List of All Articles with Tag 'le'

Abortion wasn't technically on the ballot in Ohio's special election. But the overwhelming defeat of a measure that would have made it tougher to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution this fall was the latest indicator that the issue remains a powerful force at the ballot box. The election saw heavy turnout for what's typically a sleepy summer election date and sets up another battle in November, when Ohio will be the only state this year to have reproductive rights on the ballot. It also gives hope to Democrats and other abortion rights supporters who say the matter could sway voters their way again in 2024. That's when it could affect races for president, Congress and statewide offices, and when places such as the battleground of Arizona may put abortion questions on their ballots as well. Democrats described the victory in Ohio, a one-time battleground state that has shifted markedly to the right, as a “major warning sign” for the GOP. “Republicans’ deeply unpopular war on women’s rights will cost them district after district, and we will remind voters of their toxic anti-abortion agenda every day until November,” said Aidan Johnson, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The measure voters rejected Tuesday, known as Issue 1, would have required ballot questions to pass with 60% of the vote rather than a simple majority. Interest was unusually high, with millions spent on each side and voters casting more than double the number of early in-person and mail ballots ahead of the final day of voting as in a typical primary election. Early turnout was especially heavy in the Democratic-leaning counties surrounding Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Opposition to the measure, which became a kind of proxy for the November abortion vote, extended even into traditionally Republican areas. In early returns, support for the measure fell far short of Donald Trump’s performance during the 2020 election in nearly every county. The November ballot question will ask voters whether individuals should have the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions, including contraception, abortion, fertility treatment and miscarriage care. Ohio's GOP-led state government in 2019 approved a ban on abortion after cardiac activity is detected — around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant — but the ban was not enforced because of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which granted a federal right to the procedure. When a new conservative majority on the high court last year overturned the nearly 50-year-old ruling, sending authority over the procedure back to the states, Ohio's ban briefly went into effect. But a state court put the ban on hold again while a challenge alleging it violates the state constitution plays out. During the time the ban was in place, an Indiana doctor came forward to say she had performed an abortion on a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio who could not legally have the procedure in her home state. The account became a national flashpoint in the debate over abortion rights and underscored the stakes in Ohio. Ohio is one of about half of U.S. states where citizens may bypass the Legislature and put ballot questions directly to voters, making it an option that supporters of reproductive rights have increasingly turned to since Roe v. Wade fell. After abortion rights supporters said they hoped to ask voters in November to enshrine the right in the state constitution, Ohio Republicans put Issue 1 on Tuesday’s ballot. In addition to raising the threshold to pass a measure, it would have required signatures to be collected in all 88 counties, rather than 44. The 60% threshold was no accident, abortion rights supporters say, and was aimed directly at defeating the Ohio abortion measure. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, six states have had elections regarding reproductive rights. In every election — including in conservative states like Kansas — voters have supported abortion rights. In Kansas, 59% voted to preserve abortion rights protections, while in Michigan 57% favored an amendment that put protections in the state constitution. Last year, 59% of Ohio voters said abortion should generally be legal, according to AP VoteCast, a broad survey of the electorate. Last month, a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found the majority of U.S. adults want abortion to be legal at least through the initial stages of pregnancy. The poll found that opinions on abortion remain complex, with most people believing abortion should be allowed in some circumstances and not in others. Opponents of the Ohio abortion question ran ads that suggested the measure could strip parents of their ability to make decisions about their child’s health care or to even be notified about it. Amy Natoce, spokesperson for the anti-abortion campaign Protect Women Ohio, called the ballot measure a “dangerous anti-parent amendment.” Several legal experts have said there is no language in the amendment supporting the ads’ claims. Peter Range, CEO of Ohio Right to Life, said he has been traveling across Ohio talking to people and “I’ve never seen the grassroots from the pro-life side more fired up to go and defend and protect the pre-born.” While the November question pertains strictly to Ohio, access to abortion there is pivotal to access across the Midwest, said Alison Dreith, director of strategic partnership for the abortion fund Midwest Access Coalition. Nine Midwestern states — Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin — are considered restrictive, very restrictive or most restrictive of abortion rights by the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports legal access to abortion. “Ohio in particular has always been a destination state for the states around it,” Dreith said. “If we don’t protect abortion access in Ohio, the options just continue to shrink for people seeking care in the Midwest.” Sri Thakkilapati, the executive director of the Cleveland-based nonprofit abortion clinic Preterm, said the effect of the Ohio vote will reverberate throughout the country. “When we restrict access in one state, other states have to take up that patient load,” she said. “That leads to longer wait times, more travel, higher costs for patients." Thakkilapati called the energy around abortion rights in last year's midterms “exciting.” But she said the media attention died down, and people quickly forgot “how tenuous abortion access is right now.” The special election and ballot measure in Ohio are “a reminder of what’s at stake," Thakkilapati said. “Other states are watching how this plays out in Ohio, and it may give anti-abortion groups in other states another strategy to threaten abortion rights elsewhere,” she said. “And for the majority who do want abortion access in their states but are seeing it threatened, the results in November could give them hope that the democratic process may give them relief.” Kimberly Inez McGuire, the executive director of Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, which focuses on young people of color under age 30, says the results of elections involving reproductive rights show that support doesn't come just from Democrats or in cities and states considered liberal bastions. “There was this idea that we couldn’t win on abortion in red states and that idea has really been smashed,” McGuire said. So, too, she said, is the “mythology” that people in the South and Midwest won't support abortion rights. “I think 2024 is going to be huge,” she said. “And I think in many ways, Ohio is a proving ground, an early fight in the lead up to 2024.” Dreith said that since abortion hasn't been on a major ballot since last year, the Ohio vote this fall is “a good reminder” for the rest of the country. “Abortion is always on the ballot — if not literally but figuratively through the politicians we elect to serve us,” she said. "It’s also a reminder that this issue isn’t going away.” Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Why Ohio's Issue 1 proposal failed, and how the AP called the race Ohio voters reject GOP plan to thwart upcoming abortion rights proposal Abortion rights advocates push for 2024 ballot initiative in Arizona

