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US pauses select restrictions on Syria, offering hope on Western sanctions

US pauses select restrictions on Syria, offering hope on Western sanctions

Washington opens the way for transactions needed for humanitarian purposes in a move seen as an ‘important step’ towards easing the West’s sanctions. The United States has announced it is easing select restrictions on Syria’s transitional government. Late on Monday, the US Treasury issued a general licence, lasting six months, that authorises certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions. The move is designed to allow the entry of humanitarian aid following the ouster of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month, the US said. It suggests some progress in the efforts of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main group that overthrew al-Assad and now leading Syria’s transition, to strengthen international relations. The action does not remove any sanctions but will ensure they “do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance”, the US Treasury said. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said the end of al-Assad’s “brutal and repressive rule, backed by Russia and Iran”, provided a unique opportunity for Syria and its people to rebuild. Advertisement “During this period of transition, Treasury will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.” A wide array of Western sanctions is debilitating Syria’s economy and threatening its recovery after more than 13 years of civil war. The US, as well as the European Union, imposed sanctions against al-Assad and his regime for war crimes and human rights violations. Despite the removal of al-Assad, however, the sanctions remain in place. European officials recently said they would not be lifted until Syria’s new rulers demonstrate that they will protect minorities and share power. Syria’s new trade minister warned on Monday that Damascus was unable to make deals to import fuel, wheat and other vital items due to strict US sanctions, despite many countries, including Gulf Arab states, wanting to do so. Maher Khalil al-Hasan told the Reuters news agency Syria’s new administration had managed to scrape together enough wheat and fuel for a few months, but the country faces a “catastrophe” if sanctions are not frozen or lifted soon. ‘Important step’ “The new administration … wants all of these sanctions lifted. But this is an important step coming from the US – because Western sanctions are in place from the European Union and other allied Western countries too, but they think they mainly take their lead from the United States,” Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from Damascus, said. The announcement followed a meeting in Damascus between the leader of HTS, Ahmed al-Sharaa – who was once aligned with al-Qaeda – and the top US diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf. Advertisement The US and United Nations have long designated HTS as a terrorist organisation. However, the US has gradually lifted some penalties since al-Assad’s departure, including dropping a $10m reward on al-Sharaa. Takeoff In another positive development for Syria’s new rulers, international flights to the war-battered nation resumed on Tuesday. Airport official Saad Khair Bek said two flights from Damascus international airport departed for the United Arab Emirates in the morning. Its first arrival, from Qatar, was due to land at noon. On Thursday, Qatar Airways announced it would resume flights to Damascus after nearly 13 years, with three flights per week to start with. No flights had taken off or landed since pro-Assad forces abandoned the airport in the Syrian capital on December 8. Adblock test (Why?)

