Russia's lower house of parliament has given a green light to a controversial law the bill approved in its final reading aims to ban the process of changing gender legally and medically. As a major setback for gender rights groups, the bill would bar Russians from changing their gender or official identity documents.

Gender change surgery to get banned in Russia

The US House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2024, which sets the policy and authorises $886 billion in spending for the Department of Defense, reported Reuters.

The bill received approval with a vote of 219-210, largely split along party lines, a departure from the usual bipartisan support it has historically enjoyed since 1961. However, the fate of the bill becoming law remains uncertain due to the inclusion of culturally conservative amendments added by Republicans.&nbsp;

<h2>Contentious amendments and Democratic concerns</h2>

The House version of the NDAA encompasses various provisions, including a pay raise for military personnel and measures to address the Chinese threat. It further includes an additional $300 million in support of Ukraine's response to Russia's invasion.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-meets-prominent-individuals-in-paris-hold-discussions-on-yoga-science-skill-development-and-more-615736">PM Modi meets prominent individuals in Paris; hold discussions on yoga, science, skill development, and more</a>

Democrats expressed concerns about the bill after the Republican-majority House passed amendments primarily focused on social issues.&nbsp;

<h2>What were Republican amendments?&nbsp;</h2>

Among the amendments passed by the House, one amendment with a vote of 221-213 aimed to reverse the Defense Department's policy of reimbursing travel expenses for service members seeking abortion.&nbsp;

While the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, making abortion legality vary across states, the Pentagon's policy aimed to assist military personnel stationed in states where abortion is prohibited.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modi-in-france-india-flags-cross-border-terrorism-repeats-call-for-dialogue-to-end-ukraine-war-615740">Modi in France: India flags cross-border terrorism, repeats call for dialogue to end Ukraine war</a>

Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk praised the conservative amendments, stating that they aimed to decrease what he perceived as excessive "wokeness" within the military.

Democratic Representative Adam Smith, on the other hand, warned that the amendments would discourage qualified individuals from joining the military, emphasizing the negative impact of the contentious amendment process.

<h2>Additional amendments on gender-affirming surgeries</h2>

Another amendment passed by a vote of 222-211 sought to prohibit the Pentagon from funding gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatment. These measures were met with opposition from Democrats, highlighting the ongoing divide between the two parties.

Watch | Ukraine continues to demand more weapons and NATO membership

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While House Republicans managed to pass their amendments without Democratic support, these provisions are unlikely to succeed in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority.&nbsp;

The Senate is set to begin its debate on the NDAA on Tuesday. After the Senate passes its version of the bill later this month, both chambers will enter negotiations to reconcile their differences and form a compromise bill.&nbsp;

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The US House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2024, which sets the policy and authorises $886 billion in spending for the Department of Defense, reported Reuters.

The US House of Representatives approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2024, which sets the policy and authorises $886 billion in spending for the Department of Defense, reported Reuters. The bill received approval with a vote of 219-210, largely split along party lines, a departure from the usual bipartisan support it has historically enjoyed since 1961. However, the fate of the bill becoming law remains uncertain due to the inclusion of culturally conservative amendments added by Republicans. Contentious amendments and Democratic concerns The House version of the NDAA encompasses various provisions, including a pay raise for military personnel and measures to address the Chinese threat. It further includes an additional $300 million in support of Ukraine's response to Russia's invasion. Also Read | PM Modi meets prominent individuals in Paris; hold discussions on yoga, science, skill development, and more Democrats expressed concerns about the bill after the Republican-majority House passed amendments primarily focused on social issues. What were Republican amendments? Among the amendments passed by the House, one amendment with a vote of 221-213 aimed to reverse the Defense Department's policy of reimbursing travel expenses for service members seeking abortion. While the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, making abortion legality vary across states, the Pentagon's policy aimed to assist military personnel stationed in states where abortion is prohibited. Also Read | Modi in France: India flags cross-border terrorism, repeats call for dialogue to end Ukraine war Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk praised the conservative amendments, stating that they aimed to decrease what he perceived as excessive "wokeness" within the military. Democratic Representative Adam Smith, on the other hand, warned that the amendments would discourage qualified individuals from joining the military, emphasizing the negative impact of the contentious amendment process. Additional amendments on gender-affirming surgeries Another amendment passed by a vote of 222-211 sought to prohibit the Pentagon from funding gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatment. These measures were met with opposition from Democrats, highlighting the ongoing divide between the two parties. Watch | Ukraine continues to demand more weapons and NATO membership × While House Republicans managed to pass their amendments without Democratic support, these provisions are unlikely to succeed in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority. The Senate is set to begin its debate on the NDAA on Tuesday. After the Senate passes its version of the bill later this month, both chambers will enter negotiations to reconcile their differences and form a compromise bill. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

US House passes defence bill with amendments impacting abortions, gender-affirming surgeries

While the Florida governor travels to campaign for the 2024 presidential elections, trouble is brewing in his home state. Residents there have taken to the streets to protest an immigration bill. Thousands of blue-collar workers are protesting a new anti-illegal immigration bill that will be effective starting on July 1st, according to reports. The Senate bills signed by DeSantis aim to introduce stringent measures to deter immigration.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis signs controversial immigration bill

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content.

The Journalism Preservation Act requires digital companies such as Google and Facebook to pay local news publishers a “journalism usage fee” whenever their news content is used or posted on those platforms.

The bill, which is sponsored by a Democrat&nbsp;assembly member from Oakland, Buffy Wicks, also requires news publishers to invest 70 per cent of usage fee profits into journalism jobs.

The move was slammed by Meta’s communications director Andy Stone who called the bill “a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.”

“The bill fails to recognise that publishers and broadcasters put their content on our platform themselves and that substantial consolidation in California’s local news industry came over 15 years ago, well before Facebook was widely used,” Stone said on Twitter on Wednesday.

"If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers," he added.

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Meta statement on the California Journalism Preservation Act. <a href="https://t.co/ssgk1vSryB">pic.twitter.com/ssgk1vSryB</a>
— Andy Stone (@andymstone) <a href="https://twitter.com/andymstone/status/1663951770052067338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Lawmaker condemns Meta’s threat</h2>

Responding to the remarks, Wicks in a statement condemned Meta for using a “scare tactic” in an attempt to “silence journalists”.

“This threat from Meta is a scare tactic that they’ve tried to deploy, unsuccessfully, in every country that’s attempted this,” Wicks said in a statement, according to CNN.

“It’s egregious that one of the wealthiest companies in the world would rather silence journalists than face regulation.”

A spokesperson for Wicks said that the bill is due for a vote in the California State Assembly on Thursday.

<h2>Evokes mixed response </h2>

The bill has garnered mixed responses among the media fraternity in California.