The term ‘soft life’ is trending on TikTok, with the #softlifeera tag clocking 12.2million views. While not brand new, it seems a growing number of social media users are leaning towards the lifestyle concept – but what does soft life actually mean and how can it benefit people? Where does the trend come from? As the wording suggests, soft life is all about veering away from stress and struggle and embracing a more easy and enriched life. But this isn’t just about life looking ‘perfect’ on social media. “Soft life isn’t new, however I’m really grateful to see its resurgence,” said Chlöe Pierre, founder of wellness platform thy.self and author of Take Care: The Black Women’s Guide To Wellness. “Essentially to me, especially as a black woman, soft life is about making choices that can avoid me having to live a much longer, and unsustainable, life in hardship. For me it’s about wellness in general, and sustainable wellness. “My only concern when seeing trends [on social media] is that they are inclusive, and generally they aren’t. First and foremost, soft life is a choice – and it’s a privilege to be able to make that choice,” Pierre added. “Originally, the soft life kind of movement had origins in places like Nigeria and other places around the continent, but was popularised via America and a lot of African American women, [who were often] fictional characters on TV. Because there weren’t, especially not in the UK, reachable or visible representations of black women and women of colour that had amassed a wealth, and therefore the privilege of living a ‘soft life’.”Permission to live a soft life For Dr Evelyn Okpanachi, author of The Emotionally Empowered Woman, it makes sense people are increasingly leaning towards the trend. “Collectively, we are still tired. We have had the Covid era, austerity and more, and we simply want to live and breathe a little. This is why we are leaning towards it more right now. Collectively, we are breathing a sigh of relief,” said Okpanachi. “Most people associate the soft life with booking last-minute flights, mojitos on the beach, dining at nice restaurants and all of the externalities. It is in part, but it a lot deeper than that. “Soft life is living life on your terms. Creating a career you want, the business you want, and looking after yourself holistically. This starts with empowering yourself to succeed by elevating your mindset and knowing you deserve to live a soft life.” Nothing comes easy Okpanachi noted the work that can be involved, however. “In order to enter the soft life era, the average person tends to go through an element of stress. Nothing comes easy,” she explained. “It is essentially about purposely creating a lifestyle with minimal stress and setting boundaries – boundary setting is key. It’s embracing the things that serve you and letting go/eliminating the things that don’t. We all deserve to live a soft life, and we all should. But we have to put the work in to attain it.” This is something social media can often miss out. As Pierre noted, influencers or celebrities may “show you one side of their life – you don’t get to see the struggle they have had to get to that point, or to maintain that lifestyle they have in front of the camera”. Making space for a softer lifeFor many, the dilemma is making these things a reality when work takes up so much energy, along with caring/parenting duties, health challenges and everything else. Pierre discusses in her book about how our identities can be “very wrapped up” in work, which can make it so much more draining – especially for black women who have faced “more hardship in the workplace, compared to other demographics”. Setting “clear expectations and intentions” for yourself can be helpful, she added, and getting to know yourself better. “So making clear expectations about who I am, what I will accept, and what I want – and having the belief that I don’t have to go through too much hardship, that it’s not a benchmark for who I am,” Pierre explained. “This can even be applied to dating.” Ditch the guilt Donna Noble, yoga teacher and author of Teaching Body Positive Yoga: A Guide To Inclusivity, Language And Props, also believes making things intentional is key for how people can embrace the soft life in their everyday routines. “[People] can prioritise their me-time and be intentional about it – for instance, meditating, journaling or doing yoga as soon as they get up (before the rest of the world invades their space), as this will set you up nicely for the rest of the day,” said Noble. “I believe rest and self-care are part of our birth-right – no feeling guilty for just being and not doing. Normalise taking the pause, and that it can be the most powerful thing we do in our day.” For those who struggle to put themselves first, Noble suggested taking time to work on giving yourself permission. “The key here is a shift in perspective and empowerment – you’ve got to discover the precious gem that is your wellbeing. Society’s old scripts may try to hold us back, but rewriting the narrative is where the magic happens,” she said. “Giving ourselves a permission slip to prioritise self-care isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s about understanding that nurturing ourselves isn’t selfish; it’s the foundation for health and wellbeing.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Kim Kardashian teased as the face of a major fashion brand Shoppers make seven big impulse buys per year on average – survey Even 4,000 steps a day could ‘reduce risk of death’ – study

