Freedom and democracy are slumping worldwide, trends spurred on by rising authoritarianism, media suppression, and myriad governments’ failures to adhere to the rule of law, advocacy group Freedom House warned in its 2023 Freedom in the World report, released Thursday. The annual report, which ranks the world’s countries and territories from most to least free, [...]

The so-called Anti-Homosexuality Bill, introduced to Uganda’s parliament on Thursday, seeks to ban all forms of homosexual relations, as well as vaguely described “related matters.” Under the legislation, introduced by Member of Parliament Asuman Basalirwa, individuals convicted of the “offense of homosexuality” would face 10 years in prison. Notably, this offense includes not only sexual [...]

An unidentified woman Wednesday filed a civil lawsuit against former Idaho Representative Aaron von Ehlinger and state Representative Priscilla Giddings for allegedly harassing her after disclosing that Ehlinger raped her when she was a teenager. The woman who filed the complaint brings claims that von Ehlinger and Giddings violated and conspired to violate her equal [...]

The US District Court for the Northern District of Florida Wednesday ruled that President Joe Biden’s alternatives to migrant detention programs are unlawful. The court relied on US Supreme Court precedent that only Congress, rather than the President, has “complete and absolute power” over immigration issues and “plenary power” over the “admission and exclusion of [...]

Georgia’s governing coalition Thursday agreed to withdraw a controversial ‘foreign agent’ bill after large civilian and international protests, according to an official Facebook page. The ruling Georgian Dream Party said they were in agreement with their partners in “unconditionally” withdrawing support for the bill. The post placed blame for the bill’s withdraw on the “machine [...]

The US Senate Wednesday blocked a Washington DC criminal law reform bill. A joint resolution to disapprove of the bill passed the Senate in a vote of 81-14, with 33 Democrats and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) joining all Senate Republicans. During floor speeches before the vote, Democrats and Republicans debated the utility of the DC [...]

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) Wednesday announced a review of the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) use of force and de-escalation policies following the January 7 killing of Tyre Nichols. The review will concentrate on the use of specialized police units like the SCORPION (Street Crimes Operations to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods) unit in [...]

The US Department of Defense (DOD) Wednesday said it will release Gussan Abdullah Al Sharbi after 20 years in Guantanamo Bay. Al Sharbi, a citizen of Saudi Arabia, is set to be transferred the Kingdom for repatriation. Al Sharbi was captured in Pakistan in 2002 by the US military. He was accused of training al [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Wednesday criticised a British draft law that would require the deportation of anyone arriving in the UK by small boats. Türk said he was “deeply concerned” at the legislation and argued that it would violate international law. The new plans would ban asylum seekers who arrive illegally [...]

The Human Rights Watch Tuesday urged Kazakhstan to ensure the protection of women from family violence, including making domestic violence a standalone offense. Ever since the withdrawal of previous draft laws on domestic violence three years ago, the inadequacies in the remedial measures in this area are being attempted to be corrected by two new [...]