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☆ Universities Anticipate Disruptions to Graduation Ceremonies
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The virtual meeting was attended by several hundred members of the Senate, which includes all faculty members who meet certain criteria. A vote of no confidence in Mr. Block would have been the harsher of the two measures. Mr. Block, 75, did not comment on the resolutions on Friday. Medical school faculty members described hearing from medical students and residents who had been attacked as they tried to treat injured protesters. will join a list of universities whose faculty and staff have united with protesters to rebuke their administrators’ handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Persons: Counterprotesters, Gene Block, ”, Carlos Santos, U.C.L.A, Block, Tom Jackson Jr, counterprotesters, Mark Abramson, “, Matt Barreto, Mr, Barreto Organizations: Senate, University of California, Legislative Assembly, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Medical, University of Southern, The University Senate, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Police, California, Patrol, The New York Times, Jewish Federation Los Angeles Locations: U.C.L.A, Los Angeles, University of Southern California

☆ Opinion: Conservatives game the system to drag Supreme Court further into culture war
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Steve Vladeck | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He is the author of the “One First” Supreme Court newsletter. Both cases were filed in federal district courts in which the plaintiffs could literally hand-pick the specific federal judge who would be assigned to hear the dispute. Indeed, the Supreme Court granted emergency relief in both the social media and mifepristone cases. But the Supreme Court is another matter. For once, the Supreme Court is the victim of right-wing litigation behavior, not the culprit.

Persons: Steve Vladeck, Stephen I, Biden, they’ve, Terry Doughty, Donald Trump, Matthew Kacsmaryk, Trump, —, Neil Gorsuch, Gorsuch Organizations: CNN, University of Texas School of Law, Monroe Division, Court, Western, Western District of, Amarillo Division, Northern, Northern District of, Appeals, Fifth, Fifth Circuit, Democratic, Ninth Circuit, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities, Exchange, Conference, United, Northern District of Texas, Judicial, Federal, FDA Locations: Murthy v . Missouri, Monroe, Western District, Western District of Louisiana, Amarillo, Northern District, Northern District of Texas, Orleans, Texas, Austin, West Coast, United States

CNN —A majority of Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical Tuesday of the idea of a nationwide ban or new limits on mifepristone, the primary drug used for medication abortions. At issue in the case are lower-court rulings that would have rolled back recent Food and Drug Administration decisions to ease access to the mifepristone. “What the court did … is enter sweeping nationwide relief that restricts access to mifepristone for every single woman in this country. Some anti-abortion activists see the law as an avenue to end medication abortion, and perhaps all kinds of abortions. Danco’s attorney said that this case was not an appropriate venue for the court to weigh the reach of the Comstock Act.

Persons: Roe, Wade, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, ” Roberts, Erin Hawley, interjected, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s, ”, ” Gorsuch, Biden, …, Elizabeth Prelogar, Brett Kavanaugh, ” Kavanaugh, Prelogar, Ketanji Brown Jackson, “, Jackson, ” Jackson, Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, Alito, Thomas, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, ” Alito, Mifepristone, Comstock, mifepristone, Matthew Kacsmaryk –, Trump, –, Kacsmaryk Organizations: CNN, Drug Administration, Conservative, FDA, Justice Department, Amarillo Division, Court, Northern, Northern District of, US, US Judicial Locations: mifepristone, FDA’s, Amarillo, Northern District, Northern District of Texas

☆ Bukele Landslide Shifts El Salvador to One-Party State, Amplifies Democracy Fears
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Sarah Kinosian and Nelson RenteriaSAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - The landslide re-election of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele was cheered by supporters of his gang crackdown, but has worried opponents who fear the country is sliding into a de facto one-party state. El Salvador had "made history" for electing a single party "in a fully democratic system," he said. But rights groups said they are worried about where the country is headed and forecast further curbs on civil rights. They are just grateful he crushed the gang violence plaguing El Salvador for decades and that they can go outside after dark again. "Democratic spaces are closing in El Salvador, civil society is closing down and there is an environment of fear to speak out," said Claudia Ortiz, a lawmaker who has clashed with Bukele and ran for the upstart Vamos party.

