Texas became the latest US state to pass anti-LGBTQ law, banning trans girls from female sports.

The new law, which will take effect on January 18, 2022, will require student athletes to join gendered teams that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificate at birth, as they are considered stronger than cisgender girls, who were assigned female at birth.

🗣“It's so very, very important that we protect everything that women have gained in the last 50 years,” Texas Republican Rep. Valoree Swanson said during a committee hearing.

WATCH | A pair of bear cubs spotted playing in a South Lake Tahoe yard.

Last chance to have fun before hibernation.

⚡️ Washington provides assurances to UK that Julian Assange can serve any US-imposed sentence in Australia

⚡️ Washington says it will guarantee medical aid to Assange in the event of his extradition and arrest in the US

WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson says "there can be only one decision here and that is no extradition", slamming US lawyers assurances that Assange will be fairly treated in prison as "worthless."

Check out some news you may have missed:

▪️The House 6 January committee will subpoena John Eastman, the lawyer who apparently advised Donald Trump to challenge Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 elections.

▪️Houston Texans Chairman Cal McNair has apologised for calling COVID-19 "the China virus".

▪️Hillary Clinton's closest aide, Huma Abedin, has reportedly claimed that she was sexually assaulted by a US senator in the mid-noughties.

▪️The FCC has banned China Telecom from operating in America over national security concerns.

▪️The recently-released sci-fi epic blockbuster "Dune" will be getting a sequel, expected to be released in the fall of 2023.

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🧑 The Department of State is set to announce the first US passport with an X gender – for a person who doesn't identify as male or female, AP has reported, citing an unnamed American official.

The source reportedly added that an option for nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and intersex people will be offered early next year.

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⚡️ Capitol Police 'investigating bomb threat' at US Department of Health and Human Services

Capitol Police have reportedly closed down roads near the HHS building

🚨 US police are responding to a “bomb threat” at the HHS building right now.

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❗️An HHS assistant secretary of public affairs, Sarah Lovenheim, has confirmed to Sputnik that the building was evacuated earlier over a report of a bomb threat, adding that they are monitoring the situation with the Federal Protective Service.

⚡️ Alec Baldwin's gun fired live lead projectile, too early to 'comment on charges', sheriff says

🌪 A massive tornado struck the city of Orange, Texas this morning

🤝 Alec Baldwin “has been cooperative” in the investigation, according to the Santa Fe County sheriff

Takeaways from New Mexico Police news conference on the 'Rust' movie set shooting:

▪️Two individuals handled the loaded firearm with which actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded movie director Joel Souza. These are armorer and assistant director

▪️Police believe they have found additional live rounds on the movie set

▪️The focus is on determining how they got onto the movie set, as it should not have been allowed

▪️It is too early to talk about possible charges

📸: US Marine James Kilcer, who earlier prevented a robbery at a convenience store in Arizona, has been awarded for his “extraordinary heroism and exceptional courage”.

He received the award wearing a “Let’s go Brandon” t-shirt.

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⚡️ Nancy Pelosi says the House Rules Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday to advance Joe Biden’s agenda.

The House speaker also says “we are close to agreement” on the priorities and overall cost of the domestic investment bill.

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📹: Pixar and Disney have released a trailer for “Lightyear”, an animated movie that tells the story of the “real” Buzz Lightyear from the classic “Toy Story” movies.

The main character is voiced by Chris Evans.

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