While the Media Guild of the West and Pacific Media Workers Guild have praised the bill, Free Press Action, a non-profit media advocacy organisation, has criticised it.

In a joint letter, the two unions called Meta and Google “powerful landlords overseeing an ever-expanding slum of low-quality information, happy to collect advertising rents from struggling tenants while avoiding paying for upkeep".

<a name="_Hlk136524370">The Free Press Action, on the other hand, </a>said the proposed bill does “nothing to support trustworthy local reporting and would instead pad the profits of massive conglomerates".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platforms—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—has threatened to pull down news content from its social media apps in California in protest against the state’s new proposed bill that requires big tech companies to pay news outlets for showcasing their content. The Journalism Preservation Act requires digital companies such as Google and Facebook to pay local news publishers a “journalism usage fee” whenever their news content is used or posted on those platforms. The bill, which is sponsored by a Democrat assembly member from Oakland, Buffy Wicks, also requires news publishers to invest 70 per cent of usage fee profits into journalism jobs. The move was slammed by Meta’s communications director Andy Stone who called the bill “a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers.” “The bill fails to recognise that publishers and broadcasters put their content on our platform themselves and that substantial consolidation in California’s local news industry came over 15 years ago, well before Facebook was widely used,” Stone said on Twitter on Wednesday. "If the Journalism Preservation Act passes, we will be forced to remove news from Facebook and Instagram, rather than pay into a slush fund that primarily benefits big, out-of-state media companies under the guise of aiding California publishers," he added. Meta statement on the California Journalism Preservation Act. pic.twitter.com/ssgk1vSryB — Andy Stone (@andymstone) May 31, 2023 × Lawmaker condemns Meta’s threat Responding to the remarks, Wicks in a statement condemned Meta for using a “scare tactic” in an attempt to “silence journalists”. “This threat from Meta is a scare tactic that they’ve tried to deploy, unsuccessfully, in every country that’s attempted this,” Wicks said in a statement, according to CNN. “It’s egregious that one of the wealthiest companies in the world would rather silence journalists than face regulation.” A spokesperson for Wicks said that the bill is due for a vote in the California State Assembly on Thursday. Evokes mixed response The bill has garnered mixed responses among the media fraternity in California. While the Media Guild of the West and Pacific Media Workers Guild have praised the bill, Free Press Action, a non-profit media advocacy organisation, has criticised it. In a joint letter, the two unions called Meta and Google “powerful landlords overseeing an ever-expanding slum of low-quality information, happy to collect advertising rents from struggling tenants while avoiding paying for upkeep". The Free Press Action, on the other hand, said the proposed bill does “nothing to support trustworthy local reporting and would instead pad the profits of massive conglomerates". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Meta threatens to pull news content from social media sites over California's proposed bill

Under heat from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked&nbsp;frantically&nbsp;Tuesday (May 30)&nbsp;to persuade other Republicans to support the debt ceiling and budget agreement he signed&nbsp;with President Joe Biden in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic US&nbsp;default.

Leaders of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus slammed the deal for falling well short of the expenditure cutbacks they seek, vowing to block its approval in Congress, as reported by the Associated press.&nbsp;

The Republican Study Committee, a far larger conservative bloc, remained silent. Even rank-and-file moderate conservatives were divided, leaving McCarthy urgently seeking support.

The House Rules Committee voted 7-6 Tuesday to send a bill to the entire House dealing with the federal debt ceiling, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.

The House as a whole is set to vote on Wednesday.

<h2>What would an approval from both the House and Senate mean?</h2>

Quick passage by both the House and Senate would ensure that federal payments continue to be issued to social security beneficiaries, veterans, and others, as well as preventing economic turmoil across&nbsp;the world by allowing the Treasury to continue paying US bills.

The agreement, as outlined in the 99-page law, would limit spending over the next two years, but it contains environmental policy changes and enhanced job requirements for certain senior food aid recipients, both of which Democrats fiercely oppose.

According to the White House, Biden was communicating directly to lawmakers, making more than 100 one-on-one calls. Top administration officials are on their way to Capitol Hill to inform Democrats secretly ahead of the scheduled vote on Wednesday.

With few members anticipated to be completely happy, Biden and McCarthy are hoping to gain majority approval from the Senate.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lashes-out-at-kosovo-after-clashes-with-ethnic-serbs-598528">US expels Kosovo from military exercises after ethnic Serb clashes involving NATO troops</a>

The House plans to vote on the bill on Wednesday and send it to the Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader McConnell are aiming for passage by the end of the week.

Schumer referred to the bill as a "sensible compromise." McCarthy, according to McConnell, "deserves our thanks."

Senators, who had mostly stood on the sidelines during much of the president's and House Speaker's deliberations, began to intervene more aggressively in the argument.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Is United States provoking China by using Philippines?

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Some senators are pressing on modifications from both the left and right edges to modify the plan. This might need lengthy deliberations, delaying ultimate acceptance of the agreement.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Under heat from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked frantically Tuesday (May 30) to persuade other Republicans to support the debt ceiling and budget agreement he signed with President Joe Biden in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic US default.

Under heat from conservatives, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy worked frantically Tuesday (May 30) to persuade other Republicans to support the debt ceiling and budget agreement he signed with President Joe Biden in order to avoid a potentially catastrophic US default. Leaders of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus slammed the deal for falling well short of the expenditure cutbacks they seek, vowing to block its approval in Congress, as reported by the Associated press. The Republican Study Committee, a far larger conservative bloc, remained silent. Even rank-and-file moderate conservatives were divided, leaving McCarthy urgently seeking support. The House Rules Committee voted 7-6 Tuesday to send a bill to the entire House dealing with the federal debt ceiling, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. The House as a whole is set to vote on Wednesday. What would an approval from both the House and Senate mean? Quick passage by both the House and Senate would ensure that federal payments continue to be issued to social security beneficiaries, veterans, and others, as well as preventing economic turmoil across the world by allowing the Treasury to continue paying US bills. The agreement, as outlined in the 99-page law, would limit spending over the next two years, but it contains environmental policy changes and enhanced job requirements for certain senior food aid recipients, both of which Democrats fiercely oppose. According to the White House, Biden was communicating directly to lawmakers, making more than 100 one-on-one calls. Top administration officials are on their way to Capitol Hill to inform Democrats secretly ahead of the scheduled vote on Wednesday. With few members anticipated to be completely happy, Biden and McCarthy are hoping to gain majority approval from the Senate. ALSO READ | US expels Kosovo from military exercises after ethnic Serb clashes involving NATO troops The House plans to vote on the bill on Wednesday and send it to the Senate, where Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader McConnell are aiming for passage by the end of the week. Schumer referred to the bill as a "sensible compromise." McCarthy, according to McConnell, "deserves our thanks." Senators, who had mostly stood on the sidelines during much of the president's and House Speaker's deliberations, began to intervene more aggressively in the argument. ALSO WATCH | Is United States provoking China by using Philippines? Some senators are pressing on modifications from both the left and right edges to modify the plan. This might need lengthy deliberations, delaying ultimate acceptance of the agreement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Debt limit deal heads to vote in full House while McCarthy seeks Republican approval

Texas is poised to become the largest state in the US so far to outlaw transgender treatments of minors. Its Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill banning these procedures on Wednesday (May 17).

State Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has presided over administration that has already taken action against trans youth and even their parents. It is expected that he will sign the law.&nbsp;

Abbott is following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, who on Wednesday signed a bill that was passed by the Republican-led state legislature in early May. The bill bans transgender care for minors.

Texas and Florida are the second and third most populous US states.

Watch | Tornado rips through Texas town leaving one dead, 11 injured

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DeSantis, who is is expected to officially announce his presidential campaign, has also signed a law that bans trangender people from using bathrooms and locker rooms in public facilities that do not correlate with their biological gender.

The Texas legislation does include an exception for minors already receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy, but requires that they "shall wean off the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate."

Besides Florida, nearly a dozen other Republican-led states have passed similar bans in recent months. 
&nbsp;

<h2>Democrats protest</h2>

Transgender rights are becoming a factor that is dividing opinions in America's culture wars.

Leaders from the Democratic Party have protested these measures. They say that such legislations are encroaching on Americans' civil liberties.

Protesters and activists have regularly made demonstrations in state houses to oppose initiatives taken by Republicans.&nbsp;

<h2>Biden bats for transgender rights</h2>

US President Joe Biden said in March that such "attacks" on rights of transgenders were "un-American and must end."

"No one should have to be brave just to be themselves," the Democratic leader wrote in a statement marking the International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/8-year-old-migrant-girl-dies-in-us-custody-at-texas-border-593594">8-year-old migrant girl dies in US custody at Texas border</a>

More than half of trans youth had seriously considered suicide and nearly one in five made a suicide attempt during the past year, according to 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit engaged in suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth.

They are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, risky behavior and self mutilation than other adolescents.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Texas is poised to become the largest state in the US so far to outlaw transgender treatments of minors. Its Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill banning these procedures on Wednesday (May 17).

Texas is poised to become the largest state in the US so far to outlaw transgender treatments of minors. Its Republican-controlled legislature passed a bill banning these procedures on Wednesday (May 17). State Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has presided over administration that has already taken action against trans youth and even their parents. It is expected that he will sign the law. Abbott is following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, who on Wednesday signed a bill that was passed by the Republican-led state legislature in early May. The bill bans transgender care for minors. Texas and Florida are the second and third most populous US states. Watch | Tornado rips through Texas town leaving one dead, 11 injured × DeSantis, who is is expected to officially announce his presidential campaign, has also signed a law that bans trangender people from using bathrooms and locker rooms in public facilities that do not correlate with their biological gender. The Texas legislation does include an exception for minors already receiving puberty blockers or hormone therapy, but requires that they "shall wean off the prescription drug over a period of time and in a manner that is safe and medically appropriate." Besides Florida, nearly a dozen other Republican-led states have passed similar bans in recent months. Democrats protest Transgender rights are becoming a factor that is dividing opinions in America's culture wars. Leaders from the Democratic Party have protested these measures. They say that such legislations are encroaching on Americans' civil liberties. Protesters and activists have regularly made demonstrations in state houses to oppose initiatives taken by Republicans. Biden bats for transgender rights US President Joe Biden said in March that such "attacks" on rights of transgenders were "un-American and must end." "No one should have to be brave just to be themselves," the Democratic leader wrote in a statement marking the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Also Read | 8-year-old migrant girl dies in US custody at Texas border More than half of trans youth had seriously considered suicide and nearly one in five made a suicide attempt during the past year, according to 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit engaged in suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth. They are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, risky behavior and self mutilation than other adolescents. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Texas okays legislation against transgender treatment of minors

A new bill that would impose five years of mandatory service on Nigeria’s medical graduates is being opposed by the doctors&nbsp;union and civil society. The bill, which is aimed to stop the migration of doctors to the UK and the US, passed its second reading in the lower house of the Nigerian parliament last month. The bill is likely to be put to a public hearing in the next couple of days.&nbsp;

<h2>Brain-drain among Nigeria’s professionals</h2>

The Nigerian government, which is set to recoup the investment in&nbsp;the country’s educational system, is working to solve&nbsp;the issue of brain drain among Nigeria’s medical professionals.&nbsp;

Ganiyu Johnson, a lawmaker and leading advocate for the bill, in his address to the medical students and doctors said that “the government has invested so much money in training these medical doctors. If the government subsidised your tuition, the least we expect is that you can give back to society within the period of five years.”

<h2>Backlash by the medical community</h2>

The bill is deemed as being “obnoxious and outlandish” by the doctors&nbsp;union and civil society alike. Commenting on the matter, Dr Innocent Orji, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, said that “We are going to resist the bill. The bill should be withdrawn immediately. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-us-imposes-visa-restrictions-on-nigerians-for-undermining-democratic-process-592979">The US imposes visa restrictions on Nigerians for undermining democratic process</a>

<h2>Problems faced by the medical community</h2>

Despite the government promising to review pay every five years, strikes in the country’s health sector have become more frequent and prolonged in recent times.&nbsp;

From static wages to job insecurity, Chidiebere Echieh, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Calabar cited several reasons behind medical professionals leaving Nigeria and moving to the UK and the US.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Nigeria's old currency can be used longer amid cash crisis

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&nbsp;

Echieh further added that despite graduating from medical school in 2007 and pursuing further training, his salary remains stagnant. As a senior surgeon with experience and skill, he is paid a salary of around £800 ($994) a month, which is far less than medical graduates in most developed countries.&nbsp;

He further commented that health technology in developed countries is another important factor that is contributing to medical graduates from Nigeria moving abroad. Doctors have reported a rise in trauma and depression, caused by too many avoidable deaths across Nigerian hospitals due to the unavailability of superior technology.

The World Health Organization (WHO) included Nigeria on its red list to discourage other countries from hiring from an already depleted medical workforce. The UK is the biggest recruiter of Nigerian doctors. Canada, the US and Saudi Arabia are next in line.&nbsp;

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A new bill that would impose five years of mandatory service on Nigeria’s medical graduates is being opposed by the doctors union and civil society. The bill, which is aimed to stop the migration of doctors to the UK and the US, passed its second reading in the lower house of the Nigerian parliament last month.

