HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s top court on Tuesday upheld earlier rulings that favored subsidized housing benefits and equal inheritance rights for same-sex married couples, in a landmark victory for the city's LGBTQ+ community. The Court of Final Appeal's dismissal of the government's appeals ended some years-long legal battles over the differential treatment facing same-sex couples married overseas under Hong Kong’s Housing Authority policies and two inheritance laws. The decisions are expected to have a far-reaching impact on the lives of same-sex couples, who have traditionally had fewer rights compared to their heterosexual counterparts in the global financial hub. Hong Kong does not recognize same-sex marriage, prompting some couples to marry elsewhere. Currently, the city 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, and the city has seen a growing social acceptance toward same-sex marriage. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . In September 2023, the top court ruled that the government should provide a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships. In separate judgements handed down in 2020 and 2021, a lower court had ruled that the housing policies involved in Tuesday's cases violated the constitutional right to equality, and that excluding same-sex spouses from inheritance law benefits constituted unlawful discrimination. The government had challenged these decisions at the Court of Appeal but subsequently lost in October 2023. It then took the cases to the top court. The top court’s rulings concluded a long legal journey taken by Henry Li and his late partner, Edgar Ng. After they married in Britain in 2017, Ng bought a subsidized flat as his matrimonial home with Li. The Housing Authority, however, said Li could not be added as an authorized occupant of the flat in the capacity of Ng's family member because same-sex married partners do not fall within its definition of “spouse." Ng was also concerned that if he died intestate, his proprieties would not be passed to Li, the court heard. Ng died in 2020 after suffering years of depression. After the Court of Appeal's ruling last year, Li wrote on his Facebook that he hoped the government would respect the judgment. “It added insult to injury— that the government repeatedly argued in open court I am not Edgar’s husband and should be treated as a stranger to him, while I was still mourning,” he wrote at that time.In "Deep Sea Romance," players will embark on a daring mission to uncover the mysteries of the deep ocean, navigating treacherous waters and facing off against new enemies and challenges. The DLC promises to expand upon the rich lore and world-building of "Atomic Heart," delving deeper into the secrets of the enigmatic organization that controls the futuristic Soviet Union setting of the game.
The viral video served as a reminder of the beauty of vulnerability and authenticity in relationships, showing that true love is not afraid to be expressed openly and honestly. It was a moment that resonated with many, touching hearts and reaffirming the belief in the enduring power of love.Roy Keane told a supporter that he would 'wait for him in the carpark' in a tense exchange following Ipswich Town's draw with Manchester United at Portman Road. The former United captain also spent time in charge of the Tractor Boys between 2009 and 2011. Keane was only able to muster inconsistent form during his time in Suffolk and was ultimately sacked with the club struggling in the Championship , after clashing with protesting fans. The next chapter of his relationship with Ipswich on Sunday evening saw the 53-year-old prematurely leave the Sky Sports set on the pitch, where he was working alongside Kelly Cates, Izzy Christensen and Jamie Redknapp as a pundit. Keane had been receiving final instructions from producers as they prepared to return from an ad-break when he left the presentation area, putting down his microphone. Keane approached the nearest stand and engaged a fan in a stern conversation , as others around him heckled and declared: "Go in the car park and wait until the show's over. Keane was then filmed telling him. "I'll wait for you in the car park. "Meet me in the car park," the Irishman reiterated before he was ushered back onto the field by a member of Sky's production staff. Redknapp, who had also left the presentation area, watched on in the background. Fans remaining in the stand were encouraged to calm down as Keane departed. It came as more insults were hurled Keane's way, with one man racing across the upper tier to shout "F*** you Keane"- as first reported by Mail Online . It is not the first time that Keane has engaged in a confrontation with a supporter. The former Republic of Ireland international was headbutted at the Emirates Stadium in September 2023 . The disputes he has entered into with fans has seen Keane declare he is has no plans to continue as a pundit for the next decade. The role prove frustrating for the veteran. "I love football, but the hassle of matches, getting to games, and the hassle of fans. I was in court a few months ago with somebody headbutting me do you think I enjoy that side of it? Absolutely not," he said in August. "The games are fine. Getting to the games, parking up, people shouting your name good stuff, bad stuff it's a nuisance. Being a pundit in 10 years, not." Keane was able to undertake some post-match analysis after watching Ruben Amorim's first match in charge of United. he did not hold back in his assessment of the task that lies ahead of the Portuguese head coach. "He's got big problems," Keane said on Sky Sports. "The lack of threat in the second half, and Ipswich looked like they'd go on and win. They've not won at home all season. Same problems for Man United, but he's only had a week with them. "You have to give the man a chance but the threat going forward, it's a huge problem for Man United. It's not good enough." During his time as manager of the Tractor Boys, Keane won just 28 of his 81 matches and was sacked midway through the 2010/11 campaign, with Ipswich 21st in the Championship. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
The strong performance of the ChiNext Index is particularly noteworthy as it is considered a barometer of market sentiment towards small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential. The surge in the ChiNext Index points to a growing appetite for investing in companies that are at the forefront of technological innovation and emerging industries.
Recently, a shocking incident occurred at a driving school where a student, supposedly frustrated after failing their driving test, allegedly set fire to a car in the parking lot. However, the driving school quickly clarified that the incident was not a deliberate act of revenge, but rather a result of an old car catching fire due to a short circuit. The vehicle was scheduled to be scrapped soon, which was a key factor that led to the misunderstanding.
