Venezuela’s new chief prosecutor announced plans on Thursday to pursue and imprison those responsible for leading violent protests that have plagued the country since April. The statement came the day before a proposed measure targeting hate crimes was expected to be approved by President Nicolás Maduro’s National Constituent Assembly (ANC). The vaguely-worded bill will punish [...]
A married same-sex couple filed a lawsuit against a former employer on Thursday in the US District Court for the Central District of California that alleges the company discriminated by refusing to provide spousal health insurance. Judith Dominguez was employed by Cherry Creek Mortgage when she enrolled herself and her wife, Patricia Martinez, in the [...]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday found that a Malian jihadist is liable for individual and collective reparations for overseeing the destruction of Muslim shrines in Timbuktu. Ahmad Al Faqi was found liable for for 2.7 million euros in expenses. In its order, the ICC stressed the importance of cultural heritage: Because of their [...]
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Thursday announced a settlement in a lawsuit against two psychologists who devised the torture techniques used on three former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisoners. The ACLU filed the lawsuit in 2015 against psychologists James Mitchell and John “Bruce” Jessen, who allegedly designed and persuaded the CIA to adopt [...]
Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a bill into law on Tuesday that expands access to abortions and birth control. The bill prohibits health benefit plans from imposing a deductible, coinsurance, copayment or any other cost sharing requirements on services such as abortions or birth control. Additionally, the bill allows state funds to be used to [...]
A three-judge panel for the US District Court for the Western District of Texas held on Tuesday that two congressional districts were invalid. A panel composed of Circuit Judge Smith, Chief District Judge Garcia and District Judge Rodriguez found that District 27 and District 35 were invalid pursuant to the Voting Rights Act and the [...]
A Thai provincial court in the north eastern province of Khon Kaen sentenced activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa to two-and-a-half years in prison for sharing a BBC article about Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun on Facebook on Tuesday. The article concerned personal details concerning Maha’s life as the crown prince, including information from three [...]
The German constitutional court (ECB) sent a case concerning the European Central Bank attempt to buy $2.7 trillion dollar’s worth of bonds to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Tuesday. The Publice Sector Purchase Program (PSPP) of the ECB started in March 2015 in order to bolster the Euro. Unlike similar programs put in [...]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein called on Kenyan leaders Tuesday to “take the responsible path and exercise their leadership to avoid violence” in the wake of last week’s contentious election. Deadly protests erupted over the weekend after incumbent candidate Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner Friday. Opposition candidate Raila Odinga [...]
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Saturday announced a federal civil rights investigation into the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend. A “Unite the Right” rally turned deadly when counter-protesters clashed with members of white nationalist groups and 20-year old James Alex Fields drove a car into a crowd, killing 32-year old Heather Heyer [...]