A new bill that would impose five years of mandatory service on Nigeria’s medical graduates is being opposed by the doctors union and civil society. The bill, which is aimed to stop the migration of doctors to the UK and the US, passed its second reading in the lower house of the Nigerian parliament last month. The bill is likely to be put to a public hearing in the next couple of days. Brain-drain among Nigeria’s professionals The Nigerian government, which is set to recoup the investment in the country’s educational system, is working to solve the issue of brain drain among Nigeria’s medical professionals. Ganiyu Johnson, a lawmaker and leading advocate for the bill, in his address to the medical students and doctors said that “the government has invested so much money in training these medical doctors. If the government subsidised your tuition, the least we expect is that you can give back to society within the period of five years.” Backlash by the medical community The bill is deemed as being “obnoxious and outlandish” by the doctors union and civil society alike. Commenting on the matter, Dr Innocent Orji, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, said that “We are going to resist the bill. The bill should be withdrawn immediately. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money.” ALSO READ | The US imposes visa restrictions on Nigerians for undermining democratic process Problems faced by the medical community Despite the government promising to review pay every five years, strikes in the country’s health sector have become more frequent and prolonged in recent times. From static wages to job insecurity, Chidiebere Echieh, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at the University of Calabar cited several reasons behind medical professionals leaving Nigeria and moving to the UK and the US. WATCH | Nigeria's old currency can be used longer amid cash crisis × Echieh further added that despite graduating from medical school in 2007 and pursuing further training, his salary remains stagnant. As a senior surgeon with experience and skill, he is paid a salary of around £800 ($994) a month, which is far less than medical graduates in most developed countries. He further commented that health technology in developed countries is another important factor that is contributing to medical graduates from Nigeria moving abroad. Doctors have reported a rise in trauma and depression, caused by too many avoidable deaths across Nigerian hospitals due to the unavailability of superior technology. The World Health Organization (WHO) included Nigeria on its red list to discourage other countries from hiring from an already depleted medical workforce. The UK is the biggest recruiter of Nigerian doctors. Canada, the US and Saudi Arabia are next in line. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Nigeria's doctors fume over five years of mandatory service

The Texas Legislature this week passed a bill that will if enacted, ban doctors from providing gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18. The bill includes a provision that requires minors currently receiving gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers to “wean off” such treatment after the bill goes into effect.

Texas Legislature passes bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

An Airbnb host was left with a humongous $1,570&nbsp;bill after the couple who stayed there left the taps and gas on for 25 days to punish the host. According to the Independent, the guests did this as a form of retaliation after being unable to cancel their reservation.&nbsp;The Chinese couple had come to South Korea and stayed in the rental property for 25 days. The incident resulted in a massive utility bill for the host, identified as Lee.

The problem started after the couple reserved the villa for their stay in Seoul during their vacation. However, the premises is&nbsp;not in the city centre, but rather in a suburb. When the couple discovered this, they had already paid the entire amount.

&nbsp;Lee claims that the couple&nbsp;did not contact him or Airbnb and that they did everything on their own. They initially called the host to inquire about the presence of security cameras on the premises. When&nbsp;Lee stated there weren't any, they turned on as many lights, taps, electrical appliances, and gas valves as they could, according to the Independent.

The host added that the couple&nbsp;toured across South Korea rather than staying at the villa. According to Lee, they only came back five times in 25 days, each time only staying for five minutes.

The gas supplier called &nbsp;Lee after the couple&nbsp;left and informed him of a considerable rise in usage. It was a leak, he assumed.&nbsp;

The villa's windows were open and the gas turned on when Lee went to&nbsp;inspect&nbsp;the villa. He was given three bills: a $116 water and power bill, a $730&nbsp;gas charge, and a $728&nbsp;"miscellaneous expenses" bill.

During their stay, he claimed the couple consumed more than 120,000 litres of water.

<h2>Drop in Airbnb shares&nbsp;</h2>

Following the release of a report by The Bear Cave that looked into unfavourable experiences that clients had when booking stays through the site, shares of Airbnb fell as much as six&nbsp;per cent.

The report&nbsp;cited a number of alarming occurrences, such as unexpected cleaning requests, last-minute cancellations, and visitors discovering hidden cameras in their rooms.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airbnb-to-lay-off-25-of-its-employees-296912">Airbnb to lay off 25% of its employees</a>

The issue has not been satisfactorily addressed by Airbnb. The company's shares fell five per cent&nbsp;in response to this news.

The company's most profitable year to yet was 2022, when revenue for Airbnb increased by 40 per cent&nbsp;from the previous year.

Additionally, compared to the same period in 2021, the San Francisco-based company recorded a 16 per cent&nbsp;rise in active listings in Q4 2022.

The Bear Cave report&nbsp;also mentioned that some of the top-tier corporate hosts have abandoned Airbnb in favour of creating their own booking platforms and providing more affordable rates.

&nbsp;

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An Airbnb host was left with a humongous $1,570 bill after the couple who stayed there left the taps and gas on for 25 days to punish the host. According to the Independent, the guests did this as a form of retaliation after being unable to cancel their reservation.

An Airbnb host was left with a humongous $1,570 bill after the couple who stayed there left the taps and gas on for 25 days to punish the host. According to the Independent, the guests did this as a form of retaliation after being unable to cancel their reservation. The Chinese couple had come to South Korea and stayed in the rental property for 25 days. The incident resulted in a massive utility bill for the host, identified as Lee. The problem started after the couple reserved the villa for their stay in Seoul during their vacation. However, the premises is not in the city centre, but rather in a suburb. When the couple discovered this, they had already paid the entire amount. Lee claims that the couple did not contact him or Airbnb and that they did everything on their own. They initially called the host to inquire about the presence of security cameras on the premises. When Lee stated there weren't any, they turned on as many lights, taps, electrical appliances, and gas valves as they could, according to the Independent. The host added that the couple toured across South Korea rather than staying at the villa. According to Lee, they only came back five times in 25 days, each time only staying for five minutes. The gas supplier called Lee after the couple left and informed him of a considerable rise in usage. It was a leak, he assumed. The villa's windows were open and the gas turned on when Lee went to inspect the villa. He was given three bills: a $116 water and power bill, a $730 gas charge, and a $728 "miscellaneous expenses" bill. During their stay, he claimed the couple consumed more than 120,000 litres of water. Drop in Airbnb shares Following the release of a report by The Bear Cave that looked into unfavourable experiences that clients had when booking stays through the site, shares of Airbnb fell as much as six per cent. The report cited a number of alarming occurrences, such as unexpected cleaning requests, last-minute cancellations, and visitors discovering hidden cameras in their rooms. ALSO READ | Airbnb to lay off 25% of its employees The issue has not been satisfactorily addressed by Airbnb. The company's shares fell five per cent in response to this news. The company's most profitable year to yet was 2022, when revenue for Airbnb increased by 40 per cent from the previous year. Additionally, compared to the same period in 2021, the San Francisco-based company recorded a 16 per cent rise in active listings in Q4 2022. The Bear Cave report also mentioned that some of the top-tier corporate hosts have abandoned Airbnb in favour of creating their own booking platforms and providing more affordable rates. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Guests from hell': Airbnb owner gets $1,570 bill after visitors leave taps, gas open for 25 days

Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday tabled the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 aimed to limit the discretionary powers to take suo motu notice by the chief justice of Pakistan, Geo News reported.

