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is cockfighting legal NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate” granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’” Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater “that President Biden condemned.” Related Articles Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump’s attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office.

Hailey Bieber can pull off the businesscore aesthetic like no one else. Bieber, 28, took to Instagram on Thursday, December 5, to show off her 1996 Gianni Versace Skirt Suit, which featured a coffee brown blazer with shoulder pads, small laces, long sleeves, gold accented buttons and dainty pockets. Bieber buttoned her jacket up all the way, but still made room for her signature bedazzled “B” necklace to have a moment. The Rhode founder paired the jacket with a matching miniskirt and gold sparkly rings. She added the perfect amount of executive realness to her look with round black sunglasses and Cendrillon ballerina flats. Elsewhere in the social media post, Hailey, who recently welcomed her first baby, Jack Blues, with husband Justin Bieber , wore similar gray tailoring. Hailey donned a full beat for her office putting, including extra rosy cheeks, filled in eyebrows, brown-tinted lips , thanks to her Peptide Lip Tint in the sparkly shade Cinnamon Roll, long lashes and brown eyeshadow. In a separate snap, Hailey could be seen getting her glam touched up as she rocked a leather jacket. She also showed a glimpse of how she styles her bouncy blowout, using large velcro rollers. “Business as usual,” she captioned the mirror selfie. Celebrity friends and fans were quick to praise Hailey’s working-mom looks in the comments section. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “😍,” Paris Hilton commented, as Justine Skye added, “MAMAAAA.” More followers called Hailey a “queen.” Since welcoming Jack , 3 months, in August, Hailey has been busy creating new winter-esque scents for her Peptide Lip Tint . Besides the scrumptious cinnamon bun flavor, Rhode announced the brand is dropping a shimmer Peppermint Glaze gloss on Wednesday, December 4, giving sparkly new meaning to the phrase “a taste of success.” Fans can shop the limited-edition glaze at rhodeskin.com.My Date with Rural China----VOC.com.cn Unveils Season Two of I Am in Rural China

India captain's wife posts bizarre social media message claiming her husband's 'booty' is better than his bowling India are on top in the first Test against Australia Comes after blistering bowling spell from skipper His wife was impressed by a very different figure By JOSH ALSTON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 23:02 GMT, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 23:08 GMT, 22 November 2024 e-mail View comments While millions of Indian supporters were left in awe of skipper Jasprit Bumrah's bowling against Australia in the first Test, his wife had a very different take. After declaring pre-game he thrived on responsibility, Bumrah (4-17) delivered a devastating first spell to remove debutant opener Nathan McSweeney (10), Usman Khawaja (eight), and Steve Smith (golden duck). It has India in the box seat to claim first blood in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, but it was Bumrah's figure, not his bowling figures, that most impressed his wife Sanjana Ganesan. 'Great bowler, even greater booty,' the sportscaster hilariously posted to her following of 1.6 million supporters, including a cheeky emoji of a peach. Prior to the carnage, former Australian opener David Warner explained why it was so difficult to face the Indian pace bowler. 'The key challenge of Bumrah is getting used to his action. If you haven't faced him before, it can be quite challenging,' Warner said. Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah is married to popular sportscaster Sanjana Ganesan who has a following of 1.6 million on Instagram Ganesan posted this cheeky image of her husband after his devastating spell in the first Test 'You've got to try and get used to the stutter at the crease. And then he lets go some thunderbolts. He always hits line and length. Can swing them both ways. 'I think the beauty of him is he's got two different gears. He can pitch it up when the ball is new and then he can go the other length.' One of the greatest swing bowlers of all time, Wasim Akram, was also full of praise for Bumrah on Star Sports. 'Bumrah was at the top of his game, reading the Australian batters brilliantly. His spell was a masterclass in understanding conditions and exploiting weaknesses,' he said. 'He is the best bowler in world cricket in all the formats. The control, the swing, the pace, using the crease, went around the wicket to Usman Khawaja. I mean, he's just a brilliant bowler to watch. 'He picked up the batter's weakness very quickly, and he hardly bowled a short ball, and he realised that he would be expecting a short pitch delivery. 'He pitched up everything, swung the ball both ways and got four wickets. That's what you call the leader leading from the front.' It comes after Bumrah said he was relishing the extra responsibility of being captain ahead of his devastating bowling spell. 'I don't look at captaincy as a post but I have always loved responsibility,' Bumrah said at a press conference ahead of the first Test. 'I wanted to do the tough job since I was a child. You want to do things and get thrown in tough scenarios, this adds a new challenge for me,' David Warner India Steve Smith Share or comment on this article: India captain's wife posts bizarre social media message claiming her husband's 'booty' is better than his bowling e-mail Add commentInterdisciplinary mental well-being-focused studies by Hong Kong Baptist University’s researchers offer vital insights in STEM education and social media

