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Donald Trump is keeping a track of those companies who are not contributing to his inaugural fund, will he go after them?

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into an investigation of mysterious drone sightings that have been reported in New Jersey and nearby states. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious activity of unmanned aircraft. He posted a copy of the letter on the social media platform X . “This leaves action surrounding the (drones) squarely on the shoulders of the federal government,” Murphy said. “More federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity.” Murphy and other officials have repeatedly stressed that there is no evidence that the aircraft pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus. The Pentagon also has said they are not U.S. military drones. The drones have drawn intense public concern and curiosity since residents first reported seeing them last month. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said from four to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18, appearing from dusk till 11 p.m. The flying objects have been spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, but the number of reported sightings has grown greatly since then. Drones were also spotted in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. The FBI, Federal Aviation Administration and other state and federal agencies involved in the investigation have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. They also say there have been no confirmed sightings in restricted air space. It’s also possible that a single drone has been seen and reported more than once, officials said. Some federal lawmakers have called on the military to “shoot down” the drones. The drones also appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security. In one case, a medevac helicopter was unable to pick up a seriously injured car accident victim in Branchburg Township in Somerset County late last month due to drones hovering near the planned landing zone, according to NJ.com. The FAA said Thursday that it does not have a report on this incident. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and FAA regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Witnesses say the drones they think they have seen in New Jersey appear to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists.Susy Díaz, one of the most beloved and controversial figures in Peruvian entertainment, is back, but this time not in Congress or on a television set, but in the universe of sustainable fashion. The former congresswoman and celebrity launches a very special closet sale, in which she will make 13 of her most iconic garments available to the public. From December 6 to 25, fans of the former star will be able to purchase these unique pieces, which have witnessed memorable moments in her life, such as the famous outfits she wore in ‘The Value of Truth’. Through Resikla, the second-hand clothing buying and selling platform supported by Platanitos Susy invites everyone to join sustainable fashion, a trend that seeks to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. This special sale will not only allow access to unique garments, but also includes the possibility of negotiating prices, replicating the experience of a traditional market. Susy Díaz announces that she will sell 13 of her most representative garments Susy Díaz’s closet comes out has generated great expectations in recent days, especially for the pieces that will be part of this exclusive sale. There will be 13 pieces of clothing that the former congresswoman has worn in different iconic moments of her life, many of them seen on the popular program ‘The value of truth’ (EVDLV), where he left his mark with his unique style and exuberant personality. Susy Díaz will sell her most representative clothing. Among the most notable items are party dresses that shined on Peruvian television, with shine and cuts that set trends at the time. Each garment has a story that goes beyond its design, a story that connects Susy Diaz with its audience and with the country’s popular culture. From dresses to gala outfits, all of these pieces reflect the essence of a woman who knew how to position herself as a media icon on television and in politics. What makes this sale even more special is that, through Resikla users will not only be able to purchase these unique garments, but will also have the opportunity to negotiate prices, as if they were at a traditional fair. This “haggle” feature makes the experience even closer and more authentic, attracting buyers interested in a more personalized treatment. Join our entertainment channelNoneWhat's New Maryland Governor Wes Moore was awarded a Bronze Star for his service during a deployment to Afghanistan 18 years ago. The governor's office confirmed that a private ceremony to award the Bronze Star was held Friday at the governor's residence in Annapolis, Maryland. Why It Matters The recognition comes months after controversy surfaced over a 2006 White House fellowship application in which Moore reportedly claimed the honor before the official paperwork was finalized. What To Know Moore, a Democrat, was recommended for the Bronze Star by his superiors during his deployment, including Lieutenant General Michael Fenzel. Both Moore and Fenzel stated that Fenzel had encouraged Moore to list the medal on his application, as it had already received the necessary approvals. At the time, then-27-year-old Wes Moore expressed concerns, but Fenzel assured him that the Bronze Star would be awarded before fellows were selected. However, the paperwork was never finalized. Shortly after completing his 11-month deployment, Moore was awarded the White House fellowship. In August, The New York Times reported