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m fb7775.com Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records showThe suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro/dw

CHENNAI, Dec 29: Terming the PSLV-C60 Spadex Mission as a historic mission, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said it would mark a significant milestone in demonstrating India’s expertise in space docking technology. India will become the fourth country to master this unique technology that would be key for future inter-planterary missions after US, Russia and China. “ISRO’s year-end mission scheduled for December 30 is going to be a historic one as it will seek the rare feat of docking or merging or joining together two satellites in Space”, he said, according to a PIB release. The project has been named “Space Docking Experiment” (SpaDeX), he said. The whole nation looks forward with bated breath as ISRO is set to achieve a significant milestone in Space technology, he said. In an exclusive media interview, Dr Jitendra Singh elaborated that the upcoming SpaDeX mission aims to dock two satellites in Space, a challenge only mastered by a few countries. This ambitious project will take place on December 30, 2024, under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) and the indigenous technology used for this mission is called the “Bharatiya Docking System”. “SpaDEX” will mark a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology. This mission, said Dr Jitendra Singh, will mark India’s entry into the exclusive league of nations capable of mastering space docking. A unique approach, the PSLV rocket, will launch two satellites equipped with the ‘Bhartiya Docking System’ to demonstrate this complex feat, he added. The success of this mission is vital for India’s future space ambitions, said the Minister. Docking technology is key for long-term missions like “Chandrayaan-4” and the planned Indian space station. It is also crucial for the eventual manned “Gaganyaan” mission, the Minister said. In the near vacuum of Space, the handout said, ISRO will attempt to dock two satellites orbiting at speeds of 28,800 km/h. This is a challenging task, as both satellites must be carefully manoeuvred to reduce their relative velocities to a mere 0.036 km/h. The two satellites, designated ‘Chaser’ and ‘Target’, will merge to form a single unit in Space. ISRO’s achievement will place India among the world’s space leaders, marking a step towards greater space exploration and innovation. SpaDeX is a significant milestone that paves the way for more complex space missions in the coming years. “ISRO’s SpaDEX mission is set to launch on December 30, 2024, will demonstrate India’s Spacecraft Docking technology, marking a crucial step in space exploration and satellite servicing capabilities”, Dr Jitendra said. “India is preparing for a key step in space exploration. ISRO will launch the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX) on December 30, 2024. The mission will use PSLV-C60, lifting off at 21:58 IST from Sriharikota. SpaDEX marks a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology”, he added. SpaDEX will deploy two identical satellites, SDX01 and SDX02. Each satellite weighs around 220 kg and will orbit 470 km above Earth. Key objectives include Performing precision rendezvous and docking manoeuvres, Validating power transfer between docked spacecraft and Operating payloads post-undocking, with a two-year lifespan. This mission is essential for future endeavours, including satellite servicing and building India’s space station, Bharatiya Antriksh Station. SpaDEX will also use PSLV’s fourth stage, POEM-4, for experiments. The stage will be carrying 24 payloads from academic institutions and startups. These experiments will utilise the microgravity environment in orbit. SpaDEX will demonstrate docking and undocking capabilities between satellites. This includes transferring power and operating scientific payloads. The mission will simulate a sequence of manoeuvres, starting with a far rendezvous phase at 20 km and ending with docking at 3 metres. This capability is vital for India’s lunar and interplanetary missions. Docking technology enables multi-launch missions and supports future human spaceflight. Only the US, Russia, and China have mastered such advancements so far. (UNI)Australian soldier Oscar Jenkins has been captured by Russia. What happens now?

