ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Senate Republicans recommended on Friday that the state write laws banning transgender girls and women from participating in high school and college sports, setting the stage for action in the 2025 legislative session. The vote by a committee that was studying the issue is hardly a surprise. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — a possible Republican contender for governor in 2026 — announced almost identical goals at the panel's first meeting in August . It’s an issue that’s already been addressed in Georgia. Legislators in 2022 empowered the Georgia High School Association to regulate transgender students' participation in sports. The association, which regulates sports and activities for all public schools and some private schools, then banned transgender boys and girls from playing on the school sports teams matching their gender identity. Jones and others argue that doesn't go far enough and that lawmakers themselves need to act. It's a sign Republicans believe there is more political gain in fears about transgender women playing women’s sports or using women’s bathrooms. At least 26 mostly Republican states have passed laws or rules to restrict transgender girls from participating high school sports and, in some cases, transgender women from college sports , according to the Movement Advancement Project, a gay rights group. In Georgia, additional action appears more likely now after House Speaker Jon Burns and Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, have voiced support for further legislation. Jeff Graham, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Georgia Equality, said his group is playing defense, concerned about the possibility of other bills that could further restrict gender-affirming care or ban transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity. “We’re expecting that it’ll be at least what we saw in 2023 and 2024, with the number of bills and more than likely laws,” Graham told reporters Friday. But Burns, from Newington, has said he's not interested in other bills dealing with transgender people besides those dealing with girls' and women's sports. Republican State Sen. Greg Dolezal, of Cumming, who led the Senate study committee, said Friday that he, too, is not interested in a broader bill regulating bathroom usage, although his committee recommended that schools that host sporting events require athletes to use locker rooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Dolezal said senators would seek to write legislation that regulated public schools and colleges, as well as private institutions that compete against public schools and colleges. The committee also recommends that people be able to sue or file grievances if schools break the rules, and that state money be withheld from schools that break the rules. Supporters of more action have focused on the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, swam for the University of Pennsylvania and won the 500-meter freestyle . The NCAA has since revised its policy on transgender women’s participation, saying it will follow the rules of respective athletics federations. World Aquatics, the swimming governing body, banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. That means Thomas wouldn’t be allowed to swim in NCAA events today. “My basic contention that this is a solution in search of a problem remains,” Graham said. He said he fears that many people who oppose laws that seek to restrict transgender people will be afraid to testify and lobby at the Georgia Capitol, citing assault charges against a man accused of shaking U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in a Capitol office building in Washington, D.C. Dolezal repeatedly tried to turn down the emotional temperature of the issue on Friday. “I think that there’s a group of people that wants to be respected and I think that they deserve respect,” Dolezal told reporters. “But I also think that you can be respectful, but also recognize that in the sporting arena, fairness and competition is important.” Jeff Amy, The Associated PressThe La Liga giants have been participating in both domestic and European competitions, with matches scheduled nearly every three to four days. This grueling rhythm has forced Real Madrid to play crucial fixtures on Wednesdays and Sundays, leaving limited time for recovery and preparation between matches.
In conclusion, Jack Ma's speech at the 20th anniversary of Ant Group serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of AI and the need for proactive adaptation in the face of technological advancements. His vision for the AI era inspires us to embrace change, foster collaboration, and prioritize ethics in our pursuit of a brighter and more sustainable future. As we embark on this new chapter in human history, let us heed Ma's words and work together to harness the full potential of AI for the benefit of all.The critics were swift, and brutal. “Unintentionally hilarious,” said one, who half-wondered whether it was a spoof. “Tedious,” was a further verdict – while, bruisingly, another just deemed it “tacky”. These, are some of the responses to Prince Harry and Meghan’s newly released Netflix five-part series, Polo. Little wonder that the streaming giant now appears to be distancing itself from the show. Indeed, there has been no serious attempt by Netflix to promote the series – something surely almost unheard of for a five-episode programme. The company invested in no poster campaigns for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s latest project and its sole promotional attempt consists of a two-line statement from Harry on the streamer’s website. “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour,” says the Prince. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport – and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.” Max Corstorphan Yet we can reveal that, despite the streaming giant’s lack of promotional zeal for the project, in reality, the couple were heavily involved with the making of the show, which is part of the Sussexes’s much-vaunted $100million deal with Netflix. Executive produced by both Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43 – they also make a brief appearance on screen in the documentary – the series reflects the prince’s enthusiasm for this elite sport. And, indeed, behind the scenes, both he and Meghan were very hands-on when it came to the filming and editing of the show. The pair, I am told, spent many, many hours poring over the footage, offering advice on what should make the cut. Fascinatingly, the show’s other executive producer Milos Balac worked on the hit FX/Disney+ documentary series Welcome to Wrexham, which followed Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s takeover of the Welsh lower-league football club. While undoubtedly a much less glamorous sport, it certainly made better viewing. Audience figures are a closely guarded secret, no less than four further series were commissioned. Disney+ is reported to make an astonishing £400,000 per episode. Part of that success, as some critics have commented, is that Welcome to Wrexham had a gritty, underdog appeal which, despite Balac’s attempts to talk up how much the duke and duchess wanted to show polo’s more “down-to-earth” side, is sorely missing from the Sussex series. Max Corstorphan Although the duchess, in particular, was keen to highlight the fact that ordinary people can watch polo while having a picnic next to the match fields – a practice known as tailgating – there’s little getting away from the fact that the ponies can cost from £50,000 to £200,000, and elite players may use up to eight of them in a single game. For his part, Balac said of the couple: “They were wonderful. They were extremely hands-on. They really had a vision for trying to get polo to be accessible to a wider audience.” “Prince Harry knows the sport inside and out. To be able to have him as someone to bounce ideas off and then also to get notes ‘Maybe if you edit it like this, the polo will just feel even more exciting’. “Or ‘You have got to make sure that the point is played out like this because that’s how you keep it factually accurate’. “A lot of projects have EPs [executive producers] who can give great notes, but it’s rare that you have someone who’s truly an expert in the subject that you are documenting.” And it was Meghan, Balac said, who opened his eyes to the informality of the sport. “It was Meghan who really prepped me for how wonderfully casual polo can be. Sunday polo on Field One at the US Polo Center is a big to-do where people have champagne brunches and come with their beautiful outfits.” “But the rest of the week, every polo match is actually so down to- earth. It’s a lot of people pulling up in their pickup trucks and their cowboy boots, if not barefoot, with their dogs and their families and their kids to watch the game that they love.” In the event, the series focuses only on the wealthy sportsmen who play the game. Perhaps, and not for the first time, Meghan’s slant got lost in translation. It would seem that another reinvention for Harry and Meghan has not had the desired impact. What a contrast to William and Kate who, despite their most challenging year yet, have been projecting an entirely more marketable image. Indeed, the Princess of Wales was this week nominated for the prestigious Time Magazine Person of the Year title, while William has received many plaudits for his well-judged handling of President-elect Donald Trump when both recently attended the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. William also spoke warmly this week of spending Christmas Day with 45 members of his family. Unsurprisingly, the question of whether Harry and Meghan will be welcome among the royal throng pulling crackers at Sandringham is something of a moot one. While nobody is commenting officially – on either side of the Atlantic – the answer to that question is clearly “No”. A royal source says: “The unspoken understanding is that an invitation is not on the cards.” Next year, then, looks to be an uncertain year for the Sussexes, particularly for Meghan, who faces her greatest solo challenge of all – the launch of her Netflix cookery show and her much-discussed lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Indeed, after the apparent failure of Polo, so much hangs on her cookery show that some are calling it the “last chance” for her to “save” the couple’s lucrative Netflix deal – which is, after all, their chief source of funding. One Californian source tells me: “It’s make or break. People say