In its euthanasia guidelines, the American Veterinary Medical Association advises against the use of nitrogen gas to kill rats. And yet Alabama is pushing ahead with plans to experiment with using the gas to execute its condemned. Even defendants convicted of the cruelest of murders cannot, except for cynically and spitefully, be said to be [...]

The European Commission issued formal requests for information to social media giants Meta and TikTok, seeking explanations on their compliance with the European Union’s (EU) Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA requires these platforms to take proactive measures to combat harmful posts and disinformation, particularly in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The European Commission gave [...]

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a report Thursday criticizing Peru’s response to anti-government protests that broke out in December 2022. Among the recommendations the office made, it called for reforms to “ensure the exercise of human rights in the context of demonstrations, continue accountability efforts, & enable [...]

On Thursday the UK Home Office announced new procedures for asylum seekers who refuse to be housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge after the UK High Court upheld the Home Office’s plans to force 39 asylum seekers to return to the barge. The new rules state that if a person refuses the offered asylum on [...]

US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested in Russia Wednesday for failing to register as a “foreign agent.” Kurmasheva, a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), holds dual citizenship in Russia and the United States. According to a statement from RFE/RL, Kurmasheva traveled to Russia in May for a family emergency. When she tried to [...]

Australian workplace safety regulatory agency WorkSafe announced Thursday that Court Services Victoria (CSV), the body responsible for Victoria’s court system, was convicted and fined in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace. The CSV pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $379,157 by WorkSafe. The alleged misconduct occurred [...]

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions Wednesday targeting individuals that contribute to Hamas operations and financing. In total, OFAC announced sanctions on ten individuals in Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar for being members of Hamas, contributing to Hamas operations or facilitating financing for Hamas. The sanctions [...]

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced on Wednesday the release of French-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi by a Taliban court in Afghanistan. Following a 284-day detention, all charges, encompassing allegations of espionage and illegal support for foreigners, were nullified during a criminal court hearing held in Kabul, as per the statement. He was immediately released from Pul-e-Charkhi [...]

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts sentenced Hong Kong protester Tsang Chi-kin to three and a half years in prison Wednesday on charges of rioting and assaulting a police officer, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. Tsang previously pleaded guilty to both charges on September 28 after he was arrested in Sai Kung, Hong [...]

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors stated on Thursday that they have attempted to withdraw all charges against Maxime Mokom, a former minister of disarmament in the Central African Republic (CAR). Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan submitted a notice to the court’s pre-trial chamber on October 16, trying to drop the charges during the pre-trial phase of [...]