No food, no sleep, no hope in Gaza

No food, no sleep, no hope in Gaza

I have spent a total of four years in Gaza, six months of them during the ongoing war. I have never felt so helpless in the face of the formidable war machine that shoves a new bullet into its gun as soon as it has fired the previous one, while having a seemingly unlimited supply of ammunition. In September, I spoke to a matriarch who ran a shelter for displaced people in Khan Younis. I asked her what hope she had about the prospect of peace. She pointed at a small girl holding her mother’s hand and sucking her thumb. “Her father was killed when their house was bombed five days ago, and they’ve not been able to retrieve his body from the rubble because the area is under constant fire,” she said. “What hope?” In hopeless Gaza, sleep is among the most precious commodities. Back in January, we would run to the window to watch the plume of smoke painting the sky after a particularly loud and close hit. But with time, they have become so commonplace that hardly anyone bothers to look any more. Advertisement On an average night in my neighbourhood in Deir el-Balah, bombardment would start at night, just as people would prepare to try to sleep. We would hear the whistling of a missile and then a loud explosion, shaking the windows. The blast would wake up the local dogs, the donkeys, the babies and any other soul who dared to sleep, starting a chain reaction of barking, crying and other agitated noises. More bombs would come that would then be followed by various types of gunfire until all quiets down for a short while. The dawn call to prayer would usually trigger another series of attacks. The apocalyptic scenes that everyone sees on TV are even more harrowing in person. I often find myself deleting photos and videos from my phone because the camera does not do justice to just how grotesque the surroundings appear to the naked eye. In person, the visuals are accompanied by a slew of sounds. This includes the now-daily ritual of people fighting for bread at the nearby bakeries as food supplies are dwindling, amid the almost total cut-off of commercial goods and the persistent and paralysing restrictions on the entry of humanitarian assistance. Just the other week, a woman and two girls suffocated after being trampled in front of a bakery when a fight broke out because there was not enough bread for everyone. My dear friend Khaled, who runs community kitchens across Gaza, worried that soon there would be no food at all and his kitchens would have to close. I struggled to find anything helpful to say to him given the reality around us and would cry every time we spoke, as I too was losing hope. “Don’t cry, Olga,” he always said. “Be strong, like we are.” Indeed, the strength of Palestinians is unparalleled. Advertisement In November, the Famine Review Committee, an ad hoc body of international technical experts that reviews classifications of potential famine identified by the United Nations and other actors, published a report, ringing another alarm over the imminent threat of famine, particularly in the beleaguered north of Gaza. Since then, things have only been getting worse. On several occasions, I saw people scooping up dirty flour that had spilled on the road after some bags of flour had fallen off an aid truck. Prioritising the most vulnerable in Gaza is a hopeless task since there is almost no aid to provide. With 100 percent of a population of about 2.3 million people in need, do you choose to help a pregnant woman, a domestic violence survivor, or someone who is homeless and disabled? Do you look for all of these risks in a single person? The agony of these choices will keep us awake long after our jobs in Gaza end. During the months we have spent in Gaza, my colleagues and I have witnessed so much pain, tragedy and death that we are at a loss for words to convey the horror. We have picked up dead bodies from the side of the road – some still warm and bleeding profusely, others with rigor mortis, half-eaten by dogs. Some of these bodies were young boys. Boys who were killed senselessly, some of them dying slowly as they bled out, terrified and alone, while their mothers agonised over why their sons had not come home that night. For the rest of the world, they became just another number in the grim statistic of people killed in Gaza so far – now more than 45,500, according to the Ministry of Health. Advertisement In the rare moments of quiet and between the chaos of constant crises, I reflect on everything around me and ask myself: “What hope?” The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance. Adblock test (Why?)

