United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken Monday announced visa restriction for 93 individuals believed to have undermined democracy in Nicaragua following President Daniel Ortega reelection. The US State Department labeled the election a “sham.” Ortega has consistently been accused of committing human rights violations, including jailing political dissenters and cracking down on free press. [...]

The Wikimedia Foundation Monday released a statement about their appeal of a Russian court ruling which held that the site committed an administrative offense. In March, a Moscow court fined the foundation approximately $65,000 USD for refusing to remove Wikipedia articles on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The court ruled that the articles were “disinformation” [...]

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Monday upheld a Dakota Access Pipeline protester’s 8-year prison term in a per curiam decision. The protester, Jessica Reznicek, was charged with and plead guilty to conspiracy to damage an energy facility in 2017. Reznicek used a blowtorch to cut holes in the Dakota Access Pipeline in Iowa. At [...]

Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a free trade agreement in Dubai Tuesday, Israel’s first with an Arab nation. The UAE-Israel Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed by Israeli and Emirati officials, strengthening links between the two countries which established formal relations in September of 2020. According to a report from Emirati [...]

Police officers in Pakistan Wednesday charged and fired tear gas at supporters of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan. The police officers were attempting to stop the supporters from reaching the capital Islamabad to demand a new election. According to a statement by Interior Ministry Official Amjad Malik given to Reuters, there were “reports that the [...]

Russian authorities Tuesday released Dennis Christensen, a Danish citizen and Jehovah’s Witness, from prison. According to a statement made by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia organization, Christensen was arrested in May 2017 and was the first Jehovah’s Witness arrested as part of the Russian government’s crackdown on the religious sect. The organization said riot police [...]

The European Commission announced Thursday that is has referred five countries to the European Union Court of Justice over their failure to implement the revised directive for audiovisual media services. The Commission released a statement stating that Czechia, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain are all being sued for failing to transpose the Audiovisual Media Services [...]

A Michigan judge Tuesday blocked the enforcement of a 1931 state law which would ban abortions in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned. The ruling was met with praise from the Michigan governor. MCL 750.14 is a Michigan law enacted in 1931 which made all abortions a felony unless it was necessary to save [...]

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan announced Monday that the country’s Human Rights Commission will be dissolved, calling it “unnecessary.” The commission was backed by the US government and sought to ensure that human rights were protected in Afghanistan. Along with the Commission, four other departments were dissolved. The Taliban faces a $500 million budget deficit, and [...]

Democratic lawmakers from 16 US states pledged Tuesday to introduce legislation providing legal refuge to transgender youth and their families affected by restrictive state laws which limit the ability of transgender youth to receive gender-affirming healthcare. The pledge was led by California state Senator Scott Wiener and was announced by LGBTQ Victory Institute, a non-profit [...]