EU and US mull further Russia sanctions
The EU and the US say they will impose "further costs" on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, as unrest continues in the east of the country. EU foreign ministers said on Monday they would expand a list of names targeted by EU sanctions. Tension has been rising in Ukraine, with pro-Russian activists occupying buildings in more eastern towns. Also on Monday, the US said a Russian fighter jet repeated close-range passes over a US warship in the Black Sea. In a phone conversation, Putin told Obama that allegations of Russian interference in Ukraine were "based on questionable information". The unrest in the east was the result "of the unwillingness and inability of the leadership in Kiev to take into account the interests of the Russian-speaking population", the Kremlin said. The White House said Obama told Putin of his "grave concern" about Russian support for armed separatists and he urged the Russian leader to use his influence with pro-Moscow groups to convince them to leave occupied buildings. He warned : "The costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist." Moscow denies fomenting the unrest. (Click here)
Final approval for EU banking reform
MEPs have backed rules for a banking safety net to minimize the risk of further EU taxpayer-funded bailouts. A new European authority will have the power to wind up or restructure failing banks - the so-called Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). The shake-up of bank rules is aimed at preventing crises such as those which hit Greece, Ireland and Cyprus, whose banks were bailed out at huge cost. In future creditors and shareholders will be first to pay when a bank fails. The EU "banking union" reforms will create a 55bn-euro ($76bn) fund, financed by bank levies, so that emergency cash can be injected into failing banks. That rescue system will be advised by the European Central Bank (ECB). The 18 eurozone countries will participate in the SRM, though countries waiting to join the euro can also sign up to it. Some analysts say that the rescue pot is too small, and that the eurozone still does not have credible backstops to deal with a major systemic failure like the 2008 financial crisis.
India Supreme Court recognizes legal status for transgender people
The Supreme Court of India issued a ruling on Tuesday recognizing the country's large transgender population as a legal third gender. In so ruling, the court ordered that the government ensure that transgender people are not discriminated against and are eligible for government jobs and education in the same way as it does with other minority groups. It also ordered that the government take steps to promote awareness and to ensure that they are provided with proper medical treatment and public facilities. The landmark two-judge ruling acknowledged the history of marginalization that transgender individuals have faced. "Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue," the opinion stated. India has a long cultural history of recognizing transgender individuals, but their lack of legal recognition has led to discrimination, including prevalent hate crimes. (Click here)
New treaty allows children to complain about rights violations directly to the UN
United Nations child rights experts on Monday praised the new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, which grants children access to international human rights protections by allowing minors to complain directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRD) about the violation of their rights. The Protocol permits children or their representatives to submit formal complaints, upon which the CRD must review the allegations and decide whether to take action. If a rights violation is found to have the proper grounds, the CRD must then recommend to the nation at issue specific and mandatory procedures to remedy the violations. According to the UN, the Protocol effectively places children on equal legal footing with adults with respect to several international treaties. Children will be allowed to allege rights violations only if their government has ratified the treaty and if they have already exhausted all legal options in their own country. UN experts applauded this commitment to improving children's access to justice, stating their hope that "this new treaty will give voice to children's testimonies and help them to obtain the necessary remedy and reparation." Ten countries have ratified the treaty so far. (Click here)
The EU and the US say they will impose "further costs" on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, as unrest continues in the east of the country. EU foreign ministers said on Monday they would expand a list of names targeted by EU sanctions. Tension has been rising in Ukraine, with pro-Russian activists occupying buildings in more eastern towns. Also on Monday, the US said a Russian fighter jet repeated close-range passes over a US warship in the Black Sea. In a phone conversation, Putin told Obama that allegations of Russian interference in Ukraine were "based on questionable information". The unrest in the east was the result "of the unwillingness and inability of the leadership in Kiev to take into account the interests of the Russian-speaking population", the Kremlin said. The White House said Obama told Putin of his "grave concern" about Russian support for armed separatists and he urged the Russian leader to use his influence with pro-Moscow groups to convince them to leave occupied buildings. He warned : "The costs Russia already has incurred will increase if those actions persist." Moscow denies fomenting the unrest. (Click here)
Final approval for EU banking reform
MEPs have backed rules for a banking safety net to minimize the risk of further EU taxpayer-funded bailouts. A new European authority will have the power to wind up or restructure failing banks - the so-called Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM). The shake-up of bank rules is aimed at preventing crises such as those which hit Greece, Ireland and Cyprus, whose banks were bailed out at huge cost. In future creditors and shareholders will be first to pay when a bank fails. The EU "banking union" reforms will create a 55bn-euro ($76bn) fund, financed by bank levies, so that emergency cash can be injected into failing banks. That rescue system will be advised by the European Central Bank (ECB). The 18 eurozone countries will participate in the SRM, though countries waiting to join the euro can also sign up to it. Some analysts say that the rescue pot is too small, and that the eurozone still does not have credible backstops to deal with a major systemic failure like the 2008 financial crisis.