The house has sent the proposed bill to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further approval which will meet on Wednesday morning under the chair of Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk.

The committee will send it back to the lower house. After the NA passes the bill, it will be sent to the Senate for approval.

The decision of Pakistan's government comes a day after two Supreme Court judges -- Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail raised questions over the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The two judges said the apex court "cannot be dependent on the solitary decision of one man, the Chief Justice."

The court must be regulated through a rule-based system approved by all judges of the court under Article 191 of the Constitution," Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail wrote in a 27-page dissenting note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-taliban-launch-assault-on-police-station-kill-four-policemen-in-bomb-attack-577248">Pakistan Taliban launch assault on police station, kill four policemen in bomb attack</a>

In his speech on the floor of the house during the National Assembly session, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought parliamentary action in this regard. He termed the dissenting note "a ray of hope," as per the Geo News report.

Shehbaz Sharif said, "The voices for change stemming from the judiciary itself is certainly a ray of hope for the country." Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has accused the judiciary of "bench-fixing," as per the news report.

While speaking on the floor of the house, Pakistan's Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the Supreme Court's reputation was damaged due to the actions taken in the name of suo moto notices.

"We have even seen that era when suo motu notices were taken on trivial matters [...] also, in the past, several review cases were delayed and not fixed for hearing," Azam Nazeer Tarar said.

Tarar said that the dissenting note of the two judges has led to further concern. He stated that the decisions taken under suo motu notices could not be appealed earlier. He further said, "It is important to give the chance to appeal an order and the parliament has always demanded that the right to appeal should be given."

The bill includes shifting the powers of taking suo motu notice from the chief justice to a three-member committee comprising three senior judges.

Furthermore, the bill includes a clause regarding the right of challenging the decision which could be filed within 30 days and will be fixed for a hearing in two weeks' time.

According to the bill, every clause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench formed by the committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior judges. The bill also stated that the decision of the committee shall be made as per the majority.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-governments-twitter-account-withheld-in-india-yet-again-577164">Pakistan government's Twitter account withheld in India yet again</a>

In a 27-page note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail called it important "to revisit the power of 'one-man show' enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan [Umar Ata Bandial]."

Expressing their views against running a "one-man show", Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail stressed that it results in a concentration of power in the hands of one individual, making the system more susceptible to the abuse of power, as per the Geo News report.

The judges said that a collegial system with checks and balances helps "prevent the abuse and mistakes in the exercise of power and promote transparency and accountability." They stressed that collegial system ensures good governance as it rests on collaboration, shared decision-making and balance of power.

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Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday tabled the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 aimed to limit the discretionary powers to take suo motu notice by the chief justice of Pakistan, Geo News reported.

Pakistan's Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday tabled the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 aimed to limit the discretionary powers to take suo motu notice by the chief justice of Pakistan, Geo News reported. The house has sent the proposed bill to the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Law and Justice for further approval which will meet on Wednesday morning under the chair of Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk. The committee will send it back to the lower house. After the NA passes the bill, it will be sent to the Senate for approval. The decision of Pakistan's government comes a day after two Supreme Court judges -- Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail raised questions over the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The two judges said the apex court "cannot be dependent on the solitary decision of one man, the Chief Justice." The court must be regulated through a rule-based system approved by all judges of the court under Article 191 of the Constitution," Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail wrote in a 27-page dissenting note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu. ALSO READ | Pakistan Taliban launch assault on police station, kill four policemen in bomb attack In his speech on the floor of the house during the National Assembly session, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought parliamentary action in this regard. He termed the dissenting note "a ray of hope," as per the Geo News report. Shehbaz Sharif said, "The voices for change stemming from the judiciary itself is certainly a ray of hope for the country." Sharif's party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has accused the judiciary of "bench-fixing," as per the news report. While speaking on the floor of the house, Pakistan's Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the Supreme Court's reputation was damaged due to the actions taken in the name of suo moto notices. "We have even seen that era when suo motu notices were taken on trivial matters [...] also, in the past, several review cases were delayed and not fixed for hearing," Azam Nazeer Tarar said. Tarar said that the dissenting note of the two judges has led to further concern. He stated that the decisions taken under suo motu notices could not be appealed earlier. He further said, "It is important to give the chance to appeal an order and the parliament has always demanded that the right to appeal should be given." The bill includes shifting the powers of taking suo motu notice from the chief justice to a three-member committee comprising three senior judges. Furthermore, the bill includes a clause regarding the right of challenging the decision which could be filed within 30 days and will be fixed for a hearing in two weeks' time. According to the bill, every clause, appeal or matter before the Supreme Court shall be heard and disposed of by a bench formed by the committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and two senior judges. The bill also stated that the decision of the committee shall be made as per the majority. ALSO READ | Pakistan government's Twitter account withheld in India yet again In a 27-page note for the apex court's March 1 verdict in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suo motu, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail called it important "to revisit the power of 'one-man show' enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan [Umar Ata Bandial]." Expressing their views against running a "one-man show", Justice Shah and Justice Mandokhail stressed that it results in a concentration of power in the hands of one individual, making the system more susceptible to the abuse of power, as per the Geo News report. The judges said that a collegial system with checks and balances helps "prevent the abuse and mistakes in the exercise of power and promote transparency and accountability." They stressed that collegial system ensures good governance as it rests on collaboration, shared decision-making and balance of power. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan government tables bill in parliament to limit chief justice's powers

Following the harsh questioning of the CEO of the social media platform by Washington legislators on Friday, a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok in the United States appears to be an increasingly likely possibility. Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, was subjected to a barrage of inquiries from US lawmakers who made it clear that they believed the app, which is the most popular social media platform in the country and is best known for sharing jokes and dance videos, posed a threat to both mental health and national security.

TikTok ban inevitable after the grilling of CEO?

There are mounting calls to outlaw TikTok, owned by a business based in China, in the United States, with US politicians moving forward with legislation to address National Security concerns over the brief video app.

US: Legislation to address SECURITY WORRIES about TikTok

Uganda's Parliament passes an anti-LGBTQ bill. It awaits the President's approval. The bill includes harsh punishments like life imprisonment and death sentences. The bill is being criticized worldwide. 30 (including Uganda) out of 54 countries of Africa already consider being gay a crime. Human Right activists are highly criticizing the bill.

