns roughly $7.5 million per launch. Rocket Lab is also limited from handling more lucrative civil and defense payloads, giving competitors like SpaceX a significant advantage. However, Rocket Lab plans to debut its Neutron rocket, which it has been developing since 2021, in 2025. With a payload capacity of 13,000 kilograms, 60 times more than its Electron rocket, Neutron positions Rocket Lab to better compete head-to-head with SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. At $50 million and $55 million per launch, Neutron is set to unlock revenue and profit that is six times greater than Electron , paving the way for significant growth and expanding margins. Recently, Rocket Lab made headlines by successfully firing its Archimedes engine for the first time at NASA's Stennis Space Center. This engine will power the first stage of its Neutron rocket, and the test validates the design and demonstrates the engine's operability. CEO Peter Beck believes this progress helps keep the company on track for a mid-2025 launch of the Neutron rocket. Analysts forecast that Rocket Lab will generate $596 million in 2025, representing a robust 40% growth from this year's projected revenue. The company is expected to reduce losses from $186 million this year to a $145 million loss next year, with earnings projected to turn positive by 2027. Is Rocket Lab right for you? Rocket Lab is making solid progress and is scheduled for a mid-2025 launch of its Neutron vehicle, which is promising news for investors. The company also boasts a robust backlog of $1.05 billion, representing contracts for future launch services and space systems work. This is up 80% year over year and shows strong demand for Rocket Lab's services. The ongoing developments surrounding the Neutron vehicle are generally positive; however, any setbacks could potentially delay the company's profitability goals. Rocket Lab stock has experienced notable gains this year and is currently valued at 23 times projected sales for the upcoming year. For this reason, the stock's high valuation and volatile nature aren't ideal for conservative investors prioritizing capital preservation. That said, Rocket Lab presents an intriguing investment opportunity for investors with a higher tolerance for risk who are looking for long-term growth potential. Just be aware of the volatility and lack of current profits, and consider dollar-cost averaging into the position over time as Rocket Lab makes good on its long-term goals.

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Powers students help fill Caritas cabinetsAs Travel is Getting More Expensive, How the Business Tourism Market Will Go Next Year ?Srinagar, Dec 8: National Conference Sunday expressed concern regarding the proposed increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on traditional Kashmiri products, saying the move has raised alarm within the textile and apparel industry in Kashmir. Calling on the Government of India to reconsider its GST strategy in order to safeguard the industry and the livelihoods it sustains, Party Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq emphasised that these products serve as the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and cultural heritage. “The increase in GST rates will place a heavy burden on local artisans and traders, jeopardizing their livelihoods and reducing the attractiveness of Kashmiri products in the global market. It is alarming to propose higher taxes during a period of economic instability characterized by inflation and stagnant growth,” he said. Tanvir criticised the proposed hike, stating that it reflects a lack of understanding of Kashmir’s economic realities. He emphasised the importance of balancing revenue needs with social equity for the workforce, warning of severe consequences if this balance is not maintained. Tanvir urged the government to reconsider the hike in order to protect the interests of the Kashmir handicrafts industry.

Lamar defeats Ragin' Cajuns 74-45"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

Spend a couple hours Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at the George Curtis Mansion, 420 5th Ave S. The Clinton Women’s Club will offer “Christmas Fun” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with the doors open at 12:30 p.m. Nuts and chocolate covered nuts will be for sale and cookies will be served. Three rooms will each have guests learning about “Alpaca’s,”, watching demonstrations on “Knitting” and learning about “Diamond Art.” Sessions will begin at 1:10 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. and last about 25 minutes. In between you have time to move to another room to learn something new. Tickets are $10 per person and you can attend all three sessions or just one or two, for your ticket. Dr. Randy Larson practiced large animal medicine for 30 years in western Illinois. After leaving full time practice, he did regulatory work and raised alpacas He now is semi retired and maintains a herd of quality alpaca breeding stock and does part time alpaca vet work. He has travelled to Peru where the American alpaca herd originated. He shares his experience and the alpaca story with various community educational and producer groups. He and his wife, Jan, keep a herd of 30 alpacas, two Pyrenees guard dogs, two house dogs, and a pest control team (5-6 barn cats) on their farm between Fulton and Morrison. They raise alpaca breeding stock for sale and market their excellent fiber in the form of yarn and garments that will be for sale. Beth Wood is a semi-retired mathematics instructor from Clinton Community College. She has been knitting since she was 14 years old, spinning yarn since 1994, and weaving since 1995. She learned to weave from her Mother and they participated in juried art shows since 1997. Beth opened “The Wooden Looms”, 139 5th Ave. S., down town Clinton, April 1st, 2024. The Wooden Looms is not only a weaving studio, but knitting and crocheting center, and yarn shop. She offers classes in knitting, crocheting and weaving and also offers a variety of quality yarns. Products include Cascade Yarns and hand dyed yarns from Arcane Fibre Works, Briar Patch Fibre Co. and Yarn in the Woods. She offers individual knitting and weaving classes for those who want to learn. Diamond Art is a cross of paint by numbers, and cross stitch. It also has characteristics of the jigsaw puzzle board. The concept of Diamond Art is not new. It is believed to be started in Asia. From there, it spread into other parts of the world. In earlier days, diamond paintings were created on velvet by gluing beads on the velvet canvas that is considered a hard way as beads can fall from the velvet cloth easily. This modern concept of diamond art was invented in 2010 by a company based in China and is sometimes also referred to as diamond stitch, diamond embroidery and mosaic art. By 2017, it had spread all countries. The new method involves placing diamonds on a adhesive canvas so that the beads can stick firmly on them. The canvas has letters and symbols that correspond to the color. Sophie Peter is a 21 year old who enjoys the hobby and has a full time job at Sarah Harding. She enjoys doing Diamond Art and will show how to do it and have some pictures for sale.

