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Virginia approves redistricting giving Democrats edge in midterms9 Minutes agoSareen HabeshianGetty ImagesVirginia is the latest front in a national battle to redraw congressional districts after President Donald Trump and Republicans initiated a national gerrymandering push aiming to help conservatives maintain a congressional majority.Democrats in California last year approved a similar measure to change the state’s voting districts, with the goal of cancelling gains made by Republicans on redrawn maps Texas. Supreme Court allows California to use a new voting map that boosts DemocratsDemocrats currently hold six of the 11 seats in the state, and the updated maps could allow them to hold as many as 10. The redistricting referendum was the most expensive ballot measure ever in Virginia, according to figures provided by the Virginia Public Access Project. The Virginia Public Access Project reports that groups on both sides have raised over $80m in the last month. “I don’t know if I know what gerrymandering means, but it’s not good,” Trump added. States usually redraw voting maps every decade after the US Census releases new population data. California Gov Gavin Newsom responded to Trump’s support for Texas’ changes by launching a campaign to suspend the Golden State’s independently drawn maps last year in order to “fight fire with fire”. California voters approved their new maps during a special referendum held in November, giving Democrats a slight edge in five new district. In the US, gerrymandering is only illegal when it is based on race. The Republican party is trying to hold onto its slim majority in the House during November’s midterm election. The party of the president has historically lost House seats in this vote. VirginiaUS politicsUnited States

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Iran has seen a mass of redundancies as Employers and government officials refer to this as “bala The impact of air strikes on factories is far more than This includes other manufacturers, retail, import and export businesses One user posted on X that “you can see Another user said, “You can see it by the You can see it by the empty Hemmat [ It was the same step taken during the brutal clampdown The Iranian authorities took the same measure during the brutal crack Official data shows that only one in nine women of working The Iran Labour News Agency (Ilna), We can’t even load the material onto the ship The government has announced a loan program for small businesses Air strikes alone will have devastating consequences, but economic downturn, heightened unemployment and runaway prices could deepen the crisis considerably.IranIran war

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Israeli soldiers punished for vandalism in Lebanon7 minutes agoJaroslav LukivReutersThe Israeli soldiers who hit a statue with a sledgehammer and the soldier who took the photograph will receive 30 days military detention. The IDF said that the soldiers, who have not been identified, will also be “removed” from combat duty following an investigation. Six other soldiers who were present at the Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said he was shocked and saddened by the incident. The IDF expressed “deep regret” over the incident. It is against the declaration of Human Rights and does not reflect civility. Lebanese officials say that Israel began a military operation in Lebanon on March 2, which has resulted in more than a half million people being displaced, and more than 2,290 deaths, including 177 kids and 100 healthcare workers. Israeli officials say that 13 Israeli soldiers and two civilians have been killed by Hezbollah attacks in the same period.Ceasefire with Israel brings respite to Lebanon, but obstacles to peace remainMiddle EastIsraelLebanonChristianity

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The ECJ ruled the Hungarian laws interfered with certain rights, including the right to freedom of expression, the right to privacy and respect for family life, and the right to be free from discrimination based upon sex or sexual orientation. The court also found that the law stigmatised and marginalised transgender people and those who are not heterosexual, and linked them to people convicted of paedophilia. “You cannot equate something that is totally natural, like 10% of the population loving the same sex, with egregious crimes,” he told BBC. Orban’s Fidesz was able push through the legislation thanks to a supermajority. They control two-thirds in parliament. The Fidesz party passed an amendment last year that allowed a ban on events involving the LGBTQ Community, such as Budapest’s Pride march. This march went ahead despite this ban, prompting prosecutors and the European Commission to file charges against the Mayor Gergely Karcsony. The issue will be resolved once the Hungarian government abides by the ruling, said Paula Pinho, a spokeswoman for the Tisza party that defeated Orban in the 12 April election. Peter Magyar has not made any comments about the laws affecting Hungary’s LGBTQ communities. In his victory speech he described his vision of Hungary as a place “where no one is stigmatised because they think differently or love differently than the rest”. Magyar has promised a more pro-European attitude to Hungary’s relationship with the EU, and it will be his government’s responsibility to reverse the His Tisza Party has a two-thirds majority of 141 seats in a 199-seat National Assembly. He has also promised unlock billions in EU funding for Hungary that was blocked due to issues around the rule of law. Katja Stefanec-Gartner, of LGBTQ rights group Il The BBC reported that the ECJ ruling may have wider implications for other EU member countries, as the Commission can now go to a state with a similar warning over rule of law. “You are basically breaking EU law in such an important way that we are not only holding to account for the letter of the laws but also for the spirit of those laws, which are laid out in Article 2, listing all the values of pluralitism, equality, and rule of law,” Morijn stated.

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Zelensky said that the failure of US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to visit Kyiv was “disrespectful”55 minutes agoLaura Getty ImagesPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he considered visits to Moscow by US envoys Steve Witkoff, but not Kyiv to be “disrespectful”. The pair visited Moscow in late 2013 as ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending Ukraine’s war gained momentum, and again in early 2014. Witkoff has visited Moscow eight times and met Vladimir Putin many times. He and Kushner have never visited Kyiv on an official basis. Zelensky told a Ukrainian publication that it was disrespectful for them to visit Moscow instead of Kyiv. “I understand that we have complicated logistics… “If they don’t wish to meet, we can do so in another country,” he said.Witkoff is Donald Trump’s Special Envoy, and Kushner, the US President’s son-in law. Zelensky had said earlier in April that the two planned to visit Ukraine. However, the trip never took place due to the US-Israeli war with Iran. The last trilateral meeting between Russia, the US, and Ukraine took place in mid-February. The US focused its attention on the Middle East and began to strike Iran less than two weeks after the last trilateral summit. “But… in whatever case, it is important for us to continue cooperating,” he added. Ceasefire talks gained momentum in autumn 2025 when it was revealed that Russian and US officials were working on a plan that included several terms that were unfavourable to Kyiv. Ukraine demanded to be included in the talks and several meetings and summits followed. In February, both Moscow, and Kyiv, announced that they had reached an accord on certain “military matters”, including the location and monitoring of ceasefires. The main issue is the status of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Kyiv rejects Moscow’s demand that Ukraine cede its sovereign territory in exchange for a ceasefire. Neither side is willing or able to compromise, leaving the talks at an impasse. Kyrylo Budanov said in February that “we are looking for a compromis between two completely opposite positions.” “We haven’t found it yet. “At the end of the day, he said, both Kyiv, and Moscow, will “have to admit one of two things. Either we find a way to end this war and stop killing each other, or we take equal responsibility and admit that we didn’t. “The war that began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion in Ukraine in 2022 has been a daily reality for Ukrainians since over four years. The Russians control large swathes in eastern Ukraine, and Kyiv’s and Moscow’s forces continue to engage in a direct battle along a long frontline stretching from Luhansk to Kherson. On one night last year, Russia launched over 700 drones in multiple waves. At least 18 people were killed. Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure using long-range drones. These drones have hit ports, factories and oil terminals well into Russian territory. According to Reuters, at least 20 percent of Russia’s export capacity was not working in early April after the attacks. The energy crisis caused by war Iran has resulted in financial gain for Russia, as it has boosted its oil revenues. However, the country’s GDP continues falling.