Persons: Sarah Kinosian, Nelson, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, El Salvador, Gabriela Santos, State Anthony Blinken, Daniel Ortega, Gladis Munoz, Claudia Ortiz, Nelson Renteria, Drazen Jorgic, Christian Plumb, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters, El Salvador, U.S, Human Rights, University of Central America, El, State, Bukele Locations: El Salvador, U.S, Central America, El, Nicaragua, Venezuela

☆ EL Salvador's Bukele Declares Himself Winner of Presidential Vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele declared himself the winner of presidential elections held on Sunday, hours after polls closed but before the electoral body announced official results. "According to our numbers, we won the presidential election with more than 85% of the votes and a minimum of 58 out of 60 Assembly deputies," Bukele said on X, referring to the 60-seat legislative assembly.

Persons: Nayib Bukele, Bukele Organizations: SALVADOR, Reuters

☆ Opinion | The Promises and Problems of Buying Local
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

You can crisscross North Dakota from Fargo to Bismarck to Minot and never see a Walgreens, Rite-Aid or Walmart pharmacy. With narrow exceptions, a 1963 state law prohibits drugstores that aren’t majority-owned by a pharmacist. (CVS Health, whose predecessor company was already in the state in 1963, is grandfathered in.) It has withstood multiple challenges in court, repeal efforts in the stage Legislative Assembly, and even a statewide ballot initiative. North Dakota, by the way, also has a public bank and a state-owned flour mill, both founded shortly after World War I, so it’s kind of different.

Persons: Stacy Mitchell Organizations: Rite, Aid, Walmart, CVS Health, Institute for Local, Reliance Locations: Dakota, Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, Portland , Maine, North Dakota

☆ Opinion | The U.S. Lacks What Every Democracy Needs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Richard L. Hasen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The history of voting in the United States shows the high cost of living with an old Constitution, unevenly enforced by a reluctant Supreme Court. Unlike the constitutions of many other advanced democracies, the U.S. Constitution contains no affirmative right to vote. Our problems are only going to get worse until we get constitutional change. The framers were skeptical of universal voting. The original U.S. Constitution provided for voting only for the House of Representatives, not for the Senate or the presidency, leaving voter qualifications for House elections to the states.

Organizations: U.S . Constitution, Canadian Charter of Rights, Freedoms, Bundestag, Constitution, Senate Locations: United States, U.S ., Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, U.S

☆ Explainer: What is Alberta's Sovereignty Act?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are some key aspects of the act:WHAT IS THE ALBERTA SOVEREIGNTY ACT? Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act was approved by the legislature in December 2022 after the initial bill was diluted to its current form. The act affirmed that the Alberta legislature, not Smith's cabinet, would have the last word on lawmaking. The Sovereignty Act was one of the most eye-catching policies Smith promised to introduce after becoming premier last year. Former conservative premier Jason Kenney has blasted the Alberta Sovereignty Act as a "full-frontal attack on the rule of law" that risked turning Alberta into a "banana republic".

Persons: Danielle Smith, Todd Korol, Justin Trudeau's, Smith, " Smith, Trudeau, Jason Kenney, Denny Thomas, Rod, Deepa Babington, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Calgary Stampede, REUTERS, Smith's United Conservative Party, Liberal, ACT, Alberta, United, First Nations, Ottawa, federal National Energy Program, Wildrose Party, Reuters, Former, Thomson Locations: Alberta, Calgary , Alberta, Canada, ALBERTA, United Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta . Alberta, Ottawa

Bukele said that if El Salvador had listened to external critics — including some at the United Nations — the tiny Central American country would again be the murder capital of the world. They are irrefutable.”More than 72,000 people have been arrested under a state of emergency Bukele requested in March 2022 after a surge in gang violence. Political Cartoons View All 1169 ImagesIn March, the U.N. human rights office expressed concern over the year-long crackdown, noting widespread human rights violations, thousands of unsubstantiated arrests and dozens of in-custody deaths. In 2015, El Salvador was considered one of the world’s most violent as it recorded 6,656 homicides, or about 106 per 100,000 people. Bukele mentioned the Central American and Caribbean Games that El Salvador hosted in June and the upcoming Miss Universe competition that will come to El Salvador in November, as well as international surfing competitions that Bukele has promoted.

