ATLANTA — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago. Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months, and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna, accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.None
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Are you in the market for a cutting-edge smartphone without breaking the bank? Realme , one of the most popular smartphone brands, is offering incredible discounts on its top models. From flagship devices packed with premium features to budget-friendly options with impressive specifications, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a roundup of the top Realme phone deals you don’t want to miss! Price: ₹19,480 (52% Off) Original Price: ₹40,999 RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB Display: 16.33 cm (6.43 inch) Full HD+ Camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP (Rear) | 16MP (Front) Battery: 4500 mAh Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 The Realme GT 5G is a powerhouse with a sleek design, high-performance chipset, and stunning camera capabilities. At more than half off, this device is a steal for gamers, content creators , and multitaskers alike. Price: ₹29,250 (49% Off) Original Price: ₹57,999 RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB Display: 17.02 cm (6.7 inch) Quad HD Camera: 50MP + 50MP + 2MP (Rear) | 32MP (Front) Battery: 5000 mAh Lithium-Ion Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform For those seeking flagship features at a discounted price, the Realme GT 2 Pro is an excellent option. With its Quad HD display and top-tier processor, it’s ideal for immersive gaming and professional photography. Price: ₹21,990 (43% Off) Original Price: ₹38,999 RAM: 8 GB Storage: 128 GB Display: 17.02 cm (6.7 inch) Full HD+ Camera: 50MP + 8MP + 2MP (Rear) | 16MP (Front) Battery: 5000 mAh Lithium-Ion Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8100 The Realme GT Neo 3 combines style and performance in a package that’s hard to ignore. Its MediaTek processor ensures fast performance, while the cameras deliver vibrant and detailed photos. Price: ₹6,500 (40% Off) Original Price: ₹10,999 RAM: 3 GB Storage: 32 GB (Expandable up to 1 TB) Display: 16.56 cm (6.52 inch) HD Camera: 13MP + 2MP + 0.3MP (Rear) | 5MP (Front) Battery: 5000 mAh Processor: Unisoc T612 Budget-conscious buyers will appreciate the Realme C31. With solid features and an ultra-affordable price tag, this smartphone is perfect for everyday use, offering a great display and battery life. Price: ₹26,999 (28% Off) Original Price: ₹37,999 RAM: 12 GB Storage: 256 GB Display: 17.02 cm (6.7 inch) Full HD+ Camera: 50MP + 8MP + 64MP (Rear) | 32MP (Front) Battery: 5000 mAh Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 The Realme 12 Pro+ 5G stands out with its elegant design, high-end camera system, and a massive 12 GB of RAM. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or a professional, this device offers exceptional value at a discounted price. Despite having a history of launching the most innovative smartphones at affordable yet feature-packed prices, Realme still pushes for the best. These examples of discount equipment serve as an example of making high-end technology even more affordable. From decadent gaming smartphones for the most affluent users to budget handsets that are obsessed with battery life and display-quality performance, Realme has something for everyone. These awesome discounts make Realme phones irresistible in terms of pricing. There is a Realme phone for everyone, whether you want to game, shoot high-end photographs, or use one for daily tasks. Do not afford to miss upgrading your smartphone at such pocket-friendly prices. Visit your favorite online marketplace or retail store and grab one of these deals while stocks last!The best Christmas companions possible: Wallace & Gromit’s triumphant TV return
Japan's education minister on Wednesday requested her advisory panel to consider expanding the discretion of schools, allowing them to better accommodate children with diverse personalities and characteristics. As part of revisions to the school curriculum guidelines, Toshiko Abe asked the Central Council for Education to discuss shortening each class period by five minutes and using the extra time for individual study or to help students progress at their own pace. In the face of rapid advancements in digital technology, such as artificial intelligence, the proposals also called for measures to "drastically improve information utilization capabilities" across elementary, junior high and high schools. Moreover, the minister emphasized the importance of strengthening education to enhance digital literacy, as many analysts warn that fake news and slander on social media that causes mental distress are continuing to rise. After deliberations, the panel is expected to submit its recommendations on the revisions in the fiscal year ending March 2027, marking the first update in 10 years, officials of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said. The new curriculum guidelines are expected to be implemented in the 2030 academic year in elementary schools, 2031 in junior high schools and in 2032 or later in senior high schools.
