The supposed “land of the free” is the latest of a growing list of countries who have infantilised women, as no longer having the right to control their own bodies, thanks to the overturning of Roe v Wade . This once-landmark decision making it clear that the US constitution protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose an abortion has been eschewed in favour of individual states deciding their own abortion laws. As a barrister, I am sometimes criticised for supposedly “not respecting” the integrity of the rule of law. Well, it is my view that the criminalisation of abortion shows that we are not all accountable to the same laws. The law is made by men, for men: to control, dominate and subjugate women. The law has no place regulating our bodies. Yet thanks to Roe v Wade , women are now seen as little more than “living wombs”. This week, 13 US states made abortion illegal – and that figure is predicted to rise to 26 out of the 50 states. The ruling … [Read more...] about Women are now seen as little more than ‘living wombs’
Personality how it changes
New Zelensky biography reveals first meeting with Putin: ‘bundle of nerves’
When Russia's Vladimir Putin began a military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it was widely assumed that Ukraine would surrender quickly. Instead, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky—an actor-turned-politician famous for playing an actor-turned-politician in Servant of the People —refused to budge, withstood multiple assassination attempts and rallied his people to fight. He pleaded with the international community to implement sanctions on the Russians and to provide weapons and ammunition for the Ukrainians. How did Zelensky accomplish this transformation? Where did he first take Putin's measure? Read about it in this exclusive advance look from Ukrainian journalist and political commentator Serheii Rudenko's upcoming Zelensky: A Biography (Polity Books, July 18), in which he explores Zelensky's life and governing style, from his childhood through the beginnings of the war. In the beginning was the word. Or rather, several words. And, more precisely, the name of … [Read more...] about New Zelensky biography reveals first meeting with Putin: ‘bundle of nerves’
The anti-defection law — political facts, legal fiction
In the din of India’s electoral politics, floor crossing by legislators rarely goes out of public discourse. The practice of legislators from changing political parties during their term continues unabated in Indian legislatures despite the Tenth Schedule having been inserted into the Constitution in 1985. Commonly known as the ‘anti-defection law’ , it was meant to arrest the practice of legislators from changing political affiliations during their term in office. The political crisis in Maharashtra, and many others before it, are grim reminders of what the Tenth Schedule can and cannot do. Law on defections, ‘mergers’ Instances of floor crossing have long gone unchecked and unpunished. In part, this can be attributed to the exemption given to mergers between political parties which facilitate bulk defections. In 2019, MLAs in the Goa Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata … [Read more...] about The anti-defection law — political facts, legal fiction
Man gets tattoo to match mate’s without telling her – and ruins sentimental meaning
Getting a matching tattoo with a family member, friend, or partner isn't uncommon, but in most cases, the two or more people involved will decide on a design together. But one man on Reddit took a different approach when he decided to get a tattoo to match his best friend's, as instead of talking to her and coming up with an inking they could both get and share meaning in, he just copied one of her existing tattoos instead. The man, from the US, said he got a rabbit tattoo after showing the artist a picture of his friend's ink for reference, and while he thought she would love it, it actually left her "mad". In his post , he explained: "My friend Jenna and I have been friends since we met freshman year in college about three years ago. We met during orientation when I offered to sit with her at lunch and we’ve been best friends ever since. It’s almost weird to go a day without us spending time together. He doesn't understand why his friend is upset (stock photo) ( … [Read more...] about Man gets tattoo to match mate’s without telling her – and ruins sentimental meaning
‘I’m a surrogate but don’t want the baby’s mum in the delivery room – she’s fuming’
A surrogate mum who is eight months pregnant with a couple's first baby has said she doesn't want to have the mum in the delivery room with her when she gives birth. Sharing her story on Reddit , the 26-year-old woman explained that she had initially agreed to let both the mum and dad - named Sarah and Josh - into the room after the baby's head had started coming, as this would mean they would get to witness the moment the baby is born. But throughout the pregnancy , Sarah has made the surrogate so "uncomfortable" that she's now changed her mind, and will allow Josh to be there for the whole event, but doesn't want Sarah involved at all. In her post , she said: "I am a surrogate. I gave one couple a baby three years ago, and both parents were present at birth. I know birth isn't a spectator sport, but my situation is not a typical one. The woman makes the surrogate 'uncomfortable' (stock photo) ( Image: Getty Images/Photononstop RF) Get the news you want … [Read more...] about ‘I’m a surrogate but don’t want the baby’s mum in the delivery room – she’s fuming’
Mum faces ‘nightmare’ as mother-in-law has newborn baby’s name tattooed too soon