that Moore had listed the Bronze Star on his fellowship application before it was officially awarded. Fenzel said that upon discovering the oversight, he immediately contacted the chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth to inform them of his intent to resubmit the recommendation. He began re-creating the necessary paperwork and securing approvals from Moore's former chain of command. The Bronze Star citation was officially signed on November 19, but Governor Moore learned of the award on December 14 when Wormuth informed him personally during the Army-Navy football game, according to Moore's staff. What People Are Saying In an August statement Moore responded to the controversy surrounding the Bronze Star by saying: "While serving overseas with the Army, I was encouraged to fill out an application for the White House Fellowship by my deputy brigade commander. In fact, he helped me edit it before I sent it in. At the time, he had recommended me for the Bronze Star. He told me to include the Bronze Star award on my application after confirming with two other senior-level officers that they had also signed off on the commendation." Moore added in the statement: "Towards the end of my deployment, I was disappointed to learn that I hadn't received the Bronze Star. But I was ready to begin the next phase of my life, because the reward for service is never an award—it's the opportunity to give back to your country. When I returned home, I was focused on helping my fellow veterans, a mission I continue to advance as governor,." Fenzel presented the Bronze Star for "meritorious service" to Moore during the ceremony, pinning it on his chest, The Washington Post reported. "I'm so happy to be in a position to right a wrong," Fenzel said during the ceremony , the Post reported. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

First downs and second guesses: Volleyball season in Nebraska isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning. On Monday the Omaha Supernovas announced their draft class, including Creighton All-America Kendra Wait and Nebraska’s Lindsay Krause. They join former Husker Ally Batenhorst, Briana Holman and Kayla Caffey on the roster of the defending Pro Volleyball Federation champions. A couple hours later, the Love Volleyball League announced the signing of its “LOVB 6,” a rookie class that includes Lexi Rodriguez (Omaha) Jess Mruzik (Houston), Sarah Franklin (Madison), Sophie Fischer (Salt Lake), One Ofoegbu (Atlanta), and Madisen Skinner (Austin). Rodriguez joins a LOVB Omaha roster that already is loaded with local star power in Jordan Larson, Justine-Wong-Orantes, Madi Kubik, Lauren Stivrins and Jaali Winters. Is this town big enough for two pro volleyball teams? We’ll find out in a few weeks. The Supernovas open their season on Jan. 10 at the CHI Health Center. Two weeks later, on Jan 24., Omaha LOVB (team name?) opens its inaugural season at Liberty Credit Union First Arena (Ralston), where it will play four matches and two more at Baxter Arena. The level of play in both leagues will be incredible. But are there enough fans to go around? The “Novas” averaged 9,656 fans last year in 12 matches at the CHI Health Center. They led the rest of the teams by a lot. Now add local heroes Wait, Krause and Batenhorst and attendance should improve. But what if fans also want to go see Larson, Rodriguez, Stivrins and Winters, along with familiar opponents like Franklin and Mruzik? How will it all play out? Apparently, LOVB’s pockets run deep. For old San Diego Chargers fans like myself and John Cook, an easy comparison is the National Football League and American Football League wars in the 1960’s. Which resulted in the creation of the Super Bowl and then a merger. This winter should be a blast. But I can already see a couple of questions that might need asking come April. Shouldn’t these two pro volleyball leagues have a championship series at the end? Wouldn’t a merger be the best possible thing for the sport of volleyball? See you next month, ladies. I can still sense a Nebraska volleyball hangover with Husker fans. That’s the impact that team had on folks. Those ladies reached in and grabbed them by the heart. It was an incredible ride and they celebrated all the joys. But that pain at the end is going to leave a mark. The four College Football Playoff quarter final match-ups look terrific. Like, get-me-to-a-TV on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 terrific. So, is eight the right number? Don't give up on 12 yet. I still like 12. I’m a brand name sports guy. I like watching the big boys battle for championships. But I also want the non-brands, the little guys, in there. Underdogs bring a lot to the postseason. They bring the "what if" factor. What if the long shot gets on a roll? That's why we watch. You wouldn't just want a playoff with all SEC and Big Ten teams would you? That's not a national championship. The first-round blowouts weren’t good. But it happens, and it happened in the four-team playoff era. But one day there will be upsets, too. Football can't be basketball. But upsets are the magic in the NCAA tournament. When the field was announced, I thought Indiana and SMU belonged. A loss on an opponent's home field can't change that. Alabama’s problem was its loss to Oklahoma. And who would have imagined that OU would drag mighty Bama out of the playoff? I’m real tired of the SEC whining. It just hurts more. Hey, you guys wanted OU and Texas. You got ‘em. There has been arguing and debates over college football's national champion forever. Expansion to 12 was never going to change that. Until the college game goes to 32 teams and puts them into divisions, ala the NFL, with equal scheduling, there's going to be arguing. I would only change one thing with the first weekend: no first-round byes. The campus atmospheres