World Legal News

The New Zealand Supreme Court Monday ruled in favor of lowering the country’s voting age from 18 to 16. The court stated that the voting age requirement of 18 violated the right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of age. Following the court’s decision, the New Zealand Parliament will consider the issue and decide [...]

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the National Investigating Agency’s (NIA) application to vacate the order that allowed activist Gautam Navlakha’s shift to house arrest from Taloja prison in Mumbai, where he had been detained in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case since April 2020. On August 28, 2018, Navlakha was arrested by Mumbai [...]

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norway-based Iranian human rights group, Sunday reported that Iranian forces continue to use lethal force against demonstrators protesting the death of 21-year-old Mahsa Amini. Hengaw follows the nationwide protest developments on the ground with instantaneous reports, photos and videos. A recent video showed Iranian forces opening fire at protesters [...]

The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 closed Sunday with a breakthrough agreement to establish a loss and damage fund for communities living on the frontlines of climate disasters. This decision follows three decades of climate-based negotiations. The agreement itself notes the “increasing urgency of enhancing efforts to avert, minimize and address loss and damage [...]

Russia’s Ministry of Defense Friday accused Ukrainian armed forces of executing Russian POWs – a war crime under international law. However, news outlets like Reuters have been unable to verify the claims. Kyiv has not responded to requests for comment. The incident appears in a video circulating on social media that apparently shows Ukrainian servicemen [...]

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Thursday announced terrorism charges against Gérald Nicolas, a 51-year-old resident of Lévis, Quebec. The RCMP allege that he planned a terrorist act to overthrow the Haitian government. The charges follow an investigation by the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, which revealed that Nicolas planned to stage an armed revolution [...]

The US Department of State Thursday released a letter stating that Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohhammed bin Salman should have immunity in a US case regarding his role in the murder of Saudi-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Biden Administration’s suggestion for bin Salman’s immunity was filed with the court on Thursday and [...]

The New Zealand Law Society Thursday released the results of their Gender Equality Charter, reporting on developments in gender equality among legal workplaces in New Zealand in the past year. The most notable improvements included a 35 per cent increase in the delivery of unconcious bias training and a 14 per cent increase in the [...]

The UK Privy Council Thursday dismissed former FIFA vice president Jack Warner’s appeal against a US extradition request in the USA v. Webb Et Al (known as the FIFA corruption case). The unanimous ruling will clear the way for extradition procedures to take place in Trinidad and Tobago’s magistrate court. Warner may be extradited from [...]

The District Court of The Hague Thursday sentenced three defendents to life imprisonment in the Flight MH17 criminal case. Leonid Kharchenko and Sergei Dubinskiy were present at sentencing, and Igor Girkin was found guilty in absentia. All three men will serve life imprisonment for the murder of 298 persons on board the flight and for causing [...]