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Philadelphia, surrounding counties, certify the 2024 electionAP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:17 p.m. EST
With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr 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 January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic 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 commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised 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, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic 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, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
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Social media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 banSANTA CLARA — When Isaac Guerendo trots onto the field with the first team Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, he will equal the same number of starts he had in five years of college football. Hard to believe, but Guerendo started exactly one time, and it came in his final college game at Louisville. Against USC in the Holiday Bowl, Guerendo carried 23 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns and added five receptions in a 42-28 loss. In 40 other games at Wisconsin and Louisville, Guerendo played in a shared backfield –something he’s done with the 49ers this season behind Jordan Mason and Christian McCaffrey . With McCaffrey on injured reserve with a PCL strain and Mason to follow soon with a high ankle sprain, Guerendo should get his biggest workload since his last college game. “I’m excited, but really it’s whatever it takes to win,” Guerendo said Wednesday as the 49ers (5-7) began preparations to host the Bears (4-8). “Whatever the plan looks like is what we’ll bring.” Guerendo will be backed up by Patrick Taylor Jr., who was on the roster earlier this season when McCaffrey was dealing with bilateral Achilles tendinitis, then re-signed to the practice squad. Taylor was promoted Tuesday, and the 49ers also made a waiver claim on former Jets running back Israel Abanikanda. “I think he’s ready to go,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He had some ups and downs but got better through everything. I think he’s ready for this.” Guerendo, 6-foot and 219 pounds, has 42 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns, averaging a gaudy 5.9 yards per carry. His 15-yard run in the third quarter was the 49ers’ lone touchdown in a 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers traded up to get Guerendo in the fourth round, only to see him sidelined with a hamstring strain in his first training camp practice. A speedy wide receiver at Avon High School in Indiana who also ran track and played basketball, Guerendo carried 10 times for 99 yards with a long run of 76 against Seattle and 14 times for 85 yards against Dallas. At Wisconsin, Guerendo played behind Jonathan Taylor, now a star running back for the Indianapolis Colts. He split time as a graduate student at Louisville with Jawhar Jordan, who rushed for 1,128 yards while Guerendo had 810 yards on 132 carries and a 6.1-yard average. The good news is Guerendo’s body hasn’t taken on the normal amount of abuse for a running back. And Guerendo feels he’s up to the challenge after playing 12 games with old-school running backs coach Bobby Turner. “I always give credit to Coach T for preparing everybody like they’re going to be the starter, so that when moments do come, you’re ready for it,” Guerendo said. McCaffrey appeared to have finally gotten untracked against the Bills, gaining 53 yards on seven carries before getting tripped up on a 19-yard burst in the second quarter. But the tackle injured his knee, Mason injured his ankle, and Guerendo became the lead runner for a team that is sixth in the NFL in rushing. Over time, Guerendo has become accustomed to the speed of the NFL game. “I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it, if you’ve got the right stuff, you get more reps and the more you adjust to it. How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how you have to hit it full speed and can’t hesitate. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.” McCaffrey, meanwhile, took to social media in the form of a lengthy Instagram post to explain how he was feeling after his latest injury. He wrote of his love for football, how humbling it is and his desire to return. “This wasn’t my year, and sometimes when it rains, it pours,” McCaffrey wrote. “You can feel sorry for yourself and listen to the birds, or you can hold the line. I’m grateful for the support of everyone in my corner and promise I’ll work smarter and harder to come back better from this.” For those who dream big, Shanahan said with a six-week time frame, McCaffrey could conceivably return if the 49ers reach the postseason. THE INJURY LIST Those who didn’t practice Wednesday included edge rusher Nick Bosa (hips, obliques), left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), left guard Aaron Banks (concussion), Mason (ankle) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (ankle). Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) and safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) were limited. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has cleared concussion protocol after missing the Buffalo game. Hufanga joined Greenlaw as practicing during a 21-day window. Shanahan said it’s more likely Greenlaw would be activated before a Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12 than against Chicago. HUFANGA AND THE CLUB After recovering from an ACL tear last season, Hufanga has played in just two games this season. First, he was felled by an ankle injury, and then a wrist injury that needed surgery. When activated, he’ll play with a protective club on his right hand. “I was still dealing with the ankle. I was about to get it re-wrapped and for some reason my hand wouldn’t open,” Hufanga said. Hufanga said he’ll try to use the protective device as a benefit rather than a detriment. “I had a good friend back in the day who played with a club who had three picks in one game, so you never know,” Hufanga said. MOORE FARES WELL Left tackle Jaylon Moore acquitted himself well for the second straight game in starting in place of Williams. “It was OK, but you can always get better and that’s what I’m focusing on — the things I can get better at,” Moore said. Tight end George Kittle noted last week that Moore was at left tackle all through training camp during Williams’ holdout, so it’s not like he hasn’t been with the first team. “It definitely did help, especially being comfortable with the group,” Moore said. “The quarterback’s cadence, the guy you’re next to, all the small stuff comes into play.”Celebrating, introspection, and, of course, making memories are all part of the New Year. Smartphones are now capable of shooting beautiful pictures thanks to developments in mobile photography. This post examines some of the top cellphones on the market right now, ideal for recording your New Year's celebrations. Also Read | Moto G85 to Poco X6 Pro: Top 5 best gaming mobile phones of 2024 under Rs 20,000 1. iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple's most recent flagship has a strong camera system that is led by a 48MP quad-pixel primary sensor. Even in difficult low-light situations, this results in outstanding image quality with remarkable detail and dynamic range. You can now take beautiful close-ups of complex details and festive decorations thanks to the inclusion of a 48MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus and macro capabilities. While the sophisticated computational photographic technologies, such the Photonic Engine, guarantee breathtaking images in a variety of lighting conditions, the 5x telephoto lens (now available on both Pro versions) brings far-off fireworks and celebrations closer. Also Read | CMF Phone 1 to Redmi A4: 2024's best 5 budget smartphones under Rs 20,000 With support for 4K 120 frames per second, video recording has also greatly improved, allowing for fluid and dramatic footage of the New Year's festivities. Using spatial audio recording gives your films a more immersive quality and faithfully captures the atmosphere of the celebrations. 2. Oppo Find X8 Pro The Oppo Find X8 Pro places a strong emphasis on display quality and zoom capabilities. It has two periscope telephoto lenses with Sony LYT-600 and Sony IMX858 sensors and a quad 50MP back camera system with up to 6x optical zoom. Because of these features, it's a great option for taking remarkably clear pictures of far-off objects, such fireworks on New Year's Eve. It also has a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a Sony LYT-808 primary sensor and a Samsung S5KJN5 sensor, which produces amazing group photos and outstanding low-light performance. The smartphone has a 6.8-inch 1.5K 120Hz LTPO micro-curved AMOLED display from BOE, which improves the viewing experience of images and movies with its rich colors and fluid scrolling. With its potent MediaTek Dimensity 9400 SoC, 5910mAh battery, and 80W rapid charging, it offers smooth performance for simple photo capture and editing. Also Read | Realme 14x 5G vs Poco M7 Pro 5G: Which budget smartphone is better? 3. Vivo X100 Ultra The Vivo X100 Ultra has an innovative camera setup that includes a 200MP ISOCELL HP9 periscope camera for remarkable zoom capabilities and a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor on the primary camera for unmatched image clarity. It has Vivo's in-house BlueImage algorithm, which produces beautiful backlit and low-light images that are ideal for documenting nighttime events and New Year's Eve fireworks. With support for Dolby Vision and 4K 120 frames per second, the Vivo X100 Ultra is also an excellent video recorder. The phone could only be available in specific areas, though. Also Read | Xiaomi 14 to Poco F6: Top 5 mid-range smartphones offering premium features of 2024 4. Xiaomi 14 Ultra A very complete camera system is provided by the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. A 1-inch Sony LYT-900 primary sensor with a variable aperture is part of the quad rear camera arrangement, giving you more control over depth of field. This offers remarkable adaptability for a range of shooting situations when paired with a 50MP ultrawide lens, a 50MP 3.2x telephoto lens, and a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens, all of which include Leica Summilux optics. Top-tier performance is guaranteed by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and you are kept energized all day long by the large battery that charges quickly. Its attractiveness is further increased by its sturdy construction and IP68 rating. Also Read | GOOD news for WhatsApp users! You can now scan documents with your phone’s camera; Here’s how 5. Vivo X200 Pro With its 50MP Sony LYT-818 primary sensor, 1/1.28-inch size, and sophisticated picture processing, the Vivo X200 Pro is a flexible option for New Year's photography. It has a 200MP telephoto lens with a 3.7x optical zoom to take close-up pictures of fine details. For superior visibility, the smartphone has a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a remarkable peak brightness of 4500 nits. It has a fast Dimensity 9400 CPU with up to 16GB of RAM, and it supports Dolby Vision for better video quality and 4K illuminated portraits. The Vivo X200 Pro's powerful 6000mAh battery and quick charging guarantee continuous operation for recording priceless moments. Also Read | Elon Musk’s X HIKES subscription prices in India by 35%: Here’s how much it will cost you
