Protests over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in three northeastern states

ITANAGAR/KOHIMA/AIZAWL: Lending support to the voices of dissent over the Citizenship Bill, 2016, hundreds of student activists staged demonstrations on Monday across three northeast states. The apex bodies of students' unions in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland organised sit-ins this morning in their respective state capitals, demanding immediate scrapping of the proposed legislation.

Castro dictatorship’s human rights atrocities exposed in Geneva …

Over the past few days this blog highlighted three cases from the past four years that highlight the cruelty of the Castro regime: in 2014 a blind attorney beaten down by state security agents; in 2015 a human rights defender and mother lost her hand and the use of her knees in a machete attack ordered by regime agents in reprisal for trying to keep a school open; and in 2016 a Cuban doctor was beaten down in front of his wife and children and taken to prison where he remains today suffering assaults and ill treatment for giving his honest opinion of the legacy of Fidel Castro.

Amnesty International USA Calls on Senators Not to Confirm Haspel

Reacting to news that Gina Haspel has received support from Democratic Sen. Warner for the role of CIA Director, Daphne Eviatar, Director of Security with Human Rights at Amnesty International USA stated: "Due to the overwhelming public evidence suggesting Haspel's participation and compliance with crimes including torture, enforced disappearance, and obstruction of justice, Haspel's nomination is an affront to human rights. This country has not held any officials accountable for the use of torture, so it's even more outrageous that the government is considering someone to the chief intelligence position in spite of her alleged participation in that clearly illegal and immoral activity.

Trump’s DOJ Asks Court To Toss Out California Climate Crusades Against Exxon

The Department of Justice asked a federal court Thursday to dismiss a pair of lawsuits targeting a slew of oil companies for allegedly contributing to man-made global warming. Oakland and San Francisco sued five energy companies in March for engaging in a nearly decades-long misinformation campaign about the science of climate change.

Climate skeptics more eco-friendly than global-warming alarmists: study

Al Gore has been accused of hypocrisy for talking the talk on climate change despite burning through fossil fuels at a rapid clip, but it turns out he's not alone. A study by Cornell and the University of Michigan researchers found that those "highly concerned" about climate change were less likely to engage in recycling and other eco-friendly behaviors than global-warming skeptics.

Barclays ready to fend off radical proposals by activist investor

Barclays bosses are prepared to tell activist investor Ed Bramson that shareholders have no appetite for a major overhaul of the bank during a high-level meeting to be held this week. Chief executive Jes Staley and finance director Tushar Morzaria are set to sit down with Mr Bramson, whose fund Sherborne became the fourth largest shareholder recently after taking a stake of around 5.4%.

Reproductive Rights Groups Sue Administration Over Birth Control Access

Three reproductive rights groups are suing the Trump administration over changes to the federal Title X program -changes that restrict comprehensive health services for women. Two separate lawsuits were filed against the Department of Health and Human Services: one by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and another by Planned Parenthood affiliate groups in Wisconsin, Ohio and Utah.

Congress doesn’t want you to eat your dog or cat

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill advanced a proposal to outlaw dog and cat consumption last week - but not because Americans are eating their pets. If passed, the ban would send a clear signal that the United States condemns the dog and cat meat trades in East Asia, said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund, which lobbied for the measure.

Court sides with human in copyright fight over monkey selfie

File - In this July 12, 2017, file photo, Jeffrey Kerr, general counsel to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , speaks to reporters outside of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. A monkey cannot sue over rights to photos that it took because U.S. copyright law does not allow animals to file lawsuits, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday, April 23, 2018, in a novel case over selfies taken by a crested macaque.

Court: Copyright suit not allowed for selfie-taking monkey

File - In this July 12, 2017, file photo, Jeffrey Kerr, general counsel to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , speaks to reporters outside of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. A monkey cannot sue over rights to photos that it took because U.S. copyright law does not allow animals to file lawsuits, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday, April 23, 2018, in a novel case over selfies taken by a crested macaque.

Happy Earth Day, Enviros – Emissions Are Dropping As Natural Gas Stays Top Dog

Anti-fracking activists, who worry about climate change on Earth Day, should remember the explosion in natural gas production is helping to reduce the emissions some believe are causing global warming. Carbon dioxide emissions have declined more than 13 percent between 2005 and 2016, when natural gas began toppling other fossil fuels as the top form of energy, according to Energy Information Administration data.

Trump administrationa s first human rights report sparks fierce criticism

The U.S. State Department has released its first human rights report fully compiled under the Trump administration, and it's generating controversy for several changes and omissions - including eliminating references to "reproductive rights" and dropping use of the term "occupied territories." The report which is mandated by Congress is published every year and details human rights in virtually every country and territory around the world.

Obama praises Parkland students in Time: ‘Our children are calling us to account’

Former president Barack Obama praised the Parkland student activists who were named among Time magazine's most influential people of 2018. In his tribute to the students - Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and Alex Wind - Obama said while they may not have lobbyists, big budgets, or even the ability to vote, they are still making a difference.

USDA says individuals and groups may need license if buying…

A Washington Post investigation showing that buyers affiliated with 86 rescue and dog-advocacy groups and shelters nationwide have spent $2.68 million buying dogs at auctions has ignited fierce debate - and late Tuesday the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a bulletin stating that such individuals and nonprofits may need to be licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act. "Our job is to ensure the humane treatment of the animals we regulate," Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez, who leads the department's animal care program, said in the bulletin, which cited "dog acquisitions from an auction for resale as pets" as a reason that individuals or groups may require federal regulation.

Trump businesses made millions off Republican groups, federal agencies report says

In this Dec. 21, 2106 file photo, the Trump International Hotel in Washington. An electrical subcontractor who worked on the Trump International Hotel in Washington has sued a company owned by President Donald Trump for more than $2 million, alleging it was not fully paid.

MeToo founder Tarana Burke, Margaret Atwood honoured for activism

They were honouring stars of Hollywood, the media and literature, but it was longtime activist and MeToo founder Tarana Burke - a name unknown to most people until six months ago - who got the biggest ovation at Variety's annual Power of Women event on Friday. Activist Tarana Burke attends Variety's Power of Women event Friday in New York and told the audience she's "desperate to change" the narrative surrounding the MeToo movement before it's too late.

Strikes Must Minimize Further Harm to Civilians in Syria

According to reports, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have launched a strike against targets in Syria. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director for Middle East North Africa at Amnesty International USA, issued the following statement: "The people of Syria have already endured six years of devastating attacks, including chemical attacks, many of which amount to war crimes.

Women in the World Summit 2018: All you need to know

The 2018 Women in the World Summit will welcome the likes of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton , Oscar Award -winning actress Viola Davis and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to the event which will be set against the backdrop of #MeToo, antigun violence activism and the equal pay debate. Donald Trump 's campaign trail 'grab them by the p****' comment to Billy Bush, the White House endorsement of Roy Moore for senator of Alabama and praise of former aide and alleged wife beater Rob Porter were all catalysts in the organisation of the summit for founder Tina Brown CBE.