India Supreme Court recognizes legal status for transgender people
The Supreme Court of India issued a ruling on Tuesday recognizing the country's large transgender population as a legal third gender. In so ruling, the court ordered that the government ensure that transgender people are not discriminated against and are eligible for government jobs and education in the same way as it does with other minority groups. It also ordered that the government take steps to promote awareness and to ensure that they are provided with proper medical treatment and public facilities. The landmark two-judge ruling acknowledged the history of marginalization that transgender individuals have faced. "Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue," the opinion stated. India has a long cultural history of recognizing transgender individuals, but their lack of legal recognition has led to discrimination, including prevalent hate crimes. (Click here)
New treaty allows children to complain about rights violations directly to the UN
United Nations child rights experts on Monday praised the new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure, which grants children access to international human rights protections by allowing minors to complain directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRD) about the violation of their rights. The Protocol permits children or their representatives to submit formal complaints, upon which the CRD must review the allegations and decide whether to take action. If a rights violation is found to have the proper grounds, the CRD must then recommend to the nation at issue specific and mandatory procedures to remedy the violations. According to the UN, the Protocol effectively places children on equal legal footing with adults with respect to several international treaties. Children will be allowed to allege rights violations only if their government has ratified the treaty and if they have already exhausted all legal options in their own country. UN experts applauded this commitment to improving children's access to justice, stating their hope that "this new treaty will give voice to children's testimonies and help them to obtain the necessary remedy and reparation." Ten countries have ratified the treaty so far. (Click here)
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2 - Malta parliament passes same-sex civil union bill - click here
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China set to elevate environment over development in new law
Smog-hit China is set to pass a new law that would give Beijing more powers to shut polluting factories and punish officials, and even place protected regions off-limits to industrial development. Long-awaited amendments to China's 1989 Environmental Protection Law are expected to be finalised later this year, giving the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) greater authority to take on polluters. While some details of the fourth draft are still under discussion, it has been agreed that the principle of prioritizing the environment above the economy will be enshrined in law. The fourth draft is due to be completed within weeks.
China 'must allow currency to rise'
The US tells China its currency must be allowed to rise if its own and the rest of the world's economy are to see stable growth.
China in 'record seizure' of illegal guns and knives
Police in China have seized tens of thousands of illegal guns and knives, in what state media say is the largest-ever haul of its kind. Fifteen people suspected of belonging to a criminal network were arrested. Private gun ownership is illegal in China and certain knives are classified as "controlled". Du Chuang, a public security official from Guiyang, said that the illegal arms ring was a family-run business. The suspects even "gave out their business cards all over China", he said.
Asia pollution drives Pacific storms
Air pollution in China and other Asian countries is having far-reaching impacts on weather patterns across the Northern Hemisphere, a study suggests.
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- Historia Verdadera
El Consejo administrativo de Defensa Económica de Brasil aprobó, sin restricciones, el acuerdo entre Petrobras y la francesa Total, según publicó el Diario Oficial. La petroleras tienen un acuerdo sobre la venta de una participación en un bloque de exploración de la estatal en Bacia de Pelotas.
Mar
El presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, entregó personalmente a la Corte Internacional de Justicia de La Haya un documento con los argumentos de una demanda contra Chile que busca recuperar la salida al mar.
(Presione aquí)
Hierro
El grupo chileno CAP invertirá US$ 650 mlls este año principalmente en su operación de mineral de hierro Cerro Negro Norte. El gerente general del grupo, Fernando Reitich, informó que CAP tiene previsto aumentar sus ventas de mineral de hierro a 15 MTM hacia fines de este año y alcanzar un nivel de 18 MTM en el 2015.
