Palestinian president Abbas names likely successor
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has named Hussein al-Sheikh as the PLO’s first-ever vice president, positioning him as a leading successor.
Former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands to women for drugs and sex, including with a 17-year-old, violating laws and House rules, a draft Ethics report reveals. Gaetz denies wrongdoing and sued to block the report's release after resigning last month.
The U.S. House Ethics Committee has concluded that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for drugs and sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, U.S. media reported on Monday (23 December), citing a final draft of the panel's report.
Gaetz, who has denied any wrongdoing, resigned from the House of Representatives last month after being selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as attorney general. He withdrew from consideration due to facing a challenging confirmation battle in the Senate.
In an effort to prevent the release of the report, expected on Monday, Gaetz filed a lawsuit on Monday in federal court in Washington, DC, against the Ethics panel, arguing that it no longer had jurisdiction after Gaetz resigned from Congress.
"The Committee's position regarding its lack of authority over former members represents a clear, well-established policy rather than an isolated interpretation," Gaetz's lawyers wrote in a complaint.
His lawyers sought an emergency order to temporarily block the publication of the report, which they argued would contain "untruthful and defamatory information" about Gaetz.
Reuters was not immediately able to contact Gaetz for comment.
The report found that Gaetz paid more than $90,000 to 12 different women, payments the Ethics panel determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and drug use, CBS News reported. CNN reported similar details of the draft report. Both outlets said his actions violated Florida state laws.
The panel's report concluded that Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct banning prostitution, statutory rape, and drug use, CBS reported.
It also found "substantial evidence" that Gaetz engaged in illicit drug use, CBS reported. Additionally, it accused him of accepting gifts of luxury travel exceeding permissible limits during a 2018 trip to The Bahamas, CBS added.
China has rolled out the world’s first 10-gigabit (10G) fixed broadband network in Xiong'an New Area, promising ultra-fast speeds and low latency through cutting-edge optical infrastructure.
Pope Francis's relationship with Azerbaijan has evolved significantly over the years, characterized by diplomatic exchanges, promotion of religious tolerance, and peace advocacy in the Caucasus region.
Russia launched a major missile and drone assault on Kyiv overnight on April 24, killing at least twelve people and injuring 90, including children and a pregnant woman, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
China’s pivot away from U.S. liquefied petroleum gas under new tariffs is shaking global energy flows, slashing demand, and fuelling a scramble for alternatives across Asia, with Middle Eastern suppliers and rival buyers seizing the moment.
A deadly attack targeting tourists in India’s Jammu and Kashmir territory has left at least 20 feared dead, marking the deadliest incident against civilians in the region for years, according to security sources.
Harvey Weinstein faces a new rape and sexual assault trial in New York, nearly a year after his 2020 conviction was overturned, marking a key test of progress in the post-#MeToo era.
A fresh Star Wars adventure is on the way, as Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling officially introduce Star Wars: Starfighter, set to hit cinemas in May 2027.
In a country where hockey is sacred, Canadian politics has skated out of the way.
Mount Paektu, an active stratovolcano straddling the border of North Korea and China, has been officially designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This recognition, which marks North Korea’s first natural site on the prestigious list,highlights the mountain’s significant natural and cultural heritage.
Pope Francis has approved the first step towards sainthood for Antoni Gaudi, the modernist architect behind Barcelona's "Sagrada Familia" basilica, the Vatican said on Monday.
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