The Afghanistan government signed a peace agreement on Thursday with insurgent group Hezb-i Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The US Embassy applauded the peace accord as an important step towards ending violence and protecting constitutional rights in the country. The peace negotiations focused on Hezb-i Islami renouncing ties to extremist groups and acts of terrorism [...]

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Noted human rights lawyer Xia Lin was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Chinese court on Thursday. Xia, who famously represented many Chinese dissidents including artist Ai Weiwei, was arrested and accused of fraudulently obtaining more than a million dollars to take care of gambling debts. He was convicted of obtaining less then [...]

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The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and hazardous substances and wastes Baskut Tuncak on Wednesday urged the international community to help end the “silent pandemic” of childhood disease and disability…” caused by exposure to toxins and waste. Stating that children were the “most vulnerable to toxics and pollution,” and that they are “impacted in [...]

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A Brazilian judge on Tuesday accepted charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after the Petrobas Oil Scandal . Judge Sergio Moro allowed charges that include complaints that da Silva illegally received almost USD $1.1 million in improvements and expenses from a construction company for a beachfront apartment. In return, it is reported, [...]

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A German court said Wednesday that Volkswagen (VW) faces over USD $8.2 billion in damage claims from investors over its emissions scandal. Roughly 1,400 lawsuits have been filed at the Braunschweig court near VW’s Wolfsburg headquarters. Plaintiffs allege that VW did not inform shareholders quickly enough of the impending scandal. The biggest single claim was [...]

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