MOSCOW A senior Russian official on Sunday weighed in on US President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the US government to purchase Greenland or other foreign territories, saying that instead, Trump or his close ally Elon Musk should personally open their wallets to buy the land they want. "Not sure why the US, as a country, needs to annex Canada, Greenland, or even Britain, and take back the Panama Canal. There's a more civilized way: @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk could just buy the land, making it their private property," Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president and premier, and currently deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X. It was not clear if the post was written as a serious proposal. This month Trump reiterated his stated wish from his first term to control the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity.” Denmark quickly rebuffed his proposal. Since winning his ticket back to the White House in November, Trump has also repeatedly called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "the governor of the great state of Canada,” as if it were a US state. He also said the US may retake control over the Panama Canal if the current conditions of its use are not reviewed. Musk, the owner of electric carmaker Tesla and social media platform X, is currently ranked the world’s richest man, with a worth of some $219 million, though it is doubtful if any of the territories in question would go for sale at any price.
CHRISTMAS may just be around the corner but the cold weather is set to stay for at least another couple of months. And if you want to keep warm without spending a tonne on your energy bills then you better keep reading. Adding layers to your clothes can help keep you warm, and doing it with thermals will ensure you stay toasty. Thankfully, Uniqlo has come to the rescue with their thermal tops which come in size colours - white, black, olive, pink , navy and cream. Not only have they been rated an average of five stars by happy customers they are also on sale. The Japanese high street brand has slashed the price of its popular thermal fleece top from £19.90 down to £14.90. It is designed with technology to lock heat in, so it's ideal for wearing as a layering piece, or alone as a long-sleeved top. The sizing range is very inclusive going from a XXS to an XXL to suit any body shape. Plus, as stated the thermals are currently on sale through their online shop but you better be quick. The sale will end tonight so it's worth stocking up on the winter warmers now. Those who have bought the thermals have raved about how cosy they are in the reviews - giving the tops an average five stars out of five. One person wrote: "This item was definitely my favourite purchase this winter. "It's amazing to wear as a layer and keeps me really warm during the coldest winter nights, even while I'm outside for a long period of time, it really encapsulates the warmth. Would highly recommend!" Another commented: "'This thermal keeps me so warm, especially when I am on my bike. I wear it underneath jumpers and with a light jacket on top and it’s perfect.'' "This crew neck shirt is just perfect for winter, it will keep you warm and it’s not bulky if you wear if underneath your outfit!" penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "Loose but not oversized. Warm and very soft. Extremely comfortable to wear." Thermal clothing keeps you warm by trapping air near your body and preventing heat loss. It's made from materials like polyester, merino wool, fleece, or down that are good at insulating and wicking away moisture. Trapping air The fabric creates a layer of insulation by trapping air, which is a poor conductor of heat. This prevents heat from escaping through conduction, convection, and radiation. Wicking away moisture Thermal clothing is breathable and absorbs sweat from your skin, which helps prevent you from getting damp and cold. Regulating body temperature Thermal clothing keeps you warm in cold weather, but it's also breathable enough to prevent overheating during physical activity. Design features Some thermal clothing has panels or zones that provide extra warmth to areas like your chest, back, and knees "Keeps you warm and top quality. We want to have it in several colours,” claimed a fifth. Someone else added: “So fluffy, soft and comfy, great quality and very very warm. Perfect for layering." Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line .President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Haleluya Hadero, The Associated Press
