The Daily Populous

Monday February 20th, 2023 night edition

image for Utah legislature unanimously passes ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Legislature has unanimously approved a bill that enshrines into law a ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy.

LGBTQ rights groups accused its sponsor, Rep. Mike Petersen, R-Logan, of seeking to legalize the discredited practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.

But through negotiations on the bill, he agreed to enshrine a ban on conversion therapy while offering some guidelines for therapists.

With those changes, it won the support of Equality Utah — which originally opposed the bill.

Utah originally had a ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy as an administrative rule (which functions essentially as a law tied to a therapist's license) after efforts to pass a law through the legislature failed.

But last year, FOX 13 News reported that lawmakers signaled they would be revisiting the ban, raising concerns among Utah's LGBTQ community.

We had both chambers unanimously pass a ban on conversion therapy for minors," Williams said. »

Shell and Vitol accused of prolonging Ukraine war with sanctions ‘loophole’

Authored by theguardian.com
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The oil company Shell and energy trader Vitol have been accused of prolonging the war in Ukraine by exploiting a “loophole” in the EU sanctions regime to bring products derived from Russian oil into Europe through Turkey.

Shell announced its intent to withdraw from its “involvement in all Russian hydrocarbons” last March shortly after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Shell announced record annual profits of £32bn earlier this month, aided by a spike in commodity prices linked to the war in Ukraine. »

Jeff Koons 'balloon dog' sculpture valued at over $40,000 accidentally shattered at Miami art festival

Authored by ca.finance.yahoo.com
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A balloon dog sculpture from artist Jeff Koons was accidentally broken at an art festival in Miami.

The incident will be forgiven as the work was insured, an art advisor told the Miami Herald.

One of Jeff Koons' famous "balloon dog" sculptures was broken at an art festival in Miami this week after a woman allegedly tapped the sculpture and it fell off its stand, shattering into pieces. »