Earthquake hits Tibet’s Shigatse: What we know so far

Earthquake hits Tibet’s Shigatse: What we know so far

A powerful earthquake has struck a remote region of Tibet, killing at least 95 people and wounding dozens, with tremors felt in Nepal, Bhutan and parts of northern India. Videos aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed houses destroyed with the official Xinhua News Agency saying more than 1,000 houses were damaged. The epicentre of the quake was Shigatse, one of the holiest cities of Tibet. Here is what we know so far: What was the magnitude of the Tibet earthquake? The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, while the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) recorded a magnitude of 6.8. The quake, just after 9:05am local time (01:05 GMT), shook the region of western China at a depth of about 10km (6 miles). Where was the epicentre of the earthquake? The epicentre of the quake was the Shigatse high-altitude county of Dingri, located on the Chinese side of Mount Everest and home to about 62,000 people. Tuesday’s quake was the most powerful recorded within a 200km (124-mile) radius in the last five years, the CENC added. Advertisement Shigatse is the seat of the Panchen Lama, a significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama. Dingri is currently experiencing temperatures of about minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The China Meteorological Administration forecast that the mercury will drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius by Tuesday evening. The remote Shigatse is far from China’s main cities. This, combined with the extreme cold, has hindered rescue efforts, according to Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, reporting from Beijing. What do we know about the victims? At least 95 people have been killed and another 130 people are injured, according to Chinese state media. A man in Kathmandu was injured after jumping off the top of a house following strong tremors, Nepal Police spokesman Bishwa Adhikari told Reuters. No other casualties or damages have been reported so far from Nepal, India and Bhutan. Were houses damaged in the quake? The earthquake caused infrastructural damage, with images showing collapsed homes and other buildings reduced to rubble. The Xinhua news agency reported that more than 1,000 houses have been damaged to varying degrees. “Dingri county and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicentre have collapsed,” according to the state broadcaster CCTV. In the town of Lhatse, videos geolocated by AFP showed debris scattered in front of streetside eateries. Rescue teams look through rubble in Shigatse City [Screengrab obtained from a handout video via Reuters] Where were the tremors of the Tibet earthquake felt? Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, was rattled by the tremor and aftershocks, forcing some residents to rush from their homes. Kathmandu is about 230km (140 miles) south of Shigatse. Advertisement Tremors were also felt in India’s northern state of Bihar which borders Nepal. They were also felt in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu. According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), shocks were experienced in seven hill districts which border Tibet. People leave their houses during an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal [Stringer/Reuters] How has the government responded? The government has deployed some 1,500 rescue workers, including military personnel, to the area. Al Jazeera’s Yu said there are pictures of those affected by the earthquake being treated on the streets. Xinhua reported that some 22,000 items of disaster relief aid have been dispatched to the affected areas, which include cotton tents, quilts and items for high-altitude areas. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised “the all-out search and rescue efforts, minimising casualties to the greatest extent possible, properly resettling affected residents, and ensuring their safety and warmth through the winter”, CCTV added. Xinhua said that “local authorities are reaching out to various townships in the county to assess the impact of the quake”. Have the Himalayas recently experienced earthquakes? The Tibetan Plateau is prone to earthquakes because of colliding tectonic plates. Tibet and Nepal lie on a major geological fault line where the Indian tectonic plate pushes up into the Eurasian plate, forming the Himalayas, and earthquakes are a regular occurrence. The region is seismically active, causing tectonic uplifts that can grow strong enough to change the heights of the Himalayas’ peaks. Advertisement There have been 29 earthquakes of magnitude three or above in the past five years within 200km (124 miles) of the Shigatse quake epicentre, according to CCTV. However, authorities say that Tuesday’s quake has been “more powerful” than the other earthquakes in the past five years, Al Jazeera’s Yu reported. In 2015, nearly 9,000 people died and more than 22,000 were injured when a magnitude 7.8 quake struck Nepal, destroying more than half a million homes. On May 21, 2021, an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 rattled China’s southern Qinghai province. Tuesday’s quake is among the worst earthquakes to hit the Himalayan region in 100 years. Adblock test (Why?)

