Iraq’s Ministry of Communications announced on Sunday that it had imposed a block on the messaging application Telegram, citing national security concerns. The underlying reason for this restriction, according to the ministry, was to protect users’ personal data, which it claimed the app had mishandled. The statement claimed that this decision emanated from guidance from…
The United Nations Human Rights office in Uganda has been closed, as announced by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, last Thursday. Türk cited the East African country’s decision not to renew an agreement enabling the office’s operation as the principal reason for this closure. Simultaneously, he conveyed substantial apprehensions regarding the…
The Chinese government recently published a draft of proposed regulations that could potentially compel specific data processors to undergo annual or biennial audits. This first draft, labeled as the “Administrative Measures for Compliance Auditing of Personal Information Protection”, has been unveiled on the Chinese Cyberspace Office’s website, marking a significant regulatory move in Asia’s largest…
On the ongoing investigation into alleged election subversion during the Trump administration, a recent indictment points towards involvement of five lawyers, including a U.S. Department of Justice official. Further details on the indictment and specific charges against these individuals remain undisclosed, yet this development highlights serious concerns over attempts to undermine democratic processes from within…
In an unprecedented compliance crackdown by the California State Bar, over 1,700 lawyers have found themselves suspended due to their failure to adhere to the newly established trust account rules. As reported, this wave of suspensions marks a stern response to breaches of compliance within the legal community. The failure of a considerable number of…
In a noteworthy move, the Government of India has presented a new digital privacy bill to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) despite voiced apprehensions from opposition leaders. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, follows the withdrawal of a similar privacy bill from last year and has been introduced amid renewed…
On Friday, Ethiopia’s government announced a six-month state of emergency in the Amhara region in the wake of persistent clashes between the military and local Fano militia. As revealed through a press release by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office, the conflicts have prompted the need for emergency measures to restore peace and order. The resolution…
This week has seen noteworthy developments in the world of government contracting and commercial businesses, especially for legal professionals who closely watch policy changes and updates. A highlight of the week involves an on-going legislative effort that would significantly update the current Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This initiative is spearheaded by the Department of Defense,…
Good news for our readers who follow global environmental affairs. The weekly Climate Policy Update published this August by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is hot off the presses. This comprehensive update tracks changes in climate policy and offers insight into major environmental headlines that took place last week. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer…
The worlds of law and corporate affairs have seen several significant changes recently as governments and corporations alike tackle emerging and re-defined challenges in their sectors. Whilst new legislation and pivoting business transactions are a focal point of these changes, it is important for lawyers and in-house legal teams in corporations to look at the…
On July 28, 2023, an unexpected shift occurred in the mattress industry. A coalition of United States domestic producers and wholesalers of mattresses officially filed petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). Within these petitions, the coalition was seeking the imposition of antidumping (AD) duties on imports…
The Supreme Court has upheld a ruling from a federal appeals court which prevents the city of Tulsa from enforcing municipal ordinances against Native Americans. The unsigned order, which was passed without any public dissents, came as a refusal of the city’s request to suspend the appeals court’s decision whilst it launches an appeal. The…
Recently, the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hosted a hearing with the title “Hemp in the Modern World: The Years long Wait for FDA Action”. Described as a “first-of-its-kind”, this hearing took place in a small room in a House office building and offered a platform for lawmakers and…
The United Kingdom has earned a bit of a reputation for lagging behind in terms of corporate criminal enforcement, especially when compared with the practices in the United States and elsewhere. However, over the recent years, it appears that the UK government is intent on rectifying this, as evidenced by a series of reforms aimed…
In a significant ruling, the Connecticut Supreme Court dispensed with the concept of governmental immunity in a case involving a police officer and a traffic incident. The case revolved around Officer Jonathan Sykes, a Bloomfield police officer, who, in responding to a possible abduction on Aug. 10, 2017, collided with a woman’s car, causing injury…
With Cybersecurity increasingly drawing the attention of federal and state policymakers, developments in this space are poised to impact a broad array of private sector organizations. Accordingly, the Biden administration is taking steps to explore the harmonization of cyber regulations, as seen in their recent activities. This initiative underscores the government’s growing role in setting…
Hong Kong’s highly contentious National Security Law has once again stirred up interest in the legal community. This time, the focus is on the ex-wife and children of Elmer Yuan Gong-yi, a pro-democracy activist who has avoided the reach of Hong Kong authorities after fleeing the region. In a recent development, the national security police…
In a recent update from the North Carolina General Assembly, KTS Strategies has brought to light the extent of their unique role and vast experience in providing comprehensive policy and advocacy advice. Serving a wide range of industries and operating across federal, state, and local agencies, KTS Strategies indeed has played a pivotal role in…
The U.S. Treasury Department recently released its 2022 annual report to Congress on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This report, which covers the entirety of the 2022 calendar year, provides important insights and statistical data regarding the CFIUS process and the state of foreign investments into the United States throughout…
In a significant move towards reestablishing trust in corporate governance and auditing disciplines, the Department for Business & Trade is set to introduce new regulatory reforms. On 19 July 2023, the Department published draft regulations, colloquially referred to as “the Regulations”. These will effectively carry forward the pledges made by the government with the wrap-up…
In a significant move that aligns with global sustainability trends, the UK government announced on August 2, 2023 that it plans to establish company sustainability disclosure standards. The proposed standards will be in place by July 2024, with the aim of enhancing the comparability and value of reported information for investors. This initiative demonstrates the…
The False Claims Act (FCA), a Civil War-era statute, has seen significant developments in recent times. This act, once chiefly associated with dealing with defense and other government contractors, now extends its scope far beyond those particular sectors due to a series of amendments. Enforced by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and qui tam…
Nebraska has revamped its financial legal landscape by implementing a new licensing requirement specific to small-dollar loans. The state governor, Jim Pillen, assented to Legislative Bill 92 on June 6, 2023, enacting it into law with effect from June 7, 2023. As per the amendments, the Nebraska Installment Loan Act now incorporates specifications regarding entities…
In a Thursday letter, federal prosecutors countered arguments made by Harvard Law School professor emeritus Laurence Tribe and Sam Bankman-Fried’s attorneys who were advocating against the detention of Bankman-Fried, the FTX founder. The prosecutors urged a Manhattan federal judge to uphold the detention, asserting that it did not violate Bankman-Fried’s constitutional rights. Assistant U.S. attorney…
The previous week’s litigation in London was marked by a flurry of legal activity. Law firm Hugh James instigated legal actions against Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP due to the guidance it provided to a medical group involved in a case over non-medical-grade silicone implants[1]. In more international news, Panasonic has lodged a patent claim against…