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The US prides itself on being a nation built on freedom, justice, and individual rights. And yet the evolution of its system of mass incarceration — a system that cannot be defined without reference to shocking racial disparities — seems to directly contradict these founding principles. The US prison population dwarfs those of nearly every other [...]

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Fiji’s former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on Thursday was granted “absolute discharge” by the Magistrates Court, after previously being handed a guilty verdict by the country’s High Court for “perverting the course of justice.” The Magistrates Court cited Bainimarama’s poor health and an underlying heart condition as motivating factors for this lenient decision.  Bainimarama, a [...]

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Saudi Arabia was elected chair of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) by “acclamation” on Wednesday after an unopposed bid for leadership with no dissent, despite outcry from human rights organizations ahead of the vote. Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdulaziz Alwasil will assume the position. The CSW is dedicated to promoting gender [...]

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Hong Kong’s recently enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance blocked the first inmate’s sentence remission under the Prison Rules on Tuesday. The same day, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said that serious national security crime offenders would not likely be granted early release unless the Commissioner of Correctional Services believes early release would not undermine [...]

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After years of waiting, the Tunisian judiciary has delivered its verdict in the highly publicized case of the assassination of opposition figure Chokri Belaïd. The decision, rendered late on Tuesday night after lengthy deliberations, marks a pivotal moment in Tunisia’s quest for justice and accountability. Chokri Belaïd, a prominent left-wing political figure and vocal critic [...]

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US District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday against President Joe Biden and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro challenging several actions to boost voter registration. The case is in the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs, consisting of 27 Republican Pennsylvania lawmakers, challenged a 2021 Biden executive order and [...]

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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed 30 pieces of legislation Tuesday related to the state regulation of guns. Though all related to guns, the vetoed bills ranged in topic, from criminalizing the dealing of guns near primary schools to requiring fingerprinting for a concealed weapons permit. In a press release, Youngkin stated that these laws “would punish [...]

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The UK and its global allies held Chinese state-affiliated organizations and individuals responsible for two cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians on Monday. Partners across the Indo-Pacific and Europe expressed support for the UK’s efforts in addressing these cyber activities. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) revealed that the UK Electoral Commission systems were [...]

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