Persons: — El, Nayib Bukele, Bukele, El Salvador, ” Bukele, Salvadorans, El, “, ” Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, General, United Nations, El, Legislative, National Civil Police, Central American, Caribbean Games, Miss Locations: — El Salvador, American, El Salvador

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro looks on before a session in the Legislative Assembly of Goias to receive the title of citizen of Goias, in Goiania, Brazil August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRASILIA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Brazil has formally requested U.S. law enforcement assistance into probes that involve former President Jair Bolsonaro after his ex-aide agreed to cooperate with Brazilian investigators, two Brazilian Federal Police sources told Reuters. Brazil requested U.S. help to corroborate statements by former Bolsonaro aide Mauro Cid about his role in various criminal probes involving Bolsonaro, including into falsified vaccination records and the sale of expensive jewels gifted by foreign governments. Lawyers for Bolsonaro and Cid did not immediately respond to requests for comment. One of the sources said it could take three to six months for Brazil to receive the information it needs from the United States.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Ueslei Marcelino, Mauro Cid, Cid, Bolsonaro, Flavio Dino, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gabriel Stargardter, Josie Kao Organizations: Legislative, REUTERS, Rights, Brazilian Federal Police, Reuters, Justice Ministry's Department, Asset, Legal Cooperation, Bolsonaro, Thomson Locations: Goias, Goiania, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, U.S, United States

☆ Brazil's Bolsonaro to be hospitalized on Monday for two operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Rodrigo Viga Gaier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during a Partido Liberal Mulher event at the Legislative Assembly of the state of Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 6, 2023. Bolsonaro said he will undergo procedures to correct a hiatus hernia and a deviated septum. "The third one is for October or November," Bolsonaro told Reuters. The surgeries will take place at the Vila Nova Star hospital in Sao Paulo where Bolsonaro underwent preparatory examinations last month. On Saturday, Brazil's Supreme Court authorized a cooperation deal between one of his former aides and the country's Federal Police.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Carla Carniel, Bolsonaro, Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Peter Frontini, Steven Grattan, David Holmes Organizations: Partido Liberal, Legislative, REUTERS, DE, Reuters, Vila Nova Star, Brazil's, country's Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, DE JANEIRO

☆ Bolsonaro stays silent in police probe of undeclared Saudi, Bahrain jewelry gifts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Ricardo Brito | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, attend a Partido Liberal Mulher event at the Legislative Assembly of the state of Sao Paulo, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 6, 2023. After the presidential gifts became a matter of public knowledge, a court ordered the couple to hand them over to the state. His presidential offices, the Supreme Court and Congress were invaded and vandalized by Bolsonaro supporters one week later. Bolsonaro and Michelle Bolsonaro spent the last two days preparing with their team of lawyers and advisers, officials in his political party said. Cid, who handled the Bolsonaro finances, was arrested for his suspected involvement in a scheme to provide Bolsonaro with false vaccine cards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: Jair Bolsonaro, Michelle Bolsonaro, Carla Carniel, Michelle, Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro, Prosecutors, Alexandre de Moraes, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Cid, Ricardo Brito, Anthony Boadle, Grant McCool Organizations: Partido Liberal, Legislative, REUTERS, Rights, Federal Police, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Rights BRASILIA, Brasilia, Guarulhos, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United States

CNN —Authorities in India’s central Madhya Pradesh state have demolished a man’s home after a video that appeared to show him urinating on a member of a tribal community went viral on social media this week. While the incident captured in the video allegedly occurred a year ago, the man, identified by police as Pravesh Shukla, was arrested and charged Tuesday for the obscene act. A political flashpointIn a Twitter post Friday, the Madhya Pradesh government said the victim would receive 500,000 rupees ($6,000) in compensation and 150,000 rupees ($1,800) to help him build a house. The announcement came a day after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the victim to apologize for what happened to him. “Ever since I saw the video of [this] incident, my heart is deeply disturbed and filled with pain,” Chouhan tweeted Thursday.