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Australia's prime minister said Sunday he was ready to "engage" with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government's ban on under-16s joining social media. Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament's Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take "reasonable steps" to prevent young teens from having accounts. The law, which will come into effect after 12 months, gives few details of how it will be enforced, including how sites like Facebook, Instagram and X will verify users' ages. Musk -- who has been named Donald Trump's government efficiency chief in the incoming US administration -- posted on X last month that the law "seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians". "We will talk to anyone," Albanese said when asked if he would discuss the legislation with Musk. "With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda. He's entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter," Albanese told Australian public broadcaster ABC. When the interviewer mentioned that Musk was also Trump's "right-hand man", the prime minister replied: "We will engage, we will engage." Social media firms that fail to comply with the new law face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for "systemic breaches". Musk's platform in October lost a legal bid to avoid a US$417,000 fine levelled by Australia's online watchdog, which has accused X of failing to stamp out harmful posts. The government will decide over the next 12 months how to implement the ban, Albanese said, insisting, however, that it would not require people to provide identification. "The obligation will be on social media companies to do everything they can to make sure that those people under 16 don't have access to social media," the prime minister said. "We know that social media companies have more information about you and I than some of our friends do," he added. "We know that they are able to do that, and the obligation will be on them." Albanese said he was "determined" to implement the legislation. "I've met parents who have had to bury their children as a result of the impact that social media has had as a result of bullying, and we need to do something about it," he said. Several social media giants have promised to work with the government on implementing the law. But they have also criticised the legislation, saying it was "rushed", full of unanswered questions, and did not take into account the views of experts who opposed it. The UN children's charity UNICEF Australia warned this week that the law was no "silver bullet" against online harm and could push kids into "covert and unregulated" spaces online. djw/mp/cwlTokuyama Co. ( OTCMKTS:TKYMF – Get Free Report ) saw a significant decline in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 66,100 shares, a decline of 20.0% from the November 30th total of 82,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently ∞ days. Tokuyama Stock Performance OTCMKTS TKYMF opened at $15.10 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $15.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $15.10. Tokuyama has a 1 year low of $13.56 and a 1 year high of $15.10. About Tokuyama ( Get Free Report ) Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tokuyama Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tokuyama and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Shares of Lion One Metals Limited ( CVE:LIO – Get Free Report ) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.24 and last traded at C$0.24, with a volume of 244474 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.25. Lion One Metals Trading Down 2.0 % The company has a current ratio of 4.07, a quick ratio of 11.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.06. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is C$0.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$0.34. The stock has a market capitalization of C$62.89 million, a P/E ratio of -1.85 and a beta of 0.43. Lion One Metals ( CVE:LIO – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 1st. The company reported C($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$9.36 million for the quarter. Lion One Metals had a negative net margin of 185.32% and a negative return on equity of 16.07%. Equities research analysts forecast that Lion One Metals Limited will post 0.0199784 EPS for the current year. Lion One Metals Company Profile Lion One Metals Limited engages in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of mineral resources in Fiji. The company’s principal property is the 100% owned Tuvatu Gold project, which comprise four special prospecting licenses covering an area of approximately 13,613 hectares located on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lion One Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lion One Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kobe Magee had 23 points in Drexel's 83-71 win against Chicago State on Tuesday. Magee had nine rebounds for the Dragons (5-3). Yame Butler shot 6 of 10 from the field and 8 for 11 from the line to add 20 points. Cole Hargrove went 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 10 points. Troy McCoy finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Cougars (0-8). Jalen Forrest added 14 points for Chicago State. Matthew Robinson finished with 10 points and two steals. Jason Drake led Drexel in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put them up 35-28 at the break. Magee scored 16 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .
Ishiba signals intention to work with N Korea's Kim
The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "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?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.ANT McPartlin left his I'm A Celebrity co-stars open-mouthed as she made a VERY racy joke about Britain's Got Talent's Amanda Holden He was being grilled by Unpacked presenter Joel Dommett alongside Dec Donnelly when he made the shock comment. 3 3 Amanda Holden was cheekily ribbed by Ant Credit: instagram/@noholdenback Asked how the Britain's Got Talent judges would fare in an eating trial, Ant said: Who would be worst at a Bushtucker trial? Oh Simon Cowell, absolutely. He wouldn't do it. "Alesha's quite game." He then quipped: "Amanda will pop anything in there, so that's fine." Dec said: "I'm saying nothing." READ MORE ON I'M A CELEB JUNGLE MATE Jane Moore reveals I'm A Celeb secrets as she tells of friendship with Coleen Pete's plea Strictly's Pete Wicks backs Maura Higgins on I'm A Celeb with plea to fans Ant then added: "Food, Joel." Amanda has previously thrown shade at Ant - whose wedding she skipped in favour of a Greek holiday in 2019. Previously asked who is her favourite of the Geordie duo, Amanda said: “Oh Dec. Me and Alesha [Dixon] always say that.” Ant and Dec are returning to host a new series of Britain's Got Talent in the New Year after wrapping filming on I'm A Celeb. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 bad egg I'm A Celebrity fans furious over 'new low' on show during gruesome eating trial JUNGLE MATE Jane Moore reveals I'm A Celeb secrets as she tells of friendship with Coleen 'untenable' situation I'm A Celeb's Dean 'forced off BBC radio show amid bullying row' lovebirds I’m a Celeb’s GK Barry sends sweet message to girlfriend Ella Rutherford It comes after social media star and boxer KSI was a sensation as he made his debut on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel. As he took to the stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, he bounced into the theatre like he was about to have a bout in the ring. Britain's Got Talent line-up CONFIRMED after tug of war over Bruno Tonioli The star, who is a temporary replacement for Bruno Tonioli, was given a rapturous response when he was announced after fellow judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. It left hosts Ant and Dec stunned, with Ant commenting: “Everyone’s thinking, ‘Bruno who?’. I’m joking!” Bruno is in the US filming Dancing With The Stars and, though he’ll be back soon to continue auditions in Blackpool, KSI is filling in this week. And it didn’t take him long on his first day to get into the swing of things, posing for a selfie with the audience — using a filter to put a pair of orange shades over his eyes, just like Simon’s. Commenting online, KSI said: “The audience in Blackpool are absolutely amazing and I’m really glad I’m part of the band.” The YouTuber, who has 80million followers across a variety of platforms from Facebook to TikTok, even got to hit his golden buzzer on the first day. Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK Without giving away what the act was, the audition — which will hit screens in spring next year — came from a woman called Stacey who cooks chickens inside a Morrisons supermarket. KSI was quickly followed by Simon and Amanda, who also pressed their golden buzzers. 3 KSI was a sensation as he made his debut on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel Credit: PA
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . The dollar represents roughly 58% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF and major commodities like oil are still primarily bought and sold using dollars. The dollar's dominance is threatened, however, with BRICS' growing share of GDP and the alliance's intent to trade in non-dollar currencies — a process known as de-dollarization. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.” Research shows that the U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency is not threatened in the near future. An Atlantic Council model that assesses the dollar’s place as the primary global reserve currency states the dollar is “secure in the near and medium term” and continues to dominate other currencies. Trump's latest tariff threat comes after he threatened to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to do more to halt the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S. He has since held a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said Thursday she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after meeting Trump, without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on Canada.Alex Jones Praises ‘Stud’ Matt GaetzUniswap price finally came alive in the past month after rattling off a 97% gain in the past month. Uniswap has soundly outperformed BNB in the process, triggering fresh speculation that it could be the next big gainer among big-cap coins. However, the smart money and the whales are going all in on the new rising crypto Lunex Network , whose presale has raised nearly $5.4 million thus far. Uniswap price turns on the jets in November Uniswap price action heated up with a 97% gain, recording just under a 2x in the span of 30 days. Prior to its hot run, Uniswap had been lagging in comparison to other big-cap competitors which have seen dramatic spikes in value in the past month. The recent spike in Uniswap price action has it outperforming top 10 contenders like BNB, which has turned in a comparatively modest 15.8% gain in the same time frame. Uniswap is now trading at the $14 mark, smashing past stiff resistance at $10, which the Uniswap price has failed to overcome for a good part of the year. The recent bullish Uniswap price performance entering the final month of the year suggests that UNI could be entering a long-term bullish trend as the dominant exchange protocol on Ethereum. Can BNB revisit all-time highs in December? BNB was one of the strongest performers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, minting new all-time highs of $717 last June. Currently trading at $650, analysts believe BNB is well-positioned to make another run to retest all-time highs before the end of the year. While Uniswap price action has outperformed BNB in the past month, the latter remains a strong bet to capitalize on the bullish tailwinds heading into 2025. However, investors looking for more substantial gains will be better served investing in low-cap gems, one of which is rising crypto Lunex. Lunex Network presale on pace to break past $4 million by EOY One of the hottest presale launches of the year is entering December on a high note. Multi-chain DeFi protocol Lunex Network is on pace to surpass $5.4 million in presale funding, indicating the massive support and traction it has gained since launching. Lunex’s vision is to solve the long-standing interoperability problem hindering the greater adoption of blockchain technology with its innovative cross-chain hybrid exchange model and self-custodial crypto wallet solution. The latter enables users to swap, bridge, trade, and manage over 50,000 token pairs spanning 40 blockchain networks, removing the hassle of having to manually connect their wallets on vulnerable third-party bridges and crypto exchanges, which are prone to hacking. With the Lunex Wallet, users will be able to manage every aspect of their crypto directly from its secure and user-friendly interface. From staking and swapping to trading, Lunex Wallet’s liquidity aggregator allows users to swap tokens at the best possible price points directly from the app. By facilitating Web3 interaction and easing the whole process of managing crypto assets, Lunex is poised to capture a segment of the growth expected to flow into DeFi in 2025. That means its native token, $LNEX could be a steal at its current price of just $0.0048, considering a 100x is well within the realm of possibility in 2025. You can find more information about Lunex Network (LNEX) here: Website: https://lunexnetwork.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/lunexnetwork
