Jimmy Carter, 39th US president and noted humanitarian, has diedBrittany Mahomes' latest health update is causing alarm among her family and friends: Is her pregnancy at risk?What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry
NoneWarren Buffett's Berkshire hits near six month high
Activists Occupied Bathrooms in the US Capitol to Protest the Trans BanWASHINGTON (AP) — The House shut down Democrats’ efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz , pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It’s unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers only have a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It’s the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee’s five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump’s announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump’s choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg , a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. ___ Farnoush Amiri, The Associated Press
What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industryIce Tropez – categorised as a “wine cocktail” – has responded to the public backlash following a social media post advertising its non-alcoholic version for the whole family. The French brand has come under fire over its products, which look strikingly similar in their packaging. ICE TROPEZ SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH: WHAT HAPPENED? On Instagram, popular mommy influencer Vongai Mapho courted controversy over a paid post advertising Ice Tropez’s non-alcoholic cocktails for the whole family. She posted, “Did you know, unlike other non-alcoholic beverages, Ice Tropez Zero is not de-alcoholised? It’s 100% alcohol-free, making it perfectly safe for expecting moms, kids, and the whole family to enjoy.” While the items were clearly from the non-alcoholic range, they did look strikingly similar to the bottles, which contain 6.50% alcohol. And social media users were just as confused. WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR KIDS NON-ALCOHOLIC ICE TROPEZ? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s incumbent President Zoran Milanovic won most of the votes in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, but must face a runoff against a ruling party candidate to secure another five-year term. With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on Jan. 12, as none of all 8 presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Left-leaning Milanovic is an outspoken critic of Western military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. He is often compared to Donald Trump for his combative style of communication with political opponents. The most popular politician in Croatia, 58-year-old Milanović has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, he has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and continuous sparring between the two has lately marked Croatia’s political scene. Plenković, the prime minister, has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and NATO. He has labeled Milanović “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him and Milanović is quite simple: Milanović is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme military commander. Milanović has criticized the NATO and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, though it is a member of both NATO and the EU. Milanović has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a NATO-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war.” His main rival in the election, Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East.” His presidency bid, however, has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and featured prominently in pre-election debates. During the election campaign, Primorac has sought to portray himself as a unifier and Milanović as divisive. “Today is an extremely important day,” Primorac said after casting his ballot. "Croatia is going forward into the future. Croatia needs unity, Croatia needs its global positioning, and above all Croatia needs peaceful life.” Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
There was little love lost from Senate Republicans over former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s abrupt withdrawal Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee . The eight-day nomination, a brief stint that made it the third-shortest for a Cabinet seat in U.S. history, was plagued by GOP warnings that the polarizing Republican firebrand with a checkered past of sexual misconduct allegations had virtually no path to confirmation. “He was in the pressure cooker, and he made his decision,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a Judiciary Committee member whose panel holds attorney general confirmation hearings. “I’d like to think we’re demonstrating our efficiency.” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a close Trump ally but a former House member who sparred with Gaetz over his involvement in ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, praised it as “a positive move.” “I think because of the reports that were coming out, it was probably a good decision,” Mullin said, describing the confirmation process for Gaetz as an “uphill battle.” RECESS APPOINTMENTS: HOW TRUMP HOPES TO SKIP SENATE CONFIRMATIONS AND FILL HIS CABINET “I think what Matt decided to do here was the decision he had to come to, and it was probably a positive decision for the administration,” he added. Gaetz’s move came just one day after he and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance lobbied Republican senators and strategized with allies on Capitol Hill amid an unpublished House Ethics Committee report handicapping his nomination. Despite what appeared to be a softening image of Gaetz among GOP senators in the face of allegations he paid women for sex and had sex with minors, Gaetz concluded his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction.” GOP senators who met with him said there was no forewarning of his withdrawal. “I had excellent meetings with senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback — and the incredible support of so many,” Gaetz wrote on X. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.” Gaetz, who resigned from the House last week shortly after his attorney general nomination, denied the sexual misconduct allegations and any wrongdoing. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a centrist up for reelection in 2026, said Gaetz “put country first” by dropping out, and she was “pleased with his decision.” “I was not going to make a final decision until after the hearing because you never know what's going to come out,” she said. “But certainly, there were a lot of red flags.” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) foreshadowed that Gaetz’s pathway “would have been problematic.” Senate Democrats were also pleased with the revelation, though some were skeptical Gaetz would survive politically until confirmation hearings commence in January. "Maybe I don't give a s**t because it was never gonna happen," Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said. "But if you guys want to troll with it, it's up to you. Pick your trolls! Pick your trolls!" The fate of the sought-after House Ethics Committee report is uncertain after Republicans on the panel blocked its release. House Democrats are now seeking to compel votes with privileged legislation that would force its disclosure. The White House declined to comment on Gaetz. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration “really, truly want to respect the transfer of power.” Senate Republicans may have dodged having to stake out a position on Gaetz. However, it doesn’t mean he’s out of their lives for good. TRUMP CABINET PICKS: WHO'S BEEN TAPPED TO SERVE IN THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S ADMINISTRATION With Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tapped as Trump’s secretary of state nominee, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will be tasked with choosing the senator’s replacement. Although DeSantis and Gaetz have a fraught relationship, choosing him as Rubio’s successor would be a popular move in "MAGAworld." Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) appeared to be an outlier among the reaction to his fellow Floridian, who said he was “disappointed” by the news. He name-checked Gaetz and Lara Trump, the president-elect's daughter-in-law and co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, as possible Rubio replacements. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Republicans who met with Gaetz on Wednesday, including Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-LA), expressed surprise that Gaetz’s decision came so soon after their meeting. “I have some thoughts” on who Trump should nominate next for attorney general, Kennedy said. “But I don't want to condemn their chances.” Christian Datoc contributed to this report.‘Physical relations’ not synonymous with sexual assault: Delhi HCFORMER President Jimmy Carter has died at age 100. Carter , the 39th president of the United States , died today after nearly two years in hospice care. His son Chip Carter confirmed the former president died on Sunday around 3:45 pm ET. Carter died peacefully surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader. His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. Read more on Jimmy Carter "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The former president decided to live out the remainder of his days at his home in Plains, Georgia . Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Most read in The US Sun He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old. Carter's death came over a year after the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter , who died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. Two days before her death, Rosalynn joined her husband in hospice care at their home in Georgia. The former first lady and fierce advocate for mental health was diagnosed with dementia in early 2023. Before his death, Jimmy Carter was the first to pay tribute to his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me." During Rosylann's service in late November 2023, Amy, the Carters' daughter, read her father's love letter he dedicated to his wife while he was in the Navy. "My darling, every time I have ever been away from you, I have been thrilled when I returned to discover just how wonderful you are," Carter penned more than 70 years ago. "While I am away I try to convince myself that you really are not, could not, be as sweet and beautiful as I remember. "But when I see you I fall in love with you all over again. Does that seem strange to you? It doesn't to me. "Goodbye darling, until tomorrow, Jimmy." Jimmy Carter is survived by his four children, James, Donnel, Amy, and Jack, as well as 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. PRESIDENT CARTER Carter served in the White House from 1977 to 1981. Prior to his presidency, he served as a Georgia State Senator from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. Carter was considered a longshot for the presidency when he announced his presidential campaign in December 1974. As a dark-horse candidate, Carter was not well-known outside of the home state of Georgia. However, Carter's two-year campaign trail paid off when he won the Democratic nomination and narrowly defeated incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford during the 1976 presidential election. Carter, who entered office in January 1977, took over a nation that was still reeling from the events of the Vietnam War , where approximately 59,000 US troops died on the frontlines. Two days after being sworn in as president, Carter famously pardoned all the draft evaders from the Vietnam War. But, his presidency was marred by rising energy costs, mounting inflation, and continuing tensions with foreign adversaries, including the threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Carter's hopes for reelection eventually crumbled due to the Iran hostage crisis. On November 4, 1979, a group of militarized Iranian college students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. The American public turned on Carter for his soft approach to the crisis, which lasted 444 days. The hostage crisis paralyzed his presidency and hampered his efforts at a second term. Carter would eventually lose the 1980 presidential election in a landslide to Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan . LIFE AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE After leaving the Oval Office, Carter devoted his life to diplomacy and human rights work . He founded the Carter Center in 1982, an organization with a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering, according to their website. The non-profit has worked to improve the quality of life for people in countries all over the world. In 2002, Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work seeking peaceful resolutions to global conflicts, advancing human rights and democracy, and promoting economic and social development. The Carter Center also devoted some resources to ensuring free and fair elections and monitored the 2020 elections in the United States . Carter had mostly retired from the public eye in recent years, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and a cancer diagnosis in 2015. While Carter lived a more private life in his latter years, he was vocal in his opposition to certain political moves of the presidents who followed him. He disagreed with Reagan’s handling of peace in the Middle East