A Sherpa guide who climbed the world’s 14 tallest mountains in record time is eyeing another record, looking to become the youngest person to scale all those peaks twice

President Joe Biden stopped short of saying he would declare a national climate emergency, a move progressive lawmakers

Prince Harry has lauded the virtue of sports and its healing powers as he kicked off a promotional tour of Asia in Tokyo

Mexico’s inflation decelerated in line with expectations last month but remained elevated when volatile items were not considered,

In many ways, retirement planning for someone in the LGBTQ+ community follows the basic tenets of anyone’s retirement planning: save more, spend less, invest for the long term

Rihanna has launched her first maternity wear line for her Savage X Fenty lingerie brand. The “Rude Boy” singer announced the range by modelling in one of her new nursing bralettes with her and A$AP Rocky’s one-year-old son RZA. She is also currently pregnant with their second child. Rihanna debuted her second pregnancy to the world while performing at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show. Promotional images shared on the official Savage X Fenty Instagram page show Rihanna, 35, cradling RZA in her arms while she breastfeeds him. The pop star is seen beaming in each photo as she looks after her son. She wore her hair long and straight, with a straight fringe obscuring part of her eyes, and was styled in a black bralette. The caption reads: “Not ur [sic] mama’s maternity bras… Designed by Rihanna, approved by baby RZA.” According to US Vogue, the capsule collection features three new bralette styles and an oversized graphic T-shirt with a cheeky slogan that says: “Make more babies.” The bralettes are inspired by Savage X Fenty’s bestsellers and come in several colourways. The range includes the Savage X Cotton Maternity Bralette, the Floral Lace Maternity Bralette and the Savage Not Sorry Maternity Bralette. Each undergarment is designed for new and expecting mothers and enable them to hold their baby in one arm while fixing the bralette cup with the other hand in order to breastfeed with ease. They also feature a full nursing sling with a neckline to underarm opening, adjustable front-facing straps, and a set of nursing clasps. The back of the bralettes have a fourth row of clasps to allow for flexible adjustment throughout pregnancy. Sizes range from XXS to 4X, with prices starting from US$35 to US$60 (£27.46 to £47.08). Rihanna told the fashion magazine: “The new maternity capsule is about bringing that confidence and comfort to mums at every stage of their journeys. “I want to remind people that you can still channel sexiness and feel good while being a parent.” Last month, Rihanna modelled her brand’s new collection of sheer lingerie and showed off her growing belly. During the Super Bowl halftime show in February, the “We Found Love” singer revealed her baby bump in a full-red ensemble while putting on a show-stopping performance. Later, a representative confirmed she was indeed expecting her and A$AP’s second child. Her first pregnancy also came as a shock to fans, as she revealed her bare baby bump in a photoshoot after keeping it a secret for the first five months. The couple’s son’s name was only confirmed a year after his birth. A birth certificate, obtained by The Daily Mail, revealed that his name is RZA Athelston Mayers. Earlier this year, Rihanna spoke about how she became fiercely “protective” of her son’s privacy after photos of RZA were being potentially leaked to the press. She told British Vogue: “As parents it just feels so icky, like a violation.” Instead, the couple took control and sent candid photos of RZA to an unnamed blog and shared a video of the baby on TikTok. “It’s the thing you never want to happen… We get to decide as parents when and how we do that. End of story,” Rihanna added. Read More Wilko isn’t just a shop – it’s a magical portal to essential British tat Prince Harry’s ‘His Royal Highness’ title removed from royal family website Woman behind ‘not real’ plane tirade identified as marketing executive with $2m home

