President-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
RADFORD, Va. (AP) — Jarvis Moss scored 15 points and Jonas Sirtautas had a go-ahead three-point play in overtime to help Radford hold off Bucknell 74-70 on Sunday night. Sirtautas gave the Highlanders the lead for good with 2:38 left in the extra period. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekIn terms of performance, the YU7 boasts impressive capabilities that make it a versatile and reliable vehicle for daily use. Whether navigating city streets or embarking on long road trips, the YU7 delivers a smooth and efficient driving experience thanks to its powerful engine, responsive handling, and adaptive suspension system. With customizable driving modes and smart navigation assistance, the YU7 adapts to the driver's preferences and provides a seamless driving experience in any situation.
China tops the world with the largest number of intangible cultural heritage projects, adding another shining achievement with the successful addition of the Spring Festival to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Khartoum: In 2024, violent conflict continued to devastate Sudan, deepening the humanitarian crisis that has afflicted millions since the brutal clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023. The war, which has claimed nearly 30,000 lives, has displaced more than 14 million people -- roughly one-third of Sudan's population, creating what the United Nations describes as "the world's largest displacement crisis." Despite the staggering human toll, the conflict in Sudan has not attracted the same level of global attention as other crises, such as those in Ukraine and Gaza. This relative neglect has resulted in a lack of effective political mediation and insufficient humanitarian aid, putting the country at risk of plunging deeper into catastrophe. The response from the international community in the coming months will be pivotal. It will determine whether millions of Sudanese civilians will continue to suffer from displacement, hunger, and violence -- or whether there is a genuine opportunity for peace and stability to take root. In 2024, armed confrontations between the SAF and the RSF have continued to ravage Sudan, spreading from the capital, Khartoum, through the central Gezira and Sinnar states, and extending to North Darfur in the west. Since May, El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has become a central battleground between the two forces. For seven months, the city has been under siege by the RSF, enduring relentless shelling and airstrikes from both the paramilitary group and the army. These attacks have frequently targeted densely populated areas, including camps housing displaced civilians. On Dec. 20, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) revealed in a press release that the ongoing siege and conflict in El Fasher have killed at least 782 civilians and left more than 1,143 injured. "The continuing siege of El Fasher and the relentless fighting are devastating lives every day on a massive scale," said OHCHR chief Volker Turk. The UN humanitarian agency also reported last week that hostilities have spread to additional urban areas in North Darfur and South Darfur, resulting in heavy civilian casualties and the destruction of homes, markets, and medical facilities. The Darfur region, which comprises five states, is a key base for the RSF, with the majority of its recruits coming from the region. The militia is determined to gain full control of the region, seeking to capture El Fasher, the last SAF-controlled stronghold in the area. "It is clear that both of the warring parties want to resolve the conflict militarily, which seems far-fetched, at least for now," Ahmed Ismail, a Sudanese military expert, told Xinhua. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 14 million people, or approximately 30 percent of the population, doubling the figure from last December. This makes it the world's largest displacement crisis, according to UN data. "The (internal) displacement number has hit 11 million. That's up 200,000 just since September," Director-General of the International Organization for Migration Amy Pope said in late October at a press briefing from Port Sudan, adding that "another 3.1 million people have traveled across borders to flee the fighting." Of the internally displaced, Sudanese government figures show that 4 million are women and 3 million are children. In addition to the displacement crisis, more than 24.6 million people in Sudan are now facing high levels of acute food insecurity, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitor, confirmed in a report released Tuesday that famine is present in at least five areas of Sudan, including North Darfur's Zamzam camp and parts of the Western Nuba Mountains. The crisis is projected to expand to five additional areas before May 2025. Abdullah Ibrahim, a food security expert in Sudan, cautioned that the true scale of the food crisis may be even worse than reported. "The full impact of the war on the food situation remains unclear, and the number of people at risk of famine is likely higher than the current estimates from the UN and the Sudanese government," he said. The crisis has also fueled a health emergency. Epidemics, particularly cholera and dengue fever, have surged during the rainy season from June to October. Sudan's war-battered medical system has struggled to cope. The Health Ministry reported over 44,000 cholera cases and about 8,500 dengue fever infections. The UN and other relief agencies now face significant obstacles to assisting the most vulnerable, including security risks, restrictions on aid flow and personnel movement, and a funding gap. Humanitarian aid agencies face immense challenges in providing assistance. Security risks, restrictions on aid movement, and a significant funding shortfall have hindered efforts. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted that only 30 percent of the 1.5 billion U.S. dollars needed for Sudan's 2024 response have been secured, leaving many urgent needs unmet. Struggling to shelter themselves from the winter cold, the displaced people call for scaling up internal and international responses to humanitarian needs. "We are suffering from inadequate services and food shortages. The tents are in poor quality and can not protect us against the cold in winter," Qismalla Awad, who relocated to a displacement camp in River Nile State, told Xinhua. Across the border in Chad, Sudanese refugees at a camp in Adre face similar hardships. "We are struggling with hunger, food shortages, and a lack of clean drinking water," said Adam Ishaq, a refugee at the camp. "Located in a barren area, the camp offers little respite from either the summer heat or the winter cold." In 2024, regional and international efforts to mediate Sudan's ongoing crisis continued but yielded little progress. On Jan. 18, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, convened a summit in Kampala, Uganda, aimed at addressing the crisis. However, Sudan boycotted the event. Two days later, Sudan announced it was freezing its membership in IGAD, citing the bloc's communique as an infringement on its sovereignty. The Sudanese government further stated it would not abide by any decisions or actions taken by IGAD regarding Sudan's internal affairs. This setback followed previous failed attempts by IGAD to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table. A summit in June 2023 faltered after the SAF voiced objections to the support certain IGAD members extended to the RSF. A second attempt in December 2023 was postponed due to "technical reasons." In July, under UN auspices, both warring sides were invited to Geneva for talks focused on humanitarian aid and civilian protection. However, one side failed to attend, and no breakthrough was achieved. The United Nations did not disclose which party was absent. In August, fresh peace talks were initiated by the United States in Geneva, which were attended by RSF delegates. The SAF preemptively declared it would not participate, citing the RSF's failure to honor previous agreements, including commitments to withdrawing from civilian homes and public facilities. "The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told ambassadors at the UN Security Council in late October, stressing the dire conditions civilians are enduring. "We've lost our homes, but we haven't lost our dream of peace," said Ismail Al-Hakim, a Sudanese journalist who documented the devastating impact of the conflict on civilian life. "We are still holding onto the hope of an end to this conflict and the eventual homecoming of those displaced." For Fatima Badawi, witnessing her hometown south of Khartoum descend into a brutal battleground, the coming year carries a weight far beyond simply marking the passage of time. "We don't want another year of this conflict," she said. "The war must end as soon as possible. We are placing our hope for peace in the upcoming year."1. Improved Sleep Quality
The acquittal of the former US veteran in this case raises important questions about racial bias, the use of force, and the role of the criminal justice system in addressing issues of systemic racism. It also serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by African Americans and other marginalized communities in seeking justice and equality under the law.Their unconventional journey to acquire the frozen pig's head had been a wild ride, but the end result was nothing short of delicious. With their bellies full and their hearts content, they reflected on their adventure with a sense of pride and fulfillment.