Game 9: Iowa at Michigan Recap
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks rode their dominant defense to a big win over a division rival to vault into first place in the NFC West. No, it isn’t 2013. These are the 2024 Seahawks, who, after struggling mightily against the run earlier this season, held the visiting Arizona Cardinals to 49 rushing yards in Sunday's 16-6 victory . The defensive line kept Kyler Murray under consistent pressure thanks to a dominant performance from Leonard Williams, the secondary flew around to smack away passes, and safety Coby Bryant scored on a 69-yard pick-6. Sunday's defensive performance was reminiscent of the Seahawks of a decade ago and a promising sign that first-year coach Mike Macdonald’s system is starting to click. Macdonald, who coordinated Baltimore's NFL-best defense last year, was leading one of the worst rush defenses in the league earlier this season. But Seattle consistently stuffed the Cardinals, who came in as the fifth-best running team in the league at 149.4 yards per game. “Three games in a row now we played pretty decent on defense,” Macdonald said. “There is an expectation and standard here throughout the course of our Seahawks history that we’re trying to live up to and build on. So that’s the idea.” At 6-5, the Seahawks drew even with the Cardinals in the tightly bunched division. The teams play each other again in two weeks at Arizona. Last month's trade for linebacker Ernest Jones IV has clearly paid off. Seattle hasn't allowed a running back to rush for more than 79 yards since its Week 8 loss to Buffalo, which was Jones' first game in a Seahawks uniform. He has led the team in tackles in every game he's played and has helped resurrect the run defense. The Seahawks' run game continues to underperform. Seattle got 65 yards on the ground Sunday, with the Cardinals holding Kenneth Walker III to 41 yards on 16 attempts. Zach Charbonnet had 22 yards on six carries. Walker hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 1. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs to think of something different to get the running backs involved. Williams single-handedly disrupted the Cardinals with 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and one pass defensed. “I thought he was dominant,” Macdonald said. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and he played out of his mind.” The Seahawks finished with five sacks, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and six pass deflections against the Cardinals, shutting down a team that had averaged 29.3 points over its previous three games. Geno Smith finished with 254 yards passing and a touchdown, but he threw another momentum-stalling interception. Smith was picked off on a third-and-6 play on the Arizona 18-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter, ending an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Smith has an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season, more than in either of his previous two seasons as the Seahawks' full-time starter. “That was a huge drive for us. ... Obviously made a terrible mistake down there, something I got to clean up,” Smith said. “But it was a big drive. We wanted to put the game ahead at least two scores.” The offensive line has contributed to the problem. Guard Anthony Bradford left with an ankle injury, and the line struggled to protect Smith, who was sacked five times. Macdonald said Bradford is expected to miss next week's game. 77 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, marking the fourth consecutive game that Smith-Njigba has led the team in receptions. He topped 100 yards receiving in the previous two games. “He’s getting open,” Smith said. “He’s catching the ball. He’s doing a great job in the screen game. All-around great player. I just think the way that teams are playing us coverage-wise, I feel like it’s the ultimate sign of respect.” The Seahawks play at the struggling New York Jets on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, vowed to go to "war" to defend a U.S. visa program for foreign tech workers, called H-1B, late on Friday amid a dispute between U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's longtime supporters and his most recently acquired backers from the tech industry. In a post on social media platform X, which he owns, Musk said: "The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B." "I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend," he added. Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa, and his electric-car company Tesla obtained 724 of the visas this year. H-1B visas are typically issued for three-year periods, though holders can extend them or apply for permanent residency. Musk's tweet was directed at Trump's supporters and immigration hardliners, who have increasingly pushed for the H-1B visa program to be scrapped amid a heated debate over immigration and the place of skilled immigrants and foreign workers brought into the country on work visas. WATCH | Trump plans 'largest deportation' in U.S. history: Trump’s plan for the ‘largest deportation' in American history 24 days ago Duration 8:41 U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is promising the ‘largest deportation’ program in American history when he takes office, but what could it mean for Canada? The National’s Adrienne Arsenault asks CBC’s Paul Hunter and Catherine Cullen to break down his plan and the potential impact. Trump has so far remained silent on the issue. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment on Musk's tweets and the H-1B visa debate. In the past, Trump has expressed a willingness to provide more work visas to skilled workers. He has also promised to deport all immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, deploy tariffs to help create more jobs for American citizens, and severely restrict immigration. Canadian immigration policy luring tech workers should be a warning to U.S., lawyers say The issue highlights how tech leaders like Musk — who has taken an important role in the presidential transition, advising on key personnel and policy areas — are now drawing scrutiny from his base. The U.S. tech industry relies on the government's H-1B visa program to hire foreign skilled workers to help run its companies, a labour force that critics say undercuts wages for American citizens. WATCH | Musk among hardliners set to join Trump's administration: Trump names Elon Musk, more MAGA hardliners to administration 2 months ago Duration 3:22 U.S. president-elect Donald Trump continues to round out his team with hardline MAGA supporters, including Mike Waltz, a Florida congressman and outspoken Justin Trudeau critic, Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Trump rival Marco Rubio is expected to be named Secretary of State. The altercation was set off earlier this week by far-right activists who criticized Trump's selection of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American venture capitalist, to be an adviser on artificial intelligence, saying he would have influence on the Trump administration's immigration policies. On Friday, Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump confidante, critiqued "big-tech oligarchs" for supporting the H-1B program and cast immigration as a threat to Western civilization. Facebook pays $4.75M US fine plus back pay to settle suit alleging it favoured foreign workers In response, Musk and many other tech billionaires drew a line between what they view as legal immigration and illegal immigration. Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars helping Trump get elected president in November. He has posted regularly this week about the lack of homegrown talent to fill all the needed positions within American tech companies.Life admin — those seemingly small but never-ending tasks such as paying your bills, lodging tax returns and sorting out household paperwork — can creep up on you until you’re positively drowning in stress. It’s no surprise that a recent survey revealed 75 per cent of millennials are the most stressed-out generation, with life administration being one of the biggest stressors. But I reckon this rings true for people of all ages, not just millennials. In fact, the data shows that two in five (40 per cent) gen Z and more than a quarter (26.4 per cent) of gen X admit they are too time-poor to deal with life administration. The good news? The Christmas break is the perfect chance to tackle your life admin and set yourself up for a more organised 2025. Start with a clear plan Arguably the biggest hurdle with life admin is knowing where to get started. When you’re trying to wade through a dozen overdue tasks, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stick your head in the sand. But avoiding it will only make things worse. So, start by making a list of what needs to get done, whether that’s paying bills, renewing your insurance policies or just clearing out your inbox. Then, prioritise! What’s urgent? What can wait? By breaking everything down into smaller, more manageable pieces, you’ll feel more in control. Here’s a tip: ditch the to-do list and block out time in your calendar instead. Scheduling 30 minutes or an hour for a set task means it’s less likely to fall by the wayside. David Koch Make the most of technology We’re living in a digital age, so why not use technology to make your life admin easier? Set up automatic payments for bills so you never miss a due date. Most banking apps will let you lock in spending limits or set up alerts to keep your finances in check. And when it comes to tax time, create a digital folder to store your receipts and important paperwork throughout the year. Snap a photo of paper receipts — yes, they fade over time — and keep them organised. As I’ve said before, there’s no “Ctrl+F” for a shoebox full of receipts! Comparison websites are another lifesaver. Whether it’s energy bills, insurance or internet plans, they can help you find better deals in minutes. Sure, shopping around might sound tedious, but the savings can run into the hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars. Stop letting life admin cost you Nearly a third of Australians let their insurance auto-renew just to avoid the hassle of shopping around. But here’s the thing: auto-renewing could be costing you a fortune. Insurers love “customer inertia” to sneak in price hikes. Similarly, 32 per cent of people say they’re just too time-poor to deal with their bills, and 14 per cent even get someone else to handle them entirely. While delegating is fine, ignoring life admin altogether could mean you end up missing payments or have to pay late fees. Delegate or outsource If your life admin list is at the point of being just way too overwhelming, it might be time to call in the reinforcements. Hiring a professional, such as a financial adviser to help with budgeting or a tax agent to handle your returns, can be a real game-changer. Sure, there’s a cost involved, but the time and peace of mind you’ll get in return could be well worth it. You can also try delegating smaller jobs to family members or