Persons: Pravesh Shukla, “, ”, Priya Singh, Narendra Modi’s, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ” Chouhan, Chouhan, Shukla, Rahul Gandhi, Kamal Nath, ” Nath Organizations: CNN, Authorities, Police, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, “ Locations: India’s, Madhya Pradesh, Sidhi District, Uttar Pradesh, India, Sidhi district, ”

☆ Vinícius Jr.: Rio government names anti-racism law after Real Madrid star
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —The Rio de Janeiro government named an anti-racism law after Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. on Wednesday which will see sporting events stopped or suspended in the event of racist conduct. Brazil forward Vinícius was racially abused by fans when Madrid played Valencia in May, the 10th such incident involving the 22-year-old that LaLiga has reported to prosecutors that season. The ‘Vini Jr law,’ unanimously approved by the Rio government in June, includes protocol on how to process complaints of racism and mandatory educational campaigns. “Today is a very special day and I hope my family is very proud,” said Vinícius during a ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium, where he made his senior debut for Flamengo in 2017. “Sometimes, I wonder if I deserve so much,” he said.

Persons: Vinícius, LaLiga, Vini, ’, ”, “, ” Vinícius, Garrincha, Ronaldo Nazário, Sports Rafael Picciani Organizations: Reuters, Real Madrid, Madrid, Valencia, “, Flamengo, de Janeiro’s, Sports Locations: Rio, Janeiro, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

☆ Russian ex-arms dealer freed for Brittney Griner to run for far-right party in local vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 2 (Reuters) - A Russian arms dealer freed last December in a prisoner swap for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner has been chosen as the candidate of a far-right party for a seat in a Russian regional legislature, state news agency RIA reported on Sunday. RIA cited an official in Russia's ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR)'s local organisation as saying that Bout had been nominated as a candidate for the legislative assembly of the Ulyanovsk region in central Russia. Bout publicly joined the LDPR following his return to Russia. Despite its name, the LDPR holds far-right, ultra-nationalist views and strongly supports President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Lugovoi has served as an LDPR member of Russia's national parliament since 2007.

Persons: Brittney Griner, Viktor Bout, RIA, Bout, Griner, Vladimir Putin's, Andrei Lugovoi, Alexander Litvinenko, Lugovoi, Felix Light, Gareth Jones Organizations: U.S, Liberal Democratic Party, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Russian, United States, Ulyanovsk, Russia, Thailand, Washington, Ukraine, Britain

☆ Hundreds rally in Pakistan-ruled Kashmir against India G20 meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Abu Arqam Naqash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan, May 22 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people rallied in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Monday to protest arch rival India's decision to host a G20 tourism meeting in its part of the disputed Himalayan region, said a government official. Several protesters demonstrated in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and other cities, chanting: "Go India go back and boycott, boycott G20 boycott!" He termed the G20 gathering as illegal, and an attempt by India to seek legitimacy over its control of the disputed region. The G20 tourism working group meeting is the first international event in the region since the conversion. India at present holds it presidency, and is set to host its annual summit in New Delhi in September.

☆ What does India's BJP losing Karnataka elections mean for Modi?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost its only stronghold in the country’s south after voters in Karnataka state rejected the Hindu-nationalist policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party in crucial local elections last week. The opposition Congress party won 135 seats in the state’s legislative assembly, versus 66 for the BJP, giving Modi’s opponents a boost as they prepare to challenge India’s populist leader in next year’s general election. “Were they to lose some or all of the remaining state elections this year, including three big states in the (central and northern) Hindi belt, that may be further indication of waning support,” he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during campaigning for state elections in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on May 7. “A lot would depend on how Congress Party does in upcoming state assembly elections,” Verma said.

☆ Gas leak in India's Punjab kills 11 people, state lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 30 (Reuters) - Eleven people died and nine were hospitalised after a gas leak in Ludhiana in the northern Indian state of Punjab, a state lawmaker said on Sunday. Police officials were seen patrolling wearing masks and asking locals to keep out of a cordoned area, according to ANI news agency's video feed on Twitter. "The incident happened near a milk shop and a doctor's clinic although we cannot say for sure where the leak began," Chhina told Reuters by phone. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tweeted the leak was from a factory, without providing further details. Three bodies had "turned blue," local resident Anjan Kumar said in ANI's video feed on Twitter.

The extrajudicial killing has sparked widespread concern about the state of law and order in Uttar Pradesh as well as fears of retaliation. A decade later, he was elected as a member of Uttar Pradesh’s legislative assembly where he served five times, from 1989 to 2004. Police in Uttar Pradesh have killed more than 180 suspected criminals during encounters over past six years, according to Reuters. “The shoot out that happened is unacceptable.”CNN reached out to Uttar Pradesh police for comment on the situation but did not receive a response prior to publication. A political flashpointFollowing the incident, the Uttar Pradesh state government announced it will form two three-member Special Task Forces (SIT) to investigate the killing of Atiq and his brother.

"It's not just me and my children, future generations from our community in Jammu and Kashmir will vote for the BJP." A BJP victory in the disputed region could consolidate India's claim over the territory on the global stage. "We have taken a pledge to cross 50-plus seats to form the next government with a thumping majority," the BJP's president for Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina, told Reuters. Jammu has about 5.3 million inhabitants, 62% of whom are Hindu while Kashmir Valley has 6.7 million, 97% of them Muslim, according to a 2011 census. Previously unreported official records show just over 5.3 million certificates had been issued as of September.

☆ Another Putin critic died after falling out of a window
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A second Vladimir Putin critic has died after falling from a hotel window. Antov was a known critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the BBC reported. Antov is the second Putin critic to die after falling from a window. In September, Russian energy oligarch Ravil Maganov, 67, died after falling from a hospital window, Insider reported at the time. The BBC reported Odisha police Superintendent Vivekananda Sharma said Budanov died of a stroke.

☆ Russian regional deputies urge Putin to issue decree ending mobilisation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Russian reservists recruited during the partial mobilisation of troops attend a ceremony before departing to the zone of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the Rostov region, Russia October 31, 2022. The Kremlin said at the time that no formal decree to cancel the mobilisation was needed. Courts were siding with commanders, citing the fact that Putin's September mobilisation decree still had legal force. Reuters saw similar appeals from opposition deputies in the Moscow, St. Petersburg, Pskov and Veliky Novgorod regions. He said this was because the "legal lacuna" created by the absence of the decree "opens up opportunities for legal mayhem".

☆ Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seeks more autonomy from Canada in new bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 29 (Reuters) - The government of Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta introduced proposed legislation on Tuesday to resist federal laws it deems harmful to Alberta, fulfilling a controversial promise from new Premier Danielle Smith. If passed, the bill, known as the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, would give the province a legislative framework to defend its jurisdiction in areas such as natural resources, gun control, and health and education. Trudeau avoided commenting directly on the Sovereignty Act when asked by reporters on Tuesday. Smith became premier in early October and promised to introduce the Sovereignty Act as her first piece of legislation. read moreThe government said nothing in the proposed act undermines any existing treaties with First Nations.

☆ Progressives returned for third term in Australia's Victoria state poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The progressive government of Australia's Victoria state won re-election on Saturday, clearing the way for spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare. After eight years in power, centre-left Labor was tipped to defeat its Liberal-National coalition opposition, and the government, led by Daniel Andrews, was comfortably returned at Saturday's poll. "I'm humbled and so grateful, so so grateful, that Victorians have re-elected a majority Labor government," Andrews told ABC television on Sunday morning. Four years ago, Labor returned to power in a landslide, winning just under two-thirds of seats, but polling in the final days of this campaign had suggested a tighter race. Victoria, with its capital of Melbourne, is Australia's second most populous state after New South Wales.

☆ El Salvador is moving toward raising $1 billion in bonds backed by bitcoin by broadening its bet on crypto
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

El Salvador is making moves that could lead the country to raise $1 billion in bitcoin-backed bonds. In September 2021, El Salvador became the first nation in the world to adopt bitcoin as a legal currency. Bukele in November 2021 said El Salvador had partnered with digital assets firm Blockstream to launch a so-called bitcoin bond dubbed Volcano Bonds. El Salvador made its last bitcoin purchase in July, according to a CoinTelegraph report. A bitcoin-backed bond cannot be issued before Congress passed the proposed legislation.

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