[01/02] The UK says it will require banks to offer access to cash within a 3-mile distance of a depositor's local community:
the Guardian
UK banks will have to ensure access to cash within three miles, ministers say
Treasury hints at concessions on guarantee but banks will face fines for falling below minimum service level
 This is a good policy in principle, but I fear British banks, with their propensity to close accounts to avoid inconveniences for themselves, will game the rules by implementing them in reverse, like this: "Dear Sir or Madam, we are compelled to close your account on account of the fact that we have no ATM within 3 miles of the village where you...
DeMentis held a campaign event in Iowa and had Iowa state thugs forcibly exclude Ty Rushing, a reporter from an organization that might criticize him:
Iowa Starting Line
DeSantis Has Law Enforcement Block Iowa Journalist From Event
Four sheriff’s deputies blocked Iowa Starting Line reporters from entering a DeSantis event, despite covering him many times before.
 The thug leader said this was a "private event". I wonder if that was serious or bullshit. Did the event have a specific guest list, or did it admit strangers as long as they were not Ty Rushing?
G20 countries poured a record-breaking $1.4tn into fossil fuel subsidies in 2022:
the Guardian
G20 poured more than $1tn into fossil fuel subsidies despite Cop26 pledges – report
Public money still flowing into industry despite agreement to phase out ‘inefficient’ subsidies, thinktank says
The corrupter has a mafia way of thinking and sought to create a mafia state. If he grabs power again, he will learn from his failures and do it more thoroughly:
the Guardian
Trump yearns to govern a mafia state. Fitting that he faces racketeering charges | Jan-Werner Müller
The perfected mafia state uses ostensibly legal procedures and insider loyalty to protect corrupt autocrats from accountability
A US appeals court ruled to uphold Alabama's law prohibiting minors from using puberty blockers:
the Guardian
Alabama can enforce ban on treatments for trans children, court says
Decision leaves families of transgender children, who had been receiving puberty blockers and hormones, scrambling for care
 If our goal is that a minor should not prematurely make a permanent commitment before perse is old enough to be quite sure of per choice, clearly we should ensure per right to use puberty blockers, and prevent anyone from imposing a choice on per before perse is ready.
Vaping found to be the biggest risk factor for teenage tobacco smoking:
the Guardian
Vaping found to be the biggest risk factor for teenage tobacco smoking
Data from Australian Secondary School Students Alcohol and Drug Survey predates ‘huge’ increase in vaping
Hong Kong's security thugs are questioning relatives of overseas dissidents as a reminder that they could put those relatives in prison at any time:
the Guardian
‘Gangster tactic’: the true aim behind Hong Kong’s pursuit of overseas dissidents
Police targeting pro-democracy activists abroad have questioned their family and put out bounties, but there is a broader, more chilling, objective...
China's fertility rate has become quite low; this implies the population will decrease:
the Guardian
China’s fertility rate dropped to record low in 2022, estimates show
Figure fell from 1.15 in 2021 to 1.09, the lowest of any country with a population over 100 million
 If only India, the world's most populous country, could do the same, it would start to alleviate the danger of overconsumption and pollution and open the path to rewilding half of the Earth's surface.
Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population:
the Guardian
Extreme water stress faced by countries home to quarter of world population
Twenty-five countries are using 80% of their water supplies each year, research shows
If thug departments want more people to seek to become cops, they should make efforts to respect the rights of the people they encounter:
Reason.com
Police reform and police recruitment don't have to be at odds
Instead of complaining about a public that doesn't appreciate them, police should show that they're worthy of appreciation.