News
Lawmakers Introduce SAVE America Act Requiring Voter Identification
Legislative proposals have sparked a partisan divide, with Democrats arguing that the measures could restrict voting rights and Republicans contending that they are essential to prevent election fraud.
As the midterm elections draw near, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill that would mandate voters to provide proof of citizenship, sparking a heated debate on voting rights.
The proposed SAVE America Act, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require individuals to present a valid US passport or birth certificate when registering to vote, in addition to a valid photo identification.
Certain groups, including those who have changed their names due to marriage, are expressing concerns about the potential difficulties in obtaining matching documents to comply with the proposed law.
The legislation has sparked a partisan divide, with Democrats arguing that it would disenfranchise eligible voters and Republicans claiming it is necessary to prevent voter fraud.
The bill's prospects in the Senate appear uncertain, as it currently lacks sufficient support to pass.
Key aspects of the legislation include requirements for proof of citizenship and photo identification for voters, which have significant implications for the electoral process.
Under the SAVE Act, voters would be required to verify their US citizenship when registering and provide a valid photo ID before casting their ballots, aiming to strengthen voter eligibility checks.
While some states already require photo identification at polling stations, federal law only mandates that voters in national elections be US citizens, without requiring proof of citizenship, highlighting a potential gap in the current system.
The revised legislation, which was reintroduced after a previous version stalled last year, includes provisions for individuals with name changes to submit additional documents for identity verification.
The requirement for documentation has raised particular concerns among individuals who have changed their names after marriage, potentially affecting their ability to vote.
Election officials who fail to obtain the required proof of citizenship when registering voters could face penalties under the proposed law, emphasizing the importance of compliance.
According to research by the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Maryland's Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement, approximately 21 million Americans lack readily available documents proving their citizenship, and 2.6 million do not have government-issued photo IDs.
A Pew Research Center poll conducted last year found that 83% of respondents supported requiring government-issued photo identification for voters, with 71% of Democrat-leaning and 95% of Republican-leaning voters in favor.
President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the legislation, urging Republican lawmakers to advance it through Congress for his signature.
Despite supporting the bill, President Trump has also repeated his unsubstantiated claim that the 2020 election was stolen, suggesting that the SAVE Act could prevent similar incidents in the future.
The White House has emphasized the importance of ensuring that only American citizens participate in elections, echoing a common theme of President Trump's statements on voter fraud, despite lacking evidence to support such claims.
Many members of President Trump's party have expressed their support for the legislation, aligning with the administration's stance on voter eligibility.
Congressman Bryan Steil, a Republican from Wisconsin, has disputed allegations that the bill aims to suppress voter turnout, arguing that it is necessary to enforce existing laws and prevent non-citizen voting.
Steil maintains that the current laws are insufficient and that the proposed bill is necessary to address these shortcomings.
According to Steil, the primary goal of the legislation is to strengthen the enforcement of existing laws, particularly those related to preventing non-citizens from voting.
The timeline for a potential Senate vote on the measure remains uncertain.
The House of Representatives approved the bill in a 218-213 vote, largely along party lines.
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune currently lacks the 60 votes necessary to pass the bill in the Senate.
Some have suggested that Thune consider modifying the filibuster rules to lower the threshold required for passing a bill.
Thune has stated that changing the filibuster rules is not a viable option, as there is no support for such a move, and the idea does not have a future.
Additionally, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski has announced that she would not support the measure if it were to come up for a vote, further complicating the bill's prospects.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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