Environmental brief ~ WA high court strikes down county smoking ban
In Friday's environmental law news, the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that local health boards cannot ban smoking in bars and restaurants. The Court, in Entertainment Industry Coalition v. Tacoma-Pierce Co. Bd. of Health , held that...
The Norwegian government Friday proposed a new copyright law that will make it illegal to copy music from legally purchased CDs onto MP3 players. The proposal, meant to bring Norwegian law in line with EU rules [EU summary of...
Environment becomes sticking point in OAS indigenous rights declaration
Negotiations continued in Washington Wednesday on a draft Inter-American Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples , an initiative of the Organization of American States . Progress towards completion of the declaration, the first...
Nepal rights activists to lead first public protest against king's takeover
In the wake of last week's government takeover by Nepalese King Gyanendra and his subsequent controversial decrees, including a ban on "directly or indirectly" criticizing security forces and a statement that the government...
Israel's attorney general said Tuesday that he had previously been unaware of the government's secret seizure of Palestinian property in East Jerusalem under a 1950 land law. Attorney General Meni Manuz called the plan illegal and ordered...
Nepalese king declares state of emergency after sacking government
After summoning the Prime Minister for an emergency meeting , Nepal's King Gyanendra sacked the country's government Tuesday and declared a state of emergency, cutting phone lines, shutting down the airport and sending armed...
US District Judge K. Michael Moore began hearing a case Monday against the US government brought by supporters of Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez . The plaintiffs in the case, who were protesting...
Israel has reportedly begun seizing land in east Jerusalem land owned by Palestinians in the West Bank under a law passed in 1950. The land has been transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property [UN Secretariat working paper with...
Families of the tsunami victims are pressuring the British government to amend the rules for when missing persons can be legally declared dead. Lord Charles Falconer announced today that legislators hoped to create a system to waive...
International brief - Somalian parliament approves key cabinet choices
In Thursday's international brief, Somalia's parliament has approved the proposed cabinet of Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi Thursday in a crucial step towards establishing a truly functioning government for the trouble-ridden country. The proposed list was the...