- Brief News
Brazil's star, Petrobras, is hobbled by scandal and stagnation
No company has embodied Brazil's rise like the oil giant Petrobras. Bolstered by some of this century's largest oil discoveries, Petrobras soared into the top ranks of global energy producers. Executives at the state-controlled company boasted that it could even outstrip Apple as the world's most valuable publicly traded company. Political leaders here said Brazil was on the cusp of energy independence. Now Petrobras is coming to symbolize something else entirely : the disarray afflicting Brazil's sluggish economy and the reassessment of growth prospects in emerging markets around the world. Instead of surging, Petrobras's oil production has stagnated, heightening Brazil's reliance on imported oil. Petrobras finds itself mired in corruption investigations and claims of managerial incompetence. And its debt load is exploding : Petrobras now ranks as the world's most indebted company, dependent, more or less, on United States mutual funds to finance its ambitious investment plans.
Putin : Ukraine on brink of civil war
Putin warns that Ukraine is "on the brink of civil war" as Kiev sends in troops against pro-Russia separatists.
Samsung contests Apple's patent claims in $2 billion case
Samsung Electronics Co. began its attack on patents Apple Inc. has asserted in a $2 billion case by trying to convince jurors that the iPhone maker exaggerated claims about inventions allegedly copied by the Galaxy maker.
Yahoo shares jump despite profit fall
Shares in the struggling internet search giant Yahoo surge 9%, despite first-quarter profits falling 20%.
Few stewards trained for World CupBrazil has so far trained only 20% of the private security guards needed inside the 12 stadiums for coming football World Cup, BBC Brasil has learned.
Obama shortens a prison sentence by correcting a typo
Obama on Tuesday commuted part of the sentence of a man convicted on drug-related charges, trimming 3½ years of jail time attributed to a typographical error in a sentencing document. Obama commuted the sentence of Ceasar Huerta Cantu, who in 2006 pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering. He was originally sentenced to 15 years in jail. Obama's action will reduce his sentence to 11½ years. A White House official said because Cantu didn't catch this error in time, his sentence could be reduced only through presidential action. "Today's sentence commutation by the president simply corrects that mistake," the official said.
EU blacklist to stop spread of alien species
The European Parliament is voting on a bill to draw up a blacklist to fight invasive alien species such as killer shrimp and Japanese knotweed spreading. There will be a ban on the possession, transport, selling or growing of species deemed as of "Union Concern". The list was going to be restricted to 50, but will now have no limit. It is not clear which species will be banned. A deal between EU member states effectively means the bill will pass and become law within a few months. This comes as MPs slam current government policy on controlling alien species as "not fit for purpose".
NYPD shuts down controversial unit that spied on muslims
The New York Police Department said it would disband a special unit charged with detecting possible terrorist threats by carrying out secret surveillance of Muslim groups. The squad that conducted the surveillance, known as the Demographics Unit, was formed in 2003. It brought the NYPD under fire from community groups and activists who accused the force of abusing civil rights and profiling. The squad had been the subject of two federal lawsuits in the past, and drew ire from civil rights groups. It is also said to have sowed Muslim mistrust for law enforcement.
ICTY upholds genocide charges against Ratko Mladic for 1995 Srebrenica massacre
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia determined during a session on Tuesday that sufficient evidence exists to uphold charges on two counts of genocide against Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general, for his alleged role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. The Srebrenica massacre is considered to be one of Europe's worst atrocities since the Second World War, during which more than 7,000 people were killed. Mladic's lawyers had filed a Rule 98 bis motion, arguing for acquittal on the basis that there exists no evidence capable of supporting a conviction. The court disagreed and rejected the motion on two grounds, one of scope and one of substance. First, the court ruled that it was inappropriate to consider motions for acquittal with regards to charges within a count, stating that Rule 98 assesses whether there is evidence capable of supporting a conviction on every count of the indictment, not only on those challenged by the Defendant. To be granted there must be insufficient evidence on all counts, not merely those challenged. Secondly the court found that such evidence does exist, and, if believed, could establish that genocide took place and that the accused had the necessary genocidal intent. Judge Alphons Orie reportedly stated for the court that "the accused has a case to answer on all counts." Mladic has denied all charges against him and has repeatedly questioned the tribunal's legitimacy, reportedly referring to it in the past as "satanic."
