Alaska’s voter initiative legalizing marijuana use takes effect Tuesday, making it the third state, along with Colorado and Washington, to legalize recreational marijuana. The ballot, which was approved by voters in November, allows adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and up to six plants. However, it is still illegal [...]
The Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday acquitted Mubarak-era prime minister Ahmed Nazif and former minister of interior Habib el-Adly of all charges. Both defendants were charged with “squandering public funds and profiteering” after allegedly making an illegal deal with German Company UTSCH to sell license plates for higher than market value. Prosecutors say that the [...]
A jury for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York found the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority liable Monday for the terrorist attacks that took place in Israel between 2002-2004 and killed 33 people, including Americans. The jury awarded $218.5 million in damages to the victims’ families, which [...]
The International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh (ICTB) on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Abdul Jabbar, militia leader and former lawmaker, to life in prison for genocide and religious persecution committed during the1971 Liberation War. Jabbar was tried in absentia, as it is thought that he has fled to the US, and was found guilty on five charges [...]
An Arkansas enacted a bill that prohibits cities and local governments from establishing ordinances with anti-discrimination codes became law Monday when Asa Hutchinson declined to veto it. Critics had called for a veto, as the legislation prohibits local governments from enacting laws to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals from discrimination. The stated [...]
A 94-year-old man will stand trial in Germany for 3,681 counts of accessory to murder on allegations of serving in the Auschwitz death camp during World War II. Prosecutors stated that the man was a former SS sergeant who served as a medic in an SS hospital in Auschwitz. As a medic, the prosecutors stated [...]
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases on Monday. In Kerry v. Din the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether US citizens have the right to judicial review if a consular officer denies a spouse’s visa application. Respondent Fauzia Din, an American citizen from Afghanistan, had sued the US government after her [...]
Former Ivory Coast first lady Simone Gbagbo made her her first appearance before a domestic court Monday, questioning charges against her. Gbagbo is on trial for her role in the violence following the disputed 2010 election between her husband, Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara . Ouattara was declared the winner, sparking violence that left 3,000 [...]
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Monday jointly released a report detailing violations against Iraqi civilians under the spread of Islamic State (IS) . The 40-page report documents the killings of civilians, abductions, rapes, slavery and trafficking of women and children, forced [...]
Human rights experts from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Monday urged Spanish authorities to reject two suggested legal reformations that they say may disrupt freedom and fundamental human rights. Spain’s Senate is currently considering reform to both the Penal Code and the Basic Law on the Protection of [...]
