Kentucky lawmakers Wednesday overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s veto on Senate Bill 150, a bill to enact restrictions on the rights of transgender youth to seek gender-affirming care and to use bathrooms that align with their gender identities. The Kentucky House of Representative approved the override in a 76-23 vote, and the state’s Senate approved the [...]

The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) Wednesday expressed concern over the UK’s Illegal Migration Bill, saying the legislation didn’t comply with “core elements” of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Bill provides for the detainment and expulsion of all those people who arrive [...]

North Carolina lawmakers Wednesday overrode Governor Roy Cooper’s veto on a bill that would allow residents to buy a handgun without a permit. Under the bill, residents no longer need a permit from the sheriff’s office which would eliminate background checks for those purchasing a gun. However, if a resident chooses to purchase a gun [...]

UN Human Rights media spokesperson Jeremy Laurence Thursday issued a statement on the situation in Afghanistan, highlighting the UN’s “alarm” at the ongoing arbitrary arrests and detentions of civil society activists and media workers in Afghanistan, in particular the targeting of those who speak out against the de facto authorities’ discriminatory policies restricting women and [...]

The US Senate repealed the authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) against Iraq Wednesday by a vote of 66-30. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made opening remarks addressing the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs formerly passed by Congress. He said: The United States, Iraq, the entire world has changed dramatically since 2002. These AUMFs [...]

Shoe manufacturer Adidas Wednesday reversed course and withdrew its claim against Black Lives Matter (BLM) alleging that the group’s logo violates Adidas’ trademark. Adidas filed the initial claim with the US Trademark Office on Monday. According to the BBC, a spokesperson for Adidas said, “Adidas will withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global [...]

California Governor Gavin Newsom Tuesday signed Senate Bill No. 2, the first state-level gas price gouging penalty law in the US, into law. Newsom’s office referred to the new law as the “strongest state-level oversight and accountability measures on Big Oil in the nation.” The new law authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to set [...]

EU ministers Tuesday adopted legislation to phase out sales of new carbon-emitting cars and vans by 2035. The approved law amends Regulation 2019/631 and sets higher standards for reducing carbon emissions. Under the new legislation, the EU’s carbon emission reduction targets will be raised to 55 percent for cars and 50 percent for vans by [...]

General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders in England and Wales Geoff Barton Monday called for clearer guidance on how teachers can support trans-identifying pupils in schools. Despite attempts to be sensitive to the issue, Barton noted strong public opinion makes the task difficult. Barton highlighted the release of a paper by the right-wing [...]

The California Reparations Task Force Wednesday convened for a two-day public comment period to decide how reparations to Black Californians should be paid. The meetings will be live streamed on the California Office of the Attorney General website. California Assembly Bill 3121 (AB 3121), which was signed into law September 2020, establishes the task force [...]