US urges push for Syria de-escalationTitle: UEFA Takes Action Against Kurt during Premier League Referee Company Investigation
The Justice Department Is Dropping Its Criminal Cases Against Trump
Actor and singer Xiang Zuo, also known as Xiang Zuo, has recently made headlines in the fashion world with his latest hair design created by hairstylist Xiao Hua. The unique hairstyle, named "Monkey Zuo," has taken social media by storm, igniting a wave of creativity and buzz online.Election victories for Donald Trump and other candidates whose campaigns demeaned transgender people reinforced a widespread backlash against trans rights. For America’s LGBTQ-rights movement, it adds up to one of the most sustained setbacks in its history. For transgender Americans, it’s personal: There is palpable fear of potential Trump administration steps to further marginalize them. But there is also a spirit of resilience — a determination to persevere in seeking acceptance and understanding. “I just went through an election where I couldn’t watch a sports event on TV without seeing a commercial where trans people were portrayed as monsters,” said Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender author who teaches at Barnard College in New York. “This hurts more than any other moment I can remember. We’ve been knocked down before. We’ll be knocked down again. All we can do is fight.” Anti-trans momentum has been growing for several years, with Republican-governed states enacting dozens of laws restricting trans people’s options for medical care, sports participation and public restroom access. Activists fear the movement will grow, with the Trump administration taking power as many Americans question the trans-rights agenda. Overall, 55% of voters — and 85% of Trump backers — said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 people who cast ballots nationwide. “There is an urgent need to show the American people the reality of transgender lives — the ordinary people for whom being trans is not the center of their lives,” said Shannon Minter, a transgender civil rights lawyer with the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “This is a frightening moment for transgender people and their families. There is a very real possibility that the new administration may adopt policies that cause them devastating harm.” Trump won the presidential contest over Vice President Kamala Harris after a campaign that included pervasive TV advertising mocking her support for trans rights. “Kamala is for they/them,” an ad that ran over 15,000 times asserted. “President Trump is for you.” Other Democratic candidates also were targeted with anti-trans ads. On an array of issues, Trump — and other Republicans who now hold majorities in both the House and Senate — have threatened to roll back protections and civil liberties for trans people. Trump has pledged to impose wide-ranging restrictions on transgender students. His administration could swiftly move to exclude them from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of preferred pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms. At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for trans minors. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton is filing civil lawsuits against doctors he alleges were prescribing such treatments. Trump says any doctor or hospital providing gender-affirming care should be barred from Medicaid and Medicare. Trump and other Republicans embraced the anti-trans mantra opposing “boys in girls’ sports.” At least 24 states already have laws on the books barring trans women and girls from participating in certain women’s or girls’ sports competitions. In March, 16 college athletes filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing transgender woman Lia Thomas to compete at the 2022 national championships, where she won the 500-yard freestyle. Trans-rights activists worry that Trump may reimpose a ban on trans people serving openly in the military or — as an alternative — bar any future recruiting of trans people and curtail the availability of gender-affirming medical care for service members and veterans. Trans-rights organizations are calling for coalition-building and renewed efforts to increase public understanding. They celebrated some notable victories. Sarah McBride won Delaware’s lone seat in the House of Representatives to become the first openly trans person elected to Congress. In Montana, transgender state Rep. Zooey Zephyr won reelection and will be able to return to the House floor nearly two years after she was silenced and sanctioned by her Republican colleagues. But nationwide, anger and anxiety were dominant emotions among trans activists. “This election season has been brutal,” the leaders of Advocates for Transgender Equality wrote to their supporters. “Trump targeted trans people since his campaign launch. He targeted our existence. He targeted our rights. He promised he would continue to target trans people if he won — and we know he will keep his promise.” Shelby Chestnut, executive director of the Transgender Law Center, said trans people “have become the pawn for political groups that don’t understand our communities.” “It’s a very precarious time,” Chestnut said. “We will get through this, but we have to step up and support each other. ... How do we see the long game, not just the immediate narrow view? Because it is very daunting right now. Where do we want to be in 15 years?” Public opinion on trans rights issues isn’t uniform. According to AP VoteCast, slightly more than half of voters in the 2024 election strongly or somewhat opposed laws that ban gender-affirming medical treatment, such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for minors. Slightly less than half of voters somewhat or strongly favored them. And according to a Gallup poll conducted last year, 69% of Americans say transgender athletes should be allowed to compete only on sports teams that conform with their birth gender. Over the past 25 years, arguably the most daunting previous phase of the LGBTQ-rights movement started in 2004, after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Between 2004 and 2008, voters in 26 states approved ballot measures defining marriage as between one man and one woman — in effect outlawing same-sex marriage. By 2012, however, public opinion was swinging in favor of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court legalized it nationwide in 2015, and it has had the support of most Americans ever since. Boylan recalled how that long-bitter debate tilted in favor of legalization when supporters of same-sex marriage popularized the phrase “Love is love.” “That opened doors and opened hearts,” Boylan said. “The challenge for trans people is we don’t have a phrase like that. ... The issues are more complex.” Boylan noted that the anti-trans campaign seemed to make headway with issues that are not among the core concerns of most trans people: “The primary thing we’re fighting for is not the right to play with other women on a soccer team. We’re fighting for dignity, for respect, for the right to be left alone.” Maxwell Kuzma, a transgender man working as a film editor and writer in rural Ohio, said he was “worn out” by the relentless targeting of trans people and blamed Trump for perpetuating it. Looking ahead, he said life as a trans person “has forced me to learn a resiliency that I will lean on as I continue to speak out against prejudice and discrimination.” Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey, described a recent surge of Zoom meetings enabling trans people to express their concerns and determine next steps. “One of the best recommendations I have heard throughout this discussion is to not isolate yourself; rather surround yourself with your support group — the people you love and who love you,” she said. “Do not despair. There are a lot of people who will work with you and for you.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Fort scores 27 in Samford's 97-90 victory over Alabama A&M
President Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan greet the welcoming crowd in Macao, south China on Dec 18, 2024. – Xinhua photo MACAO (Dec 21): In 2012, shortly after becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi Jinping visited Guangdong Province in southern China. One stop on this trip was Hengqin, a place that was not so well-known back then but has since gained much spotlight. Hengqin is an island in the city of Zhuhai, adjacent to Macao. Xi urged exploring innovative cooperation models between Hengqin and Macao to contribute to the latter’s long-term prosperity and stability. Macao’s development has long been on Xi’s mind. In 2009, then as vice president of China, he visited Macao and announced the plan to develop Hengqin, highlighting its potential to bolster Macao’s economic diversification. On Dec 18 afternoon, Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, arrived in Macao to attend celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. Delivering a brief speech at the airport, Xi called Macao “a pearl on the palm” of the motherland. Over the past 25 years, the practice of “one country, two systems” with Macao characteristics has achieved success widely recognised by the world, showcasing great vitality and unique charm, he said. The strategic vision Xi outlined for the city’s growth, along with his commitment to improving the livelihoods of the local people, has been pivotal to Macao’s transformation into a thriving economic hub and a desired tourist and leisure destination. Its development has been a success story of “one country, two systems”. Since the return from Portuguese rule in 1999, Macao has been governed as a special administrative region (SAR) under the “one country, two systems” policy – a unique arrangement that allows it to maintain its capitalist system and way of life within socialist China. Over the years, Macao’s GDP had grown from 51.9 billion patacas (about US$6.23 billion) in 1999 to 379.5 billion patacas in 2023, while the per capita GDP had more than quadrupled to around US$70,000. This year, Forbes magazine listed Macao as the second-richest place in the world, trailing only Luxembourg. The annual number of visitors to the city has also surged to more than 32 million from 7 million 25 years ago. Planning Macao’s development The Chinese central government has taken into full consideration Macao’s unique position and role, encouraging it to actively integrate into the national development strategy. For Hong Kong and Macao, “one country, two systems” is the biggest strength; China’s reform and opening up has set the broadest stage for their development; and the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area present new and significant opportunities, Xi has said. The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, established in 2021 under Xi’s personal planning and guidance, has enabled Macao to develop industries such as high-end manufacturing, traditional Chinese medicine, financial services, and cultural tourism, helping to reduce its overdependence on the gaming sector. As of September 2024, the cooperation zone has attracted 6,461 Macao enterprises and 16,539 Macao residents to move in. The deeply-integrated development between Guangdong and Macao is becoming a reality. Xi regards the joint development of Hengqin by Zhuhai and Macao as a key component of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s growth. As part of this major national strategy, Macao was designated as one of the four central cities in the Greater Bay Area, alongside Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, serving as an engine for regional development. This has provided Macao with new opportunities, motivation, and space for growth. Infrastructure construction has gathered speed. On Oct 23, 2018, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, was opened, with Xi personally announcing its inauguration. Over the past six years, the bridge has evolved into a key economic and trade channel and a vital logistics artery in the Greater Bay Area. The annual number of border crossings at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port and the Hengqin Port both exceeded 20 million in 2024, setting new records. “Over the 25 years since Macao’s return, the motherland has been Macao’s strongest backing for prosperity and stability, and has provided the greatest opportunities for Macao’s development,” said Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao SAR. In July, China unveiled a master plan for furthering its reform, which emphasised leveraging the institutional advantages of “one country, two systems” and improving mechanisms to ensure that Hong Kong and Macao play a better role in the nation’s opening up. “This has pointed the way for Macao to integrate into Chinese modernisation and achieve better development, providing a new historical opportunity,” Xi has said. People visit the Senado Square in Macao, south China on Dec 17, 