India’s environment tribunal, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has suspended an environmental clearance issued by the government of the state of Karnataka for the expansion of an existing coal-based power plant in Udupi district. The state government had issued its environmental clearance for the proposed expansion in 2017. Friday’s decision saw the NGT take cognizance [...]
The Philippines officially withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday, becoming the second country to withdraw after Burundi, which left in 2017. President Rodrigo Duterte announced the country was withdrawing from the court a year ago, but court rules require that withdrawal cannot take effect for at least 12 months. While the Philippines [...]
The US Supreme Court granted certiorari in four criminal cases originating from Kansas, Louisiana and Virginia on Monday. In Mathena v. Malvo, the so-called “DC sniper” case, Lee Boyd Malvo, then 17, was convicted of two counts of capital murder by a Virginia jury for his part in the killing of 10 individuals and injury [...]
A UN human rights investigator reported Monday that Israel is depriving millions of Palestinians of access to a regular supply of clean water while stripping their lands of minerals “in an apparent act of pillage.” Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk highlighted the Palestinians’ right to water, natural resources and the environment. “Israel had maintained a hermetic [...]
The Supreme Court issued an order on Friday to expand the scope of the lawsuit challenging the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. The order pertains to legal challenge brought on by a coalition made up of the State of New York as well as 16 other states and cities to enjoin [...]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in a press conference Monday that lawmakers agree “in principle” to reform the country’s gun laws. The announcement comes following the government’s first cabinet meeting since two deadly attacks in which 50 people were killed at mosques in the city of Christchurch. The government will be announcing further details of [...]
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday preventing state officials from enforcing Kentucky’s newly passed fetal heartbeat abortion law. The bill, passed with an emergency declaration attached, would have been set to take effect immediately upon receiving a signature by the governor. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed the bill into law on Friday [...]
US President Donald Trump on Friday vetoed legislation attempting to block his declaration of a national emergency regarding US-Mexico border wall spending. The US Senate voted 59-41 this week to reject Trump’s declaration of a national emergency, exercised under the National Emergencies Act, to appropriate an additional $3.6 billion in funding to build a wall [...]
The US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has announced that General Motors’ petition for exemption of its “Zero-Emission Autonomous Vehicle” will undergo public comment with the Federal Registrar for 60 days. GM’s petition seeks exemptions to 16 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for its autonomous vehicles because, primarily, the vehicles will not be [...]
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleged Thursday in a court filing that Volkswagen (VW) “perpetrated a massive fraud” and repeatedly lied to U.S. investors in connection with the company’s emissions scandal. According to the SEC’s complaint, from April 2014 to May 2015, VW issued over $13 billion in bonds and asset-backed securities [...]
