Trump fraud trial opens in Manhattan
By Patrick Martin On Monday, the first of seven civil and criminal cases against ex-president Donald Trump began in Manhattan, with Trump facing a lawsuit by the New York attorney general Letitia James, seeking $250 million in damages for the Trump Organization systematically overvaluing major real estate properties in order to
Torture so widespread and systematic as to constitute a crime against humanity in Egypt
By REDRESS Today (02), a coalition of international and Egyptian NGOs has submitted a detailed legal analysis to the UN Committee against Torture concluding that the Egyptian authorities’ use of torture is so widespread and systematic as to amount to a crime against humanity under customary international law. The legal analysis forms
Online Safety Bill: Sri Lanka Government to determine “truth” and crack down upon online dissent
By Staff Writer The Ministry of Public Security of Sri Lanka recently gazetted another draconian piece of legislation termed "Online Safety Bill". Successive Sri Lankan governments had attempted a number of times to pass laws to block social media content, claiming to "fight fake news." Released to the public in mid September,
Is democracy a divider or a unifier at the UN General Assembly?
By Annika Silva-Leander The UN General Assembly convened 190 world leaders and delegated officials last week in New York in a context of global polycrises: the war in Ukraine, high debt burdens and economic fragility of developing countries resulting from the lingering effects of the pandemic and the climate emergency. International
Police “Torture warehouse” exposed in Louisiana lawsuits
By Emma Arceneaux Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have been operating a secret torture warehouse, according to multiple lawsuits filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department. The City of Baton Rouge, the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Police Chief Murphy Paul and multiple officers are also defendants in the lawsuits. The warehouse,
Use of facial recognition technology in schools banned by New York state
By Staff Writer Following a report that found that the risks to student privacy and civil rights outweigh potential security benefits, Education Commissioner Betty Rosa ordered banning use of facial recognition technology in New York state schools. The order was issued on 27 September. This order, however, leaves decisions on digital
Hitler would be proud: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers anti-Russian tirade at the United Nations
By Johannes Stern Wednesday’s warmongering anti-Russian diatribe at the United Nations by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made clear that German imperialism, guilty of the most horrific crimes in human history, is again on the warpath. Hitler and his gang of mass murderers are dead, but their political legacy lives on
Fed pauses rate increases but indicates more to come
By Nick Beams The US Federal Reserve decided not to lift interest rates at its meeting yesterday, in line with market expectations. However, it signalled it could raise them again in at least one of its two scheduled meetings remaining for this year. After instituting a steep climb in rates, from near
Impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Paxton ends in acquittal
By Andy Hartmann On Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on 16 impeachment counts by the Texas State Senate. The remaining four counts were dismissed by a vote of the Senate. Each article was voted on separately. All but two of the Republicans in the Senate, who control 19 of the 31
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife paid by Billionaire in advance of Citizens United decision
By Jacob Crosse On Sunday, September 10, Politico reported extensive and damning revelations on the longstanding connections between Virginia Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, billionaire Nazi artifact collector Harlan Crow, and Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society. Their relationship, which included Crow’s funneling of hundreds of thousands of dollars