Explainer: What is the Bill That Could Get TikTok Banned in the U.S.?

The US House of Representatives passed a bill in March 2024 with a substantial majority. The bill, titled 'Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act', garnered 352 votes in favour and 65 against, reflecting bipartisan concerns over national security risks associated with TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Now, the bill advances to the US Senate for...

Explainer: What is the Controversial Bill Prompting Protests in Georgia?

Georgia's parliament commenced discussions on Tuesday regarding a contentious bill concerning 'foreign agents', prompting a second day of protests from opponents who perceive the measure as a threat to Georgia's aspirations for European Union membership. The bill, which would mandate organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, has ignited...

UK Supreme Court Declares Section 146 of Trade Union And Labour Relations Act Incompatible with European Convention on Human Rights

The UK Supreme Court held that a portion of the UK's trade union laws is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The ruling, handed down on Wednesday, pertains to Section 146 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA), which was held to violate Article 11 of the ECHR, guaranteeing the right to freedom of assembly and...

U.S. Sentencing Commission Prohibits Use of Acquitted Conduct in Federal Sentencing

The U.S. Sentencing Commission, a bipartisan body responsible for establishing guidelines for the federal judiciary in the U.S., unanimously approved a significant amendment aimed at curtailing a controversial practice in federal sentencing known as "acquitted conduct". It voted for a recommendation to prohibit conduct for which a person was acquitted in federal court from being used...

Texas Jury Orders Samsung to Pay $142 Million in Patent Infringement Case

A Texas federal jury has ruled in favour of G+ Communications LLC in a patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics, ordering the tech giant to pay a substantial sum of $142 million. G+ Communications LLC, a Texas-based entity, filed a legal suit against Samsung, alleging that it infringed upon two of its patents essential for 5G wireless standards. The patents, which are critical...

'Dishonest, Immoral, Unjustified': US Vetoes Palestine UNSC Resolution

In a session at the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, the United States exercised its veto power, blocking a resolution that aimed to grant full membership to Palestine within the UN. This move comes after intense deliberations among Security Council members, with 12 nations voting in favor of the resolution and only the US casting a dissenting vote. Notably, the UK...

Germany Passes Self-Determination Act To Simplify Legal Gender Recognition Process

The German Parliament passed the Self-Determination Act allowing transgender and non-binary people to modify their legal documents to reflect their gender identity through an administrative procedure based on self-identification The Self-Determination Act replaces the outdated Transsexuals Act of 1980, which imposed burdensome requirements on individuals seeking to modify their...

Explainer: Starbucks Case Before U.S. Supreme Court To Decide Test For Reinstating Fired Workers During Unionization Drives

The upcoming US Supreme Court case of Starbucks v McKinney would have potentially broad implications for workers' rights to unionize in the US. The case revolves around the legal standard, that the federal courts should apply when considering requests from the National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) to reinstate fired employees during unionization drives. The case originated...

British Government Introduces New Law Targeting Sexually Explicit Deepfake Images

The British government has introduced a new law aimed at combating the proliferation of sexually explicit deepfake images. The proposed law, which is set to be introduced as an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, aims to criminalize the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images without consent in England and Wales. Under the new law, individuals who create sexually...

Germany Faces Domestic Lawsuit Over Arms Sales To Israel

A legal suit has been initiated in Germany by human rights organizations, including the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the Al Mezan Centre, and the Al-Haq. The lawsuit, filed at the Administrative Court of Berlin, aims to halt German arms exports to Israel in light of its recent military actions in...

Explainer: Former US President Donald Trump's Hush Money Trial

Former President Donald Trump is currently facing his first criminal trial in Manhattan. He's accused of being involved in a scheme to pay off alleged 'mistresses' before the 2016 election. At the same time, he's also facing 34 felony charges for falsifying business records. This trial marks a historic moment in American legal history, as it is the first time a former US president has...

Sweden Approves Law Lowering Legal Gender Change Age To 16

Sweden's parliament has recently passed a significant law altering the process of legally changing one's gender, lowering the minimum age from 18 to 16 and simplifying the procedures involved. The legislation aims to simplify the procedures involved in changing one's legal gender. Previously, the process could be lengthy and required a thorough investigation along with...