The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed his identity as their person of interest, crediting his arrest to a tip from a McDonald's worker. He has been connected by police to the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in broad daylight, in a case that has laid bare deep frustrations and anger with the nation's privatized medical system. News of his capture triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media try to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine, though no explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, per the club's website. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. He went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive. Mangione has linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Private equity-owned Medline Industries is aiming to raise more than $5 billion in its U.S. initial public offering expected to happen in 2025, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The stock market flotation could value Medline at about $50 billion and is expected to launch during the second quarter, the sources said, cautioning that the company's plans are subject to market conditions and could change. Northfield, Illinois-based Medline, which is owned by buyout firms Blackstone (BX.N) , opens new tab , Carlyle (CG.O) , opens new tab , and Hellman & Friedman, has invited several investment banks to pitch for lead roles on what is likely to be one of the marquee IPOs next year, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential. Medline did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Blackstone, Carlyle, and Hellman & Friedman declined to comment. Medline, which was acquired by its current private equity owners in a deal worth $34 billion in 2021, is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies such as surgical equipment, gloves, and laboratory devices used by hospitals around the world. The company, which employs about 43,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries, currently generates annual sales of more than $23 billion, according to its website. Bloomberg reported on Medline's IPO preparations in July. Sign up here. Reporting by Echo Wang in New York; Editing by Anirban Sen and Bill Berkrot Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Echo Wang is a correspondent at Reuters covering U.S. equity capital markets, and the intersection of Chinese business in the U.S, breaking news from U.S. crackdown on TikTok and Grindr, to restrictions Chinese companies face in listing in New York. She was the Reuters' Reporter of the Year in 2020.WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.With Easter Sunday falling on April 20 next year, customers shared their confusion on social media after finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. One user, @Jingle1991, shared an image of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve and pointed out: “Jesus hasn’t even been born yet.” Meanwhile, Gary Evans from Margate shared a shot of Creme Eggs on display in Morrisons in Margate on Boxing Day. “I just think its crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... (there’s) something quite frantic about it,” the 66-year-old told the PA news agency. No Shame.Morrisons.Easter eggs.Boxing Day. December 26th.Peace on Earth pic.twitter.com/slGoIjOpRq — Gary Evans (@GaryEva04679693) December 26, 2024 Joseph Robinson found Easter confectionary including Cadbury Mini Eggs, and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products at his local Morrisons in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday evening. “It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter,” the 35-year-old admin support worker told PA. “I wish that Supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period.” @Morrisons It's not even a full 2025 and you're already stocking for easter.Kindly get in the bin pic.twitter.com/kLS7DGSRXt — Joseph (@stokegoblin) December 27, 2024 Asked if he was tempted to make a purchase, Mr Robinson added: “As a vegan it holds no appeal to me!” Mike Chalmers, a devout Christian from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was slightly less critical after spotting a display entitled: “Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury.” Easter is for life, not just for Christmas(Photo today in Morrisons!) pic.twitter.com/VmdJ31La9r — Mike Chalmers (@realMChalmers) December 27, 2024 “Christmas and Easter are the two centrepoints of the Christian good news story so it’s no bad thing to see the connections,” the 44-year-old said. “It’s about more than shapes of chocolate though!” Marketing consultant Andrew Wallis admitted he was surprised to see Easter eggs in the Co-op in Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, but added it also illustrates “forward-thinking” from big businesses. Christmas isn’t even over, and Easter eggs are already on the shelves. Say what you want about it—but big brands don’t wait. They plan ahead and act fast. Are you doing the same? Your future self will thank you pic.twitter.com/Sl9qd7sOGS — andrewwallis (@andrewwallis) December 27, 2024 “It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early,” the 54-year-old from the Isle of Man, who provides marketing advice to the fitness industry, told PA. “My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. “Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. “Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy.”