Obama's tax rate rose - and he can't blame anyone but himself
Obama, like many wealthy Americans, is paying more of his income to the IRS. The White House says he and the first lady paid $98,169 in taxes for 2013 on income of $481,098. That's an effective tax rate of 20.4 percent. The tax bite was bigger in 2013 because of the president's own policies, including a higher income tax rate for top earners, limits on tax breaks for the wealthy, and two new taxes on the rich that help to finance the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
Berlusconi to do community service
Berlusconi must perform a year's community service in a home for the elderly, a Milan court has ruled. The sentence followed his conviction last year for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of TV rights by his firm, Mediaset, in the 1990s. Berlusconi's lawyers said they were "satisfied" that the ruling would allow him to remain politically active. Berlusconi has fallen a long way. Of course this community service order is deeply embarrassing for him. He was very keen to avoid house arrest. What mattered to him was that he be left as free as possible to carry on his political activities. He will be subject to a curfew and banned from meeting people with criminal convictions - a measure which applies to at least one of his associates, AFP news agency reports. However, he will be free to travel to Rome from Tuesday to Thursday each week.
Apple upgrade tracks customers even when marketing apps are off
The people who design marketing apps are celebrating a change in the way works on iPhones. That's the Bluetooth-based system that lets a store track a customer's movements, and capitalize on them. For instance, if iBeacon detects you lingering in the shoe department, it might send you a digital coupon for socks. IBeacon has been around for a while, and marketers liked the concept in principle. Macy's, Major League Baseball and American Eagle Outfitters are just a few of the brands that with the technology. But there was a big practical problem : It only worked when a customer's phone was running the marketer's app. Once you closed the app, the tracking stopped.That problem has now been fixed. When Apple updated the iPhone's operating system two months ago, it changed it to allow marketing apps to keep tabs on your location even when they're off. When you close an app, it "deputizes" the phone's operating system to keep listening for iBeacon signals on its behalf. The change was heralded last month, run by industry insider Doug Thompson. He says Apple didn't publicize the new system.
Egyptian court refuses candidacy for Muslim Brotherhood members in 2014 elections
Egypt's Primary Alexandria Court on Tuesday declared the nation's Supreme Election Commission is forbidden from accepting a nomination from members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for May 26-27 and the parliamentary elections to follow. The ruling came after an anti-Brotherhood group filed a petition calling for the ban. A lawyer for the anti-Brotherhood group stated : "It is illogical to receive such candidacies after the government designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organization." Egyptian voters ratified a new constitution in January 2014 and Article 74 of the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2014 prohibits the formation of political parties on the basis of religion, which is contrary to the Islamist principles of the Brotherhood. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) is the Muslim Brotherhood's political group and the FJP won the most seats in the 2011-2012 elections for the People's Assembly, securing approximately 38% of the vote. Deposed president Mohamed Morsi won the June 2012 presidential election as the then chairman of the FJP. Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour announced in a televised speech that Egypt will hold presidential elections before conducting parliamentary elections.
Army general denies Chelsea Manning's request for clemency
US Army Major General Jeffery S. Buchanan on Monday upheld Private Chelsea Manning's conviction and prison sentence for turning over classified information to WikiLeaks. Manning is currently serving her 35-year prison sentence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and she could be released as early as February 2020 with good behavior. The case will be automatically appealed to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Manning's lawyers expect the appeal to focus on the misuse of the Espionage Act.
UN rights investigator urges Iran to halt execution of sexual assault victim
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Ahmed Shaheed on Monday urged Iran to immediately halt the execution of Reyhaneh Jabbari, a woman sentenced to death of murdering Mortez Abdolali Sarbandi, a former employee of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry. Jabbari, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow, has maintained that Sarbandi was attempting to sexually assault her and that she killed him in self-defense. Shaheed expressed concerns over the fairness of Jabbari's trial and urged Iranian authorities to review the case and grant a retrial. In particular, he emphasized that a judgment was rendered without considering all of the proper evidence and that her confessions were made under duress, possibly amounting to torture. Shaheed also stated his general view that the imposition of the death penalty goes against international trends and should be abolished.De Blasio signs law protecting interns from discrimination, sexual harassment
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation Tuesday that ensures the city's law against discrimination applies to interns, whether they're paid or not. The legislation, passed by the City Council late last month, clarifies that the protections of the city's Human Rights Law cover interns as well as employees. It was proposed after a federal court ruled last year that a woman who brought a sexual harassment claim against a television company couldn't sue because she wasn't paid and therefore not under the law's protection. "This legislation underscores the fact that all interns are entitled to a workplace free from discrimination," de Blasio said.
