The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) on Friday released a report describing a multitude of atrocious human rights violations taking place in South Sudan as part of the South Sudan Civil War . This report describes “in searing detail” violations including “a overnment-operated ‘scorched earth policy,’ and deliberate targeting of civilians for killing, rape and [...]
The Missouri State Senate passed on Thursday a proposal to amend the state constitution to provide broader religious protections for individuals and businesses opposed to gay marriage. In a 23-7 vote, lawmakers passed the measure in the wake of a failed 37-hour filibuster by Democrats. The bill seeks to protect religious organizations from being penalized [...]
North Korea’s state-run news agency (KCNA) reported Friday that Kim Jong-un watched a ballistic missile launch test, and ordered more tests, in order to improve the country’s nuclear attack capabilities. This test is believed to have taken place when North Korea launched two short-range missiles on Thursday that ended up in the Sea of Japan. [...]
The Dusseldorf district court on Wednesday ruled against the use of Facebook’s “like” button on an online shopping site, Peek & Cloppenburg (P&C) , stating that proper consent from customers is required before transmission of their identities to Facebook. The court found that P&C failed to observe appropriate standards for data transmission and violated Germany’s [...]
Poland’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that controversial government reforms to the court violate the constitution . The ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) pushed the legislation through in December, creating deep divisions in the country and sparking widespread protests. The new legislation required the court to have 13 judges present, as well as a two-thirds [...]
São Paulo state prosecutors on Wednesday filed charges against former Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in connection with money laundering and misrepresentation of assets involving a luxury apartment in the beachfront city of Guarujá. Although the specific charges are unclear, federal investigators alleged that Lula da Silva acquired the property and that a [...]
JURIST Guest Columnist Jared A. Goldstein of Roger Williams University School of Law discusses President Obama’s proposal to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay… Last month President Obama announced his latest plan to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay. Under the proposal the government will continue to look for countries to take in three dozen [...]
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit agreed Wednesday to reconsider Texas’ voter identification law before the entire court. A three-judge panel had ruled in August that the law, which requires 14.6 million registered voters to show photo ID at the polls to prevent voter fraud, violates section 2 of the Voting Rights [...]
West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday vetoed a bill banning second-trimester abortions. Tomblin expressed concern that the bill creates constitutional issues and conflicts with women’s health rights. Supporters argue the procedures required during the second-trimester are particularly violent. A majority vote of both chambers would override the governor’s veto. Last year, Tomblin’s veto [...]
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi , expressed concerns Tuesday for a proposed migrant exchange program between the EU and Turkey. The Joint Action Plan , was proposed to decrease human smuggling along the shores of southern Europe and to help alleviate the massive influx of refugees hosted by Turkey. The most controversial [...]
