During talks on Tuesday with Lakdar Brahimi, U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, the commander of the Taliban’s northern opponents offered to release more than 1,000 Taliban prisoners from his control in an effort to push the tentative Afghan peace process forward. “We are ready to exchange all our prisoners if the Taliban do the same,” […]
A woman identified as Jennifer W. claims that officers in Nevada’s Sparks Police Dept. laughed at her, called her a liar, threatened to prosecute her for making a false claim, and charged her for lab tests results after she reported that she had been raped. Timothy Mobly has since pleaded guilty in the crime. Ms. […]
Nike announced that it will increase the pay of its entry-level Indonesian workers by a modest six percent, to the equivalent of about 30 U.S. dollars a month. The Indonesian government recently moved to raise the minimum wage and likely prompted Nike’s action. The new wages are now slightly higher than Indonesia’s new minimum wage […]
The U.S. House of Representatives failed to gain the two-thirds majority needed to pass an anti-racism bill. The vote recorded 254 in favor, 152 against, and 24 who avoided the issue by voting “present.” The original bill included language that specifically condemned the Council of Conservative Citizens based on its racist agenda. According to Rep. […]
Chris Keener has filed suit against the Boy Scouts of America, alleging that he was fired for being gay after 22 years of service. Keener’s lawyers claim that scouts’ Golden Empire Council in Sacramento conducted an “invasive internal investigation into his sexual orientation” before firing him. Plaintiff’s attorney Geoffrey Kors commented, “When the Boy Scouts […]
A five-year study reveals that the female faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Science face “pervasive, if unintentional” sex discrimination. The report identified sex discrimination in hiring, in the allocation of laboratory space and research money, in the granting of awards and promotions, and in the membership of important committees. Discrimination was […]
Southeast Bomb Task Force officials announced today that they will scale back their search for fugitive bombing suspect Eric Robert Rudolph, whom they believe is still hiding within the western North Carolina mountains. The new search plan will use helicopter searches more sparingly and will also reduce the number of officers assigned to the investigation. […]
An Israel court has rejected Anatoly Vitznudel’s claim that the anti-impotency drug Viagra caused him to lose control and rape a woman. Anatoly Vitznudel admitted kidnapping the woman at knife point and driving her to a wooded area, but denied responsibility for the rape and claimed that the woman had made sexual advances toward him […]
Although cancer patients of all kinds are susceptible to anxiety and depression, a recent study concludes that such psychological illness may be especially severe, harmful and prevalent among women with ovarian cancer. The recent study, presented at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, calculated the prevalence of depression and anxiety among […]
Just under two weeks ago, a U.N.-brokered agreement between the repressive Taliban regime and its northern opponents promised a forthcoming cease fire and efforts to form a joint government. Since then, fighting has resumed, although both sides still claim that they want a cease fire. Neither side raised the issue of women’s representation in future […]
Governor and presidential hopeful George Pataki (R-NY) has once again urged the Republican party to drop an anti-abortion plank from its national platform. Pataki made a similar statement at the 1996 Republican convention and has defended his position, saying, “We should focus on what divides us from Democrats and not what divides us as Republicans.” […]
The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League has launched a television-ad campaign to expose the anti-abortion views of Republican presidential hopefuls Elizabeth Dole and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The ads began airing this week in New Hampshire and Iowa and will be presented to a news conference in Washington, D.C. today. New Hampshire […]
In an important ruling for domestic violence victims and their advocates, Florida’s Supreme Court has ruled that abused spouses and children attacked in their own homes may “meet force with force,” even if they have not tried to flee their attackers. The Court’s opinion read, “We join the majority of jurisdictions that do not impose […]
India’s state-run General Insurance Corporation has offered women “rape insurance.” The new insurance coverage for rape was included as part of a larger insurance package offering coverage for more traditional injuries and hazards. Indian women’s groups have criticized the idea that rape victims be offered monetary damages for their suffering and claim that offering insurance […]
In a 36-20 vote, the Georgia Senate passed a bill that would require insurance companies to pay for prescription contraceptives. The bill had already passed in the state’s House. The bill’s Republican opponents argued that small businesses could not afford its mandate but were unsuccessful in attaching amendments that would limit the bill’s powers. State […]
Early this year, California Governor Gray Davis (Dem.) announced a new proposal that was designed to off-set huge declines in minority enrollment caused by state affirmative action bans including Proposition 209, which passed in 1996. Under the new proposal, the University of California would admit all applicants who graduated in the top 4% of their […]
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Massie Tillman has banned female lawyers and witnesses from wearing pants in his Tarrant County, Texas courtroom. New courtroom rules that went into effect Monday stated, “Women are to wear a dress, skirt and jacket or skirt and blouse in the courtroom. women are not to wear pants or pantsuits.” While many […]
Mattel Inc. announced yesterday that it will buy girls’ software and entertainment company Purple Moon. Included in the acquisition will be Purple Moon’s Web site, its CD-ROM computer games and related merchandise. Purple Moon’s products were created for pre-teen girls between the ages of 12-15. The company excelled in creating entertaining, non-violent computer games and […]
European Commissioner Emma Bonino may soon become Italy’s first woman president. Bonino is the only potential candidate who has already started an active campaign for the presidency. Her opponents are likely to include Treasury Minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Senate President Nicola Mancino. Italy’s current president, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, announced this past weekend that he […]
A University of Michigan student group called Students Organizing for Labor and Economic Equality is demanding that clothing and other products which bear the U of M logo be produced under humane working conditions. The group wants to verify that the factories producing university goods do not use underage workers, underpay their workers, or expose […]