were fabulous. Give me more of ‘em. One of the great things about the transfer portal is when an athlete settles in and makes the community better. Creighton senior Steven Ashworth is doing that. Ashworth is headlining a local charitable initiative called “Light The World.” The unique project features vending machines, or “Giving Machines,” which are located in Westroads Mall near Von Maur. The machines offer items (10 Blankets for $50 for a homeless shelter) that people can swipe a credit card and donate the item of their choice. The machines will be at Westroads until Dec. 31. Ashworth and a group of Creighton athletes from men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball will be at Westroads on Dec. 28 between 5-8 p.m., to visit and sign autographs. Bill Belichick is used to coaching the best of the best. The majority of college football players are not NFL players. They work hard, and they can make mistakes. Belichick will recruit well at North Carolina, but he’s not going to have an NFL roster. There are going to be mistakes. How will he deal with that? I bet this caught Belichick’s attention: Tulane redshirt quarterback Darian Mensah hit the portal and wound up at Duke. According to CBS Sports, Mensah received an NIL deal at Duke reportedly worth $8 million over two years. When did North Carolina and Duke start spending like Ohio State and Alabama for football? The New Year is upon us. I’m taking nominations for top sports stories in 2024. Send them my way this week. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Advancements in DNA technology and a surge of public interest are rekindling hope for breakthroughs in the long-unsolved murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, a case that has remained a haunting mystery for nearly 28 years. As new techniques emerge and fresh attention is drawn to the evidence, many are eager for answers that could finally bring closure to this tragic story. JonBenét, who was found dead in the basement of her Boulder, Colorado, home in 1996, remains frozen in time. Her father, John Ramsey, has endured nearly three decades without justice, answers or his daughter. "JonBenét's still my 6-year-old blond-headed daughter who I love dearly," Ramsey told ABC News. "I did run into one of her little friends on the street who is now, you know, 30 and an adult. And it was, it was a little bit of a shock. This little girl played with JonBenét at our house all the time. And that was a little bit of a jolt to think, wow, that could have been JonBenét." Watch the full story on the "20/20" episode, "Forever Young: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?" featuring a new interview with John Ramsey and never-before-seen footage from the iconic Barbara Walters interview with parents John and Patsy Ramsey. Ramsey, now 81 years old, has renewed hope that his daughter's killer can finally be found. He is confident that advances in DNA technology, including genetic genealogy that has helped to solve several high-profile cold case, are the key to solving this mystery. "Let's do a reverse family tree and see if he had a relative living in Boulder in 1996. The interesting thing about these cold cases," Ramsey said. "The ultimate first arrest came out of nowhere. They were on no one's radar. They've done this horrible crime and nobody said that that guy's a suspect. That's what we're asking the police to do." Over the years, Ramsey expressed frustration with the police for not solving his daughter's case. He was unhappy with being a prime suspect for 12 years and that the department rejected offers of help to find viable evidence.He recently took part in a new Netflix docuseries, "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?" The series dives into lingering mysteries surrounding the tragic case, exploring evidence, interviews and theories that have emerged over the years. Ramsey collaborated with director Joe Berlinger, who aimed to illuminate what he described as one of the most victimized families in American history. "Obviously, he wasn't legally wrongfully convicted, but he was wrongfully convicted," Berlinger said. "And his wife Patsy -- the family were wrongfully convicted in the court of public opinion." The popular docuseries ignited a new wave of interest among viewers. Ramsey is hopeful that recent changes in the Boulder Police Department's leadership and better communication with his family may lead to a resolution in the case. The Boulder police department has addressed the recent scrutiny. Last month, the current police chief released a video statement. "So much of how law enforcement works has changed in the last 30 years," Stephen Redfearn said. "There are a number of things that people have pointed to throughout the years that could have been done better and we acknowledge that as true. However, it is important to emphasize that while we cannot go back to that horrible day in 1996, our goal is to find JonBenét Ramsey's killer." That tragic day in 1996 began in the picturesque Boulder neighborhood where the Ramsey family lived. On Dec. 26, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up to find that JonBenét, a child beauty queen, was missing. A handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 -- the exact sum of John's bonus that year -- was discovered on the kitchen stairs. Seven hours later, John found his daughter's lifeless body in a small basement room. An autopsy determined JonBenét was sexually assaulted and strangled, and her skull was fractured. Unknown DNA was found under her fingernails and in her underwear. The Ramseys quickly became suspects, even though no evidence connected them to the crime. The family has always denied any involvement in JonBenét's murder. However, the Boulder District Attorney's Office took 12 years to fully exonerate the Ramseys and their son