World Legal News

Germany’s Federal Fiscal Court, the Bundesfinanzhof, demanded changes Monday to pension taxation to avoid future double taxation of retirement savings. Prior to 2005, pensions had been basically tax-exempt because contributions came from taxed salaries. Under a 2005 law change, pension contribution payments gradually become tax-free. However, the taxable share of the pension increased. Because of [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet voiced “deep concern” Sunday over recent events in the Colombian city of Cali that include reports of deaths and violence following demonstrations to commemorate a month of national strikes. The High Commissioner’s statement follows reports of the death of 14 people and 98 injuries after protests against [...]

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said Saturday that it has lodged a diplomatic protest against the “continuing illegal presence” of Chinese vessels in the Pag-asa Islands of the South China Sea. The statement complained of the “incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels” in and around the [...]

The Constitutional Court of Mali on Friday declared Assimi Goïta, the colonel who led a military coup against interim President Bah Ndaw, as the new interim president of Mali. The court made the move following what it described as a “vacancy in the presidency,” which emerged after the alleged forced resignation of Ndaw. Soldiers backing [...]

The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Friday issued a withhold release order against Chinese fishing company Dalian Ocean Fishing. Withhold Release Orders are targeted bans on the import of products from a company or region based on the use of forced labor. Recently, CBP also banned the import of cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang over [...]

A Nevada resident was arraigned Friday on charges that she knowingly exported electronics and other goods to Iran in violation of US sanctions. The indictment alleges that Tina Chen purchased goods from US companies through her business, Top Zone Inc., and shipped them to Iran. The products were ultimately meant for Zanjan University, one of [...]

The Hong Kong District Court has sentenced 10 pro-democracy activists to jail on charges under the new national security law Friday. The activists were charged with several unauthorized assembly offenses for protesting in Hong Kong during China’s 70th anniversary. The protests violated several provisions of the Public Order Ordinance, and their punishments were set out [...]

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution Thursday establishing an international commission of inquiry to investigate violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict leading up to and since 13 April 2021. The resolution, A/HRC/S-30/L.1, which was adopted by a vote of 24 in favor, 9 against [...]

The European Court of Human rights ruled Tuesday that Britain’s GCHQ secret service violated the Article 8 right to privacy and Article 10 right to freedom of expression by obtaining communications data from communications service providers. The ruling comes following the complaints of journalists and human rights organizations over the bulk interception of communications, the [...]

The Federal Court of Australia ruled Thursday that the Minister for Environment, Sussan Ley, and the wider government, has a duty of care to protect Australia’s youth from the climate crisis. The landmark decision comes after eight Australian teenagers filed a claim with the Federal Court, seeking an injunction to “restrain an apprehended breach of [...]