Uganda parliament passes anti-gay bill criminalizing identifying as LGBTQ

The White House welcomed a bill on Tuesday allowing the US administration to ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement.

The bill was supported by the Democratic party's senior senator Mark Warner and South Dakota Republican John Thune, in an act of political entente by the lawmakers.

"We applaud the bipartisan group of senators, led by Senators Warner and Thune, who today introduced the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act," said Sullivan.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-may-be-targetted-in-a-us-bill-to-ban-some-foreign-tech-senator-568965">TikTok may be targetted in a US bill to ban some foreign tech: Senator</a>

The bipartisan bill "would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services... in a way that poses risks to Americans' sensitive data and our national security," he added in a statement.

"Today, the threat that everyone is talking about is TikTok, and how it could enable surveillance by the Chinese Communist Party, or facilitate the spread of malign influence campaigns in the US," said Senator Warner in a statement.

"Before TikTok, however, it was Huawei and ZTE, which threatened our nation's telecommunications networks. And before that, it was Russia's Kaspersky Lab, which threatened the security of government and corporate devices," he added.

Chinese firm ByteDance owns TikTok, which has more than a billion users across the world, which includes over 100 million in the US.

WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app

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Reacting to the bill, TikTok pointed to its months-long negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is a government agency that understands the foreign investments' risk to US national security.

"The Biden Administration does not need additional authority from Congress to address national security concerns about TikTok: It can approve the deal negotiated with CFIUS over two years that it has spent the last six months reviewing," TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The White House welcomed a bill on Tuesday allowing the US administration to ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement.

The White House welcomed a bill on Tuesday allowing the US administration to ban Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement. The bill was supported by the Democratic party's senior senator Mark Warner and South Dakota Republican John Thune, in an act of political entente by the lawmakers. "We applaud the bipartisan group of senators, led by Senators Warner and Thune, who today introduced the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act," said Sullivan. ALSO READ | TikTok may be targetted in a US bill to ban some foreign tech: Senator The bipartisan bill "would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services... in a way that poses risks to Americans' sensitive data and our national security," he added in a statement. "Today, the threat that everyone is talking about is TikTok, and how it could enable surveillance by the Chinese Communist Party, or facilitate the spread of malign influence campaigns in the US," said Senator Warner in a statement. "Before TikTok, however, it was Huawei and ZTE, which threatened our nation's telecommunications networks. And before that, it was Russia's Kaspersky Lab, which threatened the security of government and corporate devices," he added. Chinese firm ByteDance owns TikTok, which has more than a billion users across the world, which includes over 100 million in the US. WATCH | TikTok in the US: TikTok's attempts to reassure government, security concerns surrounding the app Reacting to the bill, TikTok pointed to its months-long negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which is a government agency that understands the foreign investments' risk to US national security. "The Biden Administration does not need additional authority from Congress to address national security concerns about TikTok: It can approve the deal negotiated with CFIUS over two years that it has spent the last six months reviewing," TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

White House welcomes bill allowing ban on TikTok

Mexico Senate on Wednesday passed a bill overhauling the body that organises elections and monitors political activity in the country, a move that critics say will favour President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections.

The reform was approved by the Senate with 72 votes in favour and 50 against. However, it still needs to be signed by Lopez to become law.&nbsp;The bill entails cutting short the budget of the election body, National Electoral Institute (INE), slashing public funding for political parties, in addition to changing several electoral procedures.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-time-in-52-years-worlds-longest-skating-rink-to-close-due-to-global-warming-565094">First time in 52 years! World’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming</a>

The passing of this bill is seen as a digressional step from the 2000 election reform that ended the 71 years of one-party rule. Therefore, the critics are voicing their opposition to the passing of the bill. The president, however, has been throwing his weight behind the reforms. In mid-November, he said, “The reform tries to strengthen democracy, protect it, because there are still risks of electoral fraud.”

His calls for these reforms intensified after he lost the 2006 presidential election, which he later claimed was&nbsp;fraudulent. He again gained power in 2018 but his allegations continue.&nbsp; Opposition lawmakers and civil society groups are now railing against the president and have said they will approach Supreme Court to challenge the reforms as they are unconstitutional.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-three-news-outlets-fined-for-their-earthquake-coverage-565075">Turkey: Three news outlets fined for critical coverage of govt’s earthquake response</a>

Protests are also likely in multiple cities on Sunday. This overhaul is dubbed "Plan B" and reportedly seeks to convert the INE into a smaller elected official body. INE head Lorenzo Cordova has condemned the changes and termed them a&nbsp;“democratic setback”.&nbsp;

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He added that this will pose a risk to “certain, trustworthy and transparent” elections. Proposed “brutal cuts” in personnel would hinder the installation of polling stations and vote counting, Cordova said, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Mexico Senate on Wednesday passed a bill overhauling the body that organises elections and monitors political activity in the country, a move that critics say will favour President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections.

Mexico Senate on Wednesday passed a bill overhauling the body that organises elections and monitors political activity in the country, a move that critics say will favour President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the 2024 presidential and congressional elections. The reform was approved by the Senate with 72 votes in favour and 50 against. However, it still needs to be signed by Lopez to become law. The bill entails cutting short the budget of the election body, National Electoral Institute (INE), slashing public funding for political parties, in addition to changing several electoral procedures. Also Read | First time in 52 years! World’s longest skating rink to close due to global warming The passing of this bill is seen as a digressional step from the 2000 election reform that ended the 71 years of one-party rule. Therefore, the critics are voicing their opposition to the passing of the bill. The president, however, has been throwing his weight behind the reforms. In mid-November, he said, “The reform tries to strengthen democracy, protect it, because there are still risks of electoral fraud.” His calls for these reforms intensified after he lost the 2006 presidential election, which he later claimed was fraudulent. He again gained power in 2018 but his allegations continue. Opposition lawmakers and civil society groups are now railing against the president and have said they will approach Supreme Court to challenge the reforms as they are unconstitutional. Also Read | Turkey: Three news outlets fined for critical coverage of govt’s earthquake response Protests are also likely in multiple cities on Sunday. This overhaul is dubbed "Plan B" and reportedly seeks to convert the INE into a smaller elected official body. INE head Lorenzo Cordova has condemned the changes and termed them a “democratic setback”. Watch | Russia Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin talks of boosting nuclear forces He added that this will pose a risk to “certain, trustworthy and transparent” elections. Proposed “brutal cuts” in personnel would hinder the installation of polling stations and vote counting, Cordova said, reported Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mexico Senate passes controversial bill overhauling election body, critics term it a democratic setback

