RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young people who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil. “As the sister of a trans woman, I’m scared to death,” said Helen Karajá, a 32-year-old bisexual artist. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTI+ deaths and violence in Brazil. And more trans people — 100 — were murdered in Brazil last year than in any other country, according to Transgender Europe, a network of global non-profits that tracks the data. To be sure, life for gay people is safer now than it used to be, said Carlos da Cunha, a 71-year-old hairdresser. “In the past, people had to go to ghettos to meet people, because you couldn’t just be anywhere,” said da Cunha. “Now, we can walk down the street without being attacked, without being insulted or humiliated.” RELATED COVERAGE School district defends decision to punish parents for wearing pink ‘XX’ wristbands New Hampshire courts hear 2 cases on transgender girls playing girls sports What to know about Transgender Day of Remembrance and violence against trans people One of the themes of this year’s pride march was sustainability. “Environmental justice will only be possible with racial and social justice, gender equality and sexual diversity” read one banner attached to a truck. Brazil has faced a series of environmental catastrophes this year, including record drought in the Amazon rainforest , floods in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, and wildfires across the country. “If we can’t respect the environment, how can we respect others?” said Alexia Soutinho, a 23-year-old student who identifies as pansexual and lives in the Cidade de Deus favela .Precedent Wealth Partners LLC Sells 1,051 Shares of NVIDIA Co. (NASDAQ:NVDA)Jason Varitek has taken on more responsiblities on the Red Sox coaching staff for the upcoming season. Varitek is now the game-planning and run prevention coach. Jeffrey McWhorter/Associated Press The Red Sox announced their complete 2025 coaching staff Friday, including promoting José Flores to first base coach/infield instructor. Flores spent the past three years as Triple-A Worcester’s bench coach. The 53-year-old will replace Andy Fox who Boston fired in October. Boston added to Jason Varitek’s title, which now is game-planning and run prevention coach. The run prevention part is new. He had previously served as game-planning coordinator and catching coach. Parker Guinn will work with the catchers. He was hired as Boston’s catching instructor and a bullpen catcher. The 31-year-old Guinn managed the Dominican Summer League Yankees the past two seasons. His resume also includes University of Washington assistant coach (2022-23), Everett Community College head coach (2021-22) and University of Utah assistant coach (2017-21). Ramón Vázquez is back as Manager Alex Cora’s bench coach. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey, hitting coach Pete Fatse, assistant hitting coach Ben Rosenthal, third base coach/outfield instructor Kyle Hudson and bullpen catcher Charlie Madden also will continue in their same roles. The Red Sox had already announced the additions of bullpen coach Chris Holt, a Portland native, and assistant hitting coach Dillon Lawson earlier this offseason. GUARDIANS: Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt – the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. DODGERS: Right-hander Dustin May, sidelined by injuries since May 2023, agreed to a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers worth $2,135,000 ahead of Friday’s tender deadline. A member of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship team, May has been limited to 20 starts since then. He had Tommy John surgery on May 12, 2021, 11 days after leaving a start at Milwaukee in the second inning following a 94.3 mph fastball to Billy McKinney. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said May felt a shooting sensation on a curveball earlier in the plate appearance. May returned to the Dodgers on Aug. 20, 2022, then left a start against Minnesota on May 17, 2023, after the first inning, when his fastball velocity dropped about 2 mph below his season average. May had Tommy John surgery for the second time that July 18. YANKEES: Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if free agent Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. “It ain’t my money. I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can, I’m happy with whatever,” Judge said Friday, a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second AL MVP award. “That’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBI and 133 walks while hitting .322 as New York reached the World Series for the first time since 2009, only to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBI and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees and finished third in MVP voting, also trailing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt. Jr. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . 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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday vetoed a once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal district judgeships, saying “hurried action” by the House left important questions unanswered about the life-tenured positions. The legislation would have spread the establishment of the new trial court judgeships over more than a decade to give three presidential administrations and six Congresses the chance to appoint the new judges. The bipartisan effort was carefully designed so that lawmakers would not knowingly give an advantage to either political party in shaping the federal judiciary. The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the measure unanimously in August. But the Republican-led House brought it to the floor only after Republican Donald Trump was reelected to a second term in November, adding the veneer of political gamesmanship to the process. The White House had said at the time that Biden would veto the bill. “The House of Representative’s hurried action fails to resolve key questions in the legislation, especially regarding how the new judgeships are allocated, and neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate explored fully how the work of senior status judges and magistrate judges affects the need for new judgeships,” the president said in a statement. “The efficient and effective administration of justice requires that these questions about need and allocation be further studied and answered before we create permanent judgeships for life-tenured judges,” Biden said. He said the bill would also have created new judgeships in states where senators have not filled existing judicial vacancies and that those efforts “suggest that concerns about judicial economy and caseload are not the true motivating force behind passage of this bill now. “Therefore, I am vetoing this bill,” Biden said, essentially dooming the legislation for the current Congress. Overturning Biden’s veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, and the House vote fell well short of that margin. Organizations representing judges and attorneys had urged Congress to vote for the bill. They argued that the lack of new federal judgeships had contributed to profound delays in the resolution of cases and serious concerns about access to justice. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., reacted swiftly, calling the veto a “misguided decision” and “another example of why Americans are counting down the days until President Biden leaves the White House.” He alluded to a full pardon that Biden recently granted his son Hunter on federal gun and tax charges. “The President is more enthusiastic about using his office to provide relief to his family members who received due process than he is about giving relief to the millions of regular Americans who are waiting years for their due process,” Young said. “Biden’s legacy will be ‘pardons for me, no justice for thee.’ ”

Jools Lebron, a Chicago-based content creator, gained fame when her "very demure, very mindful" catch phrase went viral. The quote was quickly embraced by other influencers, celebrities and politicians but when Jools went to trademark the phrase, she learned someone had beat her to it. A man reportedly filed an intent to trademark for use in marketing, advertising and promotion. Despite the timing of the trademark applications, Alexandra Roberts, a law and media professor at Northeastern University, says that Lebron can still challenge the trademark. Memes like "Hawk Tuah," "Brat Summer," and Moo Deng dominated online conversations in 2024. Viral humor intertwined with societal reflection, influencing pop culture and even political campaigns. As TikTok faces uncertainty, meme culture is poised for change in 2025. LOS ANGELES - The internet in 2024 was a chaotic blend of creativity, humor, and commentary. Memes once again became the language of the digital age, transforming fleeting moments into viral phenomena that united, confused, or divided online audiences. From AI-generated absurdity to cultural moments like the Paris Olympics, memes acted as both a reflection of society and an outlet for humor amid serious issues. Here's a look at the most iconic memes that defined this year. The Paris Olympics: The 2024 Paris Olympics were not just about athletic achievements; they became a cultural and meme-worthy moment. Viral highlights included Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen’s muffin reviews and gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik earning the nickname "pommel horse guy." Céline Dion’s moving performance at the opening ceremony also sparked widespread online love. RELATED: Australian breakdancer Raygun breaks silence after controversial Olympics performance Charli XCX’s "Brat" summer: Charli XCX’s album "Brat" redefined the word "brat" as a rebellion against perfection. Its cultural impact extended far beyond music, inspiring memes and social media trends about embracing chaos and hedonism in an otherwise tumultuous year. RELATED: What is a 'brat summer'? Why are people using the term 'brat'? Skibidi Toilet: This YouTube phenomenon continued to dominate online discourse in 2024. What started as a surreal web series became a shorthand for chaotic humor, spawning countless reaction GIFs and fan recreations. AI-generated "slop" art: AI tools flooded the internet with bizarre, anatomically inaccurate images, including shrimp-like Jesus figures and unrecognizable children pleading for birthday wishes. These surreal creations blurred the lines between humor and horror while sparking debates about AI ethics in art. Moo Deng’s unexpected popularity: Few could have predicted that Moo Deng, an adorable pygmy hippo from Thailand, would capture the internet’s imagination in 2024. Videos of the hippo’s playful antics and charming expressions became instant hits, sparking a wave of memes and fan art. Moo Deng’s rise to fame also helped shine a light on wildlife conservation efforts, making it a symbol of joy and environmental awareness. FILE - Moo Deng splashes in a bucket of water in her enclosure at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo on November 11, 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand. Underconsumption core: TikTok saw the rise of "underconsumption core," a trend encouraging users to reject constant consumerism. This movement, which advocates for appreciating what you already own, resonated with audiences tired of fast fashion and fleeting trends. The great X-odus: The mass departure from Elon Musk's X platform (formerly Twitter) reached new heights during the 2024 election season. Frustrated users migrated to alternatives like Bluesky and Threads, showcasing dissatisfaction with X’s growing issues and prompting memes about its decline. The rise of "Hawk Tuah": Haliey Welch’s unapologetic Southern drawl in a viral clip cemented "Hawk Tuah" as a summer anthem and launched Welch into unexpected fame. Memes surrounding the phrase became symbols of bold self-expression. RELATED: 'Demure:' What does it mean and why is it trending on TikTok? "Brain rot" lingo from Gen Alpha: The Oxford word of the year, "brain rot," captured Gen Alpha’s unique online language. Terms like "gyatt" and "Skibidi" highlighted the influence of younger generations on internet culture and left older audiences scrambling to keep up.

