Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself from the acts of aggression by the Russian Federation. The unprovoked invasion by Russia, one of the largest military forces in the world, has resulted in over 1,100 civilian casualties based on the official UN records, with the actual casualties considered to be significantly greater. The [...]
Search Results for: 2017-01-20
Russia’s Use of Force Against Ukraine: An International Law Perspective
The basic international law One of the most fundamental rules of international law is that States are prohibited from using force to resolve their international disputes. Any State that uses force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another State violates this solemn rule of international law. Applying this rule, the use of force [...]
HRW demands information on Egyptian national 'disappeared' following plane landing
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement Monday on the forced disappearance of Hossam Menoufy Mahmoud Sallam by Egyptian security authorities earlier this month. HRW called for authorities to immediately release Menoufy’s location and reveal the legal basis for his arrest. Menoufy was a passenger on a direct flight from Khartoum, Sudan to Istanbul, Turkey [...]
Congo court sentences 51 individuals to death over 2017 murder of UN experts
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced 51 individuals to death Saturday in relation to the 2017 murder of two UN experts. Zaida Catalán, a Swedish-Chilean citizen, and Michael Sharpe, an American citizen, were members of the Group of Experts on the DRC. They had been appointed to investigate the violence [...]
International Law in the “State of Nature”: A Contradiction in Terms
“Where there is no Common Power, there is no Law….” Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapter XIII The “State of Nature” as “State of War” From its modern beginnings in the seventeenth century – more precisely, since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 – international law has presumed firm distinctions between “national interest” and “world interest.” Rather [...]
Achieving Parity in Legal Age of Marriage Without Addressing the Elephant in the Room
Introduction The Indian government has tabled the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha, a bill aimed at increasing the minimum legal age of marriage for girls from 18 to 21 years. This bill will amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which prohibits child marriages in India. The 2006 act provides a different minimum [...]
Will Washington Ever Get Around to Regulating Artificial Intelligence?
On November 4, 2021, US Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced the introduction of S.3175 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Advancing American Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act of 2021 to Congress. Although the stated goal of S. 3175 is to ensure private companies have access to accurate data so they can better meet Department of Defense [...]
Explainer: The SEC, Climate Disclosures, and a New Global Standard
When it comes to the performances of companies and financial markets around the world, the influences of climate change and social issues cannot be understated. Toward this end, investors are increasingly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, with climate change broadly understood to be among the most imminent threats. The U.S. Securities and Exchange [...]
US Supreme Court rejects Volkswagen emissions tampering appeals
The US Supreme Court Monday rejected two appeals from Volkswagen AG, the German automobile manufacturer, regarding emissions tampering. The justices sought the views of the federal government, and, after review, turned down the cases of both Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. v. EPA of Hillsborough County, Florida and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. v. Ohio, ex [...]
US Department of Homeland Security ends mass worksite operations against undocumented workers
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a policy change Tuesday that put an end to the practice of mass worksite operations, a strategy used by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that often resulted in the simultaneous arrest of hundreds of unauthorized noncitizen workers. In a memorandum to the heads of ICE, the [...]