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Why abortion and education are key issues in the Virginia election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

Follow WTOP’s coverage of the Virginia Election 2023.Virginia’s pivotal election is coming up on Nov. 7, and many voters will have the issue of abortion on their minds as they cast their ballot.Since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last year, numerous states have implemented abortion restrictions — and that will likely happen in Virginia too if Republicans take control of both the House of Delegates and the Senate.The Virginia House of Delegates is currently controlled by the GOP with 49 Republicans, 46 Democrats and five vacancies.Of the 40 seats in the state Senate, there are 22 Democrats and 18 Republicans.Every state lawmaker will be on the ballot, meaning the election will determine which party controls the General Assembly.“If Republicans control both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office, you can expect significant restrictions on abortion in Virginia,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political-science professor at the University...

Macron: We stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with Israel in Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France “stands shoulder to shoulder” with Israel as he kicked off a trip to the country, which is witnessing its most deadly outbreak of violence in decades.Macron said he was visiting Israel to show “support for your people, your nation, your rights,” during a statement to the press alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem.Hamas’ attacks were “an immense shock for the whole planet, in particular for France,” Macron said, in reference to the Palestinian militant group’s violent assault against Israel which killed more than 1,400 Israelis. Hamas also killed 30 French citizens.After meeting the relatives of French-Israeli victims and hostages at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Macron said the “first objective” should be to secure the release of hostages. Nine French citizens have been taken hostage by Hamas, or are missing.Macron is expected to call later Tuesday...

A court in Kenya has extended orders barring the deployment of police to Haiti for 2 more weeks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A court in Kenya has extended orders blocking the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti to lead a U.N Security Council-approved mission to combat gang violence in the Caribbean nation.The High Court on Tuesday said that it would rule on the case on Nov. 9.Former presidential candidate, Ekuru Aukot, filed a petition on Oct. 9 against the deployment of Kenyan forces, arguing that the law allowing the president to do so conflicted with articles of the constitution.Aukot’s petition also faulted President William Ruto for agreeing to lead the international peacekeeping mission while Kenya struggles with security issues arising from militant attacks and most recently ethnic clashes.The U.N. Security Council resolution, drafted by the United States and Ecuador, authorizes the force to deploy for one year, with a review after nine months.Kenya’s national assembly has yet to schedule a debate on the motion to deploy the contingent, which is expected to be made up o...

A Hong Kong court upholds a ruling in favor of equal inheritance rights for same-sex couples

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court on Tuesday upheld a ruling that favored the granting of equal inheritance rights to same-sex couples, in the latest victory for the city’s LGBTQ+ community. The decision by the Court of Appeal rejected the government’s motion against the ruling that said the differential treatment facing same-sex married couples under two inheritance laws in the city constitutes unlawful discrimination. “The differential treatment based on sexual orientation is apparent,” Justice of Appeal Peter Cheung wrote in his judgment. Currently, Hong Kong only recognizes same-sex marriage for certain purposes such as taxation, civil service benefits and dependent visas. Many of the government’s concessions were won through legal challenges in recent years as the city has seen a growing social acceptance of same-sex marriage.The ruling is a victory for the city’s LGBTQ+ movement and is expected to have a strong impact on the lives of same-sex couples f...

Stock market today: Global shares trade mixed after Treasury bond yields slip lower

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares were trading mixed Tuesday after the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond fell back after creeping above 5%. France’s CAC 40 inched down less than 0.1% to 6,847.50 in early trading. Germany’s DAX slipped nearly 0.1% to 14,788.30. Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 0.4% to 7,347.01. The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.3% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.2%. Rapidly rising yields in the bond market have been pressuring stock prices since the summer.Treasury yields help dictate how much investors pay for everything from stocks to corporate bonds to cryptocurrencies. Higher yields also make it more expensive for nearly everyone to borrow money, which puts the brakes on economic growth and adds stress to the entire financial system.The yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly topped 5.02% on Monday to touch its highest level since 2007. But stocks got some relief as it then slipped back to 4.84%. Early Tuesday it was at 4.83%....

