Congress Takes Up Issue Of “Unlocking” Cell Phones With Four Competing Bills

On Jan. 26, a decree from the Librarian of Congress went into effect, making it illegal for users to change the way their cell phones work. During an once-every-three-years review of digital copyright laws, the librarian ruled that “unlocking” is, indeed, a copyright violation. “Unlocking” permits phone owners to switch between carriers that use the […]

Frederick Reese
By Frederick Reese

On Jan. 26, a decree from the Librarian of Congress went into effect, making it illegal for users to change the way their cell phones work. During an once-every-three-years review of digital copyright laws, the librarian ruled that “unlocking” is, indeed, a copyright violation. “Unlocking” permits phone owners to switch between carriers that use

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Pakistani Court Rules CIA Drone Strikes Are Illegal

A Pakistani judge ruled that U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan constitute a ‘war crime’ and are a ‘blatant violation of basic human rights.’

Alice K Ross
By Alice K Ross

In the first major Pakistani court ruling on the legality of the CIA’s drone campaign in the country, a Peshawar High Court judge said this morning that strikes are ‘criminal offences.' Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan ordered Pakistan’s government to ‘use force if need be’ to end drone attacks in the country’s tribal regions. He ruled that U.S.

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Inside The DPRK: How A Caste System Structures Everyday Realities For North Koreans

There is a strange phenomenon that lingers over every North Korean. For the past five decades, an arbitrary determination decides where they will live, what hospitals they will go to if they are sick, if they can go to college, if they can marry and even if they will receive a full serving of food. […]

Frederick Reese
By Frederick Reese

There is a strange phenomenon that lingers over every North Korean. For the past five decades, an arbitrary determination decides where they will live, what hospitals they will go to if they are sick, if they can go to college, if they can marry and even if they will receive a full serving of food. This de facto caste system has nothing to do with

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NYC Weighs Allowing Green Card And Visa Holders To Vote

Agha Saleh came to the United States inspired by democratic ideals, but it took him years to achieve a basic one here: voting.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

NEW YORK — Agha Saleh came to the United States inspired by democratic ideals, but it took him years to achieve a basic one here : voting. He'd lived through political upheaval in his native Pakistan and was eager to be part of America's storied "government of the people." But for the eight years until he got citizenship, it struck him as "a

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Colorado Finalizes Laws Regulating Marijuana Sales, Recreational Use

In November, Coloradans voted to legalize marijuana — this week the state legislature passed the regulatory framework to implement the production, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana. The passage of this law was historical, making Colorado the first in the U.S. to pass a law regulating the sale and use of recreational marijuana. Colorado Gov. John […]

Katie Rucke
By Katie Rucke

In November, Coloradans voted to legalize marijuana — this week the state legislature passed the regulatory framework to implement the production, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana. The passage of this law was historical, making Colorado the first in the U.S. to pass a law regulating the sale and use of recreational

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London Exposed: Are the Walls Crumbling Around The World’s Tax Haven?

The City of London’s secrecy is entrenched like medieval walls, protecting the wealth of its barons.

Steve Rushton
By Steve Rushton

Secrecy is crucial for tax havens and corporate tax evasion. Without it fraud can be prosecuted, money laundering revealed, corruption calculated and justice applied. The City of London’s secrecy is entrenched like medieval walls, protecting the wealth of its barons. Information about how corporations dominate government and public bodies,

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