The German Parliament passed a law on Friday requiring large and medium-sized businesses to do their due diligence in combating human rights violations along their supply chain. The law introduces a shift to mandatory compliance with international norms on labor exploitation. The Bundestag adopted the draft law by a large majority. The law introduces obligations [...]

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) added 12 individuals, entities and vessels to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list Thursday for funding Houthi efforts in Yemen. In a press release, the Treasury said that the newly designated persons were engaged in a smuggling operation. The effort was led by [...]

US Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced Friday that the department’s internal watchdog will be investigating illegal data seizures by the Trump administration. The Trump administration allegedly secretly seized phone data from House Democrats in 2018 when the administration was aggressively cracking down on leaks regarding Russian meddling in the 2016 elections. The [...]

China’s legislature passed a new anti-sanctions law Thursday following the enactment of blocking rules earlier this year. In January, China’s Ministry of Commerce published new rules designed to counteract extraterritorial application of other countries’ sanctions and export control laws. China has historically criticized Western nations for interfering in China’s internal affairs, but the blocking rule [...]

The US Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit that “reckless” crimes qualify as violent felonies for purposes of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). The ACCA mandates a 15-year sentence for those persons found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm who have been convicted [...]

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on Wednesday issued an executive order highlighting the state’s “commitment to creating clean energy jobs increasing economic opportunities, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the expansion of offshore wind power.” Executive Order 218, “Advancing North Carolina’s Economic and Clean Energy Future with Offshore Wind,” formally introduces North Carolina’s first-ever targets [...]

The European Commission on Wednesday advanced its infringement proceedings against the EU island states of Cyprus and Malta over their cash-for-passports schemes, in a move that may eventually see the two states face court proceedings and fines. The Commission justified its actions by arguing that the “golden passport” schemes of the two states, which offered [...]

The European Commission on wednesday referred Italy to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for the country’s failure to comply with the requirements of wholesome and clean drinking water under the Drinking Water Directive. The Drinking Water Directive requires EU member states to ensure that water intended for human consumption is clean and free from [...]

The New York State Assembly approved the Gender Recognition Act Thursday, which, if approved by the governor, will provide for the “sex designation of M, F, or X as certified by the applicant , with no additional documentation required.” In addition to creating a gender-neutral designation for applicants’ sex, the bill provides that an individual [...]

JURIST EXCLUSIVE – One of our Myanmar law students reporting for JURIST calls on the international community to help thousands of Myanmar people displaced from their homes in Min Dat, Chin State, by recent junta military action. She also comments on a disquieting surge in COVID-19 in Kalay State, near the border with India. The [...]