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a bill banning private ownership of tigers and other big cats along with "cub petting." This bill aims to limit the ownership of tigers, lions, jaguars and other big cats to zoos, sanctuaries, universities and agencies. The bill was previously passed by the US Congress and was made into law after Biden signed it. Animal advocacy groups and conservationists alike have hailed the move which protects wildlife creatures.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/americans-cant-stand-their-families-for-more-than-four-hours-survey-545037">Americans can't stand their families for more than four hours: Survey</a>

Big Cat Public Safety Act

This bill revises requirements governing the trade of big cats (i.e., species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species). Specifically, it revises restrictions on the possession and exhibition of big cats, including restricting direct contact between the public and big cats, as per US Congress.&nbsp;

The bill prohibits direct contact between the public and big cats as seen in Netflix series "Tiger King," which featured the exploits of a flamboyant private zoo owner named Joe Exotic. It is an American true crime documentary streaming television series about the life of Joe. Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison for attempting to kill a rival animal refuge owner, Carole Baskin. The series focuses on the small but deeply interconnected society of big cat conservationists such as Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue, and collectors such as Exotic, whom Baskin accuses of abusing and exploiting wild animals. 
&nbsp;

Current owners of big cats&nbsp;

Current owners of big cats are exempted but will have to register the animals with the US Fish &amp; Wildlife Service.

PETA applauds POTUS signing the bill&nbsp;

After Biden signed the bill that became a law, animal advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has applauded the move. The group said that after this landmark move, now Tiger Kings can no longer cash in on the suffering of big-cat cubs removed from their caged mothers.

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-militants-attack-police-station-in-south-wazirstan-constable-injured-in-firing-544925">Pakistan: Militants attack police station in South Wazirstan, constable injured in firing</a>

"This law caps off years of PETA legal actions that resulted in the rescue of 75 big cats, took down Tiger King villains Tim Stark and Jeff Lowe, and established that big-cat cub petting violates the Endangered Species Act. PETA has now set its sights on ending photo ops with baby bears, otters, sloths, and other exploited animals who deserve to be with their families, and it urges everyone never to give a dime to animal exploiters," PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet said in a statement.&nbsp;

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US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a bill banning private ownership of tigers and other big cats along with "cub petting." This bill aims to limit the ownership of tigers, lions, jaguars and other big cats to zoos, sanctuaries, universities and agencies.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a bill banning private ownership of tigers and other big cats along with "cub petting." This bill aims to limit the ownership of tigers, lions, jaguars and other big cats to zoos, sanctuaries, universities and agencies. The bill was previously passed by the US Congress and was made into law after Biden signed it. Animal advocacy groups and conservationists alike have hailed the move which protects wildlife creatures. ALSO READ | Americans can't stand their families for more than four hours: Survey Big Cat Public Safety Act This bill revises requirements governing the trade of big cats (i.e., species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species). Specifically, it revises restrictions on the possession and exhibition of big cats, including restricting direct contact between the public and big cats, as per US Congress. The bill prohibits direct contact between the public and big cats as seen in Netflix series "Tiger King," which featured the exploits of a flamboyant private zoo owner named Joe Exotic. It is an American true crime documentary streaming television series about the life of Joe. Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison for attempting to kill a rival animal refuge owner, Carole Baskin. The series focuses on the small but deeply interconnected society of big cat conservationists such as Carole Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue, and collectors such as Exotic, whom Baskin accuses of abusing and exploiting wild animals. Current owners of big cats Current owners of big cats are exempted but will have to register the animals with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. PETA applauds POTUS signing the bill After Biden signed the bill that became a law, animal advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has applauded the move. The group said that after this landmark move, now Tiger Kings can no longer cash in on the suffering of big-cat cubs removed from their caged mothers. WATCH | Pakistan: Militants attack police station in South Wazirstan, constable injured in firing "This law caps off years of PETA legal actions that resulted in the rescue of 75 big cats, took down Tiger King villains Tim Stark and Jeff Lowe, and established that big-cat cub petting violates the Endangered Species Act. PETA has now set its sights on ending photo ops with baby bears, otters, sloths, and other exploited animals who deserve to be with their families, and it urges everyone never to give a dime to animal exploiters," PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet said in a statement. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Biden signs 'Tiger King' bill banning big cats ownership

In a remarkable turn of events, the US Senate on Wednesday cleared a 60-vote procedural hurdle in a test of support for a long contentious bill on same-sex relationships.&nbsp;Breaking a filibuster to start off debate on passing of this landmark bill providing federal protection for same sex and interracial marriages, the Senate voted 62-37 in support of the bill. All 50 members of the Democratic caucus along with 12 Republicans voted to start a debate on the bipartisan bill.&nbsp;

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However, as per the procedure once the bill is passed through the Senate it will require to be passed again through the House. After this, it will go to the President who will sign it into a legislation.&nbsp;It is interesting to note this comes in the backdrop of US elections vote counting where Republicans are projected to win a majority in the House. In view of this, the Democrats supporters of the bill are hoping to get the legislation passed by the end of the year.&nbsp;

After US Supreme Court struck down Roe vs Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion, the advocates of same sex were fearful. However, now there is hope that the rights of those in same-sex marriage would be protected.&nbsp;

The bill would not make mandatory for all states to legalize same-sex marriage but it would require individual US states to recognize another state’s legal marriage.&nbsp;An individual state could still pass a law to ban same-sex marriage in case Supreme Court overturns its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalised same-sex marriage.&nbsp;

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The Respect for Marriage Act must clear the 100-member Senate before it can become law. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN that he wants his chamber’s bill to pass by Thursday before senators leave for their Thanksgiving recess all next week.

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“We’re hoping that could happen,” he said. After the test vote, Schumer hoped “both sides can work quickly together to move this bill through the Senate and on to the president’s desk.” “It already passed the House earlier this year with significant 47 Republican votes and I’m optimistic we can achieve a significant result in this chamber,” he added.

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In a remarkable turn of events, the US Senate on Wednesday cleared a 60-vote procedural hurdle in a test of support for a long contentious bill on same-sex relationships.