You don’t need extreme diets or grueling workout routines to boost your well-being. Enter the “20-5-3 rule” — a research-backed formula to improve mental and physical health through time spent outdoors. Developed by neuroscientist Rachel Hopman of Northeastern University, this method emphasizes small, manageable steps that can lead to big rewards. 20 minutes, three times a week The first step is to get out in nature for 20 minutes at least three times a week. Research from the University of Michigan shows this is the sweet spot for lowering cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone. Better yet, you don’t need to sweat it out — just sit or stroll in a natural setting, soaking up sunlight and greenery. However, Dr. MaryCarol Hunter, lead author of the Michigan study, emphasizes the importance of disconnecting during these moments. Avoid “aerobic exercise, and avoid the use of social media, internet, phone calls, conversations and reading,” she said. Think of it as a mini escape, designed to reset your stress levels and help you feel grounded. Five hours monthly For an even deeper mental reset, aim for five hours a month in semiwild spaces, such as state parks. Hopman explained to Men’s Health these environments provide heightened relaxation compared to city parks. Finnish researchers agree, finding wilder settings, with their organic “chaos,” help replenish cognitive resources and foster a sense of calm. Three days annually Finally, immerse yourself in nature for three days annually. Prolonged exposure to wild landscapes activates alpha brain waves — those linked to meditation, creativity and deep relaxation, Men’s Health reported. Studies even show profound benefits for mental health: a four-day wilderness trip can reduce PTSD symptoms by 29 percent and stress by 21 percent, with effects lingering for weeks afterward. So the next time you find yourself needing a “reset,” head outside for a quick lunchtime walk, or plan a weekend in the woods. Best of all, it’s free, accessible and waiting just outside your door.WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The Democratic president previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move last Sunday night comes weeks before Hunter Biden was to be sentenced. In a statement released Sunday evening, Biden said, “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.” LEADERSHIP VOTE: Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. MEMPHIS PD: The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, according to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation report released Wednesday. The inquiry was launched after the police beating death of Tyre Nichols in 2023. CEO KILLED: A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, 50-year-old Brian Thompson, on Wednesday morning in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the assailant. NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.” In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate” granted to Trump by voters last month. BOEING RULING: U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor rejected a deal Thursday that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people. TRANSGENDER HEALTH: The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared likely to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people. EMPLOYMENT: The Labor Department reported Tuesday that the number of job postings in the United States for October rose 5% to 7.7 million from 7.4 million in September. The increase suggests that job gains could pick up in the coming months. Still, the latest figure is down significantly from 8.7 million job postings a year ago. — Associated Press 3.09M Travelers screened by the Transportation Security Administration last Sunday, breaking the previous record by about 74,000 as the holiday weekend drew to a close. Here in California, we’re not going to spend our time, our money or our resources going backward. Immigrants are the backbone of our nation. Immigrants make America great.” TAYLOR SWIFT: After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour will come to an end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The 31⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 “eras” of her career, kicked off in March 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. By the end of 2023, it became the first concert tour to gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. EMINEM: Debbie Nelson, the single mother of Detroit rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his hit song lyrics, died Monday. She was 69. No cause of death was given, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. BRAIN ROT: Many of us have felt it, and now it’s official: “Brain rot” is the Oxford dictionaries’ word of the year. Oxford University Press said Monday that the phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before. ELTON JOHN: Elton John says he struggled to watch his new musical because he has lost his eyesight after contracting an infection. The 77-year-old singer-songwriter attended the opening night of “The Devil Wears Prada” in London last Sunday and told the audience about the condition. John wrote the score for the stage musical based on the 2006 movie about a young journalist navigating the glamour and egos of a glossy fashion magazine. MAJOR WINTER STORM POUNDS GREAT LAKES REGION Get local news delivered to your inbox!

iPhone 15 now available for under Rs 50,000 on Flipkart: Here’s how the deal works

With new phones launching every month, it's hard to keep tabs on the top devices available in each price segment. In order to make the buying choice easier, we have made a list of top phones one can consider when purchasing a phone under ₹ 40,000. This list includes phones from brands like OnePlus, Realme, Motorola and Vivo. Best phones under ₹ 40,000 in December 2024: 1) OnePlus 12R: OnePlus 12R features a 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR display with LTPO4.0, offering a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate. The smartphonehouses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and Adreno 740 GPU under the hood, it offers a maximum of 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. Its 5,500mAh battery enables rapid charging with a 100W SUPERVOOC charger. The camera setup features a 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), alongside an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. For selfies, there's a 16MP front camera. The camera app offers Interval Shooting, Nightscape, Pro Mode, Movie Mode, and more. Connectivity options include NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and dual nano-SIM slots. 2) Vivo T3 Ultra: Vivo T3 Ultra 5G features a 6.78-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (2800 x 1260). The screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate and is capable of rendering up to 1.07 billion colours. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14. Under the hood, the Vivo T3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Vivo claims the device has achieved an impressive Antutu benchmark score exceeding 1.6 million. It packs a 5500mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging. On the camera front, the Vivo T3 Ultra sports a dual-camera setup at the rear, including a 50MP Sony IMX921 primary sensor with optical image stabilization and an 8MP ultrawide lens. For selfies and video calls, the phone features a 50MP front-facing camera. It also includes Vivo's signature ‘Aura Ring Light’ for enhanced photography under low lighting conditions. 3) Realme GT 6: Realme GT 6 feature a 6.78 inch LTPO AMOLED display with 6,000 nits of peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset with Adreno 735 GPU for handling graphics heavy tasks. There is support for up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB 4.0 storage. For optics, there is a triple camera setup including 50MP Sony LYT 808 shooter, 50MP Sony JN5 telephoto lens and an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide angle lens. For selfies and video calls, there is a 32MP Sony IMX615 shooter that supports up to 4K video recording. 4) Motorola Edge 50 Pro: Motorola Edge 50 Pro 5G houses a powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, featuring an octa-core processor setup that includes a 2.63 GHz single core, 2.4 GHz tri-core, and 1.8 GHz quad-core configuration. With 8 GB RAM, users can expect a seamless multitasking experience and excellent speed. The phone’s 6.7-inch FHD+ P-OLED display boasts a 144 Hz refresh rate, which promises smooth and immersive visuals, ideal for both gaming and streaming. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the device’s 50 MP + 13 MP + 10 MP triple-camera array, while a 50 MP front camera caters to high-quality selfies. A 4500 mAh battery, coupled with Turbo Power Charging and a USB Type-C port, ensures efficient power management and swift charging.