James Hunt used to spend his days commuting to London, where he ran a successful marketing firm. But his children Jude and Tommy were diagnosed as autistic when they were toddlers, and he later decided to care for them and his parents full-time. James, from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, started blogging about their lives nine years ago and now has more than a million followers on social media. Here, in his own words, James speaks about his hopes for the future for his teenage sons. When my eldest son Jude was a baby, he was slow to crawl and didn't respond to his name. He used to stare out of the window, he was quite distant and almost in a different world. His mum Charlotte, my ex-wife, first raised concerns when he was eight months old but I just thought he was a bit behind because he was premature. We went back to the doctor quite a few times before we got an autism diagnosis in 2009 when he was 18 months old. At the time, the information out there was very clinical, most things we were reading were from the NHS website and medical journals. I felt like I couldn't take it in and I had so many unanswered questions. Three years later we went through the same diagnosis with Tommy at a similar age. I knew a lot more about autism than when we had Jude, but the boys have always been so different. I didn't enjoy the first year of Tommy's life as much as I could have done because I spent so much time watching him and looking for signs. He hit certain milestones much quicker than Jude but he wouldn't make eye contact and would get easily frustrated and enjoyed playing alone. Around the same time, when Jude was four, he started having huge meltdowns and was physically hurting himself. Jude is non-speaking, so it's very difficult for him to explain what's wrong. That was the hardest period of my life. He used to wake up in the night screaming and hitting himself. Thankfully as Jude has gotten older, and we've learnt more about how to meet his needs, this has got much better. Unfortunately at the time Tommy was a huge trigger for him because he was loud and unpredictable. His self-harming would scare Tommy so we used to have to keep them apart a lot. In 2016, my wife Charlotte and I sadly decided to separate. We took the incredibly difficult decision to split Jude and Tommy up and we felt guilty, like we were failing. But Jude was immediately like a different child, you could sense his anxiety going, so we knew it was the right decision. I live in an annexe at my parents' house and help care for my dad who has Parkinson's and my mum, who has dementia, though she is now in a home. It's opposite my ex-wife's home and I have one of the boys for several nights a week and then we swap over, and I have the other one. They both need one-to-one care and it's impossible for them to live together. You never imagine life like that. I don't know if they will ever be able to live together but they will always be part of each other's lives. I wish I could be with both of them at the same time, and I don't get much free time, but this is the best thing for them right now. It has probably made being a single parent easier for me because I'm never alone. Their school is helping them to do more fun things together like trampolining and eating lunch together. Jude is now 16 and loves music so we go on long car drives listening to the radio. It's one of the few places where he feels safe and can relax. There have been times he's been too anxious to do that and we were housebound but at the moment he's doing OK. Tommy is 13, and he is cheeky, mischievous, funny, and curious about everything around him. He loves looking at books and puzzles. He isn't fully verbal but he uses a communication device. I recently had one of the best days I've ever had with Jude and Tommy. In the past, when we have tried to do anything to celebrate Christmas, it has never gone well, it was too overwhelming for them. But we went to see Father Christmas and made such special memories. Nine years ago I began sharing stories from our lives online, on a weekly blog. Then I started , , and accounts. It was initially a way to show friends and family what our life was really like. Jude and Tommy struggled with social occasions, so we stopped going. I could never find the words to explain, and I wanted to show how proud I was of them, so I started writing instead. I didn't realise how much our stories would resonate with others, or how much it would help me. I learned so much more about autism, connected with people all over the world and discovered a passion for helping other families. I've been lucky that I've been able to make a living through social media. I had to give up my previous job to be there for the boys. I started a clothing line last year, with positive messaging around autism, disabilities and neurodivergence. I love getting messages from people saying they have bumped into someone wearing one of the hoodies, and it started a conversation. I opened a shop in Burnham-on-Crouch where we stock the clothes and wrap and pack and send out the orders. It's somewhere for people in the community to visit, we have a sensory room in the shop and we get lots of parents coming in who want to have a chat. Everyone working in the shop is a parent, carer or is autistic, so they can share their experiences with customers. I always try to focus on the positives and not think too far ahead but there are days when my mind runs away with me. It will be a huge challenge when the boys leave school when they are 19. That's massively scary because suddenly you have to trust a whole new bunch of people. There is a part-time college I hope they can go to but it's a huge unknown and there will be big decisions to make. You feel like you have to live forever to look after them, and that is the biggest fear for many parents. Jude and Tommy will need life-long support, and I've started to realise I might not always be able to provide that for them. I don't know what the future will look like, but I know I need to think about how to help them live as independently as they can, and prepare for the days when I'm not here. Autism has meant we've had some of the highest highs, and experienced some lows far lower than I ever knew were imaginable. It has taught me to cherish and enjoy the simple things and I just want the boys to be happy. Looking back at how I felt when they were diagnosed, I would like to tell myself it's all going to be OK. Those first few years can be a really scary and emotional time. You feel like you have no idea what you're doing. Don't bottle everything up, find people to open up to. Your friends and family want to help, they just don't know how to yet. You will go through the most challenging and difficult days of your life but you will learn so much from your boys and your love for them will get you through.The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro/dw

Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing charged with murder in New York, court records showAn incredible new boat is set to transform commuters' journeys in a major UK city. The Orbit Clipper has been described as a "groundbreaking advancement" by its creators, who also say that it will provide an "accessible, green and fast" route across the River Thames seven days a week. The ferry will enable more than 20,000 Londoners and visitors to travel every weekday, bosses add. The clipper will be the UK's first fully electric zero-emission cross-river passenger ferry. It will launch in March 2025, and operate between London’s Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames and Rotherhithe in the south. The vessel will cross the river every 10 minutes from each side on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends. The 150-passenger ferry, will have capacity for 100 bicycles, and features a roll-on/roll-off design that enables automated docking on both sides. This innovation enhances accessibility, reduces journey times, and increases capacity for both foot and cycle passengers, officials say. The clipper was designed by Aus Ships Group, and will measure 25.2 metres in overall length. It will also feature a moulded depth of 2.3 metres, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects writes. Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said, “It’s a real British success story. All of our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest green technology at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight. "This new vessel will launch within our 25th year of operation and it reaffirms our investment in both the local Isle of Wight economy and in London. “This zero-emission solution also comes after the recent launch of our third hybrid boat – Mars Clipper – into our main River Bus fleet and is the next step on our journey to advancing sustainable maritime technology. "The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river - we’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.”

NEW DELHI: India Inc is likely to accelerate its headcount expansion in the coming year with most of the hiring focused on new technologies like AI and data analytics, besides sustainability and diversifying talent. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast Executives at firms like Colgate-Palmolive , DS Group , KPMG , Deloitte , Tata Steel , Tech Mahindra and Meesho are updeat on 2025. For most of these companies, overall hiring is likely to surpass the current year's levels, while for others, it will be in line with 2024. Companies are also likely to focus on upskilling the existing workforce. According to CIEL HR 's hiring analysis of all sectors, shared exclusively with ET, 2025 will mark at least a 10% increase in jobs compared to the current year. "The highest number of jobs will be added in sectors like semiconductor, startups, cybersecurity, renewable energy, AI and GCCs," said chief executive officer Aditya Mishra. FMCG conglomerate DS Group is looking to grow its headcount next year to support new product launches and expansion plans. Colgate-Palmolive will also be growing its workforce in India, which it considers a "strategic priority" market. IT services company Tech Mahindra and e-commerce firm Meesho are looking at fresh recruitments through the campus route. "The global organisation is looking to seriously grow the India business," said Balaji Sreenivasan, EVP HR, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. 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Building a Talent Pipeline Chief human resources officer Ashish Kumar Singh said Meesho hired in 2024 to drive rapid growth. It now has 1,700 employees including 500 women, he said. Seesho is looking to continue this trajectory next year at the same pace by attracting a diverse pool of young professionals from leading institutions across the country, he added. "Campus hiring efforts have scaled significantly, with an intake nearly three times higher than the previous year, reaffirming our commitment to building a robust and future-ready talent pipeline." Tech Mahindra plans to hire about 5,000 people from engineering campuses this year, said chief people officer Richard Lobo. He said it will undertake its campus hiring in phases. "We are looking at pivoting more on new-age skills like AI, ML, data analytics, etc." For 2025, KPMG is looking to hire aggressively too. "This is on the back of strong demand across all our businesses. We will remain focused on attracting top talent with diverse backgrounds and expertise," Reena Wahi, partner and head of people, performance & culture at KPMG in India, said. The firm is looking at recruiting talent in in-demand skills like data science/analytics, Cloud, AI/ML, IoT, ESG, digital transformation, people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and women re-entering the workforce. Tata Steel is looking at building a talent pipeline from within, besides hiring externally. "Our primary focus is to build a future workforce that is not only skilled but also adaptive, innovative, and geared towards future growth and expansion," said a spokesperson.RJ Davis sets 3-point record as North Carolina beats Campbell

1 2 Jaipur: Speaking at a press conference at BJP state office on Tuesday, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma accused Congress of having disrespected B R Ambedkar both historically and in recent political narratives. Sharma also claimed that Congress had shared an incomplete video clip to falsely accuse Union home minister Amit Shah of insulting Ambedkar. "It was due to Congress that Ambedkar, India's first law minister, was forced to resign from the cabinet. Even after his resignation, he was denied the opportunity to address Parliament. Congress must explain why they suppressed Ambedkar's resignation letter and denied its public acknowledgment," Sharma said. He added that Jawahar Lal Nehru's disdain for Ambedkar was evident in a letter Nehru wrote to Edwina Mountbatten, expressing relief over Ambedkar's resignation from the cabinet. Sharma alleged that Congress actively worked to undermine Ambedkar's political career. Contrasting this with the BJP's approach, Sharma highlighted the party's efforts to honour Ambedkar's legacy. Sharma approved a Rs 10 per quintal increase in the sugarcane purchase price on Tuesday, a move expected to provide an additional income of Rs 2 crore to thousands of sugarcane farmers in Sriganganagar. Under the revised rates, the early variety of sugarcane will now be procured at Rs 401 per quintal, the mid-season variety at Rs 391 per quintal, and the late-season variety at Rs 386 per quintal. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .

Rusere Tortured for Revealing Mozambique Elections RiggingSAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Five9, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVN) securities, including call options, between June 4, 2024 and August 8, 2024. Five9 provides software for a cloud-based contact center. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Five9, Inc. (FIVN) Misled Investors Regarding its Sales Execution and Efficiency Issues According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose that: (i) Five9’s net new business was not “strong irrespective of the macro” and was, in fact, hampered by macroeconomic issues such as constrained and scrutinized customer budgets; (ii) Five9 was in the midst of a challenging bookings quarter due, in part, to sales execution and efficiency issues, and the Company was not “seeing very strong bookings momentum”; and (iii) Defendants did not have “enough information in terms of [their] existing customers that are going live” such that the statements that Five9 would see a positive inflection in its dollar-based retention rate lacked a reasonable basis. Plaintiff alleges that on August 8, 2024, Five9 released its second quarter 2024 financial results in which the Company reduced its annual revenue guidance due to “recent bookings trends and the uncertain economic conditions.” During the earnings call held that same day, the Company revealed it “had a challenging bookings quarter” due to “constrained and scrutinized” customer budgets and sales execution issues. Defendants announced remedial changes to address Five9’s sales execution and efficiency issues. It was further revealed that “Q2 new logo bookings came in softer than expected” and that the Company was “no longer assuming” a dollar-based retention rate inflection in the second half of the year because of a “more muted seasonality in our service bookings[.]” On this news, Five9’s common stock price dropped over 26%, from $42.47 per share on August 8, 2024 to $31.22 per share on August 9, 2024. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Five9, Inc. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by February 3, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Five9, Inc. settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1fe5526f-ab2a-4e9b-b72d-5bc1058e1011

SHANGHAI, December 30 (SMM) – Copper Overnight, LME copper opened at $8,961/mt, maintained wide fluctuations throughout the session, with its center moving upward. It bottomed at $8,951/mt in early trading and peaked at $8,997/mt near the close, finally settling at $8,981.5/mt, up 0.16%. Trading volume reached 9,000 lots, and open interest stood at 262,000 lots. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2502 contract opened lower at 73,930 yuan/mt, fluctuated upward in early trading, peaked at 74,180 yuan/mt during the session, then its center shifted downward and maintained slight fluctuations near the close, finally settling at 74,070 yuan/mt, down 0.38%. Trading volume reached 15,000 lots, and open interest stood at 148,000 lots. Macro side, uncertainties remain regarding the upcoming Trump administration's policies. The US dollar index fluctuated and eventually closed lower. However, year-end domestic consumption remained weak, leading to mixed performance in the domestic and overseas markets. Domestically, PBOC Governor Gongsheng Pan stated that monetary policy adjustments should be intensified, with a focus on improving precision. On the fundamentals, as the year-end approaches, most enterprises are controlling funds, resulting in overall sluggish market purchasing demand. In summary, with weak domestic consumption at year-end, copper prices are expected to fluctuate downward today. Aluminum Futures Market: Last Friday night, the most-traded SHFE aluminum 2502 contract opened at 19,775 yuan/mt, hit a high of 19,785 yuan/mt, a low of 19,700 yuan/mt, and closed at 19,785 yuan/mt, down 10 yuan/mt or 0.05% from the previous trading day. Last Friday, LME aluminum opened at $2,553/mt, reached a high of $2,562/mt, a low of $2,533.5/mt, and closed at $2,557/mt, up $1/mt or 0.04%. Summary: On the macro front, the European Central Bank may delay its interest rate cuts, and market expectations for the extent of US Fed rate cuts next year remain pessimistic, putting continued pressure on base metals. On the fundamentals side, in December, several aluminum smelters in Sichuan and Guangxi reduced production, while some capacity restarts were delayed. However, production still showed YoY growth. On the demand side, market demand continued to weaken during the off-season, with aluminum processing industry operating rates declining further. Overall, with unclear US Fed rate cut timing and delayed European Central Bank rate cuts on the macro front, and despite slightly reduced supply-side pressure on the fundamentals side, weak demand during the off-season and growing risks of inventory buildup in social stocks are expected to keep aluminum prices fluctuating