15 h. ago US supreme court appears poised to overturn Colorado ban on ‘conversion therapy’

Ruling in favor of Christian legal group could undermine care and rights for LGBTQ+ youth across the countryThe US supreme court appeared ready to rule against a Colorado law that bans “conversion therapy” practices that seek to change minors’ sexual orientation or gender identity, repeatedly questioning the state over whether the law hindered free speech and whether these practices have been proven harmful.The high-stakes case could roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ youth across the country. Colorado is one of more than 20 states in the US that have banned conversion practices, and a ruling in favor of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal group, could make those laws vulnerable to similar challenges. Continue reading...

Events

18 h. ago Coatbridge school St Bernard's Primary secures tenth Green Eco

The school hosted a special day to mark the milestone and invited local councillors and representatives from North Lanarkshire Council along to share in the joy.

Politics

21 h. ago Christian legal group urges US supreme court to overturn ‘conversion therapy’ ban

ADF represents woman who objected to 2019 Colorado law outlawing conversion practices for youth under age 18A Christian legal group is urging the US supreme court to overturn a ban on “conversion therapy” on Tuesday in a high-stakes case that could roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ youth across the country.In Chiles v Salazar, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing a woman who objected to a 2019 Colorado law outlawing conversion practices for youth under age 18. The law applies to licensed mental health clinicians who seek to change a patient’s gender identity or sexual orientation, discredited tactics that major medical associations have said are ineffective and harmful. Continue reading...

Events

43 h. ago West Lothian Council chiefs 'unable to quantify' what cyberattack cost

Councillors were told this week that a live investigation remains ongoing though the IT system recovery phase is now complete.

Events

43 h. ago Woman fined £600 by local council 'after piece of cardboard flew out of bin'

She thought the letter was a joke at first

Economics

44 h. ago Woman, 32, is fined £600 for littering by local council after piece of cardboard 'flew out of her bin'

Francesca Poncetta said she was shocked last month when she received a letter about rubbish found on the street near her home in Wood Green, north London .

Economics

45 h. ago Boom time for US billionaires: why the system perpetuates wealth inequality

As the super rich grow even richer, inequality expert Chuck Collins says the system is broken – but it can be fixedTo many Americans, the economy of the past five years has been rough. Prices have soared yet pay remains stagnant. High mortgage rates have made buying a home a dismal prospect. The unemployment rate has been creeping up.Most people have indicated they’re delaying major life decisions, including having kids or switching jobs, because of the instability. But for a very small group of people, the last five years couldn’t have been any better. Continue reading...

Economics

45 h. ago Perth and Kinross Council forced to pay £326k in £3.4m Letham community hub contract dispute

An adjudicator ruled PKC should pay just under 20 per cent of the contractor's claim for the additional 15 months' work on The Hub

Economics

46 h. ago Reform UK 'set to hike Kent council tax by 5% next year' amid claims DOGE

The local authority was one of 10 English councils that Nigel Farage's party seized control of at May's local elections.

Politics

46 h. ago Eric Clapton is locked in bitter planning row with millionaire neighbours after claiming their plans for £2.3m Surrey Hills home will threaten his 'sanctuary'

Music legend Clapton, 80, has written to his local council insisting his neighbour's plans would constitute a 'significant and unacceptable invasion' of his privacy.

Economics

62 h. ago Home WiFi will soon be able to monitor our heart rates without expensive gadgets

Boffins have discovered they could keep track of our tickers without the need for smart watches or any wearable device - by using our home WiFi to keep our heartbeats monitored

Politics

3 d. ago Nuclear bunker hidden underneath car park in Welsh town and nobody realises

During the Cold War, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher implored local councils to build nuclear bunkers at a cost of £400,000 in case World War Three started. Naturally, Carmarthen District Council thought it was a good idea

Events

3 d. ago Full list of who can get a 100% council tax discount in the UK

The cost of council tax is set by your council and goes towards funding local services - but you may not have to pay at all.

Politics

4 d. ago Calls for police to shoot down drones after Munich airport disruption – latest updates

Bavarian PM joins calls to strengthen Germany’s air defences after latest incidentMunich airport reopens after halting flightsBavarian prime minister Markus Söder has joined the calls to strengthen Germany’s air defences, telling Bild that “our police must be able to shoot drones down immediately,” instead of “waiting”.CSU leader Söder added that the issue will be discussed during the Bavarian cabinet meeting on Tuesday, and a draft law will be fast-tracked to change the regulations accordingly. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Holyrood committee backs community wealth building legislation

The legislation could see councils procure more goods from local businesses.

Politics

5 d. ago Reform UK council in Nottinghamshire ends ban on local journalists

Ban on Nottingham Post and its website reversed after threat of legal action over damaging freedom of expressionA Reform UK council has ended its ban on journalists from the area’s biggest local newspaper after being threatened with legal action over damaging the outlet’s freedom of expression.Nottinghamshire county council, which has been led by Reform since the local elections earlier this year, said it was “committed to the principles of openness” after lifting the sanctions it had placed on journalists from the Nottingham Post and its website, Nottinghamshire Live. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Major marriage law announcement to change weddings across England and Wales

In the biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century, couples will be given more choice in how they get married, making the process simpler, fairer and less costly.

Society

5 d. ago Theresa May hits out at Badenoch pledge to ditch flagship UK climate change law

Former prime minister warns Tory leader’s move would be ‘catastrophic mistake’

Society

5 d. ago May hits out at Badenoch’s pledge to ditch flagship UK climate change law

Former prime minister warned Tory leader’s move would be ‘catastrophic mistake’

Society

5 d. ago ‘We are the last hope’: Gen Z Madagascar vows to fight on until president resigns

Protesting young people reject dissolution of government as insufficient and demand list of reforms Young protesters in Madagascar have said they will continue their fight until the president, Andry Rajoelina, resigns, rejecting his dissolution of the government on Monday as insufficient.Twenty-two people were killed and 100 injured at the demonstrations, according to the UN. The unrest broke out on 25 September when local councillors were arrested for protesting against water and electricity outages in the capital, Antananarivo. The youth-led protests quickly spread to other towns and cities, fuelled by social media and other “Gen Z protests in Indonesia and Nepal, where the government was toppled. Continue reading...

Politics