In The News

“Brexit” Requires a Vote in Parliament, UK Court Rules

Stephen Castle November 3, 2016
British voters had their say on the nation leaving the European Union, and the High Court has ruled that Parliament’s approval is required, too. The decision may delay Brexit. “Although most lawmakers opposed the decision to leave the European Union, it would be politically toxic for them to overturn the referendum outcome,” reports Stephen Castle for the New York Times. “Still, the pound, which...

Domino Effect...

David Gilbert October 27, 2016
South Africa, Burundi and Gambia have announced intentions to pull out of the International Criminal Court. “South Africa has a long and difficult history with human rights and many fear that this move could be an enormous setback for the country,” reports David Gilbert. “Legal experts worry the move will leave South Africa without the necessary tools to prevent the most heinous crimes taking...

Climate Accord Could Push A/C Out of Sweltering India’s Reach

Ellen Barry and Coral Davenport October 17, 2016
In India, a family’s first air conditioner marks upward mobility and the potential to reach the middle class. But the low-cost air conditioners usually contain hydrofluorocarbons, a “supergreenhouse gas,” report Ellen Barry and Coral Davenport of the New York Times. Negotiators from more than 150 nations have reached a global agreement to phase out use of HFCs. For countries like the United...

Congress Overrides Obama on Bill Allowing 9/11 Lawsuits Against Saudi Arabia

Joe Gould September 30, 2016
US Congress defied some of the nation's top military commanders by overriding President Barack Obama’s veto of a law allowing those who lost family members in the 9/11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia in US courts. The country is a key US ally in the Middle East, but most of the 19 attackers who used commercial jets to attack New York and Washington in 2001 were Saudi citizens. Analysts have long...

ICC: Environmental Destruction Is a Crime Against Humanity

Rowena Lindsay September 23, 2016
The International Criminal Court is turning attention to cases of environmental destruction and land grabs as crimes against humanity, reports the Christian Science Monitor. “This represents a significant shift in strategy at the ICC, which since its 1989 inception has been charged with investigating war crimes and human rights offenses when national governments were incapable of doing so,” notes...

We Won't Trigger Article 50 Until After 2017 – and That Means Brexit May Never Happen at All

Denis MacShane August 19, 2016
United Kingdom leaders are in no hurry to trigger action on Article 50 or begin formal negotiations to separate from the European Union. No planning has started. Likewise, other countries will hold back on negotiating new trade deals with the UK until a detailed understanding of separation is reached. “No-one in Europe wants to ‘punish’ Britain but no EU leader dare deny his or her own citizens...

In Humayun Khan and His Family, A Complex Portrait of Patriotism

AJ Willingham August 1, 2016
US Army Captain Humayun Khan, 27, the son of Pakistani immigrants, died in service of his country in Iraq. Twelve years later, Khizr Khan, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of candidate Hillary Clinton. The father’s speech, a powerful testament to American values, criticized Donald Trump and resonated in the convention hall and beyond, demonstrating the ability of US citizens...