downward in the short term. Lead Last Friday night, the most-traded SHFE lead 2502 contract opened at 16,880 yuan/mt. After opening, it fluctuated around the intraday moving average, briefly touching a high of 16,915 yuan/mt and a low of 16,810 yuan/mt, eventually closing at 16,895 yuan/mt, down 165 yuan/mt or 0.97%. The open interest of the most-traded SHFE lead 2402 contract decreased by 1,111 lots to 54,615 lots. Last Friday night, LME lead opened at $1,981.5/mt, briefly touching $1,982.5/mt at the beginning of the session. It weakened during the Asian trading hours, hitting a low of $1,950/mt, but rebounded during the European session, closing at $1,966/mt, down $14/mt or 0.71%. Macro side, the wavering expectations of interest rate cuts and the current lack of new directions have led to a slightly bearish macro sentiment, with gold and silver prices fluctuating. On the fundamentals side, this week, air pollution in regions such as Hebei, Henan, and Shandong has gradually eased, with Shandong already lifting smog restrictions and Henan following suit. The supply of secondary refined lead, previously impacted by environmental protection factors, is no longer the main imbalance in the market. Additionally, some crude lead production in Hunan is expected to resume gradually after meeting rectification standards post-New Year's Day. However, the recovery of primary lead production may be delayed due to insufficient raw material stocking. After the New Year's Day holiday, attention should still be paid to the actual resumption of production by lead smelting enterprises in various regions, as well as the recovery of downstream enterprises to normal operations and pre-holiday stocking by dealers after the resolution of year-end account settlements and inventory checks. The lead market's supply and demand decline may ease to some extent. Zinc Last Friday, Elon Musk challenged MAGA, while the Trump alliance faced internal discord over immigration issues; the European Central Bank may consider waiting longer before the next interest rate cut; the leader of Syria's Sham Liberation Front announced plans to dissolve the organization during the National Dialogue Conference; Yemen's capital Sanaa was hit by airstrikes, with Houthi forces claiming the US and UK were responsible; Pan Gongsheng stated the need to intensify and enhance the precision of monetary policy adjustments; the Hong Kong SAR government reported that the number of startups in Hong Kong reached a record high in 2024; Honor completed its equity restructuring and plans to initiate the IPO process at an appropriate time; China's first domestically developed and constructed Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, was officially launched. Last Friday, LME zinc opened at $3,054/mt. In early trading, LME zinc briefly rose to a high of $3,055/mt. By the European trading session, longs reduced positions, and LME zinc declined to a low of $3,008/mt before stabilizing around $3,030/mt. It eventually closed higher at $3,040/mt, up $6/mt or 0.62%. Trading volume increased to 5,979 lots, while open interest decreased by 1,584 lots to 225,000 lots. Last Friday, LME zinc recorded a small bearish candlestick with a long lower shadow. LME inventory decreased by 4,450 mt to 244,500 mt, a drop of 1.79%. Expectations for US Fed interest rate cuts weakened, the US dollar strengthened, and base metals came under pressure, with LME zinc's center also shifting lower. It is expected to trade mainly in a range today. Last Friday, the most-traded SHFE zinc 2502 contract opened at 25,170 yuan/mt. In early trading, shorts reduced positions, and SHFE zinc quickly surged to a high of 25,310 yuan/mt. Later, as longs exited, SHFE zinc's center shifted lower to 25,230 yuan/mt. By the end of the session, SHFE zinc's center moved higher again, closing at 25,300 yuan/mt, up 125 yuan/mt or 0.5%. Trading volume decreased to 60,598 lots, while open interest fell by 737 lots to 143,000 lots. Last Friday, SHFE zinc recorded a small bullish candlestick. The 20-day moving average above acted as resistance, with mixed positions from both longs and shorts. Macro sentiment remained relatively bearish, but fundamentals continued to provide support for SHFE zinc. It is expected to trade mainly in a range today. Tin Last week, SHFE tin prices fluctuated rangebound. Specifically, at the beginning of the week, the most-traded SHFE tin contract saw a slight rebound. However, during the night session early in the week, SHFE tin prices exhibited corresponding volatility, opening lower and pulling back continuously. Mid-week, the most-traded SHFE tin contract prices rebounded slightly, impacting market sentiment to some extent, though the overall price trend appeared somewhat weak. By Thursday, the most-traded SHFE tin contract prices showed a rangebound trend. During this period, market sentiment was mediocre, with traders mostly adopting a wait-and-see approach. By the weekend, prices edged down slightly during the