Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina on Sunday declared that an attempted coup was underway, according to a statement released by the presidential office. Rajoelina remains in an undisclosed location as unconfirmed reports from opposition officials and military sources indicate that he fled the country on a French military aircraft. National tensions escalated on Saturday after troops [...]

The US Senate on Thursday approved an amendment to repeal two authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs) in Iraq, a significant push to restore Congressional war-making powers more than 20 years after the 2003 invasion. SA 3337, a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Senators Tim Kaine and Todd Young, was passed as part of [...]

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday announced a lawsuit against Zillow and Redfin, alleging the real estate technology companies violated federal antitrust laws through agreements that eliminated competition in the online rental advertising marketplace. The lawsuit alleges that in February, Zillow paid Redfin $100 million under a “Partnership Agreement,” requiring Redfin to exit [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Sunday warned that recent legislation in China may lead to escalated repression of ethnic minorities and extend “ideological control” beyond the country’s borders. The new legislation prioritizes Mandarin Chinese dominance across all regions of the People’s Republic. Article 15(3) of the law requires that minority language documents be accompanied by [...]

United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Wednesday condemned Kyrgyzstan’s dissolution of its National Center for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT), warning that the country’s new legislation constitutes a breach of its international legal commitments under the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).  In Wednesday’s statement, Türk explained his concerns: The decision [...]

The United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), and European Union (EU) issued a joint statement on Sunday reaffirming their commitment to international legal standards amid growing global “disregard” for established legal frameworks. Meeting at UN Headquarters during the General Assembly’s 80th session, the three organizations explicitly condemned the “rising number of instances of lack of [...]

The East Timor Parliament on Wednesday said it would rescind legislation granting former members of parliament lifetime pensions, according to local media. The announcement followed several days of student‑led demonstrations in the capital city of Dili. Under a law that went into effect in 2007, former members of parliament are entitled to lifetime pensions equivalent [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday spurred global leaders to reinforce the global ban on cluster munitions, and urged states still using or producing these weapons to promptly join the treaty. The statement came following the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) release of its annual report. Mark Hiznay, associate crisis, conflict and arms director at HRW, [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday largely upheld a California law aimed at protecting minors online. The case, NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta, saw a three-judge panel affirm most of the district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction against a California law that limits the ways that social media companies can [...]

The US Supreme Court on Monday stayed a district court order that would have reinstated Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter to her former position. The stay order halts enforcement of the district court’s July 17 ruling. Former FTC commissioners Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya were dismissed from their roles by President Donald Trump [...]