Bills

A bill banning use of symbols of the Russian invasion has been passed in The letters ‘Z’ and ‘V’, which are now prohibited, have widely been used to show support for the Kremlin’s actions. The letters were initially used to mark Russian military vehicles. They were later projected on the side of buildings in Moscow, printed on clothing and promoted by Russian athletes. Russian soldiers and military vehicles often have a 'Z' symbol painted on them, which has now been banned in Ukraine The 'V' symbol is also used by the invading Russian army and the use of it has been prohibited in Ukraine RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Russia intensifies battle for Donbas as forces encircle... 'Concessions are not an option': Kyiv says there will be NO... Share this article Ukrainians have described ‘Z’ as the swastika of the current war. The symbols will still be permitted in Ukraine’s museums, libraries, … [Read more...] about Kyiv issues ban on swastika-like ‘Z’ symbol as new bill outlaws use of Russian propaganda sign

Beleaguered comedian Bill Cosby is facing another trial this week, focusing on allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl back in the mid-1970s. The TV personality, 84, has been accused in a civil suit of sexually assaulting Judy Huth at Los Angeles' Playboy Mansion when she was aged either 16 or 17. Jury selection is expected to start on Tuesday at Los Angeles Superior Court and is projected to last up to a week, a Cosby spokesperson told the New York Post . According to the representative, Cosby, who is legally blind, will not be present in court for the proceedings, for which opening arguments are expected to begin on June 1. According to the Post , Huth has said that the alleged incident took place in 1975, after revising the timeline from her initial claim that she has been assaulted in 1974. The change of dates led to Cosby's team launching an ultimately unsuccessful bid to have the case thrown out. Earlier this month, Judge David Karlan ruled that … [Read more...] about Bill Cosby is going on trial again: Everything we know

Misleading statements have been made by others about birth parents and our needs during the discussions of House Bill 450, state Rep. Charles Owen’s bill that would restore the right of access to adult adopted people to their own birth certificate. We have our own voices and have been using them to tell legislators that we fully support HB450 without discriminatory conditions or restrictions. Although our names are on the original birth certificate, it is not our record; it belongs only to our adult child. We surrendered all rights in perpetuity at relinquishment. The original birth certificate is not sealed upon relinquishment but only at the finalization of an adoption. Our children as adults deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and as equals to other non-adopted Louisiana citizens. We were not promised lifelong anonymity from our own children. They are loved and not forgotten. This bill is about restoring the civil rights of adult adopted people, not reunions. … [Read more...] about Letters: Birth parents group backs bill for access to birth certificates

A bipartisan group of lawmakers announced last week that they have agreed on a discussion draft for a bill that would allow Puerto Rico's residents to vote on the island's territorial status . The draft, which is set to be called the Puerto Rico Status Act, was announced by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and its main sponsors, Rep. Nydia Velázquez and Puerto Rico's non-voting representative in Congress, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon. If passed in the House and Senate, the Puerto Rico Status Act would create and fund a process by which residents of the island would take a binding vote to determine the island's status in relation to the U.S. The ballot would not include the island's current territorial status , according to the draft. Voters would instead choose between three options: statehood, sovereignty in free association with the U.S., and independence. As the bill stands, Puerto Ricans would maintain their U.S. citizenship under all options for at least … [Read more...] about Lawmakers draft historic bill on Puerto Rico’s territorial status

Published 16 January Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A community trust in Glasgow is having to choose between paying energy bills and paying staff, its manager said. Dramatic increases in the price of electricity have blown apart the budgets at Govanhill Baths Community Trust. Trust Manager Fatima Uygun said price increases meant it now costs the same to provide power to some areas as it did to pay for a staff member. Without help, she fears the charity will be forced to make more cuts. The community trust provides a range of mental health support as well as food and other services to people who need them. Like every household, it is affected by recent soaring energy costs. How to smooth over the energy price shock Energy firm failures will mean higher bills, says Scottish Power What can I do if my energy supplier goes bust? Ms Uygan told … [Read more...] about Charity says soaring energy bill almost same as staff bill