Technological advancements and chronic shortage of IT skills, a recipe for disasterHOLLY Willoughby left fans in awe as she flaunted her famously long legs while hosting ITV’s exciting new show, YouBet! The ex-This Morning star is lighting up our screens every Sunday at 6pm alongside Stephen Mulhern , proving once again that her legendary legs and infectious charm are a winning combination. 12 Holly Willoughby & Stephen Mulhern are presenting YouBet! together Credit: ITV 12 Over the years Holly has stunned showing off her legs black mini-dresses Credit: BackGrid 12 Holly Willoughby has been praised for her enviable legs on the show Credit: PA She has relied on a combination of gruelling workouts and a very surprising diet when it comes to achieving her enviable pins, according to her celeb pals. And her hard work certainly didn’t go unnoticed by fans who have often gushed about her “gorgeous” legs online. Holly, 43 is famously tight lipped about her diet and fitness, previously saying “it’s personal”, and claiming “people get obsessive” with it. However, her celebrity pals have previously let slip some of her keep-fit secrets, including her love of kickboxing and Pilates. Here we reveal how Holly got THOSE killer legs... 12 We reveal how the presenter got her killer pins Credit: Splash News 12 Holly is seen here back in November, 2015 Credit: Getty - Contributor 12 Holly knows how to always put one left forward when she's on stage Credit: PA PILATES PRINCESS After she gave birth to her eldest daughter, Belle 12 years ago, the new mum took up Pilates. It was the perfect exercise for the busy mum as she could train at home with Lynne Robinson - with one to one sessions costing £60 an hour. You Bet! given second series by ITV bosses - before reboot with Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern has even aired Lynne previously told The Sun: "I worked with Holly for several months, teaching her privately at her home once a week. "Holly had postnatal mat work classes which concentrated on strengthening and toning her core." 12 Holly has regularly attended Pilates since becoming a mum Credit: WENN 12 Moves like the bridge, side kicks and leg circles help to build up long and strong muscles in the legs Credit: Instagram Lynne also previously told the Daily Star that Holly’s workouts were no different to her average client. She explained: “A celebrity workout is no different to a normal workout. "Our focus is usually on toning the whole body so that they look (and feel) good 24/7 and 360 degrees!” Certain Pilates moves like the bridge, side kicks and leg circles help to build up long and strong muscles in the legs. BOXING BEAUTY 12 She is also reportedly a big boxing fan Credit: Getty - Contributor Holly also maintains her amazing legs with boxing classes, which can burn 300 calories every 30 minutes. Typically costing £60 for a one-to-one session, the discipline works out the whole body, but is also great for leg-specific moves. Slipping and rolling moves work your legs as perfecting a punch starts from your legs and works up. Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon let it slip in an interview that he knows how Hols manages to keep fit. He said: "I’ve heard a rumour that it’s some sort of boxing." 12 Boxing helps to workout the lower body as well as the upper Credit: Instagram EVERYTHING IN MODERATION A source told Fabulous Online that Holly sticks to a relatively low-carb diet, mainly eating chicken and fish, served with lots of vegetables. Holly is adamant that her lifestyle should be all about compromise and she regularly posts on social media about her vices, which include calorie-laden cheese fondues and champagne. And it is this healthy approach to her diet that will help her to maintain her shapely pins. According to Healthline it is important to eat enough calories to build muscle and maintain strength in your legs. For maximum leg strength a well-rounded diet is encouraged with carbohydrates replenishing muscle glycogen and protein encouraging muscle repair. 12 A source told Fabulous Online that Holly sticks to a relatively low-carb diet Credit: Getty SWIMMING SENSATION While you catch many celebrities lounging by the pool, Holly is more of a water baby and can regularly be seen taking a dip - something that is known to help tone legs. Swimming can help to tone and define your legs. Experts recommend wearing flippers to build up resistance in the pool and using a kickboard float in order to focus your energy on your legs in the pool. 12 Holly looks after her body with a healthy diet and workout plan Credit: Rex The presenter is conscious of her status as a role model and avoids talking about her diet having previously told Prima she "doesn't want to encourage eating disorders". “I try not to focus too much on my appearance. As long as I’m being healthy, that’s good enough for me," she explained.
Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row
Colorado QB Julian Lewis Shows Love to Shedeur Sanders With Locker Room PhotoTrump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death rowCRANFORD, N.J. , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Citius Oncology, Inc. ("Citius Oncology" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTOR ), a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel targeted oncology therapies, today reported business and financial results for the fiscal full year ended September 30, 2024 . Fiscal Full Year 2024 Business Highlights and Subsequent Developments Achieved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of LYMPHIRTM (denileukin diftitox-cxdl), an immunotherapy for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); Began trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol CTOR on August 13, 2024 , following completion of the merger of Citius Pharma's oncology subsidiary with TenX Keane to form Citius Oncology, Inc., a standalone publicly traded company; Advanced manufacturing, marketing and sales activities in preparation for commercial launch of LYMPHIR in the first half of 2025; key activities included: Manufactured initial inventory for launch and finalized supply chain agreements, Initiated recruitment of targeted field force with contract sales organization, Launched a marketing awareness campaign and engaged with all leading CTCL prescribers, Applied for a unique J-code within the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) to facilitate accurate reimbursement, Secured inclusion of LYMPHIR in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, critical to clinical decision-making in oncology and hematology, influencing treatment practices and payor reimbursement in the U.S., and Initiated development of the patient support center to help patients access LYMPHIR expeditiously; Supported two investigator-initiated trials to explore LYMPHIR's potential as an immuno-oncology combination therapy being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Minnesota ; and, Shared interim trial results with the clinical community at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Conference (SITC) of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Phase I trial of LYMPHIR with checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab. The combination of these two immunomodulatory agents showed clinical benefit in relapsed or refractory gynecological neoplasms, resulting in: 27% objective response rate and 33% clinical benefit rate with median progression free survival of 57 weeks (range: 30-96 weeks), and A manageable safety profile whereby the regimen was well-tolerated with reversible treatment emergent adverse events and no definitive immune-related adverse events greater than or equal to grade 3 documented. Financial Highlights R&D expenses were $4.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $4.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; G&A expenses were $8.1 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $5.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; Stock-based compensation expense was $7.5 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $2.0 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 ; and, Net loss was $21.1 million , or ($0.31) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2024 compared to a net loss of $12.7 million , or ($0.19) per share for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . "Reflecting on 2024, Citius Oncology has achieved pivotal milestones that underscore our commitment to advancing cancer therapeutics," stated Leonard Mazur , Chairman and CEO of Citius Oncology. "The FDA's approval of LYMPHIR for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma marks a significant advancement in providing new options for patients battling this challenging disease. It is the only targeted systemic therapy approved for CTCL patients since 2018 and the only therapy with a mechanism of action that targets the IL-2 receptor. Additionally, the successful merger forming Citius Oncology, now trading on Nasdaq under the ticker CTOR, strengthens our position in the oncology sector. We expect it to facilitate greater access to capital to fund LYMPHIR's launch and the Company's future growth. With a Phase I investigator-initiated clinical trial combining LYMPHIR with pembrolizumab demonstrating promising preliminary results, indicating potential for enhanced treatment efficacy in recurrent solid tumors, and preliminary results expected from a second investigator trial with CAR-T therapies in 2025, we remain excited about the potential of LYMPHIR as a combination immunotherapy." "These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our team and the trust of our investors. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to develop innovative therapies that improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide," added Mazur. FULL YEAR 2024 FINANCIAL RESULTS: Research and Development (R&D) Expenses R&D expenses were $4.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $4.2 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The increase reflects development activities completed for the resubmission of the Biologics License Application of LYMPHIR in January 2024 , which were associated with the complete response letter remediation. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses G&A expenses were $8.1 million for the full year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to $5.9 million for the full year ended September 30, 2023 . The increase was primarily due to costs associated with pre-commercial and commercial launch activities of LYMPHIR including market research, marketing, distribution and drug product reimbursement from health plans and payers. Stock-based Compensation Expense For the full year ended September 30, 2024 , stock-based compensation expense was $7.5 million as compared to $2.0 million for the prior year. The primary reason for the $5.5 million increase was due to the amounts being realized over 12 months in the year ended September 30, 2024 , as compared to three months post-plan adoption in the year ended September 30, 2023 . Net loss Net loss was $21.1 million , or ($0.31) per share for the year ended September 30, 2024 , compared to a net loss of $12.7 million , or ($0.19) per share for the year ended September 30, 2023 . The $8.5 million increase in net loss was primarily due to the increase in our operating expenses. About Citius Oncology, Inc. Citius Oncology specialty is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel targeted oncology therapies. In August 2024 , its primary asset, LYMPHIR, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory CTCL who had had at least one prior systemic therapy. Management estimates the initial market for LYMPHIR currently exceeds $400 million , is growing, and is underserved by existing therapies. Robust intellectual property protections that span orphan drug designation, complex technology, trade secrets and pending patents for immuno-oncology use as a combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors would further support Citius Oncology's competitive positioning. Citius Oncology is a publicly traded subsidiary of Citius Pharmaceuticals. For more information, please visit www.citiusonc.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Citius Oncology. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "should," and "may" and other words and terms of similar meaning or use of future dates. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, and, unless noted otherwise, that apply to Citius Oncology are: our ability to raise additional money to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months as a going concern; our ability to commercialize LYMPHIR and any of our other product candidates that may be approved by the FDA; the estimated markets for our product candidates and the acceptance thereof by any market; the ability of our product candidates to impact the quality of life of our target patient populations; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to procure cGMP commercial-scale supply; risks related to research using our assets but conducted by third parties; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; market and other conditions; risks related to our growth strategy; patent and intellectual property matters; our ability to identify, acquire, close and integrate product candidates and companies successfully and on a timely basis; government regulation; competition; as well as other risks described in our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings. These risks have been and may be further impacted by any future public health risks. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Risks regarding our business are described in detail in our SEC filings which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , including in Citius Oncology's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024 , filed with the SEC on December 27, 2024 , as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Ilanit Allen [email protected] 908-967-6677 x113 Media Contact: STiR-communications Greg Salsburg [email protected] -- Financial Tables Follow – SOURCE Citius Oncology, Inc.