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Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Greens are blaming Anthony Albanese’s “ego” for a failure to strike a deal on his government’s signature housing bills. The government was set to bring on a vote on its Help to Buy and Build to Rent bills on Monday. They have been stalled in the Senate for months, with the Coalition vehemently opposed to them and the Greens saying they do not go far enough. The government on Sunday knocked back the Greens’ latest offering, claiming it was potentially unlawful and financially unviable. Greens senator Larissa Waters said the government had refused to engage on a deal “at every opportunity”. The Greens say Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s ‘ego’ is blocking action on housing. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Davis Jones. “We came back with what we thought was a really moderate offer which would still help about 60,000 people by just funding an additional 25,000 homes, and I’m incredulous that overnight we had the government say that they won’t even do that,” she told the ABC. “I think renters and people who are trying to (buy) their own home will be astounded that it seems like the Prime Minister’s ego is getting in the way of people having the homes that they need. “I can’t quite understand the psychology there.” The Greens have made multiple proposals to get Help to Buy and Build to Rent through the Senate, including action on rent freezes and caps, an end to tax concessions for property developers, and a government-owned property developer that would build homes to sell at just above the cost of construction. The Greens’ latest deal has been knocked back for being ‘unlawful and unworkable’. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman In their latest offer, the minor party wanted 25,000 shovel-ready homes immediately built that had not secured funding from the initial round of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). They also wanted the government to raise the number of rent-capped apartments in Built to Rent properties from 10 per cent to 30 per cent. But Housing Minister Clare O’Neil dismissed the Greens’ latest proposal as “unlawful and unworkable”, saying it was “yet another political stunt”. “One of the proposals put forward would have required me as minister to direct Housing Australia to fund homes that Housing Australia has looked at and decided not to fund, and that is against the law,” she told the ABC. “That is against the Housing Australia Act, so this is just one of a whole range of serious problems with what was put forward.” If passed, the Help to Buy Bill would allow first-home buyers to purchase a property under a shared equity scheme with the government. Simply, the government would foot up to 40 per cent of the funds for a new home and 30 per cent for an existing home. Meanwhile, Build to Rent aims to incentivise the construction of rent-only developments through tax benefits. The Senate knocked back the legislation earlier this year, sending it to an inquiry for further scrutiny. The bills are just two of dozens of items the government hopes to get through in the final sitting week of the year. Originally published as Grim future for key housing bills after hopes of Greens deal collapse Read related topics: Anthony Albanese Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Breaking News How three minutes led to 95yo’s Taser death A court has heard how three minutes became the difference between life and death for a 95-year-old woman who was fatally tasered by a police officer. Read more Retail Aussie clothing giant owes $250m A huge Australian clothing conglomerate is in voluntary administration, owing nearly $250m. Read moreWho are the three federal death row inmates whose sentences were not commuted?AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. EST

Agripreneurs’ Forum ready to collaborate with new Govt. for economic revival and food securityOne of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea, on Hawaii's Big Island, has started erupting again. or signup to continue reading The eruption was confined to the volcano's summit caldera, in a remote, closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported. Increased earthquake activity began at about 2am local time on Monday and within about half an hour webcam images began to show lava emerging through fissures in the caldera or spurting in fountains. The most immediate threat was from volcanic smog that could reach homes downwind, the observatory said. Such "vog" contains sulphur dioxide and can worsen symptoms for people who have conditions like asthma, other respiratory issues or cardiovascular disease. The area where the eruption is occurring has been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards that include crater wall instability, ground cracking and rockfalls. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea also erupted in June and September. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement

The 118th session of Congress was one of the most chaotic and partisan-plagued sessions of Congress in recent political history, particularly among Republicans in the lower chamber. The House witnessed the historic ousting of a speaker; chaos within House Republicans almost caused the government to shut down twice and brought three failed attempts to remove members of the Biden administration, including the president himself; two representatives were also indicted while in office, and one was actually removed. And that was hardly the extent of the drama and dysfunction. READ: As the current session draws to a close, here’s a look back at the 118th Congress by the numbers: 3: The number of speakers of the House. The session began in January 2023 with Kevin McCarthy of California winning the gavel in a contentious vote. After his historic ousting in October 2023 led by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina was named speaker pro tempore and served for 22 days. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was then elected in late October by the caucus as the new speaker. 2: The number of attempts to oust a speaker. For the first time in history, McCarthy was removed from the speakership after Gaetz led the movement to put forth a “motion to vacate.” McCarthy’s removal sparked a scramble to replace him, with Johnson taking over. Johnson himself then faced the same attempt in May , but it ended up failing during votes. 9: The number of failed impeachment attempts against Biden administration officials. Biden has been the target of five impeachment resolutions. McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Biden on Sept. 12, 2023, that the House Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means committees conducted, but the attempt went nowhere. Republicans filed impeachment articles against Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Most failed to gain traction, but House Republicans voted in February to impeach Mayorkas – despite opposition from all Democrats and four GOP members. The charges were quickly dismissed by the Senate. 1: The number of failed contempt of Congress charges filed against a Biden administration official. House Republicans voted 216 to 207 on June 13 to hold Garland in contempt for refusing to hand over audio records of President Joe Biden to the House Oversight Committee. Garland said he viewed the request as politically motivated. 4: The number of continuing resolutions passed. The House in September of 2023 passed a stopgap bill to avert a shutdown. The House then voted and passed another stopgap bill in November. The first stopgap bill of this year was passed in September to avert a partial government shutdown . The bill was passed 78-18 and maintained the current funding levels through Dec. 20. A second stopgap bill passed days before Christmas, despite last-minute drama when President-elect Donald Trump and his allies scuttled a bipartisan deal in favor of a pared-down version of the funding bill. 1: The number of lawmakers removed from office. The House voted 311 to 114 on Dec. 1 to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York from Congress. He was indicted by the federal government for financial crimes and it was discovered he lied about key details, including his ancestry, his college degree and previous employment. 2: The number of lawmakers indicted while in office. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife were indicted by the federal prosecutors in May and accused of taking an estimated $600,000 from a company tied to the Azerbaijan government and a bank based in Mexico City. The bribes were then said to have been laundered through shell companies owned by Cuellar’s wife. Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Dec. 23, 2024 Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted in September 2023 and accused of using his position to benefit three businessmen and the government of Egypt in exchange for bribes that included gold bars and cash. His wife was indicted alongside him in addition to the businessmen. After a lengthy trial, Menendez was found guilty on all 16 charges. 1: The number of lawmakers who changed their party affiliation while in office. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia disclosed in May 2024 that he would change his party affiliation to independent. Such moves are rare, yet Manchin’s decision came after Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona similarly changed her registration from Democrat to independent. While technically her decision, announced in December 2022, was part of the 117th Congress, its effects would be felt when the 118th Congress convened in January 2023. 4: The number of independents in the Senate. Manchin’s switch brought the total from three to four , the highest number in a single Congress since the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913 that allowed for the direct election of senators by voters. 19,297: The number of bills and resolutions introduced into the House 994: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House 1,029: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the Senate 315: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House and Senate