friends. Sharing the load makes a world of difference. Turn good habits into a routine Here are a few ways to make life admin less of a chore. Start with a clear-out Unsubscribe from emails you never read, review your subscriptions and ditch the ones you don’t really use, and tackle any lingering tasks you’ve been putting off for far too long. From there, put systems in place — whether that’s setting up direct debits, creating a dedicated tax folder, using online comparison tools or something else entirely. Set up a system Use folders (physical or digital) for your most important documents. Set reminders for recurring tasks and create a designated space for bills or paperwork. Block out some weekly ‘admin time’ Set aside at least 30 minutes every Saturday or Sunday for staying on top of your life admin. It’s a small commitment that will stop tasks from piling up. Life admin really doesn’t have to be something overwhelming that’s always in the back of your mind. With a bit of organisation and the right tools at hand, I think anyone can take back control and set themselves up for a less stressful 2025.Indian National Trade Union Congress president Dr G. Sanjeeva Reddy called for immediate action to ensure fair wages and job security for workers in Telangana. He lauded the key role played by various sections of workers in the development of Telangana state. Addressing a diverse gathering of trade union leaders, workers, and policymakers, Dr Reddy stressed the pressing need to address the grievances of workers, including field assistants of MGNREGA, anganwadi teachers, ASHA staff, cab drivers, workers in the auto, building and construction, municipal, electrical, Singareni coal mine sectors and contract labourers. In his keynote address, Dr Reddy expressed concern over the poor working conditions these groups faced, and called for swift action to ensure fair wages, job regularisation, timely salary payments, improved working conditions, and access to social security benefits. The conference, presided over by Dr Reddy, was a platform for deliberations on the challenges faced by the workforce. TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud acknowledged the critical contribution of workers to Telangana’s growth, stressing the urgency of addressing issues like delayed wages, inadequate safety measures, and job insecurity. Minister A. Seethakka pledged to advocate for workers’ rights during the upcoming Winter Session of the Assembly starting December 9. She reassured attendees of the government’s commitment to policy changes aimed at uplifting workers’ livelihoods. “The Congress will prioritise these issues and stand by every worker in Telangana to ensure their demands are met with actionable solutions,” she stated. The conference adopted a resolution to intensify advocacy efforts for workers’ justice. Intuc leaders, including B. Janak Prasad, G. Satyajeeth Reddy, Bhasker Reddy, Naganna Goud, Adil Shariff, Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sridhar, Venkateshwara Reddy, and Chandra Shekar, vowed to collaborate with political leadership to achieve meaningful outcomes.
In the aftermath of the Syria civil war, which resulted in the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel has laid waste to a major portion of Syria's military infrastructure, and launched a ground operation to capture strategic areas, and has seized Mount Hermon, Syria's tallest peak. Published: December 14, 2024 10:49 PM IST By : Israel has laid waste to a major portion of Syria’s military infrastructure, almost immediately after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime at the hands of rebel forces. Apart from annihilating Syria’s naval and air power, and razing all military bases near the Israel-Syria border, the Israeli Army also launched a ground operation to capture strategic areas, and has seized Mount Hermon, Syria’s tallest peak. Here’s why. Why Israel captured Mount Hermon? Israel’s seizure of Mount Hermon is being described by many experts as its ‘biggest victory’, even though Tel Aviv has asserted its occupation is temporary and the Israeli army will withdrawn from the region once its objectives are fulfilled. Defence experts believe that Mount Hermon is one of the most import strategic position in the region as it is highest point which overlooks Syria, Israel, and Lebanon. “This is the highest point in the region, which overlooks Lebanon, Syria, Israel. It is extremely important strategically. There is no alternative to the mountains,” said Efraim Inbar, director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS). The summit of Mount Hermon is located in Syria, and served as a buffer zone that separated Syrian and Israeli armies for the last 50 years. But soon after Assad’s fall, Israeli forces breached the buffer zone and captured the strategic mountain. Although Israel claims that its occupation is “temporary”, on Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Herman Katz asked the army to prepare for harsh winter deployment, clear signs that Tel Aviv intends to stay in Syria for a while. “Due to developments in Syria, maintaining our control over the summit of Mount Hermon is of utmost security importance for Israel,” Katz said in statement. Israeli army advancing towards Damascus? Amidst Israel’s growing campaign in Syria, a report from Voice of the Capital, a Syrian activist group, has claimed that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are heading towards Damascus. The group claims, which could not be independently verified, stated that the Israeli army had reached