The UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) Monday reached a deal on global commitments to protect land and water biodiversity. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to protect 30 percent of the world’s lands, coastal areas and inland waters by 2030 – an increase from the 17 percent of lands and 10 percent of marine area currently [...]
The US House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack on the Capitol Monday summarized its final report and unanimously issued four criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The criminal referrals are primarily symbolic, as the DOJ can choose whether or not to pursue the charges included, [...]
“To have this happening to American journalists in the United States by an American with an American social media platform…has been raising eyebrows around the world,” said Steve Herman, Chief National Correspondent for Voice of America (VOA) and JURIST’s 2022-2023 Journalist in Residence, in an interview with JURIST Friday about his sudden ban from Twitter [...]
The US House of Representatives Thursday passed the Puerto Rico Status Act, which would allow Puerto Ricans to vote on whether they wish to become the 51st US state, an independent country, or a sovereign government associated with the US. The bill’s passage was bipartisan, garnering the support of 217 Democrats and 16 Republicans. 191 [...]
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Thursday released their annual report summarizing violence and abuse against journalists. The organization reports that a total of 533 journalists are currently detained because of their work, 65 are held hostage and another 57 have been killed in the past year. RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said of the report’s findings: This [...]
The US Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to add three cases to its 2023 docket addressing issues of securities law, the Confrontation Clause of the US Constitution and procedural remedies. The court has not yet announced when oral arguments will be heard. The first of the three cases is Slack Technologies, LLC v. Pirani. The case [...]
G7 leaders and EU foreign ministers Monday held several meetings to discuss the implementation of new sanctions against Iran and economic support for Ukraine in the country’s ongoing war against Russia. EU foreign ministers adopted a new round of sanctions against Iran and discussed, but did not yet adopt, further sanctions against Russia. G7 leaders [...]
A Hong Kong district court Saturday sentenced pro-democracy activist and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai to almost six years of imprisonment on fraud charges. Lai is already serving a 20-month prison sentence in Hong Kong for his participation in a vigil commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Lai also has a separate trial still [...]
The Canadian province of Alberta’s legislature Thursday passed Premier Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Act, empowering the provincial government to dismiss federal law, programs, and policies. The Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act allows for the provincial government of Alberta to, if the cabinet considers a federal law “unconstitutional or harmful to Albertans,” be empowered by [...]
A New York jury Tuesday found the Trump Organization guilty on all charges in a criminal fraud case initiated by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Former President Trump’s company, charged as both the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation, was charged with scheming to defraud federal, state and local authorities to avoid taxes spanning [...]