The clock may have finally wound down for TikTok after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on Friday that Congress has the power to ban the popular social media app if it fails to shed its Chinese ownership. The judges dismissed the First Amendment challenge that was brought by TikTok and many of its highest-profile users, who argued the ban was unconstitutional. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States. Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States," wrote Judge Douglas Ginsburg. Sell-or-Ban—No Other Option The sell-or-ban law was signed by President Joe Biden in April, after receiving bipartisan support from lawmakers—including many who received classified briefings from the U.S. intelligence community. Critics of Friday's ruling were quick to call for the Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals ruling. "This law threatens the free speech rights of our client and millions of other Americans who use TikTok to share and hear political ideas," said Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center, which filed a lawsuit to challenge the TikTok ban in June. "To protect their rights, we'll ask the court to stay its decision until we seek Supreme Court review and receive a final decision," Huerbert added. Not Over Until It's Over While the company has until January 19, 2025, to either be sold or be banned—there are still possible lifelines available for TikTok. "One is the Supreme Court, which doesn't have to accept the case but could," explained social media analyst Greg Sterling, co-founder of Near Media. It is a long shot, as the high court may opt not to hear the case. Yet, even if the case is heard, it doesn't mean SCOTUS would rule in favor of TikTok, especially as lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have pushed for the ban. "It's unlikely to say that the First Amendment outweighs U.S. national security interests, especially in the wake of the recent Chinese 'Salt Typhoon' hacking incident ," said Sterling, who added the other lifeline could come from the incoming administration. During his first term, President-elect Donald Trump had actually tried to ban TikTok, only to see the Biden administration overturn it. It is possible the same could play out again, just with the roles reversed. Trump has said he no longer supports a ban . "Although the ban is scheduled to take effect before he's inaugurated, Trump could push Congress to repeal the ban," added Sterling. "It's not clear whether that would be successful because of divisions within the Republican Party on TikTok." Are The Security Concerns Valid? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have warned of the potential danger that the app presents as it could share user data with China, yet, some critics of the law say TikTok is just part of a much larger and more serious issue of how social media companies have access to the personal data of users. "The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on TikTok highlights critical issues in mobile app security, API vulnerabilities, and the overarching role of big technology companies in app ecosystems dominated by Apple and Google," said Ted Morocco, CEO of cybersecurity provider Approov. "While the TikTok ban focuses on national security risks due to foreign ownership, the conversation must expand to address systemic flaws in app distribution and privacy regulation," Morocco added. "The lack of a federal data privacy framework in the U.S. exacerbates the issue, allowing platform owners to set their opaque policies." The cybersecurity expert added that the current policies enable practices that prioritize profit over user protection, including permissive data harvesting and inadequate penalties for privacy violations. "A clear, enforceable policy would mitigate these risks, especially for minors, who are disproportionately targeted by app-based surveillance and manipulative algorithms," explained Morocco, who said similar scrutiny should apply to all apps, regardless of their origin. TikTok's ban is largely justified by concerns over data flowing to a foreign adversary, even as American companies don't operate all that differently in how they gather customer data. "U.S.-based companies like Meta and Amazon have also faced allegations of privacy abuses," said Morocco. "A robust framework would ensure equal accountability and provide mechanisms for imposing meaningful penalties globally." TikTok's case simply serves as a microcosm of broader issues within cybersecurity, and how users are largely oblivious to how their data may be used. This ruling could address some national security concerns, but Morocco said a more comprehensive and transparent approach is needed to tackle the structural problems of app ecosystems. "Only by prioritizing security, transparency, and accountability, can the U.S. safeguard its citizens," he continued. Where Does This Leave TikTok Users? There is now less than a month and a half until TikTok could be banned in the U.S., and those who have large followings may need to look to other platforms . "If TikTok is shut down, which would be highly disruptive for many creators and users, Instagram is the most likely place that both groups would turn," said Sterling. "Instagram Reels is essentially a TikTok clone. But they could move to other networks as well. Bluesky is a possibility but I would be surprised if people moved over there vs. Instagram."30 niceph 。

