Australian government demands parliament sits until it passes “preventative detention” law
By Mike Head. The Albanese Labor government issued an extraordinary ultimatum to the Australian parliament this week. It declared that both houses must keep sitting, beyond next week’s scheduled holiday shutdown, until they pass as yet unseen “preventative detention” legislation. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil declared, via Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio: “We
US appeals court guts Voting Rights Act
By Barry Grey On Monday [20], the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that effectively turns the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 into a dead letter. In a 2 to 1 ruling, the appeals court, based in St. Louis and overseeing the mid-US states
Sri Lanka: UN Special Rapporteurs say proposed social and mass media regulation laws “possibly” limit freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and privacy
By Staff Writer In a communique to the President of Sri Lanka, three Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations Human Rights Council have expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed social media regulation law, the Online Safety Bill (OSB) and another media related law, Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill (BRC). The communication is
US Supreme Court papers over rampant corruption with first-ever “Code of Conduct”
By Kevin Reed On Monday [13], the Supreme Court of the United States published, for the first time in its history, a document concerning what it calls “ethics rules and principles that guide the conduct of the Members of the Court.” The code elaborates five fundamental principles called “canons” and is signed
UK Supreme Court upholds Sunak’s Rwanda Asylum Policy unlawful
By Staff Writer In a landmark ruling last Wednesday (15), a five judge bench of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom unanimously dismissed the Home Secretary's appeal to enforce Rwanda Asylum Policy, and upheld the Court of Appeal's decision that the policy is unlawful. The court concluded that there are
Germany to prosecute slogan calling for freedom for Palestine as a crime
By Justus Leicht Use of the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is now being prosecuted in Germany as a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. Munich Chief Prosecutor Andreas Franck, who is also the antisemitism commissioner of the
Australian government rams through bill to impose unprecedented restrictions on released detainees
By Mike Head The ruling establishment, currently led by the Labor Party, is ripping aside fundamental democratic rights, flouting even the extremely limited protections of basic legal rights in Australia’s 1901 Constitution. In just over 12 hours on Thursday, the Australian Labor government teamed up with the Liberal-National Coalition opposition to push
Definition of “extremism” broadened: UK government prepares crackdown on political opposition
By Robert Stevens The proposed definition is deeply authoritarian, providing a pretext for the suppression of virtually any form of political opposition and eviscerating the rights to free speech and political association. The British government is broadening its definition of “extremism”. On Sunday, the Observer revealed that Communities Secretary Michael Gove is close to
Israel’s draconian Emergency Regulations to authorize arrests on information that could “harm national morale”
By By Zane McNeill | TRUTHOUT Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi is promoting emergency regulations that would allow him to direct police to arrest civilians, remove them from their homes, or seize their property if he believes they have spread information that could “harm national morale” during Israel’s ongoing war against Palestinians in Gaza. These emergency
UK anti-strike Minimum Services law to be used against teachers
By Tania Kent The Department of Education (DfE) met with trade unions last Friday following an “invitation” by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to discuss a “voluntary” agreement to limit industrial action in schools and colleges. If no agreement is reached, Keegan told Parliament the same day, she will use powers granted through