A court in southern Kazakhstan on Thursday sentenced two activists to two years of probation for their involvement with banned political groups. The court in Taraz found both Nazira Lesova and Nazira Lepesova guilty of organizing and participating in prohibited demonstrations as part of their activities with the groups Koshe (Street) Party and the Democratic Choice [...]

Democracy activist Agnes Chow was denied bail on Wednesday by a Hong Kong court pending her appeal of a 10-month jail sentence for unlawful assembly during the pro-democracy protests in the city last year. The 24-year old activist was one of several activists who pled guilty and sentenced this year for their roles in the [...]

The US Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously upheld an Arkansas law setting prescription drug reimbursement rates for pharmacies. The decision in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association was made 8-0, with Justice Clarence Thomas issuing a concurring opinion and Justice Amy Coney Barrett not taking part in the decision. The 2015 Arkansas law requires pharmacy [...]

The French government Wednesday formally announced its support for a bill aimed at protecting the “principles of the republic.” The new law proposes to strengthen the government’s ability to prosecute extremist religious groups that “present a serious threat to public order.” Critics have expressed concerns that the law is aimed specifically at Muslim groups, but [...]

The European Commission Tuesday announced an investigation into the “golden passport” schemes of EU member states Cyprus and Malta for “selling” EU citizenship. The schemes enable investors to obtain EU citizenship by making pre-determined payments to the member states. The European Commission characterized the schemes as inconsistent with the purpose of Article 4(3) of the [...]

Hong Kong police wearing riot gear overwhelmed and arrested at least 86 people on Thursday during planned protests against Beijing during China’s National Day holiday. According to a Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) press release, protesters gathered in Causeway Bay and other areas of Hong Kong chanting slogans like “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our [...]

Australia’s Westpac Bank agreed to pay a A$1.3 billion fine on Thursday in a proposed settlement with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) for breaching the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act of 2006 (AML/CTF Act) by failing to reasonably monitor suspicious transactions associated with possible child exploitation and terrorist networks. AUSTRAC, the [...]

Chief Judge David Nye of the US District Court District of Idaho on Monday temporarily blocked the first state law passed to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho in April on behalf of Lindsay Hecox and three other students who [...]

France refused Monday to ratify a 2017 extradition treaty with Hong Kong following China’s enactment of a controversial new national security law in the region, which French officials claim “calls into question the ‘one country, two systems’ principle.” French officials announced that “in light of the most recent developments, as things stand, France will not [...]

New Jersey District Judge Esther Salas called for better protection of the privacy and safety of judges in a video statement released Monday describing the tragic killing of her son, who died protecting his parents from a gunman who was targeting Salas. The shooting happened on Sunday, July 19, while Salas and her son Daniel [...]