In a remarkable turn of events, the US Senate on Wednesday cleared a 60-vote procedural hurdle in a test of support for a long contentious bill on same-sex relationships. Breaking a filibuster to start off debate on passing of this landmark bill providing federal protection for same sex and interracial marriages, the Senate voted 62-37 in support of the bill. All 50 members of the Democratic caucus along with 12 Republicans voted to start a debate on the bipartisan bill. ALSO READ | Georgia’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional, rules judge However, as per the procedure once the bill is passed through the Senate it will require to be passed again through the House. After this, it will go to the President who will sign it into a legislation. It is interesting to note this comes in the backdrop of US elections vote counting where Republicans are projected to win a majority in the House. In view of this, the Democrats supporters of the bill are hoping to get the legislation passed by the end of the year. After US Supreme Court struck down Roe vs Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that enshrined the constitutional right to abortion, the advocates of same sex were fearful. However, now there is hope that the rights of those in same-sex marriage would be protected. The bill would not make mandatory for all states to legalize same-sex marriage but it would require individual US states to recognize another state’s legal marriage. An individual state could still pass a law to ban same-sex marriage in case Supreme Court overturns its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalised same-sex marriage. ALSO READ | Kevin McCarthy is Republican nominee for House speaker The Respect for Marriage Act must clear the 100-member Senate before it can become law. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told CNN that he wants his chamber’s bill to pass by Thursday before senators leave for their Thanksgiving recess all next week. WATCH | US Midterm Elections: Republicans hit majority target “We’re hoping that could happen,” he said. After the test vote, Schumer hoped “both sides can work quickly together to move this bill through the Senate and on to the president’s desk.” “It already passed the House earlier this year with significant 47 Republican votes and I’m optimistic we can achieve a significant result in this chamber,” he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Senate crosses initial hurdle in same-sex, interracial marriage protection bill

Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari refused to ratify the Citizenship Bill, which was passed twice by both the Houses of Parliament, within the mandatory deadline that expired on Tuesday midnight.

WION Dispatch| Nepal's president Bidya Devi Bhandari refuses to ratify citizenship bill

New York's horse-drawn carriages have operated since the 1800s but lawmakers now want to replace them with electric vehicles. Is it a charming must-do tourist attraction or is this a cruel outdated commercial activity?

New York may ban horse carriages by 2024, to replace with e-carriages

Nepal is in the grip of another political crisis as the country's rulers are clashing. There is an apparent tussle between the executive and the president over citizenship Bill and it appears that the lawmakers are stuck between the government and president.

Standoff between Nepal's President & govt over citizenship to 'foreign women'

Protests erupted across Britain on Friday after the country increased its energy price cap by almost about 80%. The protesters have gathered outside Britain's energy regulator of gems headquarters in London.

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The US Senate has passed Democrats' $750 billion health care, tax and climate bill, in a significant victory for President Joe Biden and his party.

US house approves climate and health care bill

A bipartisan bill has been submitted in both houses of the US Congress, a year after the US withdrew from Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to seize power and sparking a catastrophic refugee crisis. With the passage of this Act, thousands of Afghan evacuees who were previously granted temporary immigration status will now have a clear road to citizenship. Similar versions of the legislation were introduced only days before the first anniversary of the disorderly evacuation operation that ended America's longest war, saw the Taliban take over Kabul and the last US troops leave the country.

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According to Reuters, the bill would also extend eligibility for Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) to Afghan women who served in special counterterrorism teams as well as commandos and air force personnel who fought with US forces.

Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer and Republican Representative Peter Meijer, who are co-sponsors of the House legislation, said in a statement, "We must keep our commitment to provide safe, legal refuge to those who willingly put their lives on the line to support the US&nbsp;mission in Afghanistan."

A large portion of the 76,000 Afghans who were evacuated from their home country last year arrived in the country under humanitarian parole, a temporary immigration status that usually only lasts up to two years.

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Pending additional background checks, the proposal would enable those evacuees to make an application for permanent legal status.&nbsp;

Typically, these Afghans can only obtain long-term legal status in the US by submitting an application for asylum or through the severely backlogged SIV programmes.

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The Afghanistan Adjustment Act's chances of passing were increased when three minority Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, joined three majority Democrats in introducing an identical version of the bill in the Senate's thinly divided senate.&nbsp;However, a congressional aide who spoke to Reuters&nbsp;on the condition of anonymity said the legislation will probably encounter "resistance" from a few anti-immigration Republicans.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A bipartisan bill has been submitted in both houses of the US Congress, a year after the US withdrew from Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to seize power and sparking a catastrophic refugee crisis.

A bipartisan bill has been submitted in both houses of the US Congress, a year after the US withdrew from Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to seize power and sparking a catastrophic refugee crisis. With the passage of this Act, thousands of Afghan evacuees who were previously granted temporary immigration status will now have a clear road to citizenship. Similar versions of the legislation were introduced only days before the first anniversary of the disorderly evacuation operation that ended America's longest war, saw the Taliban take over Kabul and the last US troops leave the country. Watch | Schools to remain shut for girls in Afghanistan till new rules are drawn up According to Reuters, the bill would also extend eligibility for Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) to Afghan women who served in special counterterrorism teams as well as commandos and air force personnel who fought with US forces. Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer and Republican Representative Peter Meijer, who are co-sponsors of the House legislation, said in a statement, "We must keep our commitment to provide safe, legal refuge to those who willingly put their lives on the line to support the US mission in Afghanistan." A large portion of the 76,000 Afghans who were evacuated from their home country last year arrived in the country under humanitarian parole, a temporary immigration status that usually only lasts up to two years. Also read | Top Pakistani Taliban leader killed in IED attack in Afghanistan Pending additional background checks, the proposal would enable those evacuees to make an application for permanent legal status. Typically, these Afghans can only obtain long-term legal status in the US by submitting an application for asylum or through the severely backlogged SIV programmes. Also read | Taliban honouring 'Hero' Afghan soldier in Kabul who killed unarmed Australian diggers The Afghanistan Adjustment Act's chances of passing were increased when three minority Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, joined three majority Democrats in introducing an identical version of the bill in the Senate's thinly divided senate. However, a congressional aide who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity said the legislation will probably encounter "resistance" from a few anti-immigration Republicans. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A year after it abandoned Afghanistan, US introduces bill to give thousands of Afghans path to citizenship

In its first significant attempt to tackle the climate crisis according to president Joe Biden, the climate bill which is a part of his inflation reduction act will not only help rewire the American economy but also act as an important step in averting disastrous global heating.

Biden takes victory lap with climate act; Climate bill to slash emissions by 40%

CEOs of gun-makers companies appeared before a US House committee and faced aggressive questioning from lawmakers over recent mass shootings in the US.

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The United States Senate has passed a bipartisan bill to boost chip output amid a global shortage. Legislation is aimed to help the US compete with China.

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US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a bipartisan gun safety bill. This bill comes after decades of inaction on gun control and includes tougher checks for buyers under 21.

US President Biden signs first gun control law after decades of inaction

US senators unveiled a bipartisan bill on Tuesday and took an initial step towards country's first major gun-control legislation in decades. The proposal has backing of 10 Republican senators.

US senators unveil 80-page bipartisan bill on gun safety

In a setback for Israel's coalition government, two coalition members voted against the West Bank bill. However, the coalition has vowed to come back stronger.

Israel: Two coalition members vote against the West Bank bill

A new New York bill is set to limit crypto miners from using power from power plants. Meanwhile, Bitcoin gains over 5% to $31,441.76.

NY bill to limit crypto miners using power: Bitcoin gains over 5% to $31,441.76

Setback for Israel's coalition government: West Bank bill defeated by 58-52 margin

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