The United Nations (UN) on Saturday reported that special rapporteurs Christof Heyns and Juan Mendez were blocked from completing a torture and killing investigation in Gambia. The investigation was lead by the two UN experts to assess the practice of the right to life laws of Gambia and to identify examples of cruel and unusual [...]
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Saturday agreed to organize an intelligence network with participating nations in an effort to combat corruption within the region. APEC acknowledged the necessity of a network between countries because current government corruption “impedes economic sustainability and development, threatens social security and fairness, undermines the rule of law, and erodes [...]
US President Barack Obama formally nominated Loretta Lynch on Saturday to serve as the next attorney general. Obama urged the US Senate to confirm her nomination quickly, though it is unclear whether Congress would confirm her nomination during its current session or wait until January when the new session begins. If confirmed, Lynch will be [...]
A federal judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on Friday ruled that West Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, several weeks after state officials began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. US District Judge Robert Chambers wrote that he was given a “clear blueprint” from [...]
A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a Kansas rule that required prospective voters to show proof-of-citizenship documents before registering using a federal voter registration form. The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit also said that a federal agency does not have to alter the voter registration form to fit Kansas requirements. The [...]
The US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan approved a plan on Friday to resolve Detroit’s seven billion dollars of debt and return the city to solvency. The plan includes settlements regarding post-employment benefits claims, tax obligations, insurance, and “the Grand Bargain” which comprised the pension settlement, the State Contribution agreement and the [...]
Malaysia’s Court of Appeal in Putrajaya struck down an anti-crossdressing law on Friday. Each of Malaysia’s thirteen states and three federal territories have laws prohibiting a man from “posing” as a woman , and three states prohibit a woman from posing as a man. Additionally the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia has issued [...]
The US Supreme Court on Friday granted certiorari in King v. Burwell to rule on health care subsidies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) . Section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code authorizes federal tax credit subsidies for health insurance coverage that is purchased through an “Exchange established by the State under [...]
An investigation conducted by the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School determined three Myanmar Army commanders committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Thandaung Township, Kayin State, between January 2005 and December 2006. The study explains that beginning in 2005, the Myanmar Army engaged in human rights violations when they fired mortars, [...]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein criticized the Sri Lankan government Friday for its continued attacks on the integrity of the current investigation into serious human rights violations. Zeid accused the government of attempting to discredit the UN’s efforts as well as hindering possible credible witnesses from submitting information to the [...]