Shaker and Shen to meet for Class AAA girls soccer title

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

NISKAYUNA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The rematch is set. The Shaker girls soccer team dominated Saratoga 4-0 Monday night to advance to the Class AAA championship game. Shenendehowa followed suit, defeating Colonie 2-1, setting up a clash between the two Suburban Council rivals in a repeat of last year's Class AA final. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Blue Bison offense stampeded with two goals in the first half: one from Lindsey McCulloch, and another from Alina Lagace. McCulloch finished off a hat trick in the second half to help seal the deal for Shaker, as they chase a second straight section title.Shenendehowa and Colonie met once again in the semifinals, and the Plainsmen got the better of the Garnet Raiders. Shen scored first off a free kick from Grace Hogan, but the Raiders' Julia Bancheri evened things up with a goal to tie the game at one.However, later in the second half, Shenendehowa's Rachel Chen scored to give the Plai...

Play of the Week winner - Richie Stifter Jr.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

HOOSICK FALLS, NY (NEWS10) -- Congratulations to this week’s winner of our Play of the Week poll, Hoosick Falls/Tamarac's Richie Stifter Jr.! Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Stifter Jr. tallied a 92-yard scoop and score to clinch Hoosick Falls/Tamarac's win over Schuylerville. Vote here for this week’s Play of the Week poll!

MEPs condemn Hamas attack on Israel and call for a humanitarian pause 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

Parliament has condemned Hamas’ despicable terrorist attacks against Israel while expressing serious concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Plenary session, AFET.In the resolution adopted on Thursday with 500 votes in favour, 21 against and 24 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemn the brutal attacks, express their support to Israel and its people and underline the need to “eliminate the terrorist organisation Hamas”. They also call for the immediate release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas and recognise Israel’s right to self-defence “as enshrined in and constrained by international law”. As such, any actions by Israel must strictly comply with international humanitarian law, the text states. Parliament also stresses that both the attacks by Hamas and the Israeli response risk reinforcing a cycle of violence in the region. MEPs call for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting and stress that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure, including UN workers, med...

Bridge: Oct. 24, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

“Millard is a sweet guy,” a club player told me, “but he’s got only one oar in the water. He said he had an earache, and I asked him whether it was inside or out. He went out the door, came back in and told me it was both.”Millard Pringle tends to get lost in the maze of bridge “rules.” He was declarer at today’s four hearts, and West led the queen of clubs. Millard ruffed the second club and next let the queen of trumps ride. East casually played low.SECOND TRUMP“If Millard leads a second trump to dummy’s jack,” my friend said, “East wins and leads a third trump, and when he takes the king of spades, he cashes the ace of clubs. Millard also loses a diamond for down one.“But Millard next led a trump to the ace. He ruffed the king of clubs and wound up losing a trump, a spade and a club.”“Well defended, well played,” I said. “But I wonder why Millard didn’t finesse in trumps ag...

Horoscopes Oct. 24, 2023: B.D. Wong, adjust to the journey that beckons you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:14 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Shenae Grimes, 34; Eliza Taylor, 34; B.D. Wong, 63; Kevin Kline, 76.Happy Birthday: Pick up the pace and take care of unfinished business. Clearing a passage that opens you to new and exciting adventures will motivate you to be an overachiever this year. Let your imagination lead the way and your discipline carry you to your desired destination. Create opportunities in your mind and adjust to the journey that beckons you. Make a sound relationship a priority. Your numbers are 3, 8, 14, 21, 27, 36, 48.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus on what’s important to you. Do your own thing and stay out of sight. You’ll gain ground if you have tunnel vision and follow your heart. Refuse to let anyone bully you into taking on something that benefits them more than you. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t hesitate; take the initiative and reach for the stars. You’ve got what it takes to make a difference and to sink your teeth into something...