Social Security COLA 2025: Here's How Much Your Check Will Increase in January - CNETLet us all strive to be part of the solution by debunking rumors and ensuring the dissemination of accurate and reliable information. Together, we can uphold the integrity of communication and protect the public from the harmful effects of false information.
Nicaragua's parliament has passed legislation designed to render foreign sanctions against President Daniel Ortega's administration and close allies ineffective within the country's borders. While the measure cannot alleviate international restrictions, it obliges local financial institutions to disregard these sanctions, effectively voiding their domestic influence. The law was backed by all members of the ruling Sandinista Front in the 91-seat assembly, forwarding President Ortega's proposal swiftly through the legislative process. Supporters argue that the new legislation upholds Nicaraguan sovereignty, with Sandinista deputy Walmaro Gutierrez asserting the country's right to self-governance without external pressures. However, critics warn of potential chaos in Nicaragua's financial sector, as banks face the dilemma of defying foreign sanctions or incurring potential local legal repercussions, including hefty fines and even imprisonment. The law has sparked a debate over Nicaragua's financial stability amidst fears of international economic repercussions. (With inputs from agencies.)South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule
The Global Store division allows customers in China to purchase products directly from international sellers through Amazon's platform. This initiative not only provides Chinese consumers with a diverse range of options but also opens up new opportunities for international sellers to reach the Chinese market effectively. By establishing a physical presence in Nanjing, Amazon aims to better understand the needs and preferences of its Chinese customers while streamlining its operations to deliver a seamless shopping experience.Another important consideration is the resale value of the MPV. With new models entering the market at lower prices, the depreciation rate of MPVs may be higher than before. If you plan to resell the MPV in the future, it is essential to take into account how the depreciation will affect the potential resale value.
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It's now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.Cash handout plan is 'probably illegal'SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Once-promising seasons hit new lows for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers last week. Another late-game meltdown sent the Bears to their sixth straight loss and led to the firing of coach Matt Eberflus. The 49ers suffered their second straight blowout loss and more crushing injuries to go from Super Bowl contenders to outside the playoff picture in a matter of weeks. The two reeling teams will try to get back on track on Sunday when the Bears (4-8) visit the 49ers (5-7) in Chicago's first game under interim coach Thomas Brown . “I told them a minute ago after practice there is no confidence loss at all as far as what I think about them,” Brown said Wednesday. “I don’t care what anybody else thinks about them. I think we have a very talented football team. It’s about just putting the work in every single day to give us an opportunity to win.” The Bears are hoping to get an emotional boost from the first in-season firing of a head coach in franchise history. Over the last 10 seasons, teams with interim coaches are 13-11 in their first game with the new coach. Those teams had a .284 winning percentage at the time they fired their coaches. “I wouldn’t say a new voice was needed. I would say there was change that was needed," rookie quarterback Caleb Williams said, pointing to a need for more accountability and better communication. The Niners came into the season as the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl from the NFC after losing the title game to Kansas City last season. But a series of key injuries, bad losses and spotty play have left them in last place in the NFC West with only slim hopes of even reaching the postseason. San Francisco lost 38-10 to Green Bay and 35-10 to Buffalo in back-to-back weeks and lost star running back Christian McCaffrey to a knee injury last week that will sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season. The Niners already lost key players Brandon Aiyuk and Javon Hargrave to season-ending injuries and are preparing to be without stars Nick Bosa and Trent Williams for a third straight week. “It’s just been a rocky mountain for real with the injuries and other stuff we’ve had to go through this season,” receiver Deebo Samuel said. “Our record don’t show how really good we are as a team. We're still believing in this locker room.” Williams described Eberflus’ firing as “interesting” and “tough” and vowed to “roll with the punches” while insisting the chaos and turnover of the past few weeks could help him handle similar situations in the future. Just 12 games into his NFL career, the prized quarterback is on his second head coach and third offensive coordinator, though Brown will continue to call plays. How does he keep the faith that his career is in good hands with this organization? “The first part is understanding I can’t control,” Williams said. “Even if I understand or don’t understand, that doesn’t matter. I have to roll with the punches like I said before. I don’t control everything.” With McCaffrey and Jordan Mason injured, the Niners running game will turn to rookie Isaac Guerendo . The fourth-round pick has 42 carries for 246 yards and two TDs this season and will be making his second start in either college or the pros. Coach Kyle Shanahan said the progress Guerendo has made since training camp makes him ready for his new role as he sees him running with more “urgency.” “I think it takes guys some time,” Shanahan said. “You start to get a feel for it the more, if you’ve got the right stuff, the more you get reps, the more you can adjust to it. How hard you’ve got to hit stuff, how quick those holes close, how when there is a hole how you have to hit it full-speed and can’t hesitate at all or it closes like that. We’ve seen that stuff get better in practice and we’ve seen it carry over into games.” San Francisco's usually stout run defense has been anything but that this season. The Niners have struggled to slow down the opposition on the ground all year with the problem getting worse recently. The 49ers allowed 389 yards rushing the past two weeks. “It’s been so frustrating because I know what is supposed to look like,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “That’s not it.” Stopping the run also continues to be a sore spot for Chicago. The Bears rank 25th overall against the run and 29th in yards allowed per rush after another difficult outing last week. They gave up 194 yards, including 144 in the first half as the Lions grabbed a 16-0 lead. Losing veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a torn pectoral muscle last month did not help. He was injured in a Week 9 loss at Arizona and is expected to miss the remainder of the season after having surgery. AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL