President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree on Wednesday pardoning 30 individuals previously convicted of “protest-related crimes.” Seven women and 23 men were pardoned. According to Prosecutor General Andrei Shved, as quoted by state news outlet Belta, “hese individuals did not commit violent crimes against representatives of the authorities. They were convicted mainly for insult [...]

The US Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office (CRO) reached a resolution agreement with the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign on Wednesday to ensure adherence with the Civil Rights Act following concerns of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. Under the resolution, the university agreed to 7 specific steps to ensure compliance. Review and revise, if [...]

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said Tuesday that it dismissed its first deputy over their role in a whistleblower case. NABU issued the statement on its Telegram channel without naming the specific employee or case. However, the agency stated (in Ukrainian), that the dismissal was due to the deputy’s “actions and statements of [...]

A former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested Tuesday alongside her husband on charges of acting as an agent of the Chinese government. Linda Sun is accused of having used her positions to subtly advance Chinese interests in exchange for millions of dollars. Sun was arrested by FBI agents along with her [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Lebanon and Cyprus of violating the human rights of Syrian refugees with indirect financial support from the European Union (EU) in a report released Wednesday. HRW detailed how both countries intercepted and forcibly returned refugees to Syria in a coordinated effort to prevent them from seeking asylum in Europe. According [...]

A coalition of civil society and journalists’ organizations called on the EU to act against the circulation and use of spyware in a joint statement issued on Wednesday. The demands for the EU’s next legislative term include a ban on the production, sale, and use of spyware and the introduction of safeguards against surveillance. According [...]

Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned a law recently passed by the Indian state of West Bengal, the Aprajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, which introduces the death penalty for rape cases that result in the victim’s death or leave them in a vegetative state. The bill, passed unanimously by the [...]

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA) imposed a 30.5 million euro fine on US company Clearview AI on Wednesday for building an “illegal database” containing over 30 billion images of people. The Dutch DPA issued the fine following an investigation into Clearview AI’s processing of personal data. It found the company violated the European [...]

The US Department of Justice on Wednesday announced the seizure of 32 internet domains linked to an alleged Russian government-backed disinformation campaign aimed at influencing US and global audiences. According to the DOJ, the operation, known as “Doppelganger,” sought to sway public opinion in favor of Russian interests and interfere in the 2024 US presidential [...]

The Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the detention of Laurent Vinatier, advisor to Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s Eurasia team.  Vinatier was found to be in breach of Article 330.1.3 of the Russian Criminal Code (Evasion of Obligations Under Russia’s Foreign Agent Legislation) and is to be imprisoned until February 21, 2025. [...]