TikTok and ByteDance Sue U.S. Government Over Law Mandating Divestiture or Ban

TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have initiated legal proceedings against the U.S. government in response to new legislation mandating ByteDance to divest its ownership of the social media platform or face a ban within the United States. The suit, filed on Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, claims the legislation violates the First...

Explainer: Pharma Giant Moderna's Allegations Against Pfizer And BioNTech For Copyright Infringement

The pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and BioNTech are embroiled in a high-stakes lawsuit filed by their rival, Moderna, over the intellectual property rights central to the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The London High Court is set to hear the complaint filed by Moderna against Pfizer and BioNTech for infringement of its patent to manufacturing of mRNA vaccines. What is...

US State Nebraska Passes Consumer Data Privacy Bill

The Nebraska Legislature unanimously passed the Nebraska Data Privacy Act (NEDPA), which is now awaiting Governor Jim Pillen's signature. If signed into law, NEDPA will come into effect on January 1, 2025, positioning Nebraska as either the sixteenth or seventeenth U.S. state to enact comprehensive data privacy legislation. Nebraska is located in the Midwestern region of the United...

US Court Rules West Virginia's Transgender Sports Ban In Girls' Sports Violates Anti-Discrimination Law

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has ruled that West Virginia's ban on transgender girls participating in girls' sports teams infringes upon the rights of transgender students under Title IX. The ruling came following suit filed by a 13-year-old transgender girl named Becky Pepper-Jackson, challenging the constitutionality of the 'Save Women's Sports Act'. Brief...

UK Proposes Legislation to Gradually Eliminate Smoking Tobacco and Vaping

The British government's plan for a landmark ban on smoking and vaping, spearheaded by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, has achieved a significant milestone as it passed its inaugural test in Parliament. Despite encountering significant resistance, notably from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's own Conservative Party, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has cleared its first hurdle. Tobacco and Vapes...

Chechnya Enforces Ban On Music Which Falls Between 80 and 116 Beats Per Minute

The Republic of Chechnya, a region deeply entrenched in its conservative Muslim traditions, has recently implemented strict measures regarding the tempo (speed range) of music. Under the directive, all musical, vocal, and choreographic works must adhere to a tempo ranging from 80 to 116 beats per minute (BPM). This announcement follows a meeting between Chechen Culture Minister Musa Dadayev...

Togo Parliament Passes Constitutional Reforms: Changes Presidential System To Parliamentary System Of Governance

The Parliament of Togo, a West African nation, has recently approved constitutional reforms. The approved amendments have caused controversy, with concerns raised regarding their implications for presidential term limits and the overall democratic process in the nation. Perhaps the most significant change is the transition from a presidential system to a parliamentary system...

UNGA Set To Deliberate On Resolution Recognising Srebrenica Genocide

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is set to deliberate on a resolution to acknowledge and commemorate the tragic events of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. Lead by Germany and Rwanda and co-sponsored by several nations, including the United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina, this resolution aims to designate July 11th as the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995...

ECHR Holds Switzerland In Breach Of Human Rights Convention For Climate Inaction

The European Court of Human Rights (“ECHR”) found Switzerland in breach of Article 8 and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention). These articles guarantee the right to respect for private and family life and access to the court system, respectively. The court stated that the State must adopt and implement effective measures to mitigate climate change's...

U.S. State Oklahoma Passes Controversial Immigration Bill Criminalizing 'Impermissible Occupation'

The U.S State of Oklahoma House of Representatives recently passed House Bill4156 with a significant majority. The bill, which aims to address concerns surrounding unauthorized immigration, introduces the concept of "impermissible occupation" as a criminal offense. With a vote count of 77-20, the bill was passed in the house. Oklahoma is located in the South Central region of the...

High Court Overturns Conviction of Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen

The High Court of the Republic of Maldives overturned the conviction and cancelled the 11-year prison sentence of former President Abdulla Yameen. This decision comes as a result of the court's determination that Yameen's 2022 trial, which found him guilty of money laundering and bribery charges, was unfair and plagued with procedural irregularities. Brief Facts: Yameen was arrested...

Judge Partially Dismisses Claims Against Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Child Harm Lawsuits

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, issued a ruling, partially dismissing the claims against Meta Platforms' CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The lawsuits, numbering in dozens, accused Zuckerberg of concealing information regarding the potential harm of Facebook and Instagram to children. However, the judge's decision ruled out certain allegations against Zuckerberg,...