The US Department of State released its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices on Monday, amidst the seventy-fifth anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or UDHR. The report emphasized “several new commitments, including to renew investments around the world in democracy and human rights, to help protect human rights defenders online, [...]
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US Secretary of State to announce sanctions against IDF unit: Axios report
Axios reported Saturday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to announce sanctions against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalion “Netzah Yehuda” for human rights violations in the West Bank, according to three informed sources. The battalion is a special IDF unit mainly comprised of ultra-Orthodox soldiers. According to the report, the sanctions [...]
US warns war crime allegations against Australia soldiers could prevent defense collaboration
The United States warned the Australian Defence Force (ADF) that it may need to end its alliance with Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment because of allegations of war crime committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, according to Wednesday testimony from General Angus Campbell to the Australian Senate. Campbell stated that he “received a letter from [...]
US Supreme Court rules administrative patent judge powers violate appointments clause
The US Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday in United States v. Arthrex that the America Invents Act gives powers to Administrative Patent Judges (APJs) that are inconsistent with the appointments clause of the US Constitution. APJs operate within the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which is a subsection of the Department of Commerce. [...]
Senate Democrats block Republican constitutional challenge to second impeachment trial
Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a motion to vote on the constitutionality of the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. The motion was brought to the floor by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who raised two objections to the trial going forward. First, he noted that the Constitution says impeachment only applies to the President, Vice-President, [...]
The US House of Representatives delivered an Article of Impeachment for Donald Trump to the Senate on Monday evening. Nine managers of the House made a liturgical walk through the Capitol from the House to the Senate to deliver the article, thereby setting into motion the former president’s second impeachment trial. The House drafted the Article [...]
The US Senate Judiciary Committee continued confirmation hearings on Tuesday for President Donald Trump’s nominee to fill the seat of the late Justice Ginsburg, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Senator Lindsey Graham, the Judiciary Committee Chair, started the day with a line of questioning on Barrett’s judicial philosophy, textualism, which led to a civics lesson on [...]
Senate struggling to finalize bill to support affected families and businesses
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or CARES Act was introduced by Senate Republicans on Thursday in an effort to combat the economic impacts that our nations is feeling from coronavirus. The current proposal has sections providing for loan guarantees to impacted businesses, direct cash payments, increased testing, and vaccine development resources. The [...]
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in government patent case
The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in Return Mail Inc. v. United States Postal Service, which will determine if the government is able to initiate review proceedings for patents. Return Mail Inc. had filed a patent infringement suit against the US Postal Service (USPS). USPS initiated a review proceeding with the Patent Trial [...]
Supreme Court rules confidential sales of inventions bars patents
The US Supreme Court ruled 9-0 on Tuesday that the sale of inventions in confidential arrangements count as the invention being “on sale.” As such, these inventions are excluded from patents filed after the sale date. This case came before the court because Helsinn Healthcare S. A. uses palonestron to create chemotherapy-induced nausea treatments. This [...]