Burke, who was 9 years old when his sister died. As weeks went by without any arrests in the case, a media frenzy began to build, fueled by relentless tabloid images of JonBenét participating in beauty pageants. A number of leads emerged, including a man named John Mark Karr, who confessed to the killing in 2006. However, his DNA did not match the evidence and he was not in Boulder at the time of the murder, so he was eliminated as a suspect. The case remained unsolved. John Ramsey believes that a cloud still hangs over his family, as he thinks there are people in the country who think he and his late wife, Patsy, who died in 2006, are responsible for JonBenét's murder. Investigator Lou Smit, who was initially brought into the case by Boulder County District Attorney Alex Hunter, came to believe early in his investigation that the Ramseys were innocent. He thought that the police should be looking at the possibility of an intruder. "I'm not saying parents don't kill their kids ... parents do kill their children," Smit said in his tapes. "But [ the police ] are trying to say Patsy did it. ... Their actions before, during and after [ JonBenét's death ] are all consistent with innocent people. ... They didn't do it." As the investigation progressed Smit became increasingly concerned that authorities had completely ruled out the chance of an intruder being responsible for JonBenét's death. As a result, they weren't searching for evidence that might support this possibility. Smit continued to maintain that an unidentified intruder was responsible for JonBenét's murder. However, he was running out of time due to his colon cancer diagnosis in 2010. Before Smit died on Aug. 11 of that year, he diligently compiled a detailed list of persons of interest, hoping that his years of investigative work would eventually pay off. Smit passed his files to his surviving children, including a spreadsheet with 887 names of potential suspects to be investigated.That list is extensive, but Smit's family is determined to continue their search. Since his death, the team has cleared several individuals from that list, according to Smit's granddaughter Jessa Van Der Woerd. However, the process is slow due to the time and costs involved in locating each person, obtaining their DNA and testing it. "We've let the killer walk for more than 28 years," John Ramsey said. "I think it's imperative that we investigate every credible suspect that's been provided."

Santa Cruz (California), Dec 24 (AP) Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest, authorities said. Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco, as the storm rapidly gained strength. Also Read | Sheikh Hasina Extradition: Bangladesh Requests India To Extradite Former Prime Minister; New Delhi Confirms Communication. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service's Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Lifeguards rescued two people from the water, officials with Santa Cruz Fire Department said. No one had serious injuries, Mayor Fred Keeley said. Also Read | Brian Thompson Murder Case: Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty to State Murder, Other Charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Death. The mayor said the section of the wharf that collapsed had been damaged over time. The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter. “It's a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf," said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water around 12:45 p.m. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf's pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. Gov. Gavin Newsom's has been briefed and the state's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said. Forecasters warned that storm swells will continue to increase throughout the day. “We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” the mayor said. Ocean swells along California's central coast could reach 60 feet (18 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said. “A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service's Ocean Prediction Center said on X. The end of the pier that broke off had been shut down during renovations. The portion, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River. Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area. Building inspectors were now looking at the rest of the Santa Cruz Wharf's structural integrity. Monday's collapse came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm. Further up the West Coast, dangerous surf conditions and waves up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) were expected from the central Oregon coast up through southwestern Washington. Winds could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and a high surf warning in effect until 10 p.m. Monday night, forecasters said. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said “it will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden faces a stark choice as he contemplates broad preemptive pardons to protect aides and allies from potential retribution by Donald Trump: Does he hew to the institutional norms he’s spent decades defending or flex the powers of the presidency in untested ways? The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But the president has discussed the topic with senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Biden is taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to another person familiar with the president’s discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes –- and usually to those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for some who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. The president could, if he chooses, issue blanket pardons to specific people whom Trump and his allies have threatened to punish. Or he could pardon a broad