A United Nations internal inquiry on Thursday concluded that members of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) used “unauthorized and excessive force” resulting in the deaths of three civilian protesters and the injuries of four other individuals in January. Launched in February, the inquiry also concluded that some protestors bore responsibility for [...]
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Friday charged Muhanad Mahmoud Al Farekh, a US citizen, with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The court issued a complaint and arrest warrant, alleging that Farekh “conspired with others to provide material support to terrorists and specifically to provide personnel to [...]
Iran on Thursday agreed in principle to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) , creating significant restrictions on its nuclear program for at least a decade in return for a reduction of international economic sanctions. Just three days after the self-imposed deadline for a preliminary deal, Iran agreed to an outline deal between the [...]
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed an executive order to increase penalties against foreign cybersecurity threats. The executive order establishes sanctions against individuals or entities outside the US that engage in “significant malicious cyber-enabled activity.” The new sanctions program authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and Secretary of [...]
The new military courts established in Pakistan sentenced six Islamic militants to death on Thursday and a seventh to life in prison for their involvement in terrorism. A military spokesman said the seven men were convicted of “heinous offenses” including terrorism, murder, suicide bombing, kidnapping for ransom and colossal damage to life and property. The [...]
The Sudanese government’s “crackdown on independent media and civil society” will have a chilling effect on political speech, Amnesty International (AI) warned Thursday. AI said the situation is particularly troublesome as Sudan’s general elections will commence on April 13 . The briefing detailed several recent instances of dissenters, namely journalists, who have been interrogated for [...]
Hundreds of individuals on Wednesday filed suit for medical malpractice against Johns Hopkins University for its role in government medical experiments that took place in Guatemala in the 1940s and 50s. During this time, individuals were deliberately infected with venereal diseases, including syphilis and gonorrhea, without their consent. The individuals were told that they were [...]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed alarm Thursday over the Thai government’s decision to replace martial law with a new security order. On Wednesday Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced the military government would lift martial law and replace it with Article 44 of Thailand’s interim constitution . Zeid said [...]
A military court in Gambia secretly sentenced three soldiers to death on Monday for an attempted coup d’état, Amnesty International (AI) reported Wednesday. Three other soldiers were sentenced to life in prison. All media was banned from observing the proceedings. AI claims the death sentences are a violation of the right to a fair trial [...]
The Supreme Court of Israel blocked a controversial government proposal on Thursday to extend the West Bank separation barrier through the historic Cremisan valley. Israel has been building the barrier to prevent Palestinian attacks in Israel. The Israeli Defense Ministry had planned to extend the wall through Palestinian farmlands, which would also divide Vatican land [...]