No company has embodied Brazil's rise like the oil giant Petrobras. Bolstered by some of this century's largest oil discoveries, Petrobras soared into the top ranks of global energy producers. Executives at the state-controlled company boasted that it could even outstrip Apple as the world's most valuable publicly traded company. Political leaders here said Brazil was on the cusp of energy independence. Now Petrobras is coming to symbolize something else entirely : the disarray afflicting Brazil's sluggish economy and the reassessment of growth prospects in emerging markets around the world. Instead of surging, Petrobras's oil production has stagnated, heightening Brazil's reliance on imported oil. Petrobras finds itself mired in corruption investigations and claims of managerial incompetence. And its debt load is exploding : Petrobras now ranks as the world's most indebted company, dependent, more or less, on United States mutual funds to finance its ambitious investment plans.
Putin : Ukraine on brink of civil war
Putin warns that Ukraine is "on the brink of civil war" as Kiev sends in troops against pro-Russia separatists.
Samsung contests Apple's patent claims in $2 billion case
Samsung Electronics Co. began its attack on patents Apple Inc. has asserted in a $2 billion case by trying to convince jurors that the iPhone maker exaggerated claims about inventions allegedly copied by the Galaxy maker.
Yahoo shares jump despite profit fall
Shares in the struggling internet search giant Yahoo surge 9%, despite first-quarter profits falling 20%.
Few stewards trained for World CupBrazil has so far trained only 20% of the private security guards needed inside the 12 stadiums for coming football World Cup, BBC Brasil has learned.
Obama shortens a prison sentence by correcting a typo
Obama on Tuesday commuted part of the sentence of a man convicted on drug-related charges, trimming 3½ years of jail time attributed to a typographical error in a sentencing document. Obama commuted the sentence of Ceasar Huerta Cantu, who in 2006 pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and money laundering. He was originally sentenced to 15 years in jail. Obama's action will reduce his sentence to 11½ years. A White House official said because Cantu didn't catch this error in time, his sentence could be reduced only through presidential action. "Today's sentence commutation by the president simply corrects that mistake," the official said.
EU blacklist to stop spread of alien species
The European Parliament is voting on a bill to draw up a blacklist to fight invasive alien species such as killer shrimp and Japanese knotweed spreading. There will be a ban on the possession, transport, selling or growing of species deemed as of "Union Concern". The list was going to be restricted to 50, but will now have no limit. It is not clear which species will be banned. A deal between EU member states effectively means the bill will pass and become law within a few months. This comes as MPs slam current government policy on controlling alien species as "not fit for purpose".
NYPD shuts down controversial unit that spied on muslims
The New York Police Department said it would disband a special unit charged with detecting possible terrorist threats by carrying out secret surveillance of Muslim groups. The squad that conducted the surveillance, known as the Demographics Unit, was formed in 2003. It brought the NYPD under fire from community groups and activists who accused the force of abusing civil rights and profiling. The squad had been the subject of two federal lawsuits in the past, and drew ire from civil rights groups. It is also said to have sowed Muslim mistrust for law enforcement.
ICTY upholds genocide charges against Ratko Mladic for 1995 Srebrenica massacre
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia determined during a session on Tuesday that sufficient evidence exists to uphold charges on two counts of genocide against Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general, for his alleged role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. The Srebrenica massacre is considered to be one of Europe's worst atrocities since the Second World War, during which more than 7,000 people were killed. Mladic's lawyers had filed a Rule 98 bis motion, arguing for acquittal on the basis that there exists no evidence capable of supporting a conviction. The court disagreed and rejected the motion on two grounds, one of scope and one of substance. First, the court ruled that it was inappropriate to consider motions for acquittal with regards to charges within a count, stating that Rule 98 assesses whether there is evidence capable of supporting a conviction on every count of the indictment, not only on those challenged by the Defendant. To be granted there must be insufficient evidence on all counts, not merely those challenged. Secondly the court found that such evidence does exist, and, if believed, could establish that genocide took place and that the accused had the necessary genocidal intent. Judge Alphons Orie reportedly stated for the court that "the accused has a case to answer on all counts." Mladic has denied all charges against him and has repeatedly questioned the tribunal's legitimacy, reportedly referring to it in the past as "satanic."