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The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.An animal farm in eastern Ontario wants your Christmas trees for its goats, sheep, alpacas and cattle to feed on. Vanderlaand The Barnyard Zoo in Winchester, Ont., a petting zoo, takes about 150 trees every year and uses them to feed and shelter its animals, owner Ruth Vanderlaan told CTV News Ottawa Sunday. “They do like the fresh needles,” she said. “But they will clean them right up. It's usually like a toothpick.” The farm is a family activity that attracts people living in North Dundas and the Ottawa region. “I just love tossing things over fences,” said visitor, Willow Green, while watching the goats quickly grabbing the tree branches up. Mom Erin Kergin was also visiting the zoo with her kids Sunday. She says visiting has become an annual tradition. “It’s so wonderful,” she said. “Recycling the tree, so no scraps go to waste. And that the kids actually get to see the goats and the donkeys and all the animals kind of rejoice that (they get to eat it). It's the second life for their Christmas tree, which is really lovely to see.” The Vanderlaand Barnyard Zoo is open for the Christmas holidays from Dec. 29-31 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., before being closed for Jan. 1 and 2, 2025 and reopening from the Jan. 3-6 from 11 a.m. to 3pm. Vanderlaan says if you would like a chance to feed the animals, you can come during opening hours. Otherwise, if the farm is closed, those dropping off their trees can leave them at the end of the road. The City of Ottawa has also shared a few tips on how to get rid of your Christmas trees while helping the environment. Herea re some of the options: • Leave it in your backyard. This can help improve the soil quality, as it decomposes. It can also provide shelter for wildlife. • Trim the branches and use them as supports for vines, flowers and bushes in your backyard. • Create “rustic garden edges” with the branches. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal Eastern Ontario farm wants your Christmas trees to feed its animals: ’They do like the fresh needles’ Two adults taken to hospital following basement fire in Centretown West FOG ADVISORY | Environment Canada warns of 'near-zero' visibility as fog blankets Ottawa Here's how you can watch CTV News at Six on Sundays during the NFL season OPP warning of thin ice after two recreation vehicles fall through eastern Ontario lakes Ottawa OPP seizes $28K, suspected drug tablets following traffic stop on Highway 417 What's happening in Ottawa over the holidays CTVNews.ca Top Stories Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. 2 teenagers arrested, 1 suspect at-large after attack involving bear spray, machete A pair of teenaged boys have been charged with aggravated assault after police said they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday evening. Possible explosion at Metro Vancouver strip mall under investigation Police and firefighters were called to the scene of a potential explosion at a Metro Vancouver strip mall Sunday morning. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. Recognize the name Jolt Cola? The 1980s soda aims to make a comeback — this time with even more caffeine Jolt Cola, the soda brand that gained attention in the 1980s for offering “all the sugar and twice the caffeine,” is heading back to stores in 2025. This time, it’s promising more than twice the original caffeine content. Looking to get rid of your Christmas tree? 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Suspect charged after woman found dead at Niagara Falls home A suspect has been charged after a woman was found dead inside her Niagara Falls home. SIU investigating after Toronto cops discharge sock round, less-lethal firearm at man that resulted in serious injuries The province’s police watchdog is investigating after Toronto officers discharged sock round and less-lethal firearm at a man who had allegedly stabbed another person in the city’s Rockcliffe-Smythe area on Saturday morning. Montreal Over a dozen community groups refuse to leave Montreal centre despite eviction order More than a dozen groups have refused to vacate a community centre in Montreal's Ahuntsic neighbourhood despite an eviction order from their landlord, Quebec's largest school service centre. Earthquake near Maniwaki felt in Gatineau, Ottawa, and Montreal A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Maniwaki, Que., on Sunday morning, according to Earthquake Canada. Authorities change plan to free stranded vessel near Vercheres The Canadian Coast Guard announced on Sunday morning that a change of strategy was underway to salvage the vessel that ran aground on Christmas Eve in the St. Lawrence River, in the Verchères sector of the Montérégie region. Northern Ontario Mississauga tow truck driver charged for impersonating a cop in northern Ont. A southern Ontario resident has been charged for allegedly impersonating a peace officer during a towing incident in northwestern Ontario. Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. Montreal motorist dead after 5-vehicle collision in Kirkland Lake: OPP Ontario Provincial Police in Kirkland Lake, Ont., are investigating a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 that killed one person. Windsor Crews battle two apartment fires in under two hours Windsor Fire and Rescue responded to two calls at Ouellette Avenue apartment buildings Sunday morning. Rainfall warning in effect across the region It’s a wet and gloomy day across the region. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Windsor, Essex County, and Chatham-Kent. 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal The earth moved in the Maniwaki area this Sunday morning. No damage was reported after a 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Maniwaki area in western Quebec, according to Earthquakes Canada. London Fatal crash in Middlesex County Middlesex County OPP attended the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision in Strathroy-Caradoc early Sunday morning. New Year’s Eve in London’s Victoria Park You can ring in 2025 this Tuesday night at London’s free New Year’s Eve in the Park celebration. 'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Kitchener Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damages after fire A fire Saturday morning has a Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damage. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. Barrie Deluxe taxi goes up in flames in Barrie parking lot Some locals were quick to pull out their cellphones and capture a minivan as it went up in hot flames in a Barrie parking lot. Region under rainfall warning, fog advisory Many areas across Simcoe Muskoka, upper York Region and Grey County are under rainfall warnings and fog advisories as of Sunday morning. $47K in drugs seized, man arrested in alleged domestic assault Police in Owen Sound made one arrest and seized a ‘large’ quantity of multiple drugs after responding to an alleged domestic assault on Saturday. Winnipeg 2 teenagers arrested, 1 suspect at-large after attack involving bear spray, machete A pair of teenaged boys have been charged with aggravated assault after police said they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday evening. Experts, province urge caution over ice conditions after man dies in Hanover The province, along with outdoor enthusiasts, are urging people to use caution near frozen bodies of water after a man died when his skid steer loader fell through the ice. Cross-country ski race returns to Windsor Park The Prairie Holiday Loppet made its long-awaited return to Winnipeg’s Windsor Park Saturday, with dozens of racers hitting the trails. Calgary 1 arrested after 3 stabbed in Airdrie, including 2 youth Airdrie RCMP have arrested a male in connection with multiple aggravated assaults that left three people injured. 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Olympic Games in 2026 on the horizon for world champion ski jumper Alex Loutitt The words "why not me" are tattooed on the back of Alexandria Loutitt's hand between her thumb and wrist. Regina Regina police charge 2 youths in city's 6th homicide of 2024 Two Regina teens are facing murder charges in connection to the death of a Regina man on Boxing Day. Regina man showcases local bead supply business Jeramy Hannah recently began selling beading supplies, after he realized the beaders in his life were struggling with a lack of local vendors, prompting him to create a business called Bead Bro. 'A great holiday memory': Echo Valley Provincial Park gets plenty of visitors at Skate the Park launch Families and groups of friends made use of the good weather as the new season of Skate the Park got underway at Echo Valley Provincial Park. Saskatoon U18 provincials curling tournament underway in PA Teams from across Saskatchewan are in Prince Albert for the U18 curling provincials. 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Vancouver Island Victoria police seek witnesses, additional victims after hit-and-run spree A woman is facing seven charges after allegedly committing multiple hit-and-run crashes in a stolen vehicle while impaired, according to police in B.C.'s capital. Online child exploitation spiked during lockdowns. Police worry it's here to stay Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Vancouver man defrauded Chinese developers of US$500K, court rules A Vancouver man has been ordered to pay more than US$500,000 after a B.C. Supreme Court judge found he had defrauded the would-be developers of a real estate project in China of that amount. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay Connected

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are having an enchanted holiday break with good friends. The pair was spotted out on a double date at BondST restaurant in New York City Dec. 27 with the Grammy winner’s longtime pal and collaborator Jack Antonoff and his wife, actress Margaret Qualley. Taylor wore an oversized, beige tweed, crystal-embroidered Stella McCartney blazer, paired with what appeared to be a black skirt, sheer, diamond-patterned black Sheertex tights and Marc Jacobs ankle-length platform boots, as seen in photos published by the Daily Mail. Travis matched the “Style” singer with a beige cardigan, paired with a black shirt, tan pants, dark shoes, glasses and a black cap. He and Taylor were photographed leaving the eatery, with the NFL star leading his girlfriend by the hand. Margaret bundled up in a dark coat with black tights, while Jack wore a yellow zip-up top, black jacket and jeans. Taylor had attended the couple’s wedding in August 2023, weeks before she was first photographed at one of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s