No Opposition in state, but Sikkim CM Tamang faces environmental challengesNone

For more than a decade, the United States has sought to keep out of Syria's political debacle, seeing no viable partner. Islamist rebels' toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad has forced a change of tune -- and a debate over just what US interests are. Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's fall called Syria "a mess" and stated in his plain-speaking style that the United States should not be involved. Joe Biden's administration, after putting Syria on the backburner in a turbulent region, has offered a tacit rebuttal by stating that clear US interests are at stake -- including preventing Syria from fragmenting and avoiding a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group. Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's and Biden's statements could be combined and "together they make a kind of decent policy." The United States needs to address real concerns about the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda but "as far as getting involved in arranging the politics of Syria, I think that no good can come from it," Cook said. Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States has walked a fine line on Syria that critics often derided as a non-policy. The United States questioned the legitimacy of Assad, demanding accountability for brutality in one of the 21st century's deadliest wars, but stopped short of prioritizing his departure due to suspicions about the main rebels. The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has now led Assad's ouster, traces its roots to Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. Since Obama's time, the United States instead has allied itself in Syria with a smaller fighting force of the Kurdish minority -- over strenuous objections of neighboring Turkey, which backs HTS -- with a narrow mission to counter the Islamic State group. Some 900 US troops remain in Syria. Assad fell in a lighting surprise offensive as his protector Russia is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine and after Israel's military heavily degraded Assad's other key supporters -- Iran and Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, helped spearhead the terrorist designation of HTS in 2012 but said that the group since then has not attacked US or Western targets and has instead fought Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces. Ford also pointed with hope to post-victory statements by rebel chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, including welcoming international monitoring of any chemical weapons that are discovered. "Can you imagine Osama bin Laden saying that?" said Ford, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. "I'm not saying 'trust Jolani.' He's obviously authoritarian. He's obviously an Islamist who doesn't believe that Christians have an equal right to power as Muslims. But I sure as hell want to test him on some of these things," Ford said. He said that the United States should encourage HTS, as well as other Syrian actors, to reach out and reassure the country's diverse communities including Christians, Kurds and Alawites -- the sect of the secular-oriented Assad. Beyond that, Washington should take a back-seat and let Syrians sort out their future, he said. "We should learn from the experience in Iraq that trying to impose exiles on a population traumatized by a brutal dictatorship and war is not a recipe for success," Ford said. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday offered US recognition to a future government that is "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian." Trump in his first term, at the urging of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abruptly said he would pull troops out of Syria. He backtracked after intense criticism at home and appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pointed to the risk of Islamic State filling the vacuum. Trump has not indicated how he would change Syria policy this time. But he has shown no reluctance in the past to negotiate with foreign adversaries on the US blacklist, from Afghanistan's Taliban to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there was no legal restriction on US contact with designated terrorists, although he indicated there was no direct dialogue with HTS. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Syria could face "devastating economic and humanitarian consequences" unless the United States reconsiders the terrorist designation of HTS, which impedes aid groups. "That said," she said, "if there isn't sort of an established framework for negotiations and good behavior now, before that designation is lifted, that could potentially also be a major mistake down the line for Syria's future." sct/sms

PHMEA irked by raids on various factories in FaisalabadBeing a ‘bedroom community’ comes at a cost for those south of Silicon ValleyAP News Summary at 6:59 p.m. EST

Riley Allenspach, Trey Fort lead Samford past Austin Peay 72-47