Tuesday 26 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : United Nations: Revised Standards for Treatment of Prisoners Approved by Commission

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Correctional facilities and imprisonment; Human rights; International organizations - On May 18, 2015, Juan E. Mendez, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, sent an open letter to the U.N. Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Kenya: Many Prospecting and Mining Licenses Cancelled; New Mining Law Considered

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Mineral resources and mines - Kenya's Ministry of Mining has cancelled 65 licenses for prospecting and mining; some of the revoked permits were held by individuals and others by companies. The moves have raised concern that investors... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Taiwan: Long-Term Care Legislation Adopted

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Health; Health insurance - On May 15, 2015, the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's main legislative body, passed a draft law on long-term care services. Passage of the law clears the way for legislation on long-term care insurance to be adopted.... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Egypt: State Litigation Authority Rejects Request to Suspend a TV Show

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Church and state relations; Freedom of speech; Television and Film - On May 19, 2015, Egypt's State Litigation Authority rejected a petition submitted by Al Azhar (the main religious institution in Egypt) to suspend a television program. The petition accused the show's host of deliberately criticizing... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Thursday 21 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : Sweden: Tax Authority Publishes Guidelines for Income Tax on Bitcoin Mining, Suggests Prohibition of Bitcoin Use in Waste and Scrap Metal Transactions

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Currency; Income tax; Taxation - On April 24, 2015, just days before the May 4 tax filing deadline, Sweden's Tax Authority published guidelines on how to declare income from Bitcoin mining. (Beskattning vid mining av bitcoin och andra virtuella... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Italy: Summary Divorce Proceedings Revised

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Divorce; Evidence; Legal remedies; Marriage and family status; Trials and court proceedings - On May 26, 2015, new legislation amending the procedural rules on the declaration of a divorce will enter into effect in Italy. (Law No. 55 of May 6, 2015, Provisions on the Dissolution or... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : India: Cabinet Has Approved Amendments to Child Labor Law

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Child labor; Children's rights - On April 14, 2015, India's Union Cabinet approved amendments to the child labor law among which is the inclusion of an exception that would allow minors, which the law defines as children under the age of... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Bangladesh: Supreme Court Rules Mandatory Death Sentences Unconstitutional

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Capital punishment; Crimes against children; Crimes against women; Sentencing; Supreme court - On May 5, 2015, the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court declared sections 6(2), 6(3), and 6(4) of the Women and Children Repression (Special Provisions) Act, 1995 and section 34(2) of the Prevention of Oppression... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : New Zealand: Animal Welfare Legislation Recognizes Animals as Sentient, Bans Cosmetic Testing

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Animal protection; Animals - On May 5, 2015, the New Zealand Parliament unanimously passed the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No. 2) 2015, which includes an amendment to the long title of the principal legislation, the Animal Welfare Act 1999, in... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Indonesia: Ban on Alcoholic Beverage Sales Considered

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Alcoholic beverages - A proposed law to control alcoholic beverages has been considered in Indonesia since 2013. (RUU Larangan Minuman Beralkohol Tahun 2013 [Draft Law Banning Alcoholic Drinks of 2013], HUKUMONLINE [click on link for text].) The... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Italy: Foreign Fighters Decree Now a Law

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Terrorism - It was reported on March 24, 2015, that new legislation, Decree Law No. 7 amending Italy's Criminal Code with respect to fighting terrorism, entered into effect on February 20, 2015. (Decree-Law No. 7 of... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Norway: Blasphemy Provision to Be Removed from Penal Code

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Blasphemy; Crime and law enforcement; Criminal code - On May 12, 2015, the Norwegian Parliament made a final decision to immediately remove the provision on blasphemy from the country's General Civil Penal Code. The King must approve the amendment to the Code, and... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Vietnam: Penal Code Revisions Proposed

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Capital punishment; Criminal code; Sentencing - On April 7, 2015, Vietnam's Minister of Justice, Ha Hung Cuong, spoke to the National Assembly Standing Committee. He discussed a plan to revise the Penal Code of 1999. The draft Code now being... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Maldives: Procedure for Business Tax Exemption for Ships and Aircraft

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Corporate income tax; Taxation - The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority issued a tax ruling on May 3, 2015, that outlines the procedure to be followed for owners or charterers of ships or aircraft when they apply for exemptions from business profit... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : United Kingdom: Bill to Provide Transparency in Pay to Reduce Gender Inequalities

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Discrimination; Equal protection; Wages and hours; Women's rights - The Equal Pay (Transparency) Bill is about to be debated in the House of Lords. This bill will allow the Secretary of State of the United Kingdom to introduce regulations under section 78 of the... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Burundi: Opposition Leader Detained, Released; Election Aid Suspended Before Military Coup

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Crimes against the state; Elections and politics; Human rights; Protest and dissent - On May 6, 2015, Burundian opposition leader Audifax Ndabitoreye was arrested by authorities on charges of insurrection. He had just met with ministers of the East African Community (EAC), a regional inter-governmental organization comprised of... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Taiwan: Proposed Changes to Campaign Finance Law

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Campaign finance; Elections and politics - Taiwan's Ministry of Interior has drafted legislation that would amend the Political Donations Act to raise the ceiling for individual political donations to multiple candidates from the current NT$200,000 (about US$6,508) per year to NT$300,000.... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Tuesday 12 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : China: Resource Taxes Adjusted for Rare Earth, Tungsten, Molybdenum

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Mineral resources and mines; Taxation; Trade agreements and negotiations - On April 30, 2015, China's Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation issued a joint notice on adjustments to the resource tax levied on rare earth, tungsten, and molybdenum, to be applied from May... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : United Nations: Website Seeks to Address Discrimination Against People with Albinism

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Minority rights; Discrimination; Human rights; International organizations - On May 5, 2015, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) launched a website designed to discredit myths about albinism and advocate for legal and practical steps to