A coalition of rebel groups that has taken control in the Central African Republic has been deliberately killing a large number of unarmed civilians as well as destroying their homes and villages, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated in a report released on Wednesday. The report describes human rights violations, such as pillage, rape and torture, [...]
The US Department of Labor (DOL) on Wednesday issued guidance explaining that all legally married same-sex spouses in the US can now participate in employee benefit plans overseen by the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) . The guidance states that the terms “spouse” and “marriage” in Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act [...]
The Brazil Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 6-5 that 12 former political and business leaders found guilty in the nation’s biggest corruption trial have the right to a new trial. The defendants were convicted after it was discovered that, as top aides to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, they had paid off legislators [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Wednesday that California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard does not violate the Dormant Commerce Clause. The regulation requires reduction of carbon emissions for fuels. Emissions are measured by a “lifecycle analysis,” which includes production and transportation. Thus, out-of-state manufacturers argued that they are discriminated against because [...]
Iranian lawyer and prominent human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh was permanently released on Wednesday, after spending over two years in prison. Sotoudeh was serving six-year sentence for her September 2010 arrest and conviction for propaganda and harming national security. Other prisoners serving prison terms related to the 2009 mass protests were also released on Wednesday. [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday denied New York City’s motion to stay her order regarding the New York City Police Department (NYPD) ‘stop-and-frisk’ policy. Judge Shira Scheindlin initially ruled that the methods used by the NYPD were a violation of the Fourth Amendment, among [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled Wednesday that use of the “Like” button on Facebook is constitutionally protected free speech under the First Amendment and cannot be used against public employees. Five former appointees for the sheriff’s office in Hampton, Virginia, sued the sheriff for choosing not to reappoint them after [...]
A US magistrate judge on Monday certified the extradition of former Bosnian prison guard Almaz Nezirovic to his native country to face war-crimes charges. Judge Robert Ballou, presiding over the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia , found sufficient evidence in support of the allegations again Nezirovic, only needing final approval from [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern on Wednesday over recent changes to the Hungarian constitution, highlighting a lack of resolve over issues surrounding weakened human rights protections in the country. After voting to adopt the amendments on Monday, HRW called the changes “largely cosmetic,” accusing the Hungarian government of not taking human rights and rule [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday ruled that New Jersey’s sports wagering law conflicts with the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) and thus, should not be implemented. PASPA makes sports betting illegal nationwide except in Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and Montana. In the 2-1 holding, the Third [...]
