The Military High Court of Kanombe in Rwanda on Thursday sentenced Colonel Tom Byabagamba and retired Brigadier General Frank Rusagara to 21 and 20 years in prison respectively on charges of inciting insurrection and tarnishing the government’s image. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) , the prosecution had accused them of criticizing the government, “alleging [...]
The UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Cambodia, Rhona Smith , on Friday appealed to the country to strengthen the protection of its women and the rights of its indigenous peoples. In her End of Mission Statement on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, Smith particularly highlighted the “prevalence of violence against women, [...]
The Supreme Court of Uganda on Thursday rejected a legal challenge to the presidential election held in February which resulted in President Yoweri Museveni being re-elected to a fifth term in office. Opposing candidate Amama Mbabazi , who finished in third place in the election, accused the electoral commission of producing false results and demanded [...]
A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi struck down Mississippi’s ban on adoption by same-sex partners on Thursday. The Campaign for Southern Equality, Family Equality Council and two female same-sex couples challenged the ban as unconstitutional for discriminating against legally married couples based on the gender of the spouses. [...]
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . The lawsuit challenged the FDA’s authority to approve genetically modified animals for use as food. In November the FDA approved the production and commercial sale of genetically modified salmon. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the [...]
Five members of the US women’s soccer team said Thursday that have filed an equal pay complaint against the US Soccer Federation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) . The players, Carli Lloyd, Beck Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo, are alleging wage discrimination and citing figures from last year showing that [...]
A court in Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Khaleda Zia in connection with the firebombing of a bus orchestrated against the government last year. In addition to Zia, the court issued warrants for 27 others who are involved with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) suspected to have been involved with the [...]
Argentinian lawmakers on Thursday voted to approve a USD $4.65 billion deal with creditors in the US, ending a 14-year debt default. Although the deal was agreed to “in principle” in February , Congress’ approval was necessary, and, after 13 hours of debate, it was approved. The deal will greatly improve the financial reputation of [...]
The South Africa Constitutional Court on Thursday ordered President Jacob Zuma to personally repay the amounts determined by the National Treasury, as they relate to the “non-security” upgrades to his private residence. The issue came to light when several South Africans, including a Member of Parliament, complained to the Public Protector “concerning aspects of the [...]
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Wednesday filed a notice of appeal of a judge’ s decision upholding a Fayetteville ordinance that protects members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from discrimination. At issue is whether such ordinances violate the Arkansas Interstate Commerce Improvement Act , which prevents the creation of new [...]
