Musk, Vivek face target-rich environment for vile federal regs and wasteUS 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."
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NEW YORK (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner has been fined $2,000 for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers, the NHL said Monday. Skinner was issued a warning after a diving/embellishment incident in an Oct. 22 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the league said. His second citation, which triggered the fine, came in the second period of a 6-2 victory over the Rangers on Nov. 23. Skinner was being followed by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller as he had the puck along the boards in the New York zone. Skinner lost his footing and the puck despite minimal contact from Miller. The Oilers forward looked toward the referee as he got up but no penalty call was made on the play. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLHezbollah attack draws Israeli strikes on Lebanon, killing 11, testing ceasefire's limits
Ustby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinalAbout 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marcus Smart scored 18 points — the last two on clinching free throws with 2.9 seconds left — and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings 115-110 on Thursday night. Desmond Bane also had 18 points along with seven assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama scored 15 points each, with Aldama grabbing 10 rebounds as Memphis won its seventh straight at home. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 26 points. Malik Monk had 23 points, De'Aaron Fox added 18 and Domantas Sabonis had 17 points and 13 rebounds. They have lost seven of nine. There were 20 lead changes and 11 ties. Memphis took its final lead with 4:29 left on a drive by Jake LaRavia. Sacramento would get within two points in the closing minutes, but never overtook Memphis. Takeaways Kings: The Kings had a 16-9 edge on offensive rebounds. And while they got strong offensive performances from Monk and DeRozan, the Kings were unable to overtake Memphis in the final minutes. Grizzlies: Memphis was able to overcome 22 turnovers leading to 29 points. Key moment Ja Morant's complaints about calls earned him a pair of technical fouls in the fourth quarter, leading to his ejection with 6:45 left and the score tied at 98. Morant was 2 for 13 from the field for the game, including missing all six of his 3-point attempts. Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) struggle for control of the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. Credit: AP/Brandon Dill Key stat The Grizzlies were 13 off 38 from outside the arc to 8 of 35 for the Kings. Memphis is 11-0 when it makes more 3-pointers than its opponent. Up next The Kings are at San Antonio on Friday. The Grizzlies are at Boston on Saturday.More RCMP and CBSA ‘human resources’ destined for border, Public Safety Minister LeBlanc says
A Manitoba man drowned while using a skid-steer loader to clear snow from a pond on his property on Tuesday. The 58-year-old was inside the machine on Christmas Eve when it broke through the ice and sank in Ste. Anne, a rural community southeast of Winnipeg. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., and firefighters as well as emergency divers from the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team ( ) spent three hours trying to recover the man. A diver from the non-profit dedicated to recovering drowning victims found the skid-steer upright at the bottom of the pond, with the door opened inward and no one inside. The man was found roughly 10 metres from the machine later that afternoon. Approximately 18 emergency-response personnel took , reported. In light of the man's death, dive team coordinator and HEART vice-president Paul Maendel if they're driving vehicles on ice. "What you need to be aware of is the ice condition and it can be different under the layer of snow," Meandel told . "It can change from one day to another, especially with the milder weather." When it comes to being on frozen bodies of water, there's , according to the Canadian Red Cross. However, there are you can take to ensure you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation — whether you're working or playing. Falling through the ice can lead to injuries from the fall, hypothermia or drowning. Certain factors like colour, location and weather are important to understand when you're heading outside to be on ice-covered water, as well as sudden changes in conditions. Moreover, you need to know the potential dangers of being on or around ice-covered water, as well as what you should do in an emergency. The best way to measure safety on ice is to , and this should be done each time you plan to head out. However, it's important to remember ice thickness won't be uniform across most bodies of water. It's best to — always bring a buddy. To measure the thickness of ice, you can create a small hole with an axe, hatchet, ice auger or spud bar. Continue to check the thickness around the body of water. The required thickness of ice will increase depending on the weight of the load. While a single person on foot can walk or skate on ice that's slightly thinner, a larger and heavier machine will need ice that's thick enough to support the total weight, measured in gross vehicle weight (GVW). In general, ice should be at least 15 cm (six inches) thick for a single person to safely walk or skate on. That increases to 20 cm (eight inches) for a group of skaters, and 25 cm (10 inches) for snowmobiles, . You'll need more than 30 cm in thickness when it comes to most light vehicles, according to the . When planning to head out onto the ice to work, you shouldn't step out unless you know your numbers, according to . These numbers include things like temperature, your GVW and other necessary information if you're working with other people or vehicles: The day's temperature and wind chill Total weight of the vehicle, cargo, fuel and people, also called gross vehicle weight or GVW The minimum ice thickness for this GVW The maximum load allowed on an ice cover The maximum drive speed allowed The minimum distance needed between vehicles The maximum parking or stationary time allowed on the ice cover Emergency contact numbers According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), of it. Overloading can lead to the ice cracking, which can then lead to a collapse. Employment and Social Development Canada noted some of the best ways to prevent accidents is to avoid working alone. You should also dress properly — with personal protective equipment and warm clothing — as well as identify potential hazards. It's important to also conduct a visual assessment when you plan to head out onto ice. On top of looking for any cracks, water flow or soft ice, it's a good idea to understand : : This colour means water is present and that it won't support much weight. It's more common in the spring and in fast-moving water during the winter. : This type of ice