Reality TV star-turned-entrepreneur Kim Kardashian is the new face of fashion label Marc Jacobs. The brand posted a close-up picture of Kardashian’s face on Instagram, as part of the autumn/winter 2023 campaign. The AW23 ready-to-wear collection was debuted at the New York Public Library in June earlier this year, and was populated with masculine tailoring, oversized shoulders, high-waisted pleated trousers and mini dresses. According to WWD, the show notes were written by ChatGPT. They read: “The Marc Jacobs fashion show captivated audiences with its innovative approach to blending menswear-inspired tailoring with feminine aesthetics. “The collection showcased impeccably tailored suits designed exclusively for women, accompanied by flat shoes, black tights and stunning altered gowns. The predominantly black and white palette created a striking visual impact, emphasising the timeless elegance and versatility of monochrome fashion.” WWD confirmed Kardashian as the new face of the brand, and said she was pictured in some of these oversized silhouettes in the advertising campaign, photographed by Tyrone Lebon. Marc Jacobs is no stranger to casting major celebrities in its fashion campaigns – Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, American rappers Ice Spice and Doja Cat, socialite Paris Hilton and actor Winona Ryder have all modelled for the brand. Kardashian, 42, is the founder of shapewear brand Skims, which last month was reportedly valued at $4 billion (£3 billion). She’s also featured in many other brand ad campaigns over the years. She’s modelled for luxury fashion house Balenciaga, and collaborated with shoe brand Stuart Weitzman on their autumn 2022 campaign called ‘Stand Strong’. Kardashian also co-designed Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer 2023 collection, and appeared in the glamorous accompanying ad campaign. Kardashian has also worn Marc Jacobs before – and posted one of these ensembles on Instagram in May. Her outfit was a collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Fendi – she wore a white corset and a fitted long denim skirt, which was accessorised with an exaggerated white furry hat, white leather gloves and see-through platform heels. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Shoppers make seven big impulse buys per year on average – survey Even 4,000 steps a day could ‘reduce risk of death’ – study How many steps a day can cut risk of early death (and it’s not 10,000)

The Honda CR-V has consistently been one of the most popular small crossover SUVs on sale in America

(Reuters) -British retailer John Lewis Partnership has agreed a five-year deal with Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud, enabling it to harness

Coffee shop Blank Street has partnered with Stanley, the viral TikTok cup, to hand out free flasks to caffeine-seekers across the city. For the blissfully unaware, the famed Stanley cup has been making waves online in recent months with a staggering 2.3 billion views under the hashtag alone. The platform has been flooded with reviews, unboxing videos and has almost become an emotional support accessory for avid TikTokers, influencers and celebrities across the globe. To secure the iconic cup, all you need to do is tell your Blank Street Charlotte Street barista: "Quench my thirst." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter You'll then be given your very own Stanley Quencher, perfect for keeping iced coffee temperature perfectly chilled for two whole days. You must be quick, as there are only 50 available across Thursday and Friday (10-11th August) between 11am and 2pm. On Thursday, Blank Street will have its first drop of 25 Stanley Quenchers, in the sell-out eucalyptus colour, available only at Blank Street’s Charlotte Street store. The next drop of 25 cups will be available at the same time, the same place on Friday – the rush for thirst-quenching is on. Coffee fans will have another opportunity to secure their Stanley at a later date. All they need to do is keep their eyes peeled on the Blank Street socials for further details. Caffeine addicts wondering what to fill in their newly-secured Stanley Quencher can find inspiration in Blank Street’s expertly crafted Cold Brew menu. With delights such as the traditional Cold Brew, clean-cut Cortado Cold Brew, and treacly, best-selling Shaken Brown Sugar Cold Brew - the curated menu of delicious iced creations is packed full of chocolate-y and caramel-y flavours from the coffee shop’s innovative Cold Brew Shot. The menu has been taking London by storm already, with Blank Street seeing a whopping 11X increase in the number of Cold Brews ordered from May to August this year. Ignacio Llado, UK MD at Blank Street said: "Keeping your iced coffee cold in the summer can be a bit of a mission, so we’ve partnered with the sell-out success that broke TikTok Stanley Cup to give away a limited number of free cups, and help fight the fight against melting iced beverages. "At Blank Street we want to keep Londoners cool, caffeinated and chic, and what’s more on-brand than a eucalyptus Stanley Quencher - but you’ve got to be quick!" Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.