Certain legal terms carry enormous moral weight, yet they are increasingly used in ways that stretch or blur their strict definitions. When these labels are applied without meeting the evidentiary standards international law requires, their meaning risks becoming diluted at the very moment clarity matters most.

On 10 December 2025, Australia began enforcing the world's first national ban on social media for under-16s. Platforms face fines up to A$49.5 million for failing to take 'reasonable steps' to block young users. Yet as this landmark law takes effect, critical questions about vague obligations, accountability gaps, privacy risks and proportionality remain largely unanswered.

Warner Bros Discovery is fielding bids from Netflix and Paramount – both deals that clearly violate antitrust law. But with the company struggling under massive debt, should regulators enforce the rules strictly or show flexibility? This case is becoming a crucial test of whether competition law still means what it says.

Modern institutions often drift beyond their statutory mandates through incremental expansions of authority. This mandate creep - whether driven by policy gaps, resource constraints or external pressure - raises fundamental questions about legal integrity, accountability and the rule of law.

Eurovision's handling of broadcaster withdrawals exposes critical governance gaps in how cultural institutions apply neutrality rules during international issues.

As the United Kingdom considers narrowing the scope of jury trials amid mounting court backlogs and increasingly technical evidence, fundamental questions emerge about the balance between procedural efficiency and democratic participation in justice. Legal experts warn that reforms must preserve institutional legitimacy while addressing systemic pressures.

Accusing Israel of special intent to destroy, when the state itself was the victim of attempted destruction, is ultimately perverse. The ICJ will consider, too, that the absence of special intent is strongly evidenced by Israel's specific actions in Gaza.

Outer space was once the preserve of superpowers. Now it's filling with commercial satellites, mining ventures, and military capabilities the Cold War architects never imagined. The 60-year-old Outer Space Treaty is creaking under the strain. From lunar mining rights to space debris cascades, we're facing governance gaps that could jeopardise the entire orbital environment. The question isn't whether space law needs updating - it's whether the international community can move fast enough to matter.