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Senate blocks proposal on transgender athletes during voting bill session

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Senate blocks proposal on transgender athletes during voting bill session

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Saturday blocked an amendment that would ban transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports, rejecting one of President Donald Trump’s priorities as he pressures Congress to act on a broad voting bill.

Senators were holding a rare weekend session to debate the voting legislation, which would put in place strict new requirements for voter registration and require photo IDs at the polls in an effort to prevent people in the country illegally from casting ballots.

The House passed the bill earlier this year, but the Republican president has since said he wants additional priorities added to the legislation, including the sports ban for transgender athletes and a ban on all mail-in voting.

Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader legislation, arguing that it would make voting more difficult for large groups of people. Despite Trump’s pressure, Republican senators have said repeatedly that they do not have enough support to jettison the legislative filibuster, which triggers a 60-vote threshold in the 100-member Senate, or find another workaround to pass the bill. Republicans hold 53 seats.

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Still, Republicans put the legislation — the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE America Act or the SAVE Act — on the Senate floor this week for a lengthy debate as Trump has said he will not sign other bills until they pass the voting measure. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D, said Saturday morning that Republicans “haven’t made any final decisions about how to conclude this.”

“What we are trying to do is ensure that we are having a fulsome debate,” Thune said, and put everyone on the record “one way or the other.”

Senate rejects Trump priorities

The amendment that was blocked by a 49-41 vote would penalize educational institutions that receive federal funding if they permitted individuals assigned male at birth to participate “in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”

Trump also wants Congress to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors as part of the debate on the voting bill. It is unclear whether the Senate will hold a vote on that.

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In addition, Trump has said he wants the House-passed bill to include a ban on most mail-in balloting. Trump has criticized mail in ballots for years and used it as a centerpiece of his efforts to overturn his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. A ban on mail ballots would likely face strong pushback from lawmakers.

Republicans focus on voter ID

Thune said the Senate will soon vote on an amendment that would force all states to require photo identification at the polls. Democrats blocked a similar bill on the floor last week, but Republicans say they want to put them on the record on that issue with a roll call vote.

“There are no good excuses” not to require photo identification, said Republican Sen. John Husted, a former Secretary of State in Ohio. “This works. It’s being implemented all over the country.”

Illegal voting by noncitizens is rare. Still, a poll by the Pew Research Center in August 2025 found that about 8 in 10 US adults said they favor requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

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Thirty-six states require some form of identification at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and 23 states require photo identification. The SAVE America Act would require photo identification and could override many forms of ID allowed in states across the country — including fishing and hunting licenses or college IDs. It would also require that people voting by mail include a photocopy of their ID with their ballot.

Democrats say they support some voter ID laws, but argue that the proposed ID requirements in the bill, along with strict new requirements for voter registration, would prevent many people from voting. The bill would also allow the Homeland Security Department to review state voter rolls, which Democrats say could lead to voters being purged.

The new rules would be “a bureaucratic nightmare,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

“They want to end vote by mail, end registering online, end registering on college campuses and in churches, and even end registering at the DMV, where of course you have to show ID,” Schumer said.

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Timing ahead is unclear

Trump, backed by an enthusiastic online campaign of his supporters, has made the voting legislation his top congressional priority. He has said it is necessary for Republicans to win the midterm elections – even after Republicans won the White House and Congress without it in 2024.

“THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S.A.,” Trump posted on social media on Friday.

He has pressured Thune to scrap the filibuster, but Thune has stood firm in saying that there isn’t enough Republican support to do that. He is expected to eventually end the floor debate and call for a vote to move forward on the legislation, and Democrats would then block the bill.

But it’s not clear when that will happen — or if Trump will be satisfied enough with days or weeks of debate to lift his promised blockade on other legislation.

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Thune would only say on Saturday that “at some point that’s a that’s a possibility” that Republicans will start the process of ending the debate. The Senate is scheduled to leave town at the end of next week for a two-week spring recess.

Republican senators have largely backed Thune’s efforts. But they say the end point is uncertain, for now.

“I don’t know,” when it will end, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said. “I don’t think anybody does.”

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I dined at a noodle bar where the chefs hand pull the noodles right infront of you

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Cambridgeshire Live

It’s also been named as one of the best places in Britain to eat noodles

Are these the best noodles in Cambridge?

After a long and stressful day at work, many people will reach for their favourite comfort food for a quick mood booster. Noodles are a popular option thanks to their versatility, how easy they are to make, and how warming they are when drenched in a cosy broth.

In Chinese culture, long noodles symbolise longevity and are an essential dish to have for celebrations such as New Year and birthdays. Cambridge is lucky to have plenty of restaurants serving up a range of noodles that are tasty enough to soothe any issue you might be facing.

The CamBites series sees our reporters going around Cambridgeshire in search of the best food that doesn’t cost a lot of money. The Two Treasure Hand Pulled Noodle Bar caught my eye, not only because it was named one of the best places to get noodles in Britain by The Observer, but also because you can watch the noodles being made.

