An interim report from a commission led by retired state High Court judge Michael D’Cunha in India’s Karnataka on Sunday recommended the prosecution of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and former health minister B. Sriramulu for alleged corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, submitted to the Karnataka government on August 31, details extensive financial irregularities [...]
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled Thursday in the case Central Unitaria de Traballadores/as v. Spain, upholding Spain’s decision to ban a May Day demonstration during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The court determined that the restriction on the trade union’s right to assembly was justified due to the extreme public health [...]
The Hong Kong Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 majority, quashed the Communications Authority’s findings against Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) for breaching the media code on Wednesday. The court nullified the warning that had been issued as a sanction for the alleged violations of principles concerning accuracy and impartiality. The appeal centered on Headliner, [...]
Danielle Smith, the conservative premier of the western Canadian province of Alberta, re-confirmed on Monday that she will table amendments to the Alberta Human Rights Act to include vaccination status as a protected ground from discrimination. The amendment was a key campaign promise, along with the enactment of the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which allows the [...]
The US Department of Justice announced on Thursday a massive nationwide operation leading to the indictment of nearly 200 individuals involved in healthcare fraud schemes, with fraudulent claims exceeding $2.7 billion. The operation revealed that over the past two weeks 193 individuals, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals, have been charged [...]
The pandemic has created a jigsaw puzzle of fear, anxiety and uncertainty among the patients; however, the doctors during this havoc have tirelessly worked as frontline warriors saving millions of lives while putting theirs at risk. Since the pandemic began, over 1,500 doctors have selflessly sacrificed their lives only to find themselves standing at a [...]
4,017,208 dead; 11,727,541 battling death. The above figures only begin to demonstrate the horrific reality and intolerable burden posed to the world at present due to Covid-19. The pandemic is more than just a health crisis, it is also a test of how effective international courts are when it comes to dealing with such unprecedented [...]
After three days of Generation Equality Forum meetings in Paris (hosted by the French Government from 30 June to 2 July), the international community launched a Global Acceleration Plan (GAP) for gender equality, driven by six Action Coalitions, the Compact on Women, Peace and Security, and Humanitarian Action. The GAP aims to accelerate gender equality in the [...]
On June 23, 2021, the Meghalaya High Court (HC) ruled in the case of Registrar General, HC of Meghalaya v. State of Meghalaya that “The mandatory or forced vaccinations violate the individuals’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21.” The court elucidated that a coercive policy of vaccination has no force in law and should be declared [...]
While the entire world is in the grips of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 62 co-sponsor countries including India, South Africa, and Indonesia have recently given a revised draft proposal for waiving the Intellectual Property (“IP”) rights of COVID vaccines to the TRIPS Council of the World Trade Organisation (“WTO”), seeking a patent waiver for manufacturing [...]