Thomas Brown doesn’t let anything slide. “[He] has a certain demeanor about him, whether it’s showing up on time and getting on the guys,” Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said after his first practice under the Bears’ interim head coach, “Whether they’re older guys, younger guys ... making sure accountability is really important in football teams and business and family. He’s done a solid job so far with that, and holding me accountable, holding all the guys accountable. He’s a lead-by-example type of guy and that’s been great.” “Accountability” had been a buzzword all season under former coach Matt Eberflus — from the time the leadership council met with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after a Week 3 loss to the Colts and pleaded to be coached harder. In fact, the issue was severe enough that players started taking matters of accountability into their own hands “a few weeks back,” defensive end DeMarcus Walker said, when ask if the Bears were being coached differently under Brown. “I feel like the players have taken the lead, where if we don’t see plays being run right, or there’s a mess-up or a mental error, we’ll start the whole play over,” Walker said. “I think we’ve done a great job of taking over and doing that the correct way.” The Bears (4-8) began a new era with their first practice under Brown, who was named the Bears’ interim coach when Eberflus was fired Friday following a 23-20 loss to the Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day — their sixth consecutive loss. Though Brown’s manner and approach are starkly different from Eberflus, operational changes were minimal in the opening preparation for Sunday’s game against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. With the Bears 12 games into the season, Brown wasn’t in position to make significant changes even if he wanted to. As the head coach, he now wears the Bears hat with the script “B” on it — an honor reserved for the Bears head coach going back to team founder George Halas. And when asked about changes that players will notice, he told reporters that after struggling for weeks to lose weight, he has lost 22 pounds — down to 203 — since he was promoted to offensive coordinator Nov. 12. He was just joking, he said. But even that marked a difference from Eberflus, who often struggled just to answer the question and kept his sense of humor in-house. Brown will be a little more amiable, but also a little more demanding, which is probably the way they prefer it. “I’ll be myself. I try to bring energy every single day,” Brown said. “I am a very direct person. I try to be engaging in front of the group, but not entertaining. I don’t care about entertaining them — but delivering the message, being clear and concise, but also collaborating with the entire staff, and our players as well.” One noticeable change on Day 1. The Bears will hold their media access after practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Under Eberflus the Bears held media access before practice, but after the team’s walk-through. “It was about trying to get our guys to be more efficient to how we do walk-throughs into practice, instead of having a break inbetween,” Brown said, “so we can get down in the building and do quality work.” But even though there were not many operational changes, players still noticed they were now being coached by Thomas Brown – “being a man of action and getting right to the point,” as linebacker and co-captain T.J. Edwards said. “He’s done a good job since the start of the week just setting his expectations for what he wants to get done,” Edwards said. “Operationally, we kind of do what we do, but I think he has just done a good job of keeping everyone on the same sheet of music. “I think we appreciate the way he goes about it, and just how he spoke to leadership today — he was to the point and understands what we need to get done and wants to go do it.” It remains to be seen how much of a difference that will make in Brown’s five-week trial as head coach. But for now he has what he needs most from his players — their attention. Brown literally has them on the edge of their seats. So if the new approach is going to resonate, now is the time. “Everything he’s telling us right now is very intentful and all of us are locked in,” guard Teven Jenkins said. “Everybody is sitting at the front of their seat, leaning in. You can see when somebody’s actually attentive and you can see that everybody in the whole team room is very bought-in to what he’s been saying.” Brown comes in with a big advantage. He inherits a team that, while it respected Eberflus, welcomed the change — despite the awkwardness of it happening during the season. After going 14-32 the past three seasons under Eberflus, Brown doesn’t have to re-invent the wheel. He represents the change the Bears need. “The main thing is winning,” Jenkins said. “If we’re put in the best spot and that’s TB [Brown] to do it, I think the whole team is very excited to see what he can do this Sunday and help lead us to another win.”
Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) New-elected President Jimmy Carter gives a press conference after being elected 39th President of the United States, on November 05, 1976 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by GENE FORTE / CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter hold up signs during a rally on may 15, 1976 in New York. – Carter was elected on December 21, 1976 39th President of the United States, 51% voice against 48% for incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath of office to Jimmy Carter (R), flanked by his wife Rosalynn, as the 39th President of the United Sates on January 20, 1977. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup