The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UN Women on Monday urged Afghanistan’s government to fully respect and defend the fundamental rights of women and girls by ensuring the implementation of and respect for women’s rights legislation. This call comes in response to the Afghanistan parliament, which blocked legislation on Saturday that would have [...]
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The US Supreme Court declined Monday to review an Alaskan village’s claims that greenhouse gas producers should be held accountable to the village for pollution that threatens its vitality. Kivalina, a village of Inupiat Eskimo natives, filed suit against 22 corporations in 2009 for damages caused by greenhouse gases that reduced sea ice, increasing flooding, [...]
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin signed legislation Monday that legalizes physician-assisted suicide in the state. This bill makes Vermont the fourth state in the US to approve the practice. The Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act (aka “Death with Dignity” bill), was passed by the legislature earlier this month. Under the new law, [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in Arlington v. FCC that courts must apply the Chevron framework to an agency’s interpretation of a statutory ambiguity that concerns the scope of the agency’s jurisdiction. The provision at issue, 47 USC § 332(c)(7) of the Federal Communications Act (FCA), states that “nothing in this chapter shall limit [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in PPL Corp. v. Commissioner that a UK “windfall tax” is creditable under US tax law. Internal Revenue Code §901(b)(1) states that any “income, war profits, and excess profits taxes” paid overseas are creditable against US income taxes. In 1997, the UK imposed a one-time “windfall tax” on 32 [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday in Metrish v. Lancaster that respondent Burt Lancaster is not entitled to federal habeas relief. Lancaster was convicted of murder in a Michigan state court. At the time the crime was committed, the Michigan appeals court recognized “diminished capacity” as a defense negating the mens rea element of [...]
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in Sebelius v. Cloer that an untimely National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 (NCVIA) petition may qualify for an award of attorney’s fees if it is filed in good faith and there is a reasonable basis for its claim. In this case, Dr. Melissa Cloer filed an untimely [...]
A UK immigration tribunal denied bail for radical cleric Abu Qatada Monday due to the high risk of escape. Qatada’s lawyers insist that he should be able to spend time with his family before he leaves the UK for Jordan, where he will stand trial for terrorism. Qatada was convicted in absentia for organizing and [...]
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was granted bail Monday by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court (ATC), but he remains on house arrest over the murder of former prime ministerBenazir Bhutto . Judge Habibur Rehman ordered Musharraf to pay two bonds each worth one million rupees (approximately USD $10,163). Musharraf has been held at his Islamabad farmhouse [...]
The EU expressed concern with Russia’s human rights record Sunday, focusing on the country’s recent adoption of restrictive legislation, the prosecution of political activists and efforts towards establishing an independent judiciary. At the human rights consultation in Brussels the EU confirmed its intention to continue to monitor the implications of Russia’s recent “Foreign Agents” law [...]
