Nguyen Nhat Cam and nine other defendants were found guilty Saturday by the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam for exploiting a testing kit purchasing scam. Cam was the former chief of Hanoi’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while five of the other nine defendants were senior officials. The rest of the defendants were [...]
A US federal court judge Friday denied a motion for a preliminary injunction against Governor Tom Wolf’s ongoing mask mandate and Covid-19 contact tracing program. The motion was part of a lawsuit filed in the Middle District of the US District Court of Pennsylvania in September. The suit was brought by the American Freedom Law [...]
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final decision Monday to maintain the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for soot particulate matter for another five years, without changes. The Clean Air Act requires the agency to review and set NAAQS regulations for “pollutants that are common in outdoor air, considered harmful to [...]
The UK government announced Thursday that it had granted Pfizer legal indemnity protecting the American pharmaceutical company from civil lawsuits due to any unforeseen complications arising from problems with its COVID-19 vaccine. The special legal indemnity was the result of an emergency government consultation in September, when the UK Department of Health & Social Care [...]
The UN observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)on Thursday, calling for greater protection of their human rights. The IDPD was initially proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of IDPD “aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and developments.” The UN [...]
The US Supreme Court Thursday vacated a federal court decision affirming California Governor Gavin Newsom’s restrictions on indoor religious services and ordered that the court reexamine the case. The challenge was brought by Harvest Rock Church, based in Pasadena, which claimed that the restrictions were harsh and went against its freedom to practice religion as protected [...]
Japan loosened regulations on part-time work for foreigners stuck in the country due to COVID-19 Tuesday. Many have had trouble supporting themselves; the temporary measures allow people on 90-day short-stay permits to renew said permits and work up to 28 hours a week. Technical trainees will be able to receive “specified activity” work permits lasting [...]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday that New Zealand will extend paid sick leave from five days to 10 days. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood is to bring the bill to extend paid sick leave to the parliament in the coming weeks. Wood cited difficulties arising from COVID-19 sick leave policies as [...]
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed an emergency petition with the US Supreme Court Monday to lift a Sixth Circuit stay that restricts private religious schools from conducting in-person classes. In response to a surging number of COVID-19 cases in Kentucky, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear issued an executive order on November 18 requiring all schools [...]
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a bill Monday that would limit COVID-19 liability for schools, health care providers and other businesses. House Bill 1737 would limit the liability of businesses, child care facilities, health care facilities and schools for any personal injury or property damage related to COVID-19 exposure. The bill would have applied during disaster [...]
