Case Explained: WORLD IN BRIEF: Meta, YouTube lose addiction case, Zelenskiy alleges Russian ‘blackmail’, UN declares slave trade humanity’s gravest crime and other stories – Legal Perspective

Tech giants face landmark liability over social media harm

A jury in Los Angeles has delivered a significant legal blow to Meta and Google, finding both companies liable for harm caused by their platforms in a case centred on childhood social media addiction.

The lawsuit, brought by a 20-year-old woman identified as Kaley, accused the companies of deliberately designing addictive features across platforms including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube. Jurors agreed, awarding her $6m in damages — split evenly between compensatory and punitive awards — after concluding the firms acted with “malice, oppression, or fraud”.
Meta is expected to shoulder 70 percent of the damages, with Google responsible for the remaining 30 percent.

Both companies have rejected the verdict and signalled plans to appeal. Meta argued that teenage mental health is “profoundly complex” and cannot be attributed to a single platform, while Google maintained that YouTube is a “responsibly built streaming platform” rather than a social media site.

The ruling is widely seen as a potential turning point, with hundreds of similar lawsuits pending across the United States. Analysts say it reflects mounting public frustration with the social impact of digital platforms, particularly among younger users.

Democrats raises fresh alarm over Trump classified documents

New political tensions have emerged in Washington after Jamie Raskin accused Donald Trump of endangering national security through his handling of classified documents.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Raskin argued that newly released records suggest Trump retained highly sensitive materials accessible to only a handful of US officials. He further alleged that some documents may have related to Trump’s business interests and that classified information was potentially shown to private individuals.

The controversy stems from a 2023 indictment accusing Trump of withholding government records after leaving office.

Although the charges were dropped before his return to the presidency in 2025, the issue remains politically charged, with Republicans seeking to publicise investigative materials and Democrats warning of unresolved legal and security concerns.

Trump has consistently dismissed the case as politically motivated.

Iran rejects US ceasefire proposal as ‘maximalist’

Iran has sharply criticised a 15-point US proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Israel and Washington, describing it as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable”.

According to diplomatic sources, Tehran views the plan as misleading and unacceptable even in principle. While Donald Trump has suggested that negotiations are underway, Iranian officials insist no direct or indirect talks have taken place since the conflict began.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that messages are being exchanged through intermediaries but stressed that this does not constitute negotiations.

The war, now nearing one month, continues to escalate amid deep mistrust between the parties, with Iran maintaining it seeks a permanent end to hostilities but on its own terms.

Zelenskiy accuses Russia of intelligence ‘blackmail’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Russia of attempting to blackmail the United States by leveraging intelligence-sharing arrangements linked to the Middle East conflict.

Speaking in Kyiv, Zelenskiy claimed Moscow offered to halt intelligence support to Iran in exchange for Washington cutting off intelligence assistance to Ukraine — a proposal he described as unequivocal blackmail.

He also alleged that Iranian drones used in attacks on US assets and allies contain Russian components, reinforcing claims of ongoing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia has denied assisting Iran, and Washington has said it has received similar denials directly from Russian officials.

Ukraine, meanwhile, is supporting Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in countering drone threats linked to the conflict.

Iran links ceasefire to Lebanon front

Iran is seeking to broaden the scope of any ceasefire agreement by insisting that hostilities in Lebanon be addressed alongside the conflict on its own territory.

Regional sources say Tehran has made clear to intermediaries that any deal must include a halt to Israeli operations against Hezbollah. Iranian officials have framed the demand as essential to securing a comprehensive and lasting peace across what they describe as the “resistance”.

While Iran is still reviewing the US proposal, its conditions highlight the complexity of negotiations, with multiple fronts now intertwined in a single regional crisis.

UN recognises slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’

In a significant symbolic move, the United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as “the gravest crime against humanity”.

The resolution, introduced by Ghana, passed with 123 votes in favour, with the United States, Israel and Argentina opposing and 52 countries abstaining, including the United Kingdom and several European Union members.

Ghana’s President John Mahama described the vote as a historic act of remembrance and moral responsibility, while Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasised that the push for reparations is about justice, not personal gain.

Although General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, the decision adds momentum to growing international calls for reparatory justice. Between 12 and 15 million Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas between 1500 and 1800, with millions dying during the journey.

South Africa police chief summoned over tender scandal

Fannie Masemola, South Africa’s police chief, is set to appear in court over his alleged role in a controversial $21m health services contract.

The tender, awarded in 2024 to a company linked to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, has been at the centre of corruption allegations and has since been cancelled. A dozen senior police officers have already been charged in connection with the deal.

Masemola becomes the third national police head to face criminal investigation while in office. President Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to indicate whether he will be suspended, stating only that the matter will be handled in accordance with the law.

Matlala, who faces separate charges including attempted murder, has denied wrongdoing.

Kenya finalises trade deal with China

Kenya has concluded negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with China, marking a deepening of economic ties between the two countries.

President William Ruto said the deal would expand access to Chinese markets, building on a preliminary agreement announced earlier this year that granted duty-free access to 98 percent.of Kenyan exports.

The move reflects Nairobi’s ongoing pivot towards Beijing as a key economic partner, though trade between the two nations remains heavily skewed in China’s favour.

UN urges release of detained Libyan activist

The United Nations has called on Libyan authorities to release political activist Al-Mahdi Abdulati, who was detained in the city of Misrata.

The UN mission in Libya described the arrest as part of a broader pattern of suppression by security agencies. Abdulati is known for criticising the Government of National Unity on issues including public spending and security.

Authorities in Tripoli have not responded to the UN’s statement, raising further concerns about freedom of expression and political dissent in the country.