Drug giant Bayer has been forced to allow its eye-wateringly expensive cancer drug Nexavar to be produced affordably in India, after a long battle to keep it under patent. In December 2014, the Indian Supreme Court ruled against the pharmaceutical company. Now, many thousands will have access to the life-saving treatment.
Vietnam has lifted its ban on same-sex marriage, making the communist state more progressive on this issue than most other countries. Lesbian and gay married couples will still not enjoy the full legal benefits allowed to straight couples. Nonetheless, this is a huge step forward for LGBT rights under the otherwise repressive regime.
