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

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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 Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 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...

Word Game: Oct. 24, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ENTREAT (ENTREAT: en-TREET: To plead or ask urgently.)Average mark 18 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 25 or more words in ENTREAT? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — APOSTASY assay atop pass past pasta pasty post posy oast says soap soapy spat spay spot stay stop tapas taps toss typoTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Next season, you may be able to take your flu vaccine at home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 GMT

By Meg Tirrell | CNNThe US Food and Drug Administration is reviewing an application for the nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist to be able to be self-administered at home, drugmaker AstraZeneca said Tuesday.The vaccine, the only nasal spray option against flu, has been on the market in the United States since 2003. AstraZeneca has asked the FDA to allow adults ages 18 to 49 to be able to give themselves the vaccine, or to give it to children as young as age 2, citing a “usability study” showing people can do it properly without a health care provider present. If approved, it would be the first flu vaccine cleared for self-administration.Patients would still need to go through an online pharmacy system to order the vaccine, which would then be shipped to their home in temperature-controlled packaging, AstraZeneca’s Dr. Lisa Glasser told CNN.The hope is that a self-administered flu vaccine option could increase uptake; while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends eve...

Alleged ‘Red Bull thief’ behind bars after 20+ Bay Area thefts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:06 GMT

A man is accused of stealing over $14,000 worth of Red Bull, vodka and other merchandise over the course of more than 20 visits to a Vallejo liquor store.Toulon Thurston, 33, had reportedly made a habit of visiting a business on the 900 block of Admiral Callaghan Lane, often stealing multiple cases of energy drinks and bottles of New Amsterdam vodka. According to a social media post by the Vallejo Police Department, authorities arrived at the store Oct. 15 and received information about “the Red Bull Thief,” along with his alleged getaway car and getaway driver.Authorities located Thurston’s vehicle near Florida Street and Yuba Street. A store employee arrived at the scene and identified Thurston as well as another suspect, identified in the Solano County list of inmates as 37-year-old Teaawonna Rucks.Police retrieved Red Bulls and liquor bottles from the vehicle and handed them over to the liquor store.A records check, according to authorities, revealed that Thurston had a $25,000 ...