Netflix is exhausted. It’s so much work with her and, bluntly, the ‘deliverable’ does not seem to be worth it.” Another entertainment executive remarks: “Her show will have to be an enormous hit to turn around their deal and their reputations in this town.” But if – and, as we shall see, it’s a big if – people start buying her crockery, biscuit mixes, rose wine and napkins, that might just be the sustainable revenue stream that the couple have been in desperate need of since Megxit, when, as Harry memorably complained: “My family literally cut me off financially.” Well-placed sources indicate the launch of the show and the brand will happen in the first quarter of the year and, judging by the fact that it’s not part of any Netflix schedules in January, we must expect late February – after Harry’s Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada – or even March for the launch. A Netflix source says details of Meghan’s project are being shared with only a “tiny” audience of executives in the US. “It’s a very tight circle,” I am told. “Everything to do with her is kept completely secret.” We do know the show will be very much made according to Meghan’s vision, all neutral shades and soft-focus camera lenses. The shows – filmed not at her Montecito home but at a nearby mansion – have been directed by veteran Michael Steed, who worked with the revered late chef Anthony Bourdain. The show-runner is Leah Hariton, who previously made Selena + Chef in 2020 featuring the actress Selena Gomez. They have been produced for Netflix by The Intellectual Property Corporation, which is an offshoot of Sony Pictures Television. This is an interesting choice by Netflix as The IPC has also made a number of shows for Joanna Gaines, a likeable Texan who is the face of a hugely lucrative lifestyle brand and who has just made her own cookery show. Sound familiar? Add the fact that brunette Gaines bears an astonishing resemblance to Meghan, and you can see why people have started openly comparing the two women. It’s also fascinating to note that Netflix was desperate to sign Gaines and her husband, Chip, back in 2017. However, much to Netflix boss Ted Sarandos’s ire, they lost out to Warner/HBO, who offered them their own TV channel. So striking are the parallels between the two women that some believe Sarandos is betting big that Meghan will strike a chord with ordinary viewers like down-to-earth Gaines has. They say the duchess will be his version of Gaines – although Meghan’s sophisticated vibe is far distant from Gaines’s down-home Texan charm. Sarandos said of Meghan in September: “I’ve been out with a lot of famous people before – the way that people react to Meghan is otherworldly.” It will need to be. Because time is ticking. That big-money Netflix deal for Harry and Meghan comes to the end of its five-year period in autumn next year, and Sarandos will want to see results. However, well-placed Hollywood executives say that the deal will amount to nothing like $100 million because of the lack of content the couple have actually produced. Notably, the Sussexes have failed to produce a single drama or movie – unlike their role models Barack and Michelle Obama, whose company Higher Ground has made the hit film Leave the World Behind and critically acclaimed Rustin. Netflix has bought the rights to the chick-lit book Meet Me At The Lake for the Sussexes – an unusual move, as you would expect the producers to find the cash. But whatever stage the scripting is at, it has yet to enter production. The same is true for the couple’s TV series retelling the story of Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations through a feminist lens with Miss Havisham as the heroine. Again, it has yet to enter production. Neither show, then, looks likely to be completed or broadcast before the Netflix deal is up for renewal. In March it will be a whole year since the rather underwhelming “soft launch” of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard. So far there have been batches of jam and dog biscuits sent out to friends in numbered jars bearing its heraldic logo, one Instagram video in soft focus... and a slew of difficulties about its trademark with the US Patents and Trademarks Organisation. Much hinges, then, on how the brand is received by the public. And sources are certain Meghan is determined to “own” the project, as the duchess might put it herself. I’m told: “She is the CEO of the American Riviera Orchard brand – she started out that way and that remains the case.” However, my understanding is that many of the brand’s staff, who are separate from the couple’s media entity Archewell, joined the company directly from Netflix. They may even still be being paid by Netflix, who is partnering with American Riviera Orchard, to launch the brand. Netflix decline to comment in any way – and some sources say their link remains “unconfirmed”. It is, though, perhaps significant that the chief marketing officer for Netflix, Marian Lee, follows the American Riviera Orchard Instagram page. Another key fact to note is that the brand is being run separately, and by a separate team, to Archewell. Prince Harry has no involvement in it – it’s all down to the duchess. With all that in mind, one can only hope for Meghan’s sake that she’s more at ease with pots and pans than polo ponies.
