7 min read

The new law requires Facebook, Google to pay for news draws praise, criticism

The passage of the federal government’s controversial Online News Act has highlighted division over the law as tech giant Meta said it will block news on its social media platforms in response to the legislation. Bill C-18 received royal assent after a final vote in the Senate on Thursday. The law will compel certain tech companies to pay for news content that they share on their platforms. Meta announced in a news release following the act’s passage that it will block news for Canadian users in order to comply with the law, and will do so before C-18 comes into…
3 min read

Kenneth Law case now spans 11 Ontario police forces

Editor’s note: If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health there are a number of ways to get help, including by calling Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. A list of local crisis centers is also available here. Peel police are asking members of the public to be on “alert” for items containing sodium nitrite, including hoods and masks, as the investigation into the online sale of the lethal substance continues. In a video posted to YouTube on Friday, Peel police provided an update on their investigation into Kenneth Law, the Mississauga man accused of selling sodium…
7 min read

Hong Kong refuses to clarify law as uncertainty dims business hub | Human RightsNews

Taipei, Taiwan – For decades, Hong Kong has advertised the rule of law as the cornerstone of the city’s success as an international business hub. These days, though, the Hong Kong government often appears unwilling or unable to explain what the law actually is. In the run-up to the June 4 anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, Hong Kong officials were repeatedly asked by journalists if commemorating the event would be a crime under a Beijing-decreed national security law (NSL) imposed in the wake of mass protests in 2019. On each occasion, the officials, including Hong Kong Chief Executive…
3 min read

Tennessee law restricting drag shows unconstitutional, federal judge rules

A federal judge has ruled that Tennessee’s law restricting drag performances in public or where children are present is unconstitutional, striking a blow to efforts to regulate LGBTQ conduct in US states. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in March signed the bill passed by the state’s assembly that aimed to restrict drag performances, putting the state at the forefront of a Republican-led effort to limit drag in at least 15 states in recent months. US District Judge Thomas Parker, an appointee of former Republican president Donald Trump, ruled late on Friday that the law was “both unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad,”…
3 min read

Macao further restricts political freedoms with revisions to national security law

BEIJING — Echoing the crackdown on freedoms in neighboring Hong Kong, the former Portuguese colony of Macao has revised its legal system to face “new adverse challenges in terms of national security.” The government of the tiny enclave, heavily dependent on its gambling industry, said changes to the Law on Safeguarding National Security were needed as an upgrade to legislation first enacted in 2009, a decade after Macao’s handover to Chinese rule. “As the country now faces new adverse challenges in terms of national security, the revision of Macao’s Law on Safeguarding National Security is a compulsory step to respond…
6 min read

The government wants to toss ‘junk fees’ in the garbage

Consumer advocates in both Canada and the United States are welcoming recent announcements to crack down on the hidden and unexpected charges on purchases that Canadians often pay, but they also say authorities must enforce existing rules for there to be a difference. Following the footsteps of American lawmakers, the federal Liberals announced that they would be taking a look at the additional fees that are often paired with purchases of items such as concert or event tickets. In the federal budget released in late March, a small note referring to “junk fees” said the government plans to work to…
6 min read

Pakistan court says Khan arrest legal as party ponders next move | Imran Khan News

A court in Pakistan has ruled the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan legally as protests erupted across the country after he was taken into custody in the capital Islamabad. The arrest on Tuesday, as Khan appeared in court to face corruption allegations, is the latest twist in a months-long political crisis and follows several unsuccessful attempts to apprehend the cricketer-turned-politician. Senior members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said a six-member committee, formed by Khan in March over his fears of being arrested, will gather and decide the next move. Earlier, authorities said Khan was arrested in connection…
5 min read

Trump’s defeat in Carroll case presages more legal peril

With one jury verdict in the books — complete with a $5 million award to Carroll — here’s a look at what’s coming next in Trump’s legal travails. Indictment watch in Fulton County Key date: July 11 Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia, a state that President Joe Biden won narrowly. Willis recently told local law enforcement to prepare for potential indictments between July 11 and Sept. 1. Willis’ charging decisions are rooted in the work of a special grand jury she…