Obama's tax rate rose - and he can't blame anyone but himself
Obama, like many wealthy Americans, is paying more of his income to the IRS. The White House says he and the first lady paid $98,169 in taxes for 2013 on income of $481,098. That's an effective tax rate of 20.4 percent. The tax bite was bigger in 2013 because of the president's own policies, including a higher income tax rate for top earners, limits on tax breaks for the wealthy, and two new taxes on the rich that help to finance the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
Berlusconi to do community service
Berlusconi must perform a year's community service in a home for the elderly, a Milan court has ruled. The sentence followed his conviction last year for tax fraud in connection with the purchase of TV rights by his firm, Mediaset, in the 1990s. Berlusconi's lawyers said they were "satisfied" that the ruling would allow him to remain politically active. Berlusconi has fallen a long way. Of course this community service order is deeply embarrassing for him. He was very keen to avoid house arrest. What mattered to him was that he be left as free as possible to carry on his political activities. He will be subject to a curfew and banned from meeting people with criminal convictions - a measure which applies to at least one of his associates, AFP news agency reports. However, he will be free to travel to Rome from Tuesday to Thursday each week.
Apple upgrade tracks customers even when marketing apps are off
The people who design marketing apps are celebrating a change in the way works on iPhones. That's the Bluetooth-based system that lets a store track a customer's movements, and capitalize on them. For instance, if iBeacon detects you lingering in the shoe department, it might send you a digital coupon for socks. IBeacon has been around for a while, and marketers liked the concept in principle. Macy's, Major League Baseball and American Eagle Outfitters are just a few of the brands that with the technology. But there was a big practical problem : It only worked when a customer's phone was running the marketer's app. Once you closed the app, the tracking stopped.That problem has now been fixed. When Apple updated the iPhone's operating system two months ago, it changed it to allow marketing apps to keep tabs on your location even when they're off. When you close an app, it "deputizes" the phone's operating system to keep listening for iBeacon signals on its behalf. The change was heralded last month, run by industry insider Doug Thompson. He says Apple didn't publicize the new system.
Egyptian court refuses candidacy for Muslim Brotherhood members in 2014 elections
Egypt's Primary Alexandria Court on Tuesday declared the nation's Supreme Election Commission is forbidden from accepting a nomination from members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for May 26-27 and the parliamentary elections to follow. The ruling came after an anti-Brotherhood group filed a petition calling for the ban. A lawyer for the anti-Brotherhood group stated : "It is illogical to receive such candidacies after the government designated the Brotherhood a terrorist organization." Egyptian voters ratified a new constitution in January 2014 and Article 74 of the Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2014 prohibits the formation of political parties on the basis of religion, which is contrary to the Islamist principles of the Brotherhood. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) is the Muslim Brotherhood's political group and the FJP won the most seats in the 2011-2012 elections for the People's Assembly, securing approximately 38% of the vote. Deposed president Mohamed Morsi won the June 2012 presidential election as the then chairman of the FJP. Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour announced in a televised speech that Egypt will hold presidential elections before conducting parliamentary elections.
Army general denies Chelsea Manning's request for clemency
US Army Major General Jeffery S. Buchanan on Monday upheld Private Chelsea Manning's conviction and prison sentence for turning over classified information to WikiLeaks. Manning is currently serving her 35-year prison sentence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and she could be released as early as February 2020 with good behavior. The case will be automatically appealed to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Manning's lawyers expect the appeal to focus on the misuse of the Espionage Act.
UN rights investigator urges Iran to halt execution of sexual assault victim
UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran Ahmed Shaheed on Monday urged Iran to immediately halt the execution of Reyhaneh Jabbari, a woman sentenced to death of murdering Mortez Abdolali Sarbandi, a former employee of the Iranian Intelligence Ministry. Jabbari, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow, has maintained that Sarbandi was attempting to sexually assault her and that she killed him in self-defense. Shaheed expressed concerns over the fairness of Jabbari's trial and urged Iranian authorities to review the case and grant a retrial. In particular, he emphasized that a judgment was rendered without considering all of the proper evidence and that her confessions were made under duress, possibly amounting to torture. Shaheed also stated his general view that the imposition of the death penalty goes against international trends and should be abolished.De Blasio signs law protecting interns from discrimination, sexual harassment
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation Tuesday that ensures the city's law against discrimination applies to interns, whether they're paid or not. The legislation, passed by the City Council late last month, clarifies that the protections of the city's Human Rights Law cover interns as well as employees. It was proposed after a federal court ruled last year that a woman who brought a sexual harassment claim against a television company couldn't sue because she wasn't paid and therefore not under the law's protection. "This legislation underscores the fact that all interns are entitled to a workplace free from discrimination," de Blasio said.
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