Constitutional

• KBS reporters have filed a constitutional petition seeking to overturn final defamation judgments and damages awarded after they reported on a businessperson's prior convictions. • The Constitutional Court of Korea has decided to conduct a full review of the case to determine if the rulings violated the reporters' freedom of the press. • This case tests the boundaries of journalistic accountability versus the right to report on public interest information, specifically regarding the disclosure of criminal records.

Human rights lawyer warns activists’ potential sentencing when jury did not convict them violates legal principlesMiddle East crisis – live updatesOne of the UK’s leading human rights lawyers has said the potential sentencing of four Palestine Action protesters as terrorists when the jury did not convict them of a terrorism offence violates fundamental legal principles.Michael Mansfield KC, known for his work on landmark cases such as the Grenfell Tower fire, Stephen Lawrence and the Birmingham Six, claimed the sentencing of Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21 represents a “constitutional threat”. Continue reading...

• Two former Constitutional Court research officers have joined major law firms, sparking concerns over a "Jaepanso-won insider market" where former officials leverage specialized knowledge for private gain. • In a separate domestic issue, the National Election Commission reported that 67 polling stations experienced ballot shortages, with 15 of those incidents concentrated in the Songpa District. • On the international front, Chinese President Xi Jinping is traveling to Pyongyang for the first time in seven years to reassert China's influence amid strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia.

Opposition says bill to prevent ‘foreign influence’ in elections gives ruling party carte blanche to annul will of votersSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico’s senate has passed ‌a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country.The bill, which was presented by the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic ⁠dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and ⁠the intervention of foreign governments ⁠or agencies”. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court has provided constitutional backing to the Systemic Institutional Revision (SIR), affirming its validity as an administrative reform. • The ruling clarifies that previous adjudicatory proceedings against individual electors do not constitute a constitutional bar against systemic revisions of electoral rolls. • The court noted that the presumption under Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 119 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023), is rebuttable and does not permanently freeze voter rolls.

• The Supreme Court issued the SIR verdict, which reaffirms the constitutional authority of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure electoral integrity. • The ruling separates constitutional principles from political theater, emphasizing that the ECI's powers are not unchecked. • To maintain accountability, the Court specified that the Commission remains subject to judicial review, statutory limitations, and the requirement to provide recorded reasons for its actions.

• The Supreme Court, in a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, upheld the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise for voter rolls. • The court ruled that the SIR is constitutional and cannot be termed "ultra vires" or illegal simply because it employs a process distinct from routine statutory voter revisions. • This decision validates the ECI's authority to implement a more rigorous rehaul of electoral rolls to ensure accuracy and legitimacy in the voting process.

• Nigeria's Senate engaged in heated drama over amendments to its Standing Orders, attempting to impose stricter eligibility rules for the Senate Presidency to favor insiders ahead of 2027 elections. • The proposed changes, criticized as exclusionary by figures like Adams Oshiomhole, faced immediate legal scrutiny for constitutional contradictions, prompting an embarrassing U-turn. • Critics argue the episode highlights misplaced priorities amid national economic hardship, diverting focus from pressing public issues.

US judge says halt of $100m in funds allotted by Congress for scholars, writers and research illegal and discriminatoryA federal judge ruled on Thursday that the terminations of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) were unconstitutional and involved “blatant” discrimination. In April last year, Donald Trump’s administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing more than $100m in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations.The terminations were part of a cost-cutting drive that billionaire Elon Musk was leading at Doge. Continue reading...

• The US Trade Court ruled on May 7, 2026, that President Trump's latest 10% tariffs violate constitutional authority, representing a significant legal setback for the administration's trade policy. • The court's decision directly challenges Trump's tariff authority and could force the administration to modify or justify its trade measures through Congress. • The ruling comes as Trump has set a July 4 deadline for the EU to reach a trade deal, creating pressure on both domestic and international trade negotiations.

Bills are response to election petitions challenging Godwin Friday and fellow politician’s eligibility to be MPs because of dual citizenshipThe St Vincent and the Grenadines government has delayed a controversial effort to amend a section of the country’s constitution that the opposition says renders the prime minister ineligible for his position in parliament.Two bills, among six listed for the parliament session on Tuesday this week, were aimed at clarifying a section of the 1979 constitution governing the citizenship eligibility of members of parliament. Continue reading...

Greens criticise premier’s ‘extraordinary attack’ on judiciary and urge him to accept he ‘got it wrong’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales premier has doubled down on an anti-protest law struck down in the state’s highest court last week, defending the legislation introduced by his government as “rational and proportionate”.But advocates for protesters charged at demonstrations restricted under the laws have criticised Chris Minns’ comments, calling them a “extraordinary attack” on the judiciary. Continue reading...

• Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin lost a confidence vote on April 7 after opposition parties united against his administration, citing corruption allegations and mishandling of economic policy. • The vote count was 272 to 198 against the government; Thavisin announced his resignation and said the coalition government has become unviable, triggering a constitutional crisis over succession. • Thailand's King has been briefed on developments; political analysts warn the instability could undermine investor confidence as the nation faces economic challenges and recovery from recent banking sector stress.

President has falsely claimed ‘legendary’ fraud for limiting mail-in ballots and himself voted by mail last weekDonald Trump signed an executive order directing his administration to compile a national voter file and to restrict the use of mail-in ballots, an unprecedented move that is probably unconstitutional.The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Social Security Administration to compile a list of verified US citizens who can vote in every state. It also directs the United States Postal Service (USPS) to begin rule-making on a process that would require states to notify the agency of voters who intend to receive a mail-in ballot and prohibit them from receiving one unless they are on a USPS-approved list of eligible voters. Continue reading...

Spokesperson says New York Times ‘will be going back to court’ after defense department hastily announces new arrangementSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJournalists who cover the Pentagon are pushing back against a new press access arrangement hastily announced by the Pentagon, calling it “an end run” around a federal judge’s ruling to restore their access.Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, announced Monday night that the department would permanently close a designated work space for journalists known as “correspondents’ corridor” and create a “new and improved press workspace” in an annex facility outside the building. Continue reading...