• Property Tax Relief Bill Sparks Partisan Feud

    A bill meant to limit property tax increases next year is advancing in the Vermont House over the objections of minority Republicans who are highly critical that it doesn’t rein in spending. What is known as the “yield bill” aims to keep predicted property tax increases to around 15 percent for most homeowners. That’s less than the 20 percent increase that was predicted late last year. Taxes on commercial properties and second homes would increase an average of 18 percent. The increases...

  • The Rwanda bill explained: What is the controversial policy and what happens next?

    Ministers have designed legislation to get round legal objections and say flights could take off within weeks – but a potential stumbling block remains

  • Google updates political content policy for Brazil in May 2024

    Google this week announced an update to its Political Content Policy, effective May 2024, that will introduce restrictions on political advertising in Brazil.

  • Oppo A60 surfaces in the Google Play Console, has its specs revealed

    Oppo's long-running A series of mid-range smartphones is soon due to receive a new member - the Oppo A60. The naming implies it will be the successor to the A59, launched back in December of last year. However, there's a twist - the A59 has 5G support, while the A60 doesn't, which means it will more likely act as the successor to the A58 4G from July 2023. The A60 has been spotted in the Google Play Console, and as usual that listing reveals some if its specs, including the most important one...

  • Epic isn’t done going after the Google Play Store

    Last year, Epic won an antitrust case against Google. This was a big deal. As part of the court’s decision, Epic had to create a proposed injunction highlighting the changes they want Google to make to the Play Store on Android. It looks like the company has made their decision based on their latest press release. Basically, it seems that Epic wants Google to not interfere with how third-party stores and sideloading apps are handled on Android. For those unfamiliar, usually Android displays a...

  • UK policy denying visas to children of care workers faces legal challenge

    Exclusive: Action by organisation supporting migrants argues new rules are discriminatoryAn organisation that supports migrant workers has launched a legal challenge against the government’s new policy to bar care workers from bringing children and partners to the UK, warning that it is “tearing families apart”.According to Migrants at Work, care workers have to choose between family life with their children and partners or getting a job as a health or social carer in the UK – they can no longer...

  • Forbes Blocks Its Coupon Directory Before Google Enforces The Site Reputation Abuse Policy

    Forbes has blocked its coupons section of its web site at forbes.com/coupons using an x-robots-tag: noindex directive prior to Google enforcing the upcoming site reputation abuse policy. As a reminder, Google will enforce that new policy on May 5th both algorithmically and through manual actions.Laura Chiocciora notified me of this change on X saying, "It seems like Forbes put a noindex x-robots-tag on its Coupon folder a few days ago." I checked the HTTP header for the coupon directory and...

  • UK set to approve bill to deport asylum seekers – which other countries have similar policies?

    The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is aimed at deterring migrants from arriving without permission.

  • Google adds biometric verification to Play Store to keep your in-store wallet safe

    Google Play Store's new security tool will ask you to verifiy your identify with either a fingerprint or face scan on Android.

  • Here are the changes Epic Games wants Google Play Store to make after winning their lawsuit

    During the antitrust lawsuit hearing, the jury had concluded that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in the Android app distribution market and the Android in-app billing services market.

  • California renters with pets: A new bill might ban blanket no-pets policies and fees

    California pet owners struggling to find a rental that accepts their furry, four-legged family members could have an easier time leasing new housing under proposed state legislation that would ban blanket no-pets policies and prohibit landlords from charging additional fees for common companions like cats and dogs. Backers of the bill, which recently cleared a key committee, say the lack of pet-friendly units is pushing renters to forgo housing or relinquish beloved pets to overcrowded...

  • Arizona legislature continues to navigate abortion next steps, Senate bill now in play

    (The Center Square) – The Arizona State Legislature did not repeal an abortion law created in 1864 banning nearly all abortions on Wednesday for the second week in a row. However, the Senate did begin the process on a new bill Wednesday. On the House side, a motion to get House Bill 2677 to go straight to the floor for a vote failed twice, as Democratic Reps. Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton and Alma Hernandez made motions but it got shot down during roll call votes over whether the...