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Chainlink's price surge towards $50 has triggered a notable rally, with open interest in futures nearing $1 billion. This surge reflects increased trader activity, highlighting growing confidence in Chainlink’s bullish momentum. Meanwhile, Rexas Finance’s (RXS) presale success and innovative ecosystem have drawn substantial attention from the cryptocurrency community. LINK Futures Surge Amid Breakout Chainlink’s price has been climbing steadily with a breakout through the $29.88 resistance level. Trader involvement continues to be intensified, with open interest in LINK futures reaching one of the highest levels seen this year. Bollinger Bands show increased activity and volatility of the price, with the upward trajectory accompanied by increased price volatility. Traders are getting speculative about LINK as parabolic price movement has pushed it closer to its all-time high. Consolidation near $30 is now looking like the current momentum to continue, with the next target being the psychological $50. Strong support at $23.42 keeps the indicator technical bearish, and upwards projections intact. Rexas Finance Presale Sparks Investor Interest Rexas Finance has made high-value assets accessible on blockchain technology to change traditional investing. The platform tokenizes real-world assets like real estate, and commodities and enables fractional ownership for small-scale investors. This approach democratizes access to lucrative markets and creates new income opportunities. The presale of the platform has taken off, with stages 1 to 9 selling out completely. Before the presale, Rexas Finance has previously raised no less than 26$ million, increasing 5x from the starting price to presell. Stage 10 is upon us and tokens are being offered at $0.15, prepare for launch at $0.20 on major Tier 1 exchanges. Because of Rexas Finance’s choice to prioritize public participation over venture capital funding, it opened its investor pool. The success of the presale indicates the rise in interest in blockchain-based asset tokenization. As such, adoption is expected to surge as the project moves towards the exchange listings. Ecosystem Innovations Drive Adoption The Diverse tools offered by Rexas Finance ecosystem are a means of bridging traditional asset and blockchain technology. The Rexas Token Builder makes asset tokenization easy, the Launchpad is where decentralized token sales occur across multiple networks. Besides, Rexas Estate provides global investors with an opportunity to gain passive income through fractional property ownership. The platform integrates AI-powered tools, including Rexas GenAI for digital art into its NFT offerings. Rexas DeFi also makes trading on multiple networks through Rexas more usable, thus, growing a super broader user base. Rexas Finance becomes a leader in real-world asset tokenization by creating a platform that is secure and accessible to all. $1 Million Giveaway Boosts Community Engagement Rexas Finance Has Started a new $1 Million giveaway that gives out $50,000 to 20 participants. As an initiative, the move reflects the project’s bid to grow communities and be inclusive. With exposure amplified on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko and listed on the latest listings, these markets have lured in millions of potential investors. It’s created a buzz around the giveaway, earning more attention for RXS’s token. However, Rexas Finance is also planning to list on top-tier exchanges, which should attract more adoption and liquidity. The presale success and the project’s innovative model indicate a radical change in the blockchain investment market. Website: https://rexas.com Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Ruben Amorim warned “the storm will come” eventually as Manchester United’s head coach tried to temper expectations ahead of the trip to Arsenal. The 39-year-old has been a breath of fresh air since succeeding Erik ten Hag, with his personality and approach, coupled with promising early performances, bringing hope back to Old Trafford. Amorim has been touched by his warm welcome but repeatedly urged fans to avoid jumping the gun, having followed a draw at Ipswich with home wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton. Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal is comfortably his biggest challenge yet and victory would see United move within three points of the Premier League title contenders. Put to Amorim it will be hard to manage expectations if they won in the capital, the head coach said: “I would like to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come. “I don’t know if you use that expression, but we are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games. “And I know that because I’m knowing my players and I know football and I follow football, so I understand the difference between the teams. “We are in the point in that we are putting simple things in the team, without training, and you feel it in this game against Everton, they change a little bit the way they were building up. “They are very good team, and we were with a lot of problems because we cannot change it by calling one thing to the captain. A midweek trip to the capital awaits 🚆 #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/1e6VrILJW3 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2024 “So, we don’t have this training, so let’s focus on each game, on the performance, what we have to improve, trying to win games. And that is the focus. “I know it’s really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences. We want to win all the time. No matter what. “We are going to try to win, but we know that we are in a different point if you compare to Arsenal. “So, it is what it is and we will try to win it and we go with confidence to win, but we know that we need to play very well to win the next football match.” The trip to Arsenal is the second of nine December matches for United, who are looking to avoid suffering four straight league defeats to the Gunners for the first time. The Red Devils have not won a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium since 2017, but Amorim knows a thing or two about frustrating Mikel Arteta’s men. Arsenal thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League last week, but in 2022-23 he led the Portuguese side to a Europa League last-16 penalty triumph after a 1-1 draw in London made it 3-3 on aggregate. “Arsenal this year, they play a little bit different,” Amorim said. “They are more fluid. “For example, two years ago when we faced them with Sporting, you knew how to press because you can understand better the structure. “Now it’s more fluid with (Riccardo) Calafiori and (Jurrien) Timber in different sides. One coming inside, the other going outside. Also (Martin) Odegaard changed the team, and you can feel it during this season. “So, you can take something from that game, especially because I know so well the opponent so you can understand the weakness of that team. “But every game is different, so you take something, but you already know that you are going to face a very good team.” This hectic winter schedule means Amorim sidestepped talk of January transfer business ahead of facing Arsenal, although he was more forthcoming on Amad Diallo’s future. The 22-year-old, who put in a man of the match display in Sunday’s 4-0 win against Everton, is out of contract at the end of the season, although the club holds an option to extend by a year. Diallo has repeatedly spoken of his desire to stay at United and it has been reported an agreement is close. Amorim said: “I think he wants to stay, and we want him to stay. So that is clear and we will find a solution.”

