The European Central Bank (ECB) on Friday released an opinion on Greece’s draft law prohibiting the foreclosure of primary residences. Under the draft law, banks are prohibited from auctioning primary residences valued at less than €300,000 (USD $317,580), provided that borrowers meet certain total wealth requirements. The draft law is intended to replace Greece’s recently-expired [...]
The Idaho State Legislature on Friday voted to kill legislation that would have brought the state into compliance with federal guidelines on the collection of child support. Legislators were concerned that the bill would force Idaho to enforce child support rulings made in foreign tribunals, particularly those enforcing Islamic law, under the Hague Convention on [...]
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of US citizens still in Yemen against the US State Department and the Department of Defense for allegedly failing to launch an evacuation plan. The rights groups held a public news conference outside the US District Court [...]
Amnesty International (AI) revealed on Friday that the group, along with other prominent human rights organizations, has submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) , bringing claims of indiscriminate surveillance practices against the UK government. The decision to formally challenge the UK government stems from information obtained from by whistle-blower Edward [...]
The Parliament of Malaysia on Friday announced a change to the country’s sedition law, which will strengthen government intervention upon seditious activity. Malaysia’s original sedition law banned acts and speech expressing contempt against the government or any of Malaysia’s royal sultans and called for violators to pay fines or face prison sentences up to three [...]
The Oklahoma state senate passed a bill on Thursday that would allow for the use of nitrogen gas in executions if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court , or if the drugs become unavailable. If signed by Governor Mary Fallin , Oklahoma would be the first state in the nation to [...]
In a unanimous vote on Friday, Pakistani lawmakers passed a resolution to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, despite pleas from Saudi Arabia for aid in the form of warships, aircraft and ground troops. Saudi Arabia is leading the campaign against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen , and had anticipated assistance from its longstanding [...]
A judge in Spain decided on Friday that genocide charges against seven former and current Moroccan officials, who are accused of committing torture and killings in the Western Sahara from 1975-91, are justified. In his ruling, Judge Pablo Ruz asked that the men be extradited to Spain to face a trial. According to his ruling, [...]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Thursday criticized Malaysia’s proposed anti-terrorism law , known as the Prevention of Terrorism Act . Zeid said that the proposed law threatens freedom of expression and would breach international human rights obligations. The act would amend Malaysia’s Sedition Act of 1948 , which has [...]
Cambodian lawmakers on Thursday voted by an overwhelming margin to approve a new electoral commission that promises to ensure fairness in the next national vote in 2018. The vote came after opposition leader Sam Rainsey criticized the electoral commission for being biased and disputed the 2013 election results , which sparked a political crisis and [...]