and was opposed to the Iraq War under George W Bush . Carter criticized the Trump administration but also disagreed with his fellow Democratic president, Barack Obama, regarding the use of drone strikes against suspected terrorists. On his 96th birthday , the former president was honored with a parade of golf carts and other vehicles by local residents, which he and his wife observed from their residence while wearing masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the 2020 presidential election, Carter endorsed Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention and said via video, "Joe Biden was my first and most effective supporter in the Senate ... For decades, he’s been my loyal and dedicated friend." To mark his first 100 days in office, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at their home in Plains, Georgia. "We sat and talked about the old days," Biden told reporters afterward. Jimmy Carter was the longest-lived US president in history, surpassing George HW Bush , who was 94 at the time of his death. READ MORE SUN STORIES 10 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and their four children Credit: Getty - Contributor 10 Jimmy and Rosalynn were college sweethearts Credit: The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum 10 Jimmy Carter's love letter, which he penned more than 70 years ago, was read at Rosalynn Carter's service in late November 2023 Credit: Getty - Contributor More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Three days on from their second-half capitulation against Sheffield Wednesday, Michael Carrick’s side rediscovered their defensive resilience as they successfully contained a Burnley team that are just a point outside the automatic-promotion positions. The Teessiders restricted their opponents to hardly any opportunities, and when stand-in goalkeeper Tom Glover did err, palming a cross into the path of Josh Brownhill, Dael Fry came to the Australian’s rescue with a superb block. The trade-off was that Boro were far less adventurous at the other end than they usually are, limiting the number of players they were throwing into the Burnley box and barely creating anything of note themselves as a result. James Trafford clawed away a decent second-half effort from Finn Azaz, but for the first time in seven matches, Boro failed to trouble the scorer. The point still lifted them back into the play-off positions, though, and after the trauma of the second half against Sheffield Wednesday, perhaps a reduction in attacking output was a price worth paying for a greater degree of calmness and composure. If nothing else, at least it proved Carrick was able to react to what went wrong in the previous game. Given the way in which injuries and suspensions have ravaged the Boro squad in the last couple of weeks, it can also be argued that a draw with a promotion rival is a creditable enough way in which to sign off for 2024. If Boro are in touch with Burnley in May, they will almost certainly be at the heart of the promotion picture. Burnley boast the best defensive record in the Championship by some distance, having only conceded nine goals in 23 matches prior to last night’s game, so it was never going to be a night when Boro created chances at will. With Burnley’s central midfielders, Josh Cullen and Josh Laurent, both sitting relatively deep to help protect their back four, the home side were denied both time and space in the final third. Ben Doak can wriggle his way out of pretty much anywhere, but even the teenage Liverpool loanee was struggling to get much change out of Burnley left-back Bashir Humphreys, such was the quality of the visitors’ defensive work. Doak finally got beyond his man midway through the first half, but while he stood up a decent cross to the back post, Emmanuel Latte Lath had two defenders pressuring him and was only able to head over the crossbar. Boro’s defence was looking equally as resolute at that stage, with George Edmundson having returned to partner Fry at centre-half in the absence of the suspended Rav van den Berg. Both Edmundson and Fry made important first-half blocks from crosses from Jaidon Anthony, who was getting a fair amount of joy up against Neto Borges on the Clarets’ right-hand side. Anthony was involved in a slick passing move that ended with Laurent being released into the right of the box, but Glover was quick off his line to shut down the midfielder. The only contentious moment of the first half came shortly after the half-hour mark, with referee Josh Smith turning down Boro’s appeals as Latte Lath tried to force his way into the area. Latte Lath barged his way between Burnley’s two centre-halves to reach a long ball from Edmundson, but was then brushed over by CJ Egan-Riley as he shaped to break into the box. It didn’t really look like a foul, but in the ensuing confusion, Delano Burgzorg managed to rob the ball off Clarets goalkeeper James Trafford as he tried to mop up outside his penalty area. Burgzorg was able to get a shot away, but it was a tame effort that trundled wide of the post. The effort summed up Burgzorg’s night, with the Dutchman mixing moments of real excitement with other occasions when his decision-making really let him down. The summer addition from Mainz has shown enough in the first half of the season to justify the decision to sign him following last season’s loan spell at Huddersfield, but all too often, a lack of end product undermines the more positive elements of his play. In truth, it was a night when none of the attackers on display really sparkled, with defences very much on top. That said however, Boro might well have fallen behind just before the hour mark had it not been for a piece of superb defending from Dael Fry. Glover made his first mistake of the night when he palmed a hanging cross from Cullen straight into the path of Brownhill, who was in space in the 18-yard box. Brownhill thought he had scored when he fired at goal, but Fry did superbly to get his chest in the way of the shot. The defender had to get his intervention spot on given that he risked giving away a penalty for handball, but his body position was perfect to enable him to legally keep the ball out. Trafford clawed away a decent effort from Azaz at the other end after the Boro midfielder had wriggled into space on the left of the box, before Burnley wasted the best chance of the game with 14 minutes remaining. Brownhill was completely unmarked as Anthony pulled the ball back into his path, but the midfielder leaned back and side-footed over from 12 yards out.
AI-supported classroom should be future strategy: LG SinhaMaryland bullies Bucknell to secure third straight winMaryland bullies Bucknell to secure third straight win
Trafford Centre's first pay for car park opens for business - this is how Premium Parking looksNone