Entertainment

Queen Mathilde of Belgium recently showcased a striking lilac suit by Natan during December engagements, complementing the festive season with a touch of regal color. The ensemble, observed during events including Germany’s state visit to the United Kingdom, offers a vibrant contrast to traditional holiday palettes.

Royal style continues to draw international attention, influencing fashion trends and providing a window into the diplomatic and cultural moments of European royalty. Queen Mathilde’s choice of Natan, a Belgian designer, underscores her commitment to supporting national brands while maintaining a complex and modern image on the world stage. The suit’s appearance coincides with increased public interest in royal wardrobes during the holiday season and ongoing state visits.

Kim ⁤Cattrall weds longtime Partner Russell Thomas in Intimate London Ceremony

December 4, 2025, 4:53 PM PST – In a ‍delightful turn of events, actress Kim Cattrall has officially tied the‌ knot with‌ her partner of ‌nine years, Russell Thomas.⁤ The “Sex and the City” star exchanged vows in a private ‌ceremony held at Chelsea‌ Old Town​ Hall in London

Supreme Court Blocks Redrawn ​Texas ​Congressional ‍Map, Sides with⁢ State in Redistricting Dispute

The Supreme Court, in a‌ 5-3 decision ⁢along ideological lines, has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that challenged the redrawn congressional map in Texas. The court’s order, issued⁣ recently, ⁢found that the district⁤ court “failed ‍to ⁣honor the presumption of legislative good ‍faith” when interpreting evidence related to the map’s ‌creation.

The dispute stemmed ‌from a mid-decade redistricting effort initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, at the request of former‍ President Donald Trump. Abbott called a special legislative session with the⁣ stated goal of ousting five Democratic U.S. Representatives. The impetus, according to court documents, was based on concerns raised‌ by Harmeet Dhillon, then head of the Civil Rights Division at ⁢the Department⁢ of Justice, ​who argued Texas had unconstitutional‍ “coalition districts” – those with⁢ a non-white majority comprised of Black‌ and⁣ Latino‍ voters.

Texas lawmakers openly acknowledged acting with partisan motives, stating their intent⁢ was not based on racial considerations. Following ‌the legislative ‍session, voting rights ⁢advocates alleged that the redrawn districts near Houston, Dallas, ​and Fort Worth were specifically designed to ‍dismantle areas where Latino and Black ⁢voters ‍held a majority.

A U.S. District ⁢Court, led by⁢ Judge Jeffrey Brown, initially ruled in ​favor of the challengers, finding⁢ evidence ⁣suggested the legislature had acted to fulfill ⁣the DOJ’s racial goal of eliminating coalition districts, rather than for purely political gain. Judge Brown proposed reverting to the 2021 map originally ​drawn by the Republican-led legislature.

However, the Supreme Court overturned‌ this⁤ ruling, citing ⁤the ⁢”Purcell principle” – a legal precedent discouraging alterations to election‍ rules close to ⁢an election.​ Texas attorneys argued that further delay would disrupt the​ upcoming⁣ election cycle, as‌ the filing deadline for candidates is December 8th. The⁣ court agreed, stating lower federal courts​ should ⁤”ordinarily ‍not alter the⁣ election rules ‌on the eve of an election.”

Justice​ Samuel Alito Jr. wrote ‌a ‌concurring opinion,⁣ noting the Texas map, like a similar effort in california aimed at⁤ electing more Democrats, was driven by “partisan advantage pure and ⁢simple.”

The ⁤decision represents a win ⁣for ‌Republicans and a setback for Democrats and voting rights groups. It aligns with the conservative majority’s view that drawing election ‍districts is primarily a “political question”‌ for state lawmakers. ‌However, ⁤the ⁣ruling‌ also ⁢comes despite​ established court⁣ precedent recognizing racial gerrymandering as ⁢unconstitutional under the 14th‍ and 15th ‍Amendments.

Justices Elena ​Kagan, Sonia ​Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, with Justice Kagan arguing the court “disrespects ⁢the ⁣work of ⁢a District Court”‌ and “disserves the millions⁤ of Texans” who she believes were assigned to ⁤districts based on ‌their race.