The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on Thursday criticized Bulgaria for its treatment of prisoners. The report highlighted major concerns that the committee had expressed with Bulgarian authorities and noted that over time these concerns had not been addressed adequately, but had in fact worsened. The report stated that the material conditions in [...]
South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly voted Tuesday to extend the term of President Salva Kiir by three years. This move follows the cancellation of elections that were to be held in June and the dissolution of negotiations to end the country’s internal conflict. The talks between opposing groups broke up three weeks ago with no [...]
The Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill that would make illegal any abortion performed once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The bill, HB 69 , passed the House with a 55-40 vote, but is opposed by Governor John Kasich on constitutional grounds. Any doctor found to have performed an abortion after [...]
The Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone on Wednesday denied the request of former Liberian president Charles Taylor to serve his 50-year sentence for war crimes in Rwanda instead of the UK. Taylor alleged that his detention in the UK violated his rights because of the essentially isolated conditions and Britain’s visa process, which he [...]
The US military on Wednesday charged former prisoner of war and Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with “desertion with intent to shirk important or hazardous duty” and “misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit, or place.” If convicted, Bergdahl could be demoted, dishonorably discharged, and/or imprisoned. The case has been referred [...]
The United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of The Guardian , deciding that the UK newspaper may publish a series of letters between Prince Charles and high government officials. The court determined that governmental attempts to conceal the “Black Spider memos” were unlawful. The correspondences, taking place between 2004 and 2005, were initially [...]
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Wednesday for an end to modern slavery during remarks at the unveiling of The Ark of Return, Memorial to the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. He stated that the memorial will commemorate the millions of victims of the transatlantic slave trade. He honored the women of Africa who constitute [...]
The Indiana Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a “religious freedom” bill that would allow business owners to turn away customers on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill, approved by a vote of 40-10, will now head to Governor Mike Pence , who is expected to sign it. Proponents of the legislation argue [...]
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in three consolidated cases regarding the consideration of the cost of regulating hazardous air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . The question before the court was “whether the Environmental Protection Agency unreasonably refused to consider costs in determining whether it is appropriate to regulate hazardous [...]
Myanmar authorities on wednesday charged 69 protesters for demonstrating against the Myanmar National Education Law . The law has faced tremendous criticism from the public since its passage in 2014, in part due to lawmakers’ lack of consultation with student and teacher groups, and also because the law does not accommodate for the recognition of [...]