I visited the noodle bar on a Tuesday at lunchtime with a friend expecting it to be fairly empty. However, when we arrived, the restaurant was absolutely packed with solo diners and groups of friends enjoying steaming bowls of noodles.

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You order before finding a table so there were lots of people huddled around the short but inviting menu. While queuing to order, you can watch the chefs hard at work making the hand pulled noodles right in front of you with an incredible ease.

I decided to try the pickled cabbage beef brisket ramen, which cost £13.80, and my friend went for the garlic chilli oil beef brisket ramen, which cost £12.80. We were pointed to a cosy little table right next to the kitchen and waited for our noodles to appear.

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Before long, my steaming bowl of noodles had arrived in a wonderfully colourful broth. The soup was topped with a dash of chilli oil, fresh coriander, pickled vegetables, and a generous portion of shredded spring onion.

The broth had a slightly sour flavour with a nice chilli kick that just tingled on the tongue and helped to clear out my sinuses. The heaps of noodles were bouncy, soft, and worked perfectly with the umami soup.

The pickled vegetables added a lovely crunch to the dish. The beef brisket was extremely tender and could easily be pulled apart using chopsticks.

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My friend’s noodle bowl did not come with a broth but was still topped with plenty of vegetables and beansprouts. The noodles were thick and springy but still as soft as the thinner noodles in the soup dish.

The garlic flavour was strong and the dish was a bit less spicy than the pickled cabbage option if you are not a fan of spice. If you want to make it hotter, each table has extra chilli oil you can add.

An extra bonus the restaurant does is free noodle refills. If you have finished your meal and still have lots of soup left, you can get another lot of noodles for free.

However, we didn’t need extra noodles as we were so full that we had to take home some of our food. Two Treasure is armed with plenty of tubs for takeout so they clearly have people taking home their leftover food regularly.

The noodle spot is truly a treasure in a city with loads of restaurants serving up bowls of ramen. Two Treasure Hand Pulled Noodle Bar is a must-visit for a quick dose of comfort food.

Two Treasure Hand Pulled Noodle Bar can be found at 85 Regent Street. The restaurant is open everyday from 11.30am to 9pm.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.

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Derry murder investigation: Woman named locally as community “utterly devastated”

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Belfast Live

The woman, named locally as Amy Doherty, was found injured at a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city, but sadly died later in hospital

A murder investigation is underway after the death of a woman, who has been named locally as Amy Doherty.

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Police were called to the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city at around 10.20am on Saturday, March 21, after the woman was found injured.

She tragically died later in hospital. She has been named locally as mum-of-two Amy Doherty, who was in her late 20s. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

On Saturday night, the Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairi McHugh said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the death of Amy.

“On behalf of the people of Derry and surrounding areas, I would like to extend the heartfelt sympathy & condolences to her family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” he said.

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“No words can ease the pain of such a loss, but please be assured that the community stands with you in grief, support, and solidarity.

“We all mourn together, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

“We call on everyone to come together in compassion, to support one another, and to honour Amy’s memory in the days ahead.”

DUP Councillors Julie Middleton, Niree McMorris and Chelsea Cooke issued a joint statement and said: “As women representing the City at Council, this is utterly devastating news for our city. The loss of a woman’s life in such circumstances is both shocking and deeply distressing for the entire community.

“Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victim’s family and loved ones as they face unimaginable grief. No family should ever have to endure such heartbreak.

“This is a stark reminder that violence, particularly against women, has no place in our society. Every woman and girl should feel safe in their own home and community.

“We must ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are brought before the courts and held fully accountable.

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“We would appeal to anyone who may have information, no matter how small it may seem, to come forward to the PSNI and assist with their investigation.

“As a community, we must stand together to support the victim’s family and to send a clear message that such violence will never be tolerated.”

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson added: “There is widespread shock and devastation across the city to learn that police have launched a murder inquiry after the woman’s death.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with this woman’s loved ones as they face the unimaginable loss which this horrific crime has brought upon them.

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“A young woman’s life was taken in the latest act of violence against women and girls and I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.

“The Executive’s Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls sets out how it aims to tackle this scourge in our society. But we must all do more to confront the causes and cultures behind this violence and to do everything possible to bring the harm and abuse of women to an end.”

Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin from the Police Service’s Major Investigation Team said: “Officers attended a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city at around 10.20 am and located an injured woman at the scene.

“She was taken to hospital by our colleagues in the NIAS where she sadly died.

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“A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, who are left trying to come to terms with this shocking loss.

“Our enquiries are continuing, and I am appealing to anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact our officers on 101 quoting reference 469 – 21/03/26.”

Information can also be provided, with total anonymity, to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

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World Open snooker final: When is Ronnie O’Sullivan playing and how can I watch?

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Wales Online
World Open snooker final: When is Ronnie O’Sullivan playing and how can I watch? | Wales Online