Republicans look to finally push through Laken Riley bill with new GOP trifecta

Republicans look to finally push through Laken Riley bill with new GOP trifecta

FIRST ON FOX: Senate Republicans are preparing to take up several measures in the new year that were denied votes by Democrats in the last Congress. The first of these is the Laken Riley Act, being reintroduced by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and teed up for a vote by the end of the week.  The measure was named for the 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student who was found dead on the University of Georgia’s campus in February. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, was found guilty of 10 total counts, including felony murder. He initially pleaded not guilty.  He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in November.  The bill would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest and detain illegal immigrants that have committed theft, burglary or shoplifting until they are deported. Additionally, states would have standing under the legislation to take civil action against members of the federal government that do not enforce immigration law.  KAMALA HARRIS MAKES TRUMP’S 2024 PRESIDENTIAL WIN OFFICIAL DURING JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS “It’s impossible to fully describe what was taken from Laken and from our family on February 22, 2024. Laken’s life was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise. She was a beautiful, shining beacon in the life of everyone who knew her. Not only did the people who knew and loved Laken lose a beautiful soul, but so did our world. Laken shared her love for Jesus with everyone she encountered. Laken’s passion for sharing her faith through acts of kindness were felt by everyone she met. Laken was selfless, hardworking and made those around her feel special. Laken did not just talk about her faith, she led by example,” said Allyson and John Phillips, Laken Riley’s mother and stepfather, in a statement.  “The Laken Riley Act has our full support because it would help save innocent lives and prevent more families from going through the kind of heartbreak we’ve experienced. Laken would have been 23 on January 10th.  There is no greater gift that could be given to her and our country than to continue her legacy by saving lives through this bill. Every single member of Congress should be able to get behind this purely commonsense bill that will make our country and communities safer. We thank Congressman Mike Collins, Senator Katie Britt, and Senator Ted Budd for continuing to work to honor Laken’s legacy and get this legislation enacted into law.” It was first introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., in March and in the Senate by Britt.  PRO-ISRAEL DEM COULD TIP SCALES IN KEY SENATE COMMITTEE AS MIDDLE EAST WAR CONTINUES However, the bill never received a Senate floor vote relating to the standalone legislation.  Republicans have an incoming trifecta in the federal government, unified in its prioritization of the southern border and tackling illegal immigration, and GOP lawmakers see a big opportunity to push through key legislation.  “Last year, Laken Riley was stolen from this earth—from her family and friends and from achieving her dreams—by a brutal, heartless killer. Make no mistake—he never should have been in the United States, much less allowed to freely roam American streets after being charged with multiple crimes. Laken’s murder was the direct consequence of willful open border policies,” Britt said in a statement to Fox News Digital.  HOUSE REPUBLICANS REJOICE OVER QUICK SPEAKER VOTE WITH ONLY ONE DEFECTOR “The American people did not just deliver a mandate on November 5, they delivered a verdict. They made it clear they want to remove criminal illegal aliens and protect American families. We will soon know whether Democrats hear, respect, and obey that verdict. Congress has an obligation to Laken, her family, and to families in every corner of our country to do everything in our power to help prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again. That’s why it’s imperative we pass the commonsense Laken Riley Act with all due haste. No other American family needs to feel the pain Laken’s family still feels 320 days after losing her,” she added.  Collins said in his own statement, “An illegal criminal came into my district and killed Laken Riley because our local law enforcement did not have the tools to stop him. Laken fought until her last breath, and so will I until this bill crosses the finish line and lands on the President’s desk.” The measure was co-led in the Senate by Sen. Tedd Budd, R-N.C., who said in a statement, “What happened to Laken Riley should never happen to any American citizen. As we turn the page from the disastrous open-border policies of Joe Biden, the Laken Riley Act will empower the Trump administration to enforce our laws, keep our nation secure, and prevent tragedies. I thank Senator Britt for her partnership and her leadership in this bipartisan effort.” Now that Republicans control the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., at the helm, a vote is expected on the bill, and in short measure.  ‘LIVES DEPEND ON IT’: REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR PROMPT TRUMP CONFIRMATIONS IN WAKE OF NEW ORLEANS ATTACK A source familiar shared with Fox News Digital that a vote in the upper chamber is likely to take place on Friday, and Democrats will be forced to go on the record.  If the measure is only backed by Republicans, it will fail to overcome the legislative filibuster, which requires that bills garner 60 votes in order to end debate and proceed. Notably, new Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., voted in favor of the bill in the House last year.  The vote will put a spotlight on the Georgia Senate delegation, as Riley was a constituent of theirs. In particular, all eyes will be on Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who is up for re-election in 2026 in the state that President-elect Donald Trump won. 

Tuesday’s special elections in Virginia could give early insight into governor race, 2026 midterms

Tuesday’s special elections in Virginia could give early insight into governor race, 2026 midterms