can cover up danger, potentially if it has formed on top of ice that hasn't been completely frozen. : This ice forms below negative eight degrees Celsius and deepens in colour since water is naturally turquoise blue. If you're planning to spend time out on the ice, it's a good idea to also plan for the worst-case scenario and have an emergency plan. That includes prepping for spending time outside in cold weather by wearing warm clothing and taking breaks to keep warm. How to self-rescue in freezing water In the event that you fall through the ice, the first things you need to do are relax, catch your breath and call for help. Don't worry, you will have around , according to Work Safe Alberta's guide. But after that time frame, your muscles won't have strength and you will lose consciousness. To start a self-rescue, you want to avoid trying to climb back out of where you fell in. That's because the ice in this area will be too weak. Instead, keep your hands and arms on the ice while kicking your feet to get into a horizontal position parallel to the surface of the ice. Once you're horizontal, you should continue kicking your feet while pulling with your hands to draw yourself up onto the ice. Once you're out of the water, you don't want to stand up. Instead, crawl on your stomach or roll away from the area with your limbs spread out to evenly distribute your body weight. How to save someone from freezing water Rescuing another person after they've fallen through ice can be dangerous, and you want to avoid putting yourself or other people in trouble. For starters, you should call for help, whether that's immediate assistance from first responders or support from bystanders. Then, see if you can reach the person with a long pole or branch. Ensure when you're extending the item to the person that you're also lying down parallel with the ground. If you need to go onto the ice, make sure you wear a PFD or lifejacket. Moreover, bring a long pole or branch to test the ice in front of where you're moving, as well as something like a pole or weighted rope to throw to the person. When you're near the broken ice, lie down to evenly distribute your weight and slowly crawl toward the hole. Then, throw the object (pole, weighted rope or other item) to the person and have them kick while you pull them to safety.
The Duke of Sussex has been videoed being given a fake tattoo by a US country artist in a new skit to promote the Invictus Games . Captured in the East Side Ink studio in New York, the Duke is seen shouting as he appears to be given a neck tattoo by Jelly Roll, a rapper and singer, in exchange for a performance at the closing ceremony of the games. The sketch has been filmed to grab attention as part of the promotional build-up to the sporting competition for wounded veterans being held in Canada next February, but it might not have had the reaction the Duke had hoped for. Fans were quick to point out on social media that Jelly Roll was the wrong choice as he has been seen to be associated with Donald Trump.RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young people who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil. “As the sister of a trans woman, I’m scared to death,” said Helen Karajá, a 32-year-old bisexual artist. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTI+ deaths and violence in Brazil. And last year than in any other country, according to Transgender Europe, a network of global non-profits that tracks the data. To be sure, life for gay people is safer now than it used to be, said Carlos da Cunha, a 71-year-old hairdresser. “In the past, people had to go to ghettos to meet people, because you couldn’t just be anywhere,” said da Cunha. “Now, we can walk down the street without being attacked, without being insulted or humiliated.” One of the themes of this year’s pride march was sustainability. “Environmental justice will only be possible with racial and social justice, gender equality and sexual diversity” read one banner attached to a truck. Brazil has faced a series of environmental catastrophes this year, including , state, and across the country. “If we can’t respect the environment, how can we respect others?” said Alexia Soutinho, a 23-year-old student who identifies as pansexual and lives in the .
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Zain Esports racks up another year of success, impressive growth in gamers, viewers and social media fansThe number of Matter-enabled thermostats just grew by onePresident Jimmy Carter may have only had one term in the White House , but he remained a familiar figure on the world stage long after clearing his desk at the Oval Office. Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London , took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.
As tensions flare between Elon Musk and Trump’s MAGA allies, President-elect Donald Trump posted what appeared to be a personal message to Musk on Truth Social , claiming that fellow billionaire Bill Gates asked to come to Mar-a-Lago . In an early morning post on Friday, Trump suggested the Microsoft co-founder had asked to come to Mar-a-Lago. The 78-year-old Republican encouraged him to visit. “Where are you? When are you coming to the ‘Center of the Universe,’ Mar-a-Lago. Bill Gates asked to come, tonight. We miss you and x! New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!!” Trump wrote. He signed it “DJT.” It’s not immediately clear whether Gates would visit Trump at his Florida estate. The Independent has reached out to a representative for Gates for comment. Gates, whose net worth Forbes estimated to be more than $104 billion, reportedly first met with Trump in December 2016 after he clinched his first presidential election. He congratulated Trump after he won again in November. Trump has met with a handful of billionaires in recent weeks at Mar-a-Lago, including Amazon founderJeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND!!!” Trump boasted on Truth Social after dining with Bezos. The “X” mentioned in the post appears to be a reference to the Space X founder’s son, X Æ A-Xii , whom Musk calls X for short, CNN reported. The strange public note comes as Musk, Trump’s “best buddy”, has been clashing online with other close Trump allies over the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who together will head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency office, have defended the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers while Laura Loomer and others have criticized it. On Thursday, the feud escalated to a new level when Loomer accused Musk of removing her blue checkmark on X, the social media platform he owns, “because I dared to question his support for H1B visas, the replacement of American tech workers by Indian immigrants, and I questioned his relationship with China,” she wrote in a post . She continued: “Donald Trump promised to remove the H1B visa program and I support his policy. Now, as one of Trump’s biggest supporters, I’m having my free speech silenced by a tech billionaire for simply questioning the tech oligarchy.”