How a blunder in Netflix's Squid Game Season 2 created a chaos that nearly ‘ruined a woman’s life’Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
Garrett Wilson clearly isn't happy. And his future with the New York Jets seems murkier than ever. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Garrett Wilson clearly isn't happy. And his future with the New York Jets seems murkier than ever. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Garrett Wilson clearly isn’t happy. And his future with the New York Jets seems murkier than ever. The star wide receiver wants to win more than anything, but three losing seasons to start his NFL career have taken their toll. Wilson has been an extremely bright spot for the Jets during that span, setting team receiving records and establishing himself as one of the top players in the NFL at his position. He’s the fourth-most targeted player in the league this season. But he still believes he could do more — and that he can help the Jets (4-11) win. Wilson had six catches for 54 yards on Sunday in New York’s 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Four of his seven targets came during the Jets’ final drive. Davante Adams had 13 targets and clearly has been the favorite target of Aaron Rodgers — not surprising since they played together eight years in Green Bay. But Wilson has seemed almost an afterthought lately. “I don’t know, to be honest with you, man,” Wilson said after the game when asked why he wasn’t more involved in the offense. “I’ve just got to go out and put my best foot forward and hope that things fall my way. I’d love to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but if people see it differently, then it’s out of my control. “So, just trying to do what I can do.” That came a few days after Wilson was noncommittal on whether he can see himself staying with the Jets long term if they offer him a contract extension after the season. He had a similar response after the game. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to find ways to get Garrett the ball more often,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday. “He’s one of the best players on our team, if not one of the best players in this league, especially at his position, so the progression for a lot of different reasons from a coverage standpoint took (Rodgers) off Garrett, but at the same time, we’ve got to find ways to get him the ball, for sure.” Wilson is due for an extension after this season, but the Jets have control over his contract through the 2027 season. There are rumblings that Wilson, who ranks among the league leaders with 90 receptions and 987 yards receiving, could seek a trade. The Jets’ next general manager and coach will have to make decisions on the futures of several players, including Rodgers, but Wilson also will be a priority in the team’s offseason conversations. “If you weren’t frustrated, I think that would bother me to an extent,” Ulbrich said. “I think he’s just one of those ultimate competitors that wants the ball, not for selfish reasons. Just from the standpoint he knows he can help our team win if he does have the ball in his hands.” What’s working Fast starts. The Jets have scored touchdowns on their opening possession in each of their last two games after previously not doing so all season. What needs help With the team out of the playoff hunt, Ulbrich was aggressive. The Jets went for it on fourth down five times against the Rams and converted just twice. Two of the stops led to points for Los Angeles. After Breece Hall was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the Jets 33 in the second quarter, the Rams kicked a field goal to tie it. On their first possession of the second half, the Jets went for it on a fourth-and-4 from the Rams 13 instead of kicking a field goal. But Rodgers’ fade pass to Adams was incomplete, ending a 14-play, 78-yard drive. Los Angeles followed by kicking another tying field goal. Stock up CB D.J. Reed. The veteran defensive back has arguably been the Jets’ best cornerback this season. Reed is scheduled to be a free agent during the coming offseason and could be in for a big payday. Whether to bring him back will be a major topic of conversation for the Jets’ new regime. Stock down K Anders Carlson. He briefly provided some stability as the Jets’ fourth kicker this season but has struggled lately. Carlson missed an extra point, his second of the season, and was wide right on a late 49-yard field goal try that would’ve made it a one-score game and given the Jets a chance at a comeback attempt against the Rams. Ulbrich said there’s a chance there could be another change this week. Injuries Rookie LT Olu Fashanu is dealing with a foot injury. The first-round pick was seen on crutches after the game, but Ulbrich said Fashanu was still getting tests done to determine the severity of the injury. ... DT Quinnen Williams was inactive with a hamstring injury. He tested it before the game and was scratched. Ulbrich said there’s a chance he’ll play this week. ... CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) and S Tony Adams (ankle) left the game with injuries. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 0 — The Jets scored 9 points and had no punts in the loss to Los Angeles. They joined the 1991 Colts — a 16-7 loss to the Patriots in the season opener — as the only teams in the Super Bowl era to score fewer than 10 points and not punt. What’s next The Jets travel for their last road game of the season to Buffalo, where they’ll take on the AFC East rival Bills. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement Advertisement
Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega and his wife are set to assume absolute power after loyalist lawmakers Friday approved a constitutional amendment elevating her to the position of "co-president" and boosting the pair's joint control over the state. Under sanctions for human rights abuses, Ortega himself had proposed the change, which also increases the Central American country's presidential term from five to six years. Nicaragua's National Assembly is under control of Ortega's ruling FSLN party, and parliament chief Gustavo Porras said Friday the measure was approved "unanimously." It is all but guaranteed to pass a second reading in January. Ortega, 79, has engaged in increasingly authoritarian practices, tightening control of all sectors of the state with the aid of his powerful wife, 73-year-old Vice President Rosario Murillo in what critics describe as a nepotistic dictatorship. The ex-guerrilla had first served as president from 1985 to 1990, returning to power in 2007. Nicaragua has jailed hundreds of opponents, real and perceived, since then. Ortega's government has targeted critics, shutting down more than 5,000 NGOs since 2018 mass protests in which the United Nations estimates more than 300 people died. Thousands of Nicaraguans have fled into exile, and the regime is under US and EU sanctions. Most independent and opposition media now operate from abroad. The constitutional amendment stipulates that "traitors to the homeland" can be stripped of their citizenship, as the Ortega government has already done with hundreds of politicians, journalists, intellectuals and activists, among others perceived as critical. Ortega and Murillo accuse the Church, journalists and NGOs of having supported an attempted coup d'etat, as they describe the 2018 protests. The change also allows for stricter control over the media and the Church, so they are not subject to "foreign interests." And it gives the co-presidents the power to coordinate all "legislative, judicial, electoral, control and supervisory bodies, regional and municipal" -- formerly independent under the constitution. Manuel Orozco, a Nicaraguan analyst for the Inter-American Dialogue, told AFP the reform "guarantees the presidential succession" of Murillo and the pair's son, Laureano Ortega. The Geneva-based UN human rights office (OHCHR) in its annual report on Nicaragua warned in September of a "serious" deterioration in human rights under Ortega. The report cited violations such as arbitrary arrests of opponents, torture, ill-treatment in detention, increased violence against Indigenous people and attacks on religious freedom. The revised constitution will define Nicaragua as a "revolutionary" and socialist state and include the red-and-black flag of the FSLN -- a guerrilla group-turned political party that overthrew a US-backed dictator in 1979 -- among its national symbols. Constitutional law expert Azahalea Solis said this change excludes other political ideologies, while Salvador Marenco, a human rights lawyer exiled in Costa Rica, said it will end political pluralism and the doctrine of separation of powers. "Everything in the reform is what has actually been happening in Nicaragua: a de facto dictatorship," Dora Maria Tellez, a former comrade in arms of Ortega turned critic, told AFP from exile in the United States. When it was proposed by Ortega earlier this week, Organization of American States secretary general Luis Almagro described the amendment as "an aberrant form of institutionalizing the marital dictatorship." He also labeled the initiative an "aggression against the democratic rule of law." mis-mlr/dw
JAMAICA, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) today announced that Turkish Airlines will begin operations at the new terminal when it opens in 2026. Turkish Airlines will also unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art lounge for its premium customers, launching the next phase of the award-winning airline's growth at its top U.S. gateway. The New Terminal One, set to be the largest international terminal in the United States , will offer best-in-class amenities and innovative technology for a transformational and efficient travel experience. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.As the temperature begins to drop, the city of Beijing is once again preparing for snowfall. The weather forecast predicts that snow is on the way, with the cold north wind following close behind. Title: The Shrinking Benefits of Tencent Video Membership and the Crackdown on Account Sharing by Youku and iQIYIThe decision to establish an office in Nanjing reflects Amazon's commitment to providing a seamless shopping experience for Chinese customers. With the Global Store platform, Chinese consumers gain access to a vast selection of international products, ranging from electronics and fashion to home goods and beauty products. By localizing operations in Nanjing, Amazon can better understand the preferences and needs of Chinese consumers, ensuring a tailored and efficient shopping experience.
Shanghai, China - In a historic moment for China's homegrown beauty industry, iconic cosmetics brand Mao Geping made a staggering debut on the stock market, with its shares soaring by an impressive 60% on the first day of trading. The company's successful initial public offering (IPO) marks a significant milestone for the domestic beauty sector, signaling a new era of recognition and growth for Chinese cosmetics on the global stage.
The concept of countercyclical adjustment refers to the strategic measures taken by policymakers to counteract fluctuations in economic cycles. By identifying periods of expansion or contraction, authorities can implement policies that either stimulate or restrain economic activity to maintain stability. Traditionally, these adjustments have focused on interest rates, fiscal policies, and regulatory frameworks. However, the current environment calls for a more innovative and multifaceted approach to address the complex challenges facing real estate and stock markets.In a world where technology has made it easier than ever to access dangerous weapons, it is essential that we take proactive steps to prevent tragedies like this from happening again. The shooting of the insurance giant CEO serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and accountability in our society.
Furthermore, the growing trend of remote work and telecommuting in the wake of the pandemic has reshaped the housing preferences of many urban dwellers. With more flexibility in where they choose to live and work, individuals and families are increasingly seeking properties that offer a blend of comfort, convenience, and value for money. Second-hand homes, often located in established neighborhoods with established amenities and infrastructure, are seen as an attractive option for those looking to strike a balance between urban living and affordability.Nicaragua OKs reform to boost powers of president, wife