British citizens Matthew Hedges and Ali Issa Ahmad Tuesday submitted sworn statements and testified to the UN’s Committee Against Torture (CAT) that they had been tortured by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE joined the UN Convention against Torture in 2012 and is therefore subject to its first compliance review, which is [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Tuesday struck down a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order which required broadcasters verify sponsors’ identities before leasing them air time. Prior to the order, FCC rules only required a broadcaster to ask its employees and sponsors for enough information to identify the sponsor. The [...]

The City of San Francisco Tuesday reached a $58 million settlement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and AbbVie’s Allergan unit over claims that the companies fueled an opioid epidemic in the city. San Francisco alleged that pharmaceutical manufacturers such as Teva and AbbVie’s Allergan “fueled a widespread surge of opioid-related addiction and overdoes in San Francisco, [...]

The Biden administration Monday extended temporary protection to Venezuelans living in the US, allowing those who qualify protection for an additional 18 months. The extension will be in effect from September 10, 2022, through March 10, 2024. The extension originates with a designation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called a Temporary Protected Status [...]

Judge Andrew Stone of the Third Judicial District Court of the State of Utah Monday temporarily enjoined the Criminal Abortion Ban Act, allowing Planned Parenthood to pursue its lawsuit against the state. The temporary restraining order will last until Planned Parenthood has a chance to present the merits of its case. Stone commented, “hen you’re [...]

The top US diplomat in Hong Kong Monday urged the Chinese government to loosen political controls over Hong Kong which have broken international agreements, undermined the will of citizens and threatened its economy. The PRC has taken steps to “dismantle and destroy” Hong Kong’s freedoms, said US Consul General Hanscom Smith. Beijing promised a high [...]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres Monday announced that the UN will investigate the killing and wounding of children in Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Mozambique over the coming year. The UN Secretary General Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict is released each year and details the amount of children affected by violent global conflicts. According [...]

The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released new guidance Monday, requiring that providers allow abortion in emergency cases where the mother’s life is in danger, even in states that ban abortion. DHHS issued the guidance under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and President Joe Biden’s new executive order. [...]

US District Court Judge Douglas Rayes Monday blocked Arizona’s “personhood” law from taking effect. Rayes found the law was too vague, making it likely that plaintiffs will win their case, justifying his injunctive order until the case is settled. Arizona’s “personhood” law was passed in 2021 and states: The laws of this state shall be [...]

US President Joe Biden Monday renewed his calls for an assault weapons ban during a ceremony to celebrate the newly passed Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The act allocates more spending for mental health and school safety programs, closes the “boyfriend loophole” and better funds crisis prevention programs. However, it does not include many of Biden’s [...]