Beqaasem, about 25 km from the Syrian capital. When queried, an Israeli military spokesman denied the reports that Israeli forces were advancing towards Damascus, and asserted that Israel respects previous agreements. According to Syrian activist group Voice of the Capital, Israeli forces (IDF) have advanced from this place and reached Beqassem, about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the Syrian capital. However, their claim could not be independently confirmed. This week an Israeli military spokesman denied that his country’s forces were advancing towards Damascus. Israel has insisted that it respects old agreements and its troops are nowhere near Damascus. Why Mount Hermon is important for Israel? According to military experts, Israel’s capture of Syria’s Mount Hermon a major success as its gives Jewish nation a priceless strategic asset. At 9,232 feet tall, Mount Hermon peak is the highest point in either Syria or Israel, and second only to a peak in Lebanon. Even Iranian military experts, Israel’s sworn enemies, believe this is a massive success for Tel Aviv. “Sometimes people say that in the age of missiles, land is not important – this is absolutely false,” they said. In academic paper published in 2011, Efraim Inbar, had outlined the strategic advantages presented by Mount Hermon. “It can be used to electronically monitor Syrian territory, allowing Israel to know about incoming threats in advance,” he wrote. Inbar argued that advanced technological options such as aerial surveillance are expensive and the site would help Israel save money. Aerial surveillance equipment such as AWACS aircraft or reconnaissance drones could be shot down by anti-air missiles. Israel sets sights on Damascus? While the Israeli Army has denied claims its forces are advancing towards Damascus, its worthy to note that the Mount Hermon peak is located barely 35 kilometers away from the Syrian capital. IDF, which already controls the foothills of the mountain, now has the capability to launch artillery strikes on Damascus, if needed. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he has an “extended hand” to a new government in Syria. But in a post-October 7 world, Netanyahu and other national security heavyweights have made it clear that they are not going to take any chances. Who controls Golan Heights? The Golan Heights region is a strategic plateau in southwestern Syria adjoins Mount Hermon. It was captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and the Jewish nation has occupied the area ever since. In 1973, Syria had made a bid to reclaim the region in a surprise attack, but the attempt failed and Israel annexed it in 1981. Notably, Israel’s occupation of Golan Heights is illegal under international law, but US recognised Israel’s claim to the area during the previous Trump administration. However, other major countries, including India, China, and Russia, do not recognise Israel’s claim to Golan Heights. Even though Israel has occupied some of the lower slopes of Mount Hermon for decades and even operates a ski resort in the area, the peak was in Syria’s possession until recently. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . Topics
By MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat National Politics | Where Virginia’s sexual assault bills to better protect students stand National Politics | Gaetz’s withdrawal highlights how incoming presidents often lose Cabinet nominees National Politics | What to know about Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick for attorney general Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Meet the Fort Monroe Authority’s new CEO Court documents: 3-year-old grabbed dad’s gun off kitchen counter and accidentally shot himself Court documents: 3-year-old grabbed dad’s gun off kitchen counter and accidentally shot himself Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like Here’s what development around the Virginia Beach Convention Center could look like Newport News’ first Saladworks combines former doctor’s passions for health and business Newport News’ first Saladworks combines former doctor’s passions for health and business Bike shop in Midtown Row rebrands, coffee shops celebrate and more business news from the Historic Triangle Bike shop in Midtown Row rebrands, coffee shops celebrate and more business news from the Historic Triangle 2 injured after vehicle failed to stop at Suffolk railroad crossing, police say 2 injured after vehicle failed to stop at Suffolk railroad crossing, police say Entertainment venue Uptown Alley no longer coming to Williamsburg Entertainment venue Uptown Alley no longer coming to Williamsburg Virginia live election results Virginia live election results Trending Nationally Castle Rock school bus driver who left 40 kids at busy intersection “didn’t know what to do” A ‘horrific accident’: 2 deputies who died, 1 injured in Palm Beach County crash identified Illinois high court overturns Jussie Smollett’s convictions in allegedly staged hate crime San Diego toddler’s backyard snake bite bills totaled more than a quarter-million dollars Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
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. "Now (that) I'm thinking about it, I'm for TikTok, because you need competition," he recently told Bloomberg. "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." ft/aha
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AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. ESTOpposition fighters are at Damascus’ gates. Who are they and what now?