It's not unusual for parents to decide to change their baby's name within the first few weeks after the little one has been born, especially if the parents are no longer keen on the name they picked out. But if you're not 100% sure about the name you want to go with , you should make sure your family members are aware that the name might be temporary - or you risk having them spend money on monogrammed baby items that you no longer have any use for once the tot's name has been changed. Or, in the case of one mum online, you might find yourself having to tell your mother-in-law that her tattoo of your son's name isn't going to be accurate anymore. The tattoo is no longer accurate (stock photo) ( Image: Getty Images) Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here. The woman explained that her husband's mum got the inking of her grandson's name just after he was born two weeks ago, and while the couple think the … [Read more...] about Mum faces ‘nightmare’ as mother-in-law has newborn baby’s name tattooed too soon
‘We fell in love as women – now we’re husband and wife and I’m the man I’m meant to be’
Shay Robertson, 51, a garage worker, surprised fiancée Julie McLean, 53, with a ready-made wedding day. The couple, from Northampton, tell how Shay following his dreams led to true love and happiness… As his fiancée Julie walked down the aisle in a beautiful lace gown, Shay Robertson, rocking a smart blue suit and a neatly trimmed beard, was bursting with pride. Their wedding was 11 years to the day since they first met. But back then they were Sally and Julie, both mums of two. Now they were about to become husband and wife after Sally had five years of gruelling gender reassignment surgery to become Shay – a man whose looks are based on singer and actor Shayne Ward. “Our wedding day in April this year was perfect,” says Shay. “I wanted to show my love for Julie, especially after all the support she’s given me. We’d talked about getting married for a long time and I had to work hard to save the money but it was worth it. “Julie’s the love of my life and I feel very lucky. It … [Read more...] about ‘We fell in love as women – now we’re husband and wife and I’m the man I’m meant to be’
Bloke makes £28,000 a month by letting people wake him up however they want
A bloke is making money in his sleep by charging people to wake him up - and he's racking up £28,000 a month. Jakey Boehm is a social media influencer and came up with a clever way to earn a bit of extra cash and rigged his bedroom with speakers, lasers, and a bubble machine. Then he encouraged his followers to pay to wake him up - they can choose whatever song they like and it'll be backed up with an annoying light show. Jakey, from Australia’s Gold Coast, is now going viral and has racked up 520,000 followers - many of whom are paying real money to wake him up each day. He gets woken up at all times of the night ( Image: Jam Press Vid/@jakeyboehm) He made £28,000 last month ( Image: Jam Press Vid/@jakeyboehm) What do you think about Jakey's business idea? Let us know in the comments... The avid TikTok user said shared a clip that has been viewed over 6.9 million times with over 438,000 likes, which shows the 28-year-old being abruptly … [Read more...] about Bloke makes £28,000 a month by letting people wake him up however they want
‘I wake up every day with no memory of last 23 years – I think fiancé is kidnapper’
A barmaid who has amnesia regularly wakes up and can't remember a thing - thinking she is six-years-old again. Chloe Barnard, 29, forgets the past 23 years of her life and even thinks her fiancé is a kidnapper, and the doting partner has to remind her who he is each day. She has a rare brain condition, believed to be triggered by a stroke , and the amount she forgets changes, sometimes she thinks she is a teenager and she'll call her partner, 39-year-old James, a paedophile. Chloe, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, sometimes even threatens him with a spanner but somehow he manages to keep her calm until her memories return each day. James manages to keep Chloe calm when she's having an episode ( Image: Kennedy News and Media) Chloe has a brain condition that affects her memory ( Image: Kennedy News and Media) For more of the news you care about, straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our daily newsletters here. … [Read more...] about ‘I wake up every day with no memory of last 23 years – I think fiancé is kidnapper’
NHS Failing to Properly Question ‘Transgender’ Patients Before Surgery
The UK’s publicly funded healthcare system is not properly questioning its “transgender” patients before surgery, a former “transgender woman” has alleged. A person who formerly lived as a “transgender woman” has alleged that the UK’s socialised healthcare system is not properly questioning people before they undergo sex-change surgery. Ritchie Herron, who has returned to identifying as a man, voiced the allegations while saying that he intended to take legal action against the British National Health Service (NHS) over the way it treated him. According to a report by The Times , Herron claimed that the socialised healthcare provider failed to heed his own concerns about undergoing transgender surgery, with medics even allegedly putting down his fears to his obsessive compulsive disorder. As a result, Herron reportedly ended up undergoing a “vaginoplasty surgery”, the results of which have allegedly left him in pain, with no sex drive, and with problems emptying his … [Read more...] about NHS Failing to Properly Question ‘Transgender’ Patients Before Surgery