NYC's mayor warms to Trump and doesn't rule out becoming a RepublicanRuben Amorim issues storm warning after smooth start with Manchester United

NonePresident-elect Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to pause implementation of a law that would ban popular social media app TikTok or force its sale, arguing he should have time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The court is set to hear arguments in the case on January 10. The law would require TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an American company or face a ban. The US Congress voted in April to ban it unless ByteDance sells the app by January 19. TikTok, which has more than 170-million US users, and its parent have sought to have the law struck down. But if the court does not rule in their favour and no divestment occurs, the app could be effectively banned in the US on January 19, one day before Trump takes office. Trump's support for TikTok is a reversal from 2020, when he tried to block the app in the US and force its sale to American companies because of its Chinese ownership. It also shows the significant effort by the company to forge inroads with Trump and his team during the presidential campaign. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute,” said D. John Sauer, Trump's lawyer who is also the president-elect's pick for US solicitor-general. “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,” he added. Trump previously met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in December, hours after the president-elect expressed he had a “warm spot” for the app and that he favoured allowing TikTok to keep operating in the US for at least a little while. The president-elect also said he had received billions of views on the social media platform during his presidential campaign. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has previously said the justice department has misstated its ties to China, arguing its content recommendation engine and user data is stored in the US on cloud servers operated by Oracle Corp while content moderation decisions that affect US users are made in the US as well. Free speech advocates separately told the Supreme Court on Friday the US law against TikTok evokes the censorship regimes put in place by the US' authoritarian enemies. The US justice department has argued Chinese control of TikTok poses a continuing threat to national security, a position supported by most US legislators. Montana attorney-general Austin Knudsen led a coalition of 22 attorneys-general on Friday in filing an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold the national TikTok divest-or-ban legislation. Reuters

WASHINGTON – Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Pete Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under President-elect Donald Trump. Recommended Videos Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday that those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth has embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. But Hegseth has been fighting to save his nomination as he faces allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault and over his views questioning the role of women in combat. He spent the week on Capitol Hill trying to win the support of Republican senators, who must confirm him to lead the Pentagon, doing a radio interview and penning an opinion column. Some service members have complained in the past about the Pentagon's DEI programs, saying they add to an already heavy workload. The Pentagon still has a long way to go in having a general officer corps or specialty occupations such as pilots that have a racial and gender makeup reflective of the country. A defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the list said senior leaders are hoping that once Trump is sworn in, they will be able to discuss the issue further. They are prepared to provide additional context to the incoming administration, the official told The Associated Press, which is not publishing the names to protect service members’ privacy. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday that the list would have “considerable, wide and deep consequences.” He said when military members see people singled out, they will start focusing on their own survival rather than the mission or their job. “You will drive people out,” Hagel said. “It affects morale as widely and deeply as anything — it creates a negative dynamic that will trickle through an organization." The list, which was first reported by The New York Post, includes nine Air Force general officers, seven Navy admirals of different ranks and four Army general officers. Eight of those 20 are women even though only 17% of the military is female. None are Marines. One female Navy officer was named because she gave a speech at a 2015 Women’s Equality Day event, where she noted that 80% of Congress is male, which affects what bills move forward. The officer also was targeted because she said “diversity is our strength.” The phrase is a widely distributed talking point that officers across the Pentagon have used for years to talk about the importance of having a military that reflects different educational, geographic, economic, gender and racial backgrounds in the country. An Air Force colonel, who is white, was called out for an opinion piece he wrote following the death of George Floyd, saying, “Dear white colonel, we must address our blind spots about race.” A female Air Force officer was targeted because of “multiple woke posts” on her X feed, including a tweet about LGBTQ rights, one about “whiteness” and another about honoring the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on a stamp. Another female Air Force officer was on the list because she “served as a panelist for a diversity, equity and inclusion” discussion in 2021. The list names an Army officer who traveled to 14 historically Black colleges to expand the military’s intelligence recruitment efforts, and an Air Force officer partly because he co-chairs the Asian-Pacific Islander subgroup of the service’s diversity task force. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition team, said in a statement that “No policy should be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump.” But in an interview Wednesday for Megyn Kelly’s SiriusXM satellite radio show, Hegseth said Trump told him he wanted a “warfighter” who would clean out the “woke crap.” Hegseth got a boost Friday from Trump, who posted on his social media site that Hegseth “will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense.” The president-elect added that “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Jones told the AP in June that his American Accountability Foundation was investigating scores of federal employees suspected of being hostile to Trump's policies. The work aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s far-reaching Project 2025 blueprint for a conservative administration. A letter Jones sent to Hegseth containing the list, dated Tuesday, says “purging the woke from the military is imperative.” The letter points to tensions with Iran, Russia and China and says “we cannot afford to have a military distracted and demoralized by leftist ideology. Our nation’s security is at stake.” Conservatives view the federal workforce as overstepping its role to become a power center that can drive or thwart a president’s agenda. During the first Trump administration, government officials came under attack from the White House and congressional Republicans, as Trump's own Cabinet often raised objections to some of his more singular or even unlawful proposals. ___ AP writer Courtney Bonnell contributed from Washington.