2024. – Xinhua photo Connecting with locals In the past years, no matter how busy his schedule was, Xi always managed to meet with ordinary local residents during his visits to Macao. He spent time learning about livelihood projects, be it a public housing program, an elderly-care facility or a government service center. “From your voices, we can gauge whether Macao is prosperous and developing,” he told the locals. Xi has also exchanged letters with people from all walks of life in Macao. The “Macao Science 1” satellites, jointly developed by the Chinese mainland and Macao, was successfully launched in May 2023. Following the launch, 18 faculty and students from the Macau University of Science and Technology, who participated in the satellites’ development, wrote to Xi to share the exciting news and their experiences in the project. In his reply, Xi encouraged them to actively integrate into and contribute more to the country’s development. “We received President Xi’s reply just two days later. It was a tremendous encouragement for us,” said Yin Liang, an assistant researcher with the project. “He recognised our work and provided guidance for our future efforts.” Xi also cares a lot about the thoughts and aspirations of Macao’s youth. In May 2019, students from a Macao middle school wrote a letter to Xi, sharing their understandings of the concept of “motherland” and expressing their wishes for Xi to visit Macao again. After replying to the students, Xi fulfilled his promise by visiting their school in December 2019. He attended a Chinese history open class on campus, and told the students: “As Chinese, we must understand the history of our nation.” That open class left a deep impression on then 15-year-old Ni Ho Lam. Inspired by that experience, she began incorporating traditional Chinese cultural elements such as dragons and cranes into her works during creative design competitions. Today, she is pursuing her dream of design and art as a student at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. During his overseas visits and domestic diplomatic activities, Xi also promoted Macao actively. In December 2018, during a state visit to Portugal, Xi emphasised Macao’s unique role in advancing cooperation and exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries and in the BRI. In April 2019, while meeting with the president of Portugal, Xi stressed: “Macao has already become a bridge for long-term friendly cooperation between China and Portugal.” “As long as we give full play to the institutional strengths of ‘one country, two systems’ and dare to strive and innovate, Macao will surely create a brighter future,” Xi said on Dec 18. – XinhuaThe notion of new productivity encompasses a wide range of aspects, from the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, to the emphasis on sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity in the workplace. It reflects a shift towards a more holistic understanding of productivity that takes into account not only economic growth but also social and environmental well-being.
Despite the disappointment of not being able to attend Chen Qiao En's wedding, Xie Na took to social media to express her heartfelt congratulations to her close friend. She shared a message of love and support, emphasizing the strength of their friendship and the bond they share. While physical distance may have kept them apart on this special occasion, their emotional connection remains unwavering.
The AIGC Director Co-creation Program University Roadshow kicked off amid great anticipation and excitement, with a series of events and showcases scheduled to take place at various universities across the country. This ambitious endeavor seeks to foster collaboration between talented young filmmakers and AI experts, providing them with a platform to explore new possibilities in storytelling and visual expression.As the transfer window heats up and clubs scramble to secure their targets, it remains to be seen which club will emerge victorious in the race for the French star's signature. Real Madrid will be keen to offload the player for a substantial fee to fund their own transfer pursuits, while potential suitors will be eager to acquire a player of his caliber to bolster their squad.
The rise in the development index can be attributed to a combination of factors that have contributed to the overall improvement of the business environment for SMEs in China. One key factor is the government's continued efforts to support and promote the development of SMEs through various policies and initiatives. These include tax incentives, access to financing, and streamlined bureaucratic procedures, all of which have helped to create a more favorable environment for SMEs to thrive.The looming prospect of President Yoon's arrest has heightened tensions in the country and raised concerns about the stability of South Korea's democratic institutions. The unprecedented nature of the situation has left many citizens anxious about the future of their country and the potential consequences of such a tumultuous political climate.
Bettiol's 22 lead Abilene Christian past Texas Southern 69-652. Comfort and Fit
However, as the tour progressed, it became evident that something was amiss. The tour bus made several unexplained stops, and the tour guide seemed flustered and disorganized. Communication between the tour operator and the participants was minimal, with vague explanations given for the delays and deviations from the itinerary.According to the authorities, Mr. Bu was found in a disoriented state, but fortunately unharmed. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for a thorough medical evaluation and is currently in stable condition. The police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr. Bu's disappearance and are working to piece together the events leading up to his discovery.
The inclusion of rare disease drugs in the medical insurance coverage is a positive development that will benefit patients, families, healthcare providers, and society as a whole. It represents a milestone in the efforts to improve the treatment and management of rare diseases in China and underscores the importance of ensuring that all patients have access to the care they need.Inequality Weakens Local Governance and Public Satisfaction, Study Finds
MAGA celebrates Trump’s latest legal victory in Jan. 6 caseConference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss
Former UCF head coach Gus Malzahn hired as Florida State OC