UCF, LSU face off with improved focus in mind
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Related Articles National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department’s operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden’s commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump’s statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump’s rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl’s mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden’s decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Misr Real Estate Asset Management partners with Belmazad for digital auctions
George Russell put Mercedes on pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Friday as Max Verstappen moved a step closer to a fourth successive Formula One title by qualifying ahead of Lando Norris. Red Bull's Verstappen, who will retain his crown with two rounds to spare if he beats Norris on Saturday, secured fifth place on the grid with his McLaren rival sixth. "We are still in front of McLaren, which for me is a bit of a surprise but I'm quite happy with how qualifying went and my laps," said Verstappen. Norris must score three points more than the Dutch driver to continue the title battle in Qatar next weekend. "I'll do everything I can," said Norris, whose team also risk losing ground to Ferrari in the constructors' championship. "I'm not going to give up until the end even if the chance is extremely thin." Ferrari's Carlos Sainz joined Russell on the front row with Alpine's Pierre Gasly a surprising third fastest and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth. The Las Vegas Grand Prix takes place at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA on Saturday 23 November, 2024. For UK fans, the Grand Prix itself will start at 6am GMT on Sunday 24 November 2024. (All times GMT) Race : 06.00am, Sunday 24 November 2024 The grid positions are as listed below. TV channel : In the UK, every session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will be shown live Sky Sports. Free highlights will be available post-race on the official F1 YouTube channel as well as on Channel 4 at 10pm. Live stream : Sky subscribers can watch online via the Sky Go app.If you are looking for a pair of 'super cute' boots that will turn heads this winter, a pair of Marks and Spencer boots might be your best option. The M&S Collection Leather Cowboy Block Heel Knee High Boots are available on the website for £125 and people have been quick to share praise online. The M&S Collection Leather Cowboy Block Heel Knee High Boots are currently available in sizes 4, 6 and 7. In a product description, M&S said: "For a premium feel, pick these cowboy-style boots, made from leather. A high block heel gives a flattering effect, while the knee-high design provides a timeless look. Antibacterial FreshfeetTM technology keeps them odour-free." Read More: Next's new 'wow factor' £60 mini dress is the perfect New Year outfit The M&S Collection Leather Cowboy Block Heel Knee High Boots has a 4.2 rating out of five stars on the M&S website. One M&S customer said: "I am obsessed with these boots and have nothing bad to say about them. The leather is soft. I have fairly narrow feet and average-sized calves and they are super comfortable and fit great. M&S Collection Leather Cowboy Block Heel Knee High Boots (Image: M&S) "Getting up there in age so find heels a bit of a struggle but the chunky nature of these is just perfect. Great value for money and the look is super cute." Another happy reviewer said: "Cowboy style without the fuss Great stylish boot without being overly cowboy-style, great heel height." And one shopper wrote: "Absolutely gorgeous and comfortable boots. Have been looking for literally years to find a pair of fashionable, yet comfortable, real leather calf-wide pair of boots. They aren’t too cowboyish, just a hint. Looks great with leggings, short dresses/skirts and midi alike." However, one review said: "After 2 weeks. I have returned the product (overpriced and uncomfortable)." The M&S Collection Leather Cowboy Block Heel Knee High Boots are available on the M&S website by clicking here. If you are considering alternative boots, the Oasis Joanna Embroidered Detail Western Cowboy Boots are in stock at Debenhams for £52. ASOS is selling Glamorous western heeled knee boots in tan for £48 and GUESS has Jalella cowboy boots listed for £82.50.
Syria’s leader says elections could take 4 years: Al Arabiya interviewAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:51 p.m. ESTATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.