class of people — not unlike pardons issued to those convicted of federal marijuana offenses or those ensnared in the “don't ask, don't tell” military policies. Either way, he'd be using the powers of the presidency in a new way. Some worry that Trump and his allies, who have talked of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for targeted people even if they don’t result in prosecutions. The door has already been opened, given that Biden has extended a broad pardon to his son, Hunter , who was convicted and pleaded guilty in tax and gun cases. Biden explained that decision by saying he believed the prosecution of his son had been poisoned by politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden plans additional pardons before leaving office though she would not elaborate on the process. She repeatedly referenced “changing factors” that motivated the president to pardon his son despite promising he wouldn’t. She said Republicans have continued to try to see Hunter Biden investigated for an array of alleged offenses, a rationale that could support additional pardons for Biden aides and allies. It was two weeks ago that one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, Rep, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, encouraged Biden to pardon his son Hunter. The morning after that conversation, Clyburn told Biden’s staff that he believed the president should also pardon those being targeted by Trump. “I was very forceful in my discussions with him about what I thought he ought to do regarding his son,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I also told them that I thought he ought to go even further, because all the noise about Jack Smith and Liz Cheney and Doctor Fauci and all of that.” Special Counsel Jack Smith has been investigating Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for accusations he hoarded classified documents at his home. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican , was the vice chairwoman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. Fauci, an infectious disease expert, was instrumental in the government's response to the coronavirus. All have raised the ire of Trump. Clyburn said he told Biden’s team, only half jokingly, that because the Supreme Court has already said that the president has certain immunities, “let’s give that same immunity to Jack Smith for carrying out his duties and to, Doctor Fauci, Liz Cheney, they were carrying out their duties.” Among those mentioned publicly for possible presidential pardons, there are different sentiments on whether pardons would even be wanted. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the president’s move to pardon his son, but has been silent on the speculation that Biden is considering additional pardons for her or others. A top Pelosi ally, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s first impeachment, has panned the idea of pardoning Biden's allies. He says “the courts are strong enough to withstand” the worst of Trump’s threats. “I don’t think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” the incoming senator told NPR recently. “I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary,” Schiff said. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was the lead manager on Trump’s second impeachment, on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, said members of Congress already are protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution, which protects them prosecution for participating in their legislative duties. Raskin said figures like Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly , Trump's former White House chief of staff, would similarly be protected by the First Amendment. But Raskin said the question is, “Should they go through the criminal investigation and prosecution for not doing anything wrong? I think that’s why this whole issue has erupted.” Raksin added that with Trump promising to pardon hundreds of people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6th, “I can hardly fault President Biden for exploring the use of the pardon to protect people from a fraudulent and unjust prosecution.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s had no conversations with the White House regarding any preemptive pardons for current or former members of Congress. Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures

A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “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.” TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court, though its unclear whether the court will take up the case. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting ans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people,” Hughes said. Unless stopped, he argued the statute “will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025.” Though the case is squarely in the court system, it's also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the presidential campaign that he is now against such action . The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a yearslong saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. “Today’s decision is an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to collect sensitive information about millions of Americans, to covertly manipulate the content delivered to American audiences, and to undermine our national security,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits , that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. The European Union on Friday expressed similar concerns as it investigates intelligence that suggests Russia possibly abused the platform to influence the elections in Romania. TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republicans and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three denied TikTok’s petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content” on TikTok. “Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing,” Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. “This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans’ access to information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. “We hope that the appeals court’s ruling won’t be the last word.” Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said “it's time for ByteDance to accept” the law. To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm — the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan — would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content. Still, some investors, including Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business. This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.Cauliflower is, arguably, one of the most versatile vegetables. It can be everything from wings to sauce to a delicious roast centerpiece, but it’s not the only vegetable that can take pride of place in the middle of the plate. Jump to the recipes Just like cauliflower, several vegetables can be cooked whole. There’s the cruciferous vegetable’s green cousin, for example, broccoli, as well as cabbage, eggplant, and another vegan roast favorite, squash. Below, we’ve picked out some of our favorite whole vegetable recipes for you to try next. Sorry cauli, but you’ve got some seriously delicious competition. Why cook vegetables whole? Cooking vegetables whole comes with many benefits. Firstly, it may help to retain more of their nutrients. When vegetables are cut into smaller pieces, more surface area is exposed to heat and air, which may lead to nutrient loss through oxidation and leaching. But it’s also a good choice flavor-wise—By cooking the vegetable in its entirety, its natural flavors are preserved and intensified. RELATED: Not Sure How To Roast Vegetables? Ina Garten’s Method Is a Masterclass Karolina Grabowska | Pexels It’s also relatively simple, as there’s no need to spend time chopping and slicing, and arguably, it looks better. During the holidays or on special occasions, whole vegetables look impressive and visually appealing in the middle of the table. How to cook vegetables whole: 8 vegan recipes to try Check out some of our delicious vegan recipes below. Sara Kiyo Popowa 1 Roasted Sweet Basil Squash With Wild Rice and Mustard Greens Salad From the Mind Food: Plant-Based Recipes for Positive Mental Health cookbook, this recipe perfectly demonstrates how delicious, and show-stopping, a simple onion squash can be. It’s slow-roasted with tamari, maple syrup, ginger, garlic, and lime, and then served with a tasty wild rice salad. Get the recipe Micah Siva 2 Vegan Za’atar-Seared Broccoli Steaks Cauliflower steaks are a popular choice for many, but broccoli deserves the spotlight in this area, too. Once you’ve tried these za’atar-seared vegan steaks by Nosh with Micah , we can confidently say you’ll firmly be on the side of broccoli. For a truly succulent dish, serve with yogurt, hazelnuts, and olive oil. Get the recipe Simon Smith 3 Vegan Stuffed Squash Roast With Cranberry-Orange Sauce If the first squash recipe didn’t convince you, then this one Gaz Oakley’s Vegan Christmas cookbook certainly will. It looks great, is easy to cook, and tastes delicious, largely thanks to the added cranberry-orange sauce. Get the recipe Lauren Lovatt 4 Vegan Sizzling Zucchini With Creamy Tzatziki and Vinegary Chimichurri If you weren’t sure if zucchini could be an elegant centerpiece, this recipe, again from the Mind Food: Plant-Based Recipes for Positive Mental Health cookbook, is all the proof you need. It’s perfect for date night, especially when drizzled with plenty of chimichurri and served with tzatziki on the side. Get the recipe Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer 5 Smoky Grilled Eggplant Vegan Ballpark Hot Dogs Yep, whole vegetables can be great comfort food, too. These smoky grilled eggplant hot dogs from VBQ: The Ultimate Vegan Barbecue Cookbook are the perfect snack for game day. Load them up with plenty of sauerkraut, ketchup, and mustard, just like you would a regular hot dog. Get the recipe Epicurious 6 Whole Roasted Cabbage With Grapefruit and Campari Salsa We promise this charred, whole-roasted cabbage looks as good as it tastes. But while it may look impressive, it’s pretty easy to pull together. The cabbage is boiled and blanched before it is roasted for over an hour. The resulting flavor is delicious and perfect with the accompanying grapefruit and Campari salsa. Get the recipe Hannah Sunderani 7 Black Bean-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Coconut Sour Cream and Guacamole As well as cauliflower, sweet potatoes are another popular vegetable that often gets cooked whole. And it’s not surprising. When baked, sweet potatoes have a tender creamy texture, as well as a pleasant caramelized flavor. While delicious on their own with a slab of vegan butter , they’re arguably even better when stuffed with black beans and loaded with coconut sour cream and guacamole. Get the recipe Alexandra Shytsman 8 Miso-Mustard Tempeh With Roasted Baby Bok Choy In this flavor-packed recipe, the baby bok choy is cut in half, but it remains intact during the cooking process, so we think it counts as being cooked whole. Preparing the vegetable this way allows it to retain its structure and develop a tender yet crispy texture. Once you’ve tried it, you won’t want to cook it any other way. Get the recipe DON'T MISS OUT : Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter Get the Best Out of Your Potatoes With These 40 Delicious Recipes Artichokes Deserve a Spot in Your Diet: Here’s Why What Are Collard Greens? Plus, 8 Tasty Vegan Recipes to Try JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast. Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.

Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtful

Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about when his government learned Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, citing “security issues”. Footage of Mr Jenkins getting interrogated by Russian forces began circulating on pro-Kremlin social media channels on Sunday. But it is unclear when the video was shot and Australia’s embassy in Moscow has been scrambling to get details on his whereabouts. The Prime Minister on Tuesday said again that his government was “making representations”. “We have called in the Russian ambassador to Canberra to make appropriate representations,” he told reporters in Darwin. “Our Australian embassy in Moscow is also making representations to secure a positive outcome. “It is an opportunity for us to say that the warnings ... about travelling to areas of conflict are ones that should be heeded by Australians. “This is not a safe or secure thing to do, and there is a risk involved, but we will continue to, as we always do, make representations on behalf of Australians.” Suggestions the Albanese government knew of Mr Jenkins’ capture weeks or even months ago were reported by some media outlets on Tuesday. Asked when his government started talking to Moscow about Mr Jenkins, Mr Albanese repeated remarks he made on Monday to “always look after Australians”. He was asked point blank when Australians officials learned Mr Jenkins was captured. “When notification occurs, we take action on behalf of Australian citizens,” Mr Albanese said. Pressed further, he said “there are security issues involved”. “But we make this point that it is a dangerous thing to do, to enter into a war zone in a time of conflict two,” he said. A Ukrainian security source confirmed to NewsWire Mr Jenkins was serving in the International Legion of Defence of Ukraine. The source did not say where exactly the Australian was last deployed or when he was taken prisoner. The video of Mr Jenkins suggested he was captured near Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian stronghold near the front lines in the eastern Donetsk Oblast. It is a key strategic city for Ukraine and a major target for Russian forces. A fellow foreign fighter who served with Mr Jenkins described him to the ABC as “very patriotic” and a “hell of a damn good soldier”. ‘Not our friends’: Ukraine warning to Aussies Earlier, Nationals leader David Littleproud warned Australians that “Russians are not our friends” in a call on citizens to think twice before heading to Ukraine. The senior opposition MP said the Australian government was in a tough spot. “This is a difficult situation with the government, that they’ve been put in, and this isn’t something that Australians need to think. that this is a great adventure running to the Ukraine,” he told Sky News. “That’s a war zone, and bad things are going to happen. The Russians are not our friends, and they won’t treat you as a friend, and the Australian government just can’t waltz in and get you out.” The video of Mr Jenkins emerged just days after Australia pledged fresh aid to Ukraine and announced the reopening of the embassy in Kyiv. Canberra has given Kyiv north of $1.5bn worth of support, including munitions and battle tanks. The bipartisan backing for Ukraine has landed Australia a spot on Russia’s register of “unfriendly countries” – the Kremlin’s geopolitical naughty list. Mr Littleproud said there was “not a lot to negotiate with”. Pro-Russia propagandist Simeon Boikov, known by his moniker Aussie Cossack, has offered himself up for a prisoner swap. Boikov has been hiding at the Russian consulate in Sydney since he was convicted of assaulting a 76-year-old man at a pro-Ukraine rally in Sydney more than two years ago. Since entering the consulate he has been pumping out Kremlin disinformation from a makeshift studio, including politically-charged falsehoods around the high-profile stabbings in Sydney earlier this year and the 2023 Voice referendum. Mr Littleproud downplayed the plausibility of Boikov getting the swap, pointing out that he “isn’t a prisoner”. “He’s there in his own volition because he’s running away from charges from our law,” the senior Coalition MP said. “Now, I think the government needs to be given the space to work through this and to work through this constructively. “And if there are options available, then obviously, with the appropriate briefings, I think the Coalition stands ready to support them in whatever endeavours they can do. “But just appreciate this is a difficult situation the Australian government’s been put in, and that Australia should understand there is no magic wand for any government to be able to negotiate with Russia. So stay away.” How and when Mr Jenkins got to Ukraine remains unclear. The video of his interrogation showed him responding to questions in broken Ukrainian and Russian. His inability to speak fluently appeared to frustrate his Russian interrogator, who hit him several times and repeatedly swore at him. At one point, the Russian asks him: “Do you want to live?” Mr Jenkins replies: “I want to help Ukraine”. Acting foreign affairs minister and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said on Monday the government was providing consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family, and that Australian officials were “making representations to the Russian government”. We urge the Russian Government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war. “Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is and confirming his wellbeing. “I reiterate the Government’s clear advice to all Australians – do not travel to Ukraine.” Russia’s war in Ukraine has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands on both sides and displaced more than 10 million people. Some 11,500 Ukrainians have found safe haven in Australia. Originally published as Littleproud warns Australians against ‘adventure running’ to Ukraine after Melbourne man captured

AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. EST

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