California drought regulators on Tuesday proposed a first-of-its-kind $1.5 million fine against an irrigation district that allegedly took water illegally. The State Water Resources Control Board , a subset of the California Environmental Protection Agency , proposed the draft Administrative Civil Liability Complaint against the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District for continuing to divert water for nearly [...]

Burundi polls opened on Tuesday for the controversial election where President Pierre Nkurunziza is running for his third term. Nkurunziza’s opponents have boycotted the election, claiming it is unconstitutional for a president to seek third term. In Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, citizens rioted against the election with explosions and gunfire Monday night. Also on Monday, UN [...]

The European Union Foreign Ministers on Monday agreed to several measures to provide assistance to Tunisia in the wake of the last month’s attack that killed 38. The measures, agreed upon at a meeting in Brussels with Tunisian Prime Minster Habib Essid , contemplate sending military advisers to Tunisia to train security forces on protecting [...]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday issued Law No. 2 for 2015 to prevent discrimination and intolerance based on religious and ethnic backgrounds. The legislation bars discrimination based on religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, color or ethnic origin and punishes violation with between six-months and over 10 years in prison. In particular, the law, [...]

The Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal on Monday began the trial of former Chadian leader Hissène Habré on charges of crimes against humanity, torture and war crimes. Habré, who ruled Chad from 1982-1990, denies the charges calling the proceedings a “farce” . But human rights groups report thousands of deaths under his rule and have [...]

The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously approved a nuclear agreement with Iran, lifting some economic sanctions in exchange for the country reducing its nuclear program and allowing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections. The JCPOA outlines details of the agreement, in which Iran agreed not remove two-thirds of its centrifuges, ship all spent fuel [...]

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on Monday signed into law the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act , limiting the ability of a woman to seek an abortion more than 20 weeks into her pregnancy. Proponents of the bill say it is designed to prohibit women from seeking an abortion that may cause pain to the fetus. [...]

Amnesty International (AI) on Thursday commended President Edgar Lungu for commuting the death sentences of 332 men to life imprisonment, calling it “a laudable first step and a ‘triumph’ for the right to life.” AI is now calling on President Lungu to completely abolish the death penalty . The organization claims that there is no [...]

Over a dozen states that have decided to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have seen enrollment numbers surge over recent months, raising concerns over state budgets as federal aid is set to reduce in two years. Lawmakers have warned that the price of expanding the ACA, as states are doing, could lead [...]

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against United Parcel Services, Inc. (UPS) for their discriminatory employment policies. The complaint alleges that UPS’s employment policies have violated Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964 . The specific policy addressed in the complaint keeps male [...]