Consumers are threatened with higher mobile phone bills if a £9bn takeover of mobile masts by the Spanish infrastructure empire Cellnex is allowed to go ahead as planned, the competition regulator has warned. Cellnex is attempting to acquire 24,000 sites from CK Hutchison , the owner of the UK mobile operator Three and its sister companies across the continent. The Madrid-listed specialist has rapidly assembled a €35bn pan-European business in recent years by buying masts from networks and renting access back to them. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal risks giving Cellnex a stranglehold over the market that could lead to higher bills, however. It said it was considering blocking the transaction, or forcing the two companies to sell off some of the masts to a rival. The CMA said that the deal would leave nine out of 10 mobile masts in the UK in the hands of either Cellnex or Cornerstone, a joint venture between the operators O2 and Vodafone. Cellnex … [Read more...] about Mobile phone mast takeover ‘threatens higher bills’

Published 8 November 2013 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in Scotland has been backed by the Holyrood committee looking into the proposals. Most MSPs on the equal opportunities committee endorsed the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill . But some members were either not convinced by the bill, or had concerns that it lacked adequate protections. The legislation still needs to go through three stages of voting at parliament before becoming law. Under the bill, religious bodies would opt in to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. In addition, protection would also be offered to individual celebrants who felt it would go against their faith to carry out gay weddings. Same-sex couples in Scotland currently have the option to enter into civil partnerships, and the Holyrood government has insisted no part of the religious … [Read more...] about MSPs endorse gay marriage bill

Published 28 May 2013 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Scottish government has confirmed it will introduce a bill within the month to allow same-sex marriage. A consultation on the proposed Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill closed in March, but the responses have yet to be published. Ministers promised to change the law, but also to protect the rights of religious groups who do not want to carry out such ceremonies. The Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church are against the plans. Once the legislative proposal is lodged at parliament it will undergo scrutiny before committee members and in the chamber. The government said the bill would also allow civil ceremonies to take place at a location other than a registrar's office. Alex Neil told MSPs that the bill would be introduced in the current parliamentary sessions. Talks have been … [Read more...] about Scotland’s gay marriage bill to come before Holyrood within a month

Published 20 November 2013 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in Scotland has been backed in principle by the Scottish Parliament. The SNP government's Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill passed the first of three parliamentary hurdles by 98 votes to 15 with 5 abstentions. Find out how your local MSP voted. Those in favour: George Adam, (Paisley) (SNP) Clare Adamson, (Central Scotland) (SNP) Christian Allard, (North East Scotland) (SNP) Jackie Baillie, (Dumbarton) (Lab) Claire Baker, (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Richard Baker, (North East Scotland) (Lab) Jayne Baxter, (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Claudia Beamish, (South Scotland) (Lab) Colin Beattie, (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Marco Biagi, (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Neil Bibby, (West Scotland) (Lab) … [Read more...] about Scotland’s same sex marriage bill: How MSPs voted

DISGRACED comedian Bill Cosby might be out of jail, but his legal problems are far from over. In May 2022, Cosby is set to return to court to fight another civil suit that was filed by Judy Huth. Who is Judy Huth? Judy Huth, 64, is a California woman who gained attention after filing a lawsuit against Bill Cosby. Cosby, 84, and Huth's relationship dates back to the 1970s when she was only a teenager. During that time, she claims that the star sexually assaulted her in a bedroom at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles when she was 16, allegations Cosby has since denied. Read More on The US Sun 'JUSTICE CORRECTED' What to know about Cosby Show star Phylicia Rashad FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT Everything to know about Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand “While defendant does not deny that he socialized with plaintiff at the Playboy Mansion, as he did other women and men who frequented the club,” his lawyers said in … [Read more...] about Who is Judy Huth?