The UN Economic and Social Council (ESC) Wednesday voted to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Of the 54 current ESC members, 29 voted in favor of removal, 8 voted against and 16 abstained. Iran was to serve its term from 2022-2026. In early November, the US promised to [...]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell called for calm on Monday amid violence across Kosovo’s ethnic Serbian north. Recent political flashpoints have reignited decades of tensions between minority Serbs and majority Kosovo Albanians. Borrell ordered, “arricades must be removed immediately by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm must be restored.” He also demanded that all parties [...]

Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday signed an amended “LGBT propaganda” bill into law. The amendments significantly expand the scope of the previous legislation. Last week, the amended legislation passed unanimously in the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, and it faced no opposition in the Federal Council, the upper house. The law, originally passed [...]

The Solicitor Regulation Agency (SRA) Monday warned solicitors in England and Wales of disciplinary action resulting from “meritless” lawsuits such as Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). According to SRA, “the key aim of a SLAPP is to prevent publication on matters of public importance, such as academic research, whistleblowing or campaigning or investigative journalism.” [...]

David Eby, premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia, announced an amendment to the 2013 Community Safety Act Tuesday to expand the province’s authority to seize assets amassed by suspected criminals. Under the amendment, unexplained wealth orders (UWO) would target property, vehicles and other luxury goods. The expanded authority would no longer require a [...]

Malta’s parliament began discussions on Monday to end a total ban on abortions. If passed, the bill would allow abortions if the health of a pregnant person is in “grave jeopardy.” Malta is currently one of only three European countries and the only EU member to ban all abortions no matter the reason. The bill [...]

The military-controlled government of Myanmar Thursday announced the release of some 5,700 prisoners. Among those released are Japanese documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota, former UK ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman, American agricultural scientist Kyaw Htay Oo and numerous local personalities. Australian Sean Turnell was also among those granted amnesty. He served as advisor to former State [...]

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness Tuesday enacted a state of emergency to combat rising violence in two separate orders. The first order targets the densely-populated capital district parishes of Clarendon and St. Catherine and portions of Kingston and St. Andrews. The second order covers the parishes of St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover. The two [...]

Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine, according to an Amnesty International report released Thursday. The allegations center on civilian torture, Russia’s forcible transfer of Ukrainian civilians to Russian-controlled territory and family separations. Russia has routinely denied all war crime charges. The report includes numerous testimonies of civilians fleeing conflict zones and facing restricted [...]

The Biden Administration Tuesday unveiled its Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap at the UN Climate Conference (COP27) in Egypt. The roadmap details plans initiated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. According to projections, both laws will invest billions in climate resilient infrastructure and community-level pollution control. The roadmap primarily employees US government agencies [...]