President-elect Trump says he should be the one to make the decision on whether TikTok can continue operating in the United States due to the unique national security and First Amendment issues raised by this case, he said in an amicus brief Friday. Trump’s argument comes in an amicus brief "supporting neither party," filed Friday, weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10, 2025 on the law that requires a divestment of TikTok from foreign adversary control. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a company based in Beijing and connected to the Chinese Communist Party. "Today, President Donald J. Trump has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to extend the deadline that would cause TikTok’s imminent shutdown, and allow President Trump the opportunity to resolve the issue in a way that saves TikTok and preserves American national security once he resumes office as President of the United States on January 20, 2025," Trump spokesman and incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital. "President Donald J. Trump ("President Trump") is the 45th and soon to be the 47th President of the United States of America," the brief states. "On January 20, 2025, President Trump will assume responsibility for the United States’ national security, foreign policy, and other vital executive functions." Trump argues that "this case presents an unprecedented, novel, and difficult tension between free-speech rights on one side, and foreign policy and national-security concerns on the other." "As the incoming Chief Executive, President Trump has a particularly powerful interest in and responsibility for those national-security and foreign-policy questions, and he is the right constitutional actor to resolve the dispute through political means. President Trump also has a unique interest in the First Amendment issues raised in this case," the brief states. "Through his historic victory on November 5, 2024, President Trump received a powerful electoral mandate from American voters to protect the free-speech rights of all Americans—including the 170 million Americans who use TikTok." "President Trump is uniquely situated to vindicate these interests, because ‘the President and the Vice President of the United States are the only elected officials who represent all the voters in the Nation,’" the brief continues. Trump argues that due to his "overarching responsibility for the United States’ national security and foreign policy— President Trump opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture, and seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office." "On September 4, 2024, President Trump posted on Truth Social, ‘FOR ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!’" the brief states. Trump argues that he "alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government—concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged." "Indeed, President Trump’s first Term was highlighted by a series of policy triumphs achieved through historic deals, and he has a great prospect of success in this latest national security and foreign policy endeavor," the brief states. Trump notes that the 270-day deadline imposed by the new TikTok law "expires on January 19, 2025—one day before President Trump will assume office as the 47th President of the United States." That legislation, which was signed into law in the spring, requires a sale of TikTok from ByteDance by Jan. 19. If ByteDance does not divest by the deadline, Google and Apple are no longer able to feature TikTok in their app stores in the U.S. "This unfortunate timing interferes with President Trump’s ability to manage the United States’ foreign policy and to pursue a resolution to both protect national security and save a social-media platform that provides a popular vehicle for 170 million Americans to exercise their core First Amendment rights," the brief states. "The Act imposes the timing constraint, moreover, without specifying any compelling government interest in that particular deadline." Trump points to the law, which "contemplates a 90-day extension to the deadline under certain specified circumstances." Supreme Court Justices said they will hold a special session on Jan. 10 to hear oral arguments in the case -- an expedited timeline that will allow them to consider the case just nine days before the Jan. 19 ban is slated to take effect. The law allows the president to extend the deadline by up to 90 days if ByteDance is in the process of divesting. "President Trump, therefore, has a compelling interest as the incoming embodiment of the Executive Branch in seeing the statutory deadline stayed to allow his incoming Administration the opportunity to seek a negotiated resolution of these questions," the brief states. "If successful, such a resolution would obviate the need for this Court to decide the historically challenging First Amendment question presented here on the current, highly expedited basis." TikTok and ByteDance filed an emergency application to the high court earlier this month asking justices to temporarily block the law from being enforced while it appealed a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Lawyers for TikTok have argued that the law passed earlier this year is a First Amendment violation, noting in their Supreme Court request that "Congress's unprecedented attempt to single out applicants and bar them from operating one of the most significant speech platforms in this nation" and "presents grave constitutional problems that this court likely will not allow to stand." TikTok, last year, created its "Project Texas" initiative, which is dedicated to addressing concerns about U.S. national security. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says "Project Texas" creates a stand-alone version of the TikTok platform for the U.S. isolated on servers in Oracle’s U.S. cloud environment. It was developed by CFIUS and cost the company approximately $1.5 billion to implement. Chew has argued that TikTok is not beholden to any one country, though executives in the past have admitted that Chinese officials had access to Americans' data even when U.S.-based TikTok officials did not. TikTok claims that the new initiative keeps U.S. user data safe, and told Fox News Digital that data is managed "by Americans, in America." Trump has signaled support for TikTok. Earlier this month, he met with Chew at Mar-a-Lago, telling reporters during a press conference ahead of the meeting that his incoming administration will "take a look at TikTok" and the looming U.S. ban. "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok," Trump told reporters.By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.