A trio of special elections Tuesday in Virginia will give Americans their first look at suburban voting trends for the 2025 gubernatorial sweeps and 2026 midterms. A federal election shakeup last cycle in once-deep-red Loudoun County led a pair of state lawmakers to vacate their seats and announce bids for the next legislative level above them. Loudoun, halfway between Charles Town, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., has trended blue in recent years amid exurban sprawl from liberal Washingtonians leaving the District of Columbia – and has been the epicenter of national controversies over transgender policies and in-school assaults. Additionally, the upset of now-former U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., in Lynchburg set the stage for a third special election as Democrats control the Virginia state Senate by a sole vote amid Republican Glenn Youngkin’s governorship. YOUNGKIN INVITES NEW TRUMP ADMIN TO SETTLE IN VA OVER DC, MD While Democrats appear favored in the pair of Loudoun races, political watchers are keying into Republicans’ performance in the albeit typically low-turnout affairs as a sign of things to come once Youngkin is term-limited from his perch later this year. Virginia and New Jersey – two states where President-elect Trump and the GOP overperformed but still lost – host odd-year governorship elections that the mogul’s 2024 performance already presaged as must-watch. Youngkin’s performance in Loudoun and other blue counties didn’t win him the areas outright but drew enough votes from former Gov. Terry McAuliffe to score a major statewide upset in 2021.  The GOP is hoping for a similar performance this fall, and a win in both the one Loudoun and one Southside Senate seats would shift control of the chamber to Republicans. A win by Republicans in the delegate seat would also lead to a tied lower chamber, knocking Democrats out of sole leadership. A GOP sweep would give the party full control in Richmond not seen since George W. Bush was president. DOJ ONCE OK’D KAINE-ERA LAW AT CENTER OF YOUNGKIN VOTE CULLING ORDER FEDS NOW SUING TO BLOCK Youngkin told Fox News Digital on Friday he is bullish on Republicans’ chances on Tuesday, saying that the two Loudoun candidates particularly have a chance to build on what he has long dubbed Virginia’s success story: “Tumay Harding and Ram Venkatachalam are commonsense conservative leaders who will be incredible partners in our work to provide further tax relief for Virginia families, address the most hated car tax, protect our communities from dangerous sanctuary city policies, and keep parents at the head seat of the table in their children’s lives,” Youngkin said. “I look forward to rallying with Tumay, Ram, and Virginians who are ready to bring strong representation for Loudoun County in Richmond.” Delegate Kannan Srinivasan, D-Brambleton, announced a bid to succeed U.S. Rep-elect Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., after the latter won the open seat of retiring Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va. That left Srinivasan’s House of Delegates seat open.  Venkatachalam, an Indian immigrant and IT professional for Deloitte, highlighted on his campaign site his positions on several Loudoun community boards, and his focus on lowering taxes and heightening public safety. Singh, a former adviser to Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., and a Peace Corps veteran, is the Democratic candidate. “Voters are experiencing a range of emotions after Trump won the election – there’s anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness,” Singh told Politico. “But when you communicate the stakes of this special election… the enthusiasm jolts right up.” In turn, Srinivasan – who was then-Gov. Ralph Northam’s appointee to the state Medicaid board – is facing Harding, a teacher and small business owner, for the open state Senate seat surrounding John Foster Dulles International Airport. In Southside Virginia, with Rep-elect. John McGuire, R-Va., having unseated Good in Congress, his heavily-Republican state Senate district has been left without an occupant. The sprawling district, covering all or parts of nearly a dozen counties between Interstate 64 and US-460, includes a diverse mix of Richmond exurbs, iconic Civil War sites and agricultural lands. Professor Jack Trammell, of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, is the Democrat facing off against Republican Luther Cifers. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Cifers, who grew up in a farming area outside Amelia Court House, Virginia, and now owns a company specializing in kayaking and fishing products, is heavily favored based on historical data. “I’m not a politician, but I believe our government functions best when working citizens participate,” Cifers said in a statement on his website. Meanwhile, Trammell said in a statement released by the Henrico Democrats that he and his volunteers have been “out across the district talking to voters at events, on their porches, and over the phone.”

Pardons, Israel, domestic terrorism and more: Biden’s plans for final days of presidency

Pardons, Israel, domestic terrorism and more: Biden’s plans for final days of presidency

Additional pardons, measures to prevent homegrown political extremism, and more military aid for Israel are among the plans that Biden and his administration have during their final days before passing the baton to President-elect Donald Trump and his team.    Biden will end his presidency with one more international trip, during which he will travel to Italy and Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. Biden’s trip to the Vatican is aimed at discussing ways to advance peace around the world with Pope Francis, and his time with Italy’s heads of state will serve to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy alliance, the White House said. Biden also plans to thank Meloni for her leadership of the G7 over the last year and discuss future challenges facing the globe’s leading nations. TRUMP BLASTS BIDEN FOR LAST-MINUTE POLICY MOVES, CALLS OUT PRESIDENT FOR MAKING TRANSITION MORE DIFFICULT  Upon Biden’s return from overseas, the president will address the nation twice more before Trump’s inauguration, sources in the Biden administration told NBC News. The first speech will focus on foreign policy, while the second will serve as a farewell address for Biden to be held during his final days in the Oval Office. Neither speech has been fully drafted, sources said Saturday. Sources familiar also indicated that Biden is considering additional pardons for people deemed to have been given unusually harsh sentences, measures to combat domestic violent extremism in the U.S., and additional military funding – roughly $8 billion, the State Department said – to Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas. The pardons come after Biden set a record for the largest single-day act of clemency when he commuted the sentences of roughly 1,500 people in mid-December. Sources told NBC News that Biden was also still considering pre-emptive pardons for those who might face political retribution from Trump. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice indicated Monday that it was still weighing whether to prosecute an additional 200 Jan. 6 cases in the final days before Trump takes office, during which he is expected to grant pardons to many of those who were convicted of crimes related to their participation in the events of that day. In addition to the plans of action that Biden and his administration plan to take ahead of Trump’s inauguration, it is also notable that Biden will not act on pressure to bolster protections for transgender student athletes or cancel any additional student loan debt, according to the Associated Press. BIDEN TRIES TO REHABILITATE STROM THURMOND’S IMAGE DAYS BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE Biden’s actions after Trump’s election victory in November have garnered criticism from both sides of the aisle.  “This is one of the lamest of lame ducks we’ve seen with a Democratic administration,” a spokesperson for progressive nonprofit Justice Democrats said last month. “There is no leadership coming from the White House,” a Democrat close to senior lawmakers also said. “There is a total vacuum.”  Some Democrat lawmakers, such as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, were angry at Biden’s lack of resistance to many of Trump’s Cabinet picks. Republicans, on the other hand, have challenged Biden’s actions during the final weeks of his presidency as an affront to the American public who voted for Trump. BIDEN ADMIN REPORT COULD SLOW TRUMP’S EFFORTS TO UNLEASH DOMESTIC NATURAL GAS, EXPERTS SAY “On his way out the door, President Biden is governing as he has always wanted, as a far-left ideologue hellbent on pushing the country in a direction detached from the will of the voters,” GOP campaign strategist Colin Reed said.  “While Trump can undo whatever Biden does, Biden is trying to create litigation traps for Trump that will discourage investors from projects on public lands,” added American Energy Institute fellow Steve Milloy after news broke Monday that Biden was once again moving to restrict domestic energy production on certain land. This move is part of a series of actions Biden has taken in his final weeks to strengthen the country’s defenses against Trump’s plans to reverse many of his green energy initiatives. Trump blasted Biden’s last-minute policy decisions in an interview Monday, calling out the lame-duck president for making a “smooth transition” more difficult. “I see it just came over that Biden has banned all oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal territory. It’s just ridiculous. I’ll un-ban it immediately. I have the right to un-ban it immediately. What’s he doing? Why is he doing it?” Trump said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. “You know we have something that nobody else has. Nobody has to the extent we have it, and it’ll be more by the time we finish, because I’ll be able to expand.”  Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

President Carter to lie in state at US Capitol ahead of National Cathedral funeral

President Carter to lie in state at US Capitol ahead of National Cathedral funeral

Former President Jimmy Carter’s body will be brought to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday afternoon where he will lie in state for three days before a state funeral in Washington, D.C. Carter died last week on Dec. 29, at the age of 100. His death came just over a year after the passing of his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other congressional leaders announced last month that Carter would lie in state, writing a letter to his son, James Carter III.  JIMMY CARTER, 39TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEAD AT 100 “In recognition of President Carter’s long and distinguished service to the nation, it is our intention to ask the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to permit his remains lie in state in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol,” the leaders wrote. “With your approval, we will move forward with these arrangements so that the American people have the opportunity to pay their respects to President Carter before he is laid to rest.” Carter’s ceremonial arrival to the Capitol Rotunda is expected on Tuesday afternoon, and will feature remarks from Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Members of the public will be able to view Carter’s casket from early Wednesday through early morning Thursday. The former Democratic commander in chief’s body arrives in Washington, D.C., Tuesday afternoon lying in repose at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia. A week-long memorial began in Carter’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, on Saturday morning. Former U.S. Secret Service agents who protected Carter carried his casket as pallbearers when it left the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. JIMMY CARTER EXPECTED TO LIE IN ROTUNDA AHEAD OF STATE FUNERAL SCHEDULED BY BIDEN “Every overpass had people on it. It was amazing and gave you goosebumps just to sit in the van and see the reactions of the people of Georgia,” his son said at the funeral in Atlanta. Carter’s state funeral service will be held at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday morning. The former president will then end his final journey with a private funeral service in Plains, before being interred in a private ceremony at the Carter family residence.