Federal judge declines to find GOP engaging in poll intimidation
A judge for the US District Court for the District of New Jersey declined to rule Saturday that the Republican National Committee (RNC) has engaged in poll intimidation. The decision was spurred by an order late last month for the RNC to provide information in regards to "any efforts regarding poll watching or poll observation," showing any potential collusion with Donald Trump's poll monitoring campaign, aimed at intimidating minority voters—a violation of an old consent decree. Lawyers for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) argued that, in regards to potential poll intimidation, Trump and the RNC are "inextricably tied together." The RNC argued, and the court agreed, that the DNC has provided insufficient evidence to support their argument. In addition, the court found that the RNC produced documentary evidence showing there is not an agent relationship between the Trump campaign and RNC in regards to these so-called "ballot security measures." The judge, while ruling in favor of the RNC, said that the court, following election day, will hear the parties "as to additional discovery on this point in order to develop a full record to determine whether an extension is warranted."
VW emissions probe to investigate board chair Poetsch
Car giant Volkswagen says German prosecutors have expanded their probe of the emissions scandal to include the firm's chairman of the board. Hans Dieter Poetsch was chief financial officer when the scandal over cars rigged to cheat on US diesel emissions tests broke in September 2015. VW said prosecutors in Braunschweig were investigating two members of the board, Poetsch and an unnamed other. Former boss Martin Winterkorn is already being investigated. In September, Matthias Mueller, the current chief executive, said the firm had made a "huge mistake" in using technology in its diesel cars to cheat on the tests.
Federal judge rules Title VII protections extend to sexual orientation
A judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled Friday that Title VII's protection from employment discrimination based on sex extends to sexual orientation. The ruling came as the court refused to dismiss a case where the plaintiff alleged discrimination based on his LGBT status creating a hostile work environment leading to discharge. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought forth the complaint after a manager regularly used gay slurs against an employee and inquired about his sex life. The company filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that the employee failed to state a legally cognizable claim. The court held that the behavior was a violation of current civil rights legislation because it was rooted in the idea that the plaintiff 's sexual orientation was not in line with what the manager believed a man's should be.
Competition would be the best solution to rising drug prices
Prosecutors are investigating drug makers for colluding over prices, but higher consumer costs may be a natural consequence of reduced competition.
UN rights experts urge Brazil to step-up recovery effort over Samarco dam disaster
One year after the disastrous collapse of a mining dam in Brazil, UN experts called on the Brazilian government, Samarco, Vale, and BHP Billiton Friday to refocus recovery efforts. The statement urged officials to act on issues concerning the environmental harm and human rights impact brought about by the catastrophe. While the UN acknowledged the steps that have already been taken to resettle affected communities and clean up the water-ways, the organization criticized the authorities for their slow progress. "The measures they are currently developing are simply insufficient to deal with the massive extent of the environmental and human costs of this collapse, which has been described as the worst socio-environmental disaster in the country's history."
Ivory Coast court upholds constitutional referendum results
The Ivory Coast Constitutional Council on Friday affirmed the results of a referendum backing a new constitution, rejecting requests from several political parties, including that of former president Laurent Gbagbo, who boycotted the vote that the referendum be annulled. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara stated that the new constitution will help the country put behind a decade of political turmoil and move forward toward progress. The newly adopted constitution received a record 93 percent of the vote, although the voter turnout was only about 42 percent. The older constitution, drafted under military rule after a 1999 coup, contained a controversial clause that required both parents of the presidential candidates to be native-born Ivorians. This was meant to preclude northern Ivorians like Ouattara who have family ties that straddle the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, from running for the presidency. Under the new constitution, a presidential candidate only needs one parent who was Ivorian instead of two. The referendum also creates a position for a vice president and the senate.
New Jersey officials found guilty over 'bridgegate' scandal
Bridget Kelly and William Baroni, former New Jersey officials under Governor Chris Christie, were found guilty Friday of all counts against them for the 2013 lane closings on the George Washington Bridge. Kelly and Baroni were facing nine counts including conspiring to fraudulently misuse federal property, wire fraud and deprivation of civil rights. The prosecution alleged that Kelly and Baroni used the lane closings to cause massive traffic jams as an act of revenge against a New Jersey mayor for not supporting Christie's reelection efforts.
Wall Street bonuses are expected to sink for 3rd straight year
Merger and acquisition talks have been active, but the deals’ advisers get paid on completion. This year, antitrust officials thwarted some large mergers.
Time
How the 2016 Election Became a Battle of the Sexes
Newsweek
Here's What The Fbi Found In The Emails On Anthony Weiner's Laptop
Business Week
Early Voters Are So Done With This Election
The Economist
The presidential election: America's best hope
Der Spiegel
The next president
L'Espresso
Il paese dei condoni
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