games following romance rumors between the two. She and the NFL star have now been dating for over a year. They have supported each other’s careers consistently, with him attending more than a dozen concerts on her Eras tour, which ended Dec. 8, and Taylor being spotted at more than a dozen of Travis’ games, most recently Dec. 21, when the Chiefs beat the Houston Texans. While the “Blank Space” singer was absent from the Kansas City team’s Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, she did publicly express support for her boyfriend after he scored his 77th receiving touchdown-to break a record previously held by Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez-by liking several social posts celebrating the feat. Travis had also celebrated Taylor’s career milestone-her Eras Tour, which began in March 2023 and included 149 concerts held in 51 cities, had set a world record to become the highest-grossing music tour by generating more than $1 billion in revenue. The athlete threw the singer a star-studded, Eras-tour-themed party. He also gave her a shoutout on his and brother Jason Kelce’s podcast. “Obviously, it’s her music, her tour and everything but that was a full production, man,” Travis said on the Dec. 11 episode of New Heights. “It was the best tour in the world because of a lot of people.” He added, “And mostly because of Taylor.”The Latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

Editor’s note: The Texas A&M baseball team’s run to the College World Series finals, followed by the departure of Jim Schlossnagle and hiring of Michael Earley, is The Eagle’s No. 2 sports story of 2024. This is part of a daily series of the top 10 stories in Bryan-College Station and the Brazos Valley this year. Stories will appear daily with No. 1 running in the Dec. 31 edition. The Texas A&M baseball team’s run to the College World Series finals and the two weeks that followed was a rollercoaster ride of emotions to say the least. Head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s departure to rival Texas the day after A&M’s loss to Tennessee in the CWS finals almost caused a mass exodus of A&M’s most successful team in school history. But the Aggies' hiring of assistant coach Michael Earley — who originally left Schlossnagle — circled the wagons, kept the roster intact and now has one of the nation’s best teams going into 2025. Hours after the Aggies returned home from Omaha on the heels of a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the championship series, Schlossnagle stunned Aggieland with his departure to Texas. Rumors had swirled of the possibility, but the reality of his decision was a gut-punch and came less than a day after Schlossnagle berated a reporter for asking about his name being linked to the Longhorns’ opening during a postgame press conference. In one of the wildest coaching changes in A&M’s, and possibly college baseball’s history, Schlossnagle explained how leaving Aggieland for Austin was mainly rooted in his friendship with Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte, whom he worked with at TCU from 2009-17. “All I can say is: I have a career, too,” Schlossnagle said in his introductory press conference in Austin. “I have a personal life as well that I have goals I just simply felt like, no negative at A&M, just the positives of the alignment and frankly my relationship with Chris. There wasn’t anybody at Texas A&M that I couldn’t trust, I just know that I can trust Chris. I know that. And as hard as that decision was, I could not walk away from it.” Animosity from Aggies about Schlossnagle’s decision was loud. Fans and even players aired their grievances on social media. A&M utility player Travis Chestnut told The Eagle he was treated poorly by Schlossnagle during his tenure with the Aggies. “I’m blown away by the disrespect of Schlossnagle,” Chestnut said. “Not once in my career was he a respectable man to me. I stuck with him because I wanted to be an Aggie and in the SEC. But quite frankly, I didn’t stick to him. I stuck to [assistant coaches] Mike Earley and Nolan Cain.” That animosity turned into a groundswell of support for A&M to hire Earley, the Aggies' hitting coach. A number of current and former A&M players expressed their support for the Aggies to hire Earley. "Nobody more deserving, no more questions need to be asked," A&M first baseman Ted Burton wrote in a social media post. "One of the brightest, young baseball minds out there and a genuine love for his guys. Any player would run through a wall for this man.” A&M athletic director Trev Alberts conducted a full search, which he said included conversations with nine candidates. But after Alberts’ first interview with Earley, he said the assistant coach became a serious candidate. And while player support and respect was a key component to Alberts’ decision, he said Earley’s vision for the program, plan to build a staff and self-awareness of his “blindspots” and solutions for those caught his attention. “I was very, very pleasantly surprised,” Alberts said. “I didn’t know what to expect. I would say that he knocked it out of the ballpark on the initial Zoom.” A week that began with sadness of losing a championship that turned into bitter disgust of Schlossnagle’s decision to leave ended with elation and excitement of where the program could go under Earley. “We got our guy that we wanted,” A&M pitcher Brad Rudis said at