The German Federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday approved a broad measure that would require proof of measles vaccination to access to community facilities, including daycares and schools. The bill comes as a reaction to continued measles infections despite an effective vaccine. In 2018 there were 651 cases of measles reported, and within four months [...]

The US House of Representatives on Thursday voted 231-199 to approve a bill that could increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. HR 582 (or the “Raise the Wage Act”) is set-up to gradually increase the minimum wage until 2025, when the $15 minimum would be achieved. Tipped workers, new hires younger than [...]

In a press release on Tuesday, the European Commission (EC) opened an investigation into Amazon for possible anti-competitive conduct to “assess whether Amazon’s use of sensitive data from independent retailers who sell on its marketplace is a breach in EU competition rules.” Commissioner Vestager stated that the EC is seeking to ensure that “large online [...]

The US House of Representatives passed three joint resolutions on Wednesday disapproving of the Trump administration’s planned transfer of precision-guided bombs, other bombs and munitions, and support services to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other members of the Saudi-led coalition. Joint resolutions 36 and 37 passed the House with 238 votes in their favor [...]

Alejandro Toledo, a former president of Peru, was arrested in California on Tuesday on an extradition order for his alleged role in the Odebretch corruption scandal. Toledo is facing corruption charges in Peru for accepting bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebretch while he was in office from 2001-2006. The Odebretch scandal spans 12 countries and [...]

Sudan’s ruling military council and a pro-democracy opposition alliance signed a power-sharing agreement on Wednesday that brings three months of negotiations and protests to a close and creates a pathway to democratic rule. The two powers have been vying for power since April when former President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was ousted. The agreement establishes a [...]

In a 4-3 decision on Wednesday, Tthe Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a 2015 City of Pittsburgh ordinance that requires employers to provide paid sick leave to workers. The ordinance was challenged by the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association and several Pittsburgh businesses that argued that the city lacked the authority to require employers to provide [...]

Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson, of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, modified Roger Stone’s gag order to be an outright ban on Stone’s use of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The original order prevented Stone from discussing his case publicly Stone, who faces charges of obstruction of a proceeding, witness tampering, and [...]

US District Judge Brian Cogan on Wednesday sentenced Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán, known as “El Chapo,” to life in prison plus 30 years and ordered him to forfeit 12.6 billion dollars.  Guzmán ran one of the largest narco-cartels in Mexico and as recently as 2009 was listed on Forbes’ list of the world’s richest [...]

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly designated four members of Myanmar’s military on Tuesday. The public designation, made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2018, means the four individuals and their immediate family members may not enter the US. Pompeo cited gross human rights violations, including [...]