A joint statement from the US, Canada, UK and EU on Monday announced the imposition of new, “coordinated sanctions” against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and its “continuing attacks on human rights, fundamental freedoms, and international law.” The new and comprehensive sanctions on Belarusian individuals and entities follow last month’s forced landing of a Ryanair [...]

A bill by the Canadian Parliament recognizing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (UNDRIP) and establishing a framework for its implementation received Royal Assent on Monday. The legislation requires the government of Canada to take measures for bringing the country’s laws in alignment with the UNDRIP as well as preparing and [...]

A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Monday granted a 30-day stay of a California judge’s ruling to overturn the state’s ban on assault weapons. The order comes just over two weeks after US District Judge Roger Benitez declared California’s 32-year-old Assault Weapons Control Act (AWCA) an unconstitutional [...]

St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis are suing to stop the enactment of a new state law that penalizes police officers for enforcing federal gun laws. House Bill 85 circumvents federal gun regulations, carrying a fine of $50,000 for each police officer that attempts to enforce such rules. The bill’s vague language [...]

Grave violations against children in conflict remain alarmingly high, with the COVID-19 pandemic increasing their vulnerability, according to a UN report released Monday. The annual Children and Armed Conflict report covers the period from January to December 2020. It claims that grave violations against children are at nearly 26,500 due to increased vulnerability to abduction, [...]

The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday in United States v. Arthrex that the America Invents Act gives powers to Administrative Patent Judges (APJs) that are inconsistent with the appointments clause of the US Constitution. APJs operate within the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which is a subsection of the Department of Commerce. [...]

Canada announced the first phase of easing of border restrictions on Monday, as a result of the successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations in Canadian provinces. Beginning July 5, eligible, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer have to quarantine in a government-designated hotel. But eligible travelers currently only include Canadian citizens, permanent residents and those falling [...]

The European Commission and the UK imposed sanctions Monday on members of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) and companies connected to the Myanmar military over the coup d’état that has devastated the country since early February. The EU sanctioned eight individuals, three economic entities and the War Veterans Organization. The individuals include the Attorney General, [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet condemned the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, in a statement delivered Monday at the forty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council. Bachelet said that Eritrean soldiers in Tigray “perpetrate violations of human rights and humanitarian law.” The UN estimates that more than 350,000 persons in Tigray are [...]

The UN General Assembly called Friday for a stop to the flow of weapons into Myanmar, as well as for Myanmar armed forces to stop violence against peaceful protesters. The assembly also called for the military to respect the November 2020 election results. According to the UN, about 600 people have been killed and 100 [...]