late session, with the market's primary focus remaining on supply and demand dynamics and changes in the macroeconomic environment. From a broader perspective, the most-traded SHFE tin contract prices primarily fluctuated rangebound this week, mainly influenced by increased supply, demand-side fluctuations, and the macroeconomic environment. In the spot market, consumption activity was relatively mediocre this week, with daily trading volumes for some trading enterprises reaching 20-50 mt. Traders adopted a more cautious stance amid the complex and volatile market environment, with a dominant wait-and-see sentiment. Looking ahead, SHFE tin prices are expected to maintain wide fluctuations. Nickel Last week, nickel prices fluctuated, with spot prices ranging from 123,000 to 130,000 yuan/mt and SHFE nickel prices ranging from 122,000 to 129,000 yuan/mt. During the week, nickel prices first rose and then fell, influenced by increased downstream willingness for low-price stockpiling and macroeconomic factors. However, the overall demand from downstream sectors such as stainless steel, batteries, and alloys did not show fundamental improvement, making it difficult to support the upward trend in nickel prices. Spot Market: From Monday to Wednesday, as nickel prices rose and the previous week's low-price stockpiling by downstream sectors ended, spot market transactions cooled, and premiums for domestic refined nickel remained stable at high levels. Starting Thursday, with significant improvement in the tight supply of domestic Jinchuan-brand refined nickel in the spot market, premiums for domestic refined nickel began to decline rapidly. It is expected that premiums for domestic refined nickel are unlikely to return to high levels before the year-end.

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Landcar Casualty Company (Landcar), a subsidiary of Asbury Automotive Group (Asbury), received AM Best’s upgraded Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent). AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher, and data analytics provider which completes an annual rating review of Landcar. This refined assessment from AM Best establishes Landcar to the classification from stable to positive. “We are pleased to receive this enhanced recognition from AM Best demonstrating the financial strength of the company,” says Kimberlee Reese, President of Landcar. “We continue to work hard to ensure we conduct all business with the utmost integrity and efficiency while providing best-in-class service to our guests.” “Landcar maintains its balance sheet strength at the very strong level, supported by AM Best’s strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and solid balance sheet liquidity,” shared AM Best. “Landcar benefits from its niche business profile as a writer of auto-related insurance products through a network of affiliated automotive dealerships as a part of the Asbury group. Landcar’s expansion has diversified its geographic footprint and enhanced its growth opportunities.” About Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA, is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. In late 2020, Asbury embarked on a multi-year plan to increase revenue and profitability strategically through organic operations, acquisitive growth and innovative technologies, with its guest-centric approach as Asbury’s constant North Star. As of September 30, 2024, Asbury operated 153 new vehicle dealerships, consisting of 202 franchises and representing 31 domestic and foreign brands of vehicles. Asbury also operates Total Care Auto, Powered by Landcar, a leading provider of service contracts and other vehicle protection products, and 37 collision repair centers. Asbury offers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; parts and service, which includes vehicle repair and maintenance services, replacement parts and collision repair services; and finance and insurance products, including arranging vehicle financing through third parties and aftermarket products, such as extended service contracts, guaranteed asset protection debt cancellation, and prepaid maintenance. Asbury is recognized as one of America’s Fastest Growing Companies 2024 by the Financial Times and the Company is listed in World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 by Newsweek. For additional information, visit www.asburyauto.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical fact, and may include statements relating to goals, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations and assumptions, projections regarding Asbury's financial position, liquidity, results of operations, cash flows, leverage, market position, the timing and amount of any stock repurchases, and dealership portfolio, revenue enhancement strategies, operational improvements, projections regarding the expected benefits of Clicklane, management’s plans, projections and objectives for future operations, scale and performance, integration plans and expected synergies from acquisitions, capital allocation strategy, business strategy. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and involve significant risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, adverse outcomes with respect to current and future litigation and other proceedings, including, without limitation, our inability to realize the benefits expected from recently completed transactions; information and cybersecurity, and other issues related to technology; our inability to promptly and effectively integrate completed transactions and the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business and regular business responsibilities; our inability to complete future acquisitions or divestitures and the risks resulting therefrom; any supply chain disruptions impacting our industry and business, market factors, Asbury's relationships with, and the financial and operational stability of, vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers, acts of God, natural disasters, acts of war or other incidents and the shortage of semiconductor chips and other components, which may adversely impact supply from vehicle manufacturers and/or present retail sales challenges; risks associated with Asbury's indebtedness and our ability to comply with applicable covenants in our various financing agreements, or to obtain waivers of these covenants as necessary; risks related to competition in the automotive retail and service industries, general economic conditions both nationally and locally, governmental regulations, legislation, including changes in automotive state franchise laws, and Asbury's ability to execute its strategic and operational strategies and initiatives, including its five-year strategic plan, Asbury's ability to leverage gains from its dealership portfolio, Asbury's ability to capitalize on opportunities to repurchase its debt and equity securities or purchase properties that it currently leases, and Asbury's ability to stay within its targeted range for capital expenditures. There can be no guarantees that Asbury's plans for future operations will be successfully implemented or that they will prove to be commercially successful. These and other risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements are and will be discussed in Asbury's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties and other factors speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For additional information, visit www.asburyauto.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209397997/en/ CONTACT: Morgan Irwin Head of Corporate Communications, Asbury Automotive Group mirwin@asburyauto.com | (678) 537-6593 KEYWORD: GEORGIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING INSURANCE SOURCE: Asbury Automotive Group Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 06:00 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 05:58 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209397997/enUS President-elect Donald Trump has filed a brief 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. At a press conference last week, Trump said he has “a warm spot” for TikTok and that his administration would take a look at the app and the potential ban. Earlier this month, the president-elect met TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Recently, Trump told Bloomberg he had changed his mind about the app: “Now (that) I’m thinking about it, I’m for TikTok, because you need competition.” “If you don’t have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram – and that’s, you know, that’s Zuckerberg,” he added. 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.” A coalition of free speech groups – including the American Civil Liberties Union – also filed a separate brief to the Supreme Court opposing enforcement of the law, citing censorship concerns. “Such a ban is unprecedented in our country and, if it goes into effect, will cause a far-reaching disruption in Americans’ ability to engage with the content and audiences of their choice online,” the rights groups’ filing read, in part. The US apex court agreed last week to hear TikTok’s appeal against Biden’s move to force its owner to divest from it or face a ban. With oral arguments scheduled for January 10, the case would have to be heard at a breakneck speed. TikTok argues that the law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates its First Amendment free speech rights. AFP, among more than a dozen other fact-checking organisations, is paid by TikTok in several countries to verify videos that potentially contain false information. TikTok has more than 170mn US users. Bytedance has previously said the Justice Department has misstated its ties to China, arguing its content recommendation engine and user data are stored in the United States on cloud servers operated by Oracle Corp while content moderation decisions that affect US users are made in the United States as well. 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