15 September 2026: International Day of Democracy For those who live in countries where democracy remains functional, it is unfortunately easy to take the associated liberties for granted. In this position of privilege, one only knows through the exercise of imagination what it is truly like to face the oppressive possibility of arbitrary execution, disappearance, [...]

Two new legal challenges seeking to block the Trump Administration’s revised public charge rule arose on Monday, one filed by a coalition of 22 states and the other by a small group of cities and counties that includes Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. The challenges come as the rule, which is set to take [...]

The US Supreme Court on Monday denied an emergency application from the Department of Justice seeking a stay of a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks the United States Postal Service (USPS) from enforcing a new mail-in ballot rule ahead of the November midterm elections. Stemming from a March 2026 executive order by President Donald Trump, [...]

A federal judge on Sunday blocked the Trump administration from implementing changes to mail-in voting that would create new design requirements and only send ballots to voters on a national list. With less than two months until the midterms, mail-in voting has become a major topic of discussion. This decision comes amid a series of [...]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for sweeping reforms to global institutions during the 18th Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS) Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, arguing that the international system must adapt to a world that has changed dramatically since 1945. Speaking to leaders of BRICS member states, Guterres said the world is [...]

Amnesty International on Friday accused Zambian authorities of using administrative powers to silence government critics after the passports of six opposition figures, academics and commentators were cancelled on “national security” grounds. The cancellations immediately rendered the documents invalid for travel and identification, while the government has not publicly detailed the specific security allegations against each [...]

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry on Friday confirmed that two Nigerian nationals have been killed in South Africa, as tensions intensify between the two countries over anti-immigrant protests.  Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo were killed in two separate incidents. Fakunle was reportedly murdered at his home in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4. The following [...]

A UN expert said Friday that states and other development actors should ensure individuals and communities can actively, freely, and meaningfully participate in economic development decisions by moving beyond symbolic consultations and sharing decision-making power, warning that development cannot be inclusive or sustainable without public participation. UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Surya [...]

The US Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC)  on Friday ordered the deportation of an Afghan woman, after she reached an agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ), waiving her right to appeal. Nazira Haji Zada, accused of assisting her son and son-in-law in planning a foiled 2024 terror plot, admitted that she was an “alien [...]

Amnesty International announced Saturday that Guatemala’s judiciary has closed criminal proceedings against four Indigenous leaders who had been charged over their role in protests during the country’s October 2023 national strike, hailing it as a victory for the right to freedom of assembly. Commending the court’s decision, Astrid Valencia, Amnesty International’s deputy research director for [...]