Earley’s introductory press conference. “And he’s going to be here to stay for a long time.” That concluded a memorable spring for the Aggies, who won an NCAA regional at Blue Bell Park and then defeated Oregon 2-0 in a best-of-three regional at home that ended with a 15-9, come-from-behind win. The Aggies opened the CWS at Omaha, Nebraska, with a late-night 3-2 victory over Southeastern Conference rival Florida before Ryan Prager's pitching gem against another SEC foe, Kentucky, sent A&M to the semifinals. The pitching staff came through again in a 6-0 win over Florida that sent A&M to its first championship series in school history. Another SEC opponent, top-ranked Tennessee, stood in the Aggies' path in the best-of-3 final. Buoyed by a five-run third inning, the Aggies won Game 1 9-5 before the Volunteers responded by allowing just seven hits in a 4-1 Game 2 victory. Tennessee took a 6-1 lead in the decisive Game 3 before A&M scored twice in the top of the eighth and two more in the ninth to close the gap to 6-5. But the Volunteers held on for their first national championship and set in motion a wild week off the field.US stocks mostly rose Friday after a report showed a healthy jobs market, and Paris rallied as President Emmanuel Macron vowed to serve out his full term and end France's political crisis. Oil fell on concerns of oversupply and Bitcoin held at a level over $100,000 after hitting records Thursday. The world's biggest economy gained 227,000 jobs in November, more than analysts expected and up from a revised 36,000 in October, said the US Department of Labor. "The US jobs market has emphatically rebounded following October's disappointing data," said Neal Keane, head of global sales trading at ADSS. October's figures had been depressed by hurricanes and workers' strikes, while November's increases may have been exaggerated by the end of a strike at Boeing in particular -- and by retail hiring ahead of the holiday season. US stocks mostly closed higher, with the broad-based S&P 500 and tech-focused Nasdaq both hitting fresh records, although the Dow retreated slightly. Investors are mostly betting that November's jobs numbers, while comforting, are probably not strong enough to deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates again this month. "Investors needed a reassuring jobs report and that's exactly what they got," said eToro analyst Bret Kenwell. "The market still favors a rate cut from the Fed later this month and this report may not change that expectation." The Paris stock market closed up 1.3 percent on "hope that President Emmanuel Macron will serve out his term and that a (French) budget can be passed in the coming weeks," noted Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown. Macron on Friday was holding talks with French political leaders on the left and right as he seeks to quickly name a new prime minister after Michel Barnier's government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote. Macron adopted a defiant tone in an address to the nation Thursday evening, just 24 hours after parliament voted out Barnier over his 2025 budget plan, which included unpopular austerity measures forced through without a vote using special powers. The luxury sector benefitted also from hopes of a pickup in Chinese demand. Gucci owner Kering topped the Paris CAC 40 as its shares gained more than six percent, while LVMH rose more than three percent. French video game company Ubisoft jumped 13 percent on takeover speculation. Frankfurt closed slightly higher, other continental markets were mixed, and London slid. In Asia, shares in Seoul sank more than one percent and the won weakened to about 1,420 per dollar as lawmakers prepared to hold an impeachment vote Saturday after President Yoon Suk Yeol's dramatic, short-lived imposition of martial law this week. While analysts said the economic fallout from the crisis would likely be limited, a political storm is ongoing. Hong Kong and Shanghai rallied as investors grew hopeful of fresh stimulus when top Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping meet to discuss economic policy next week. Bitcoin hovered above $100,000 after having blasted to the historic peak of $103,800 Thursday on news that US President-elect Donald Trump had picked crypto proponent Paul Atkins to head the nation's markets regulator. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 44,642.52 points (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3 percent at 6,090.27 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 19,859.77 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.3 percent at 7,426.88 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.1 percent at 20,384.61 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 8,308.61 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 39,091.17 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.6 percent at 19,865.85 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,404.08 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0566 from $1.0591 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2740 from $1.2760 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.97 yen from 150.09 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.93 from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.6 percent at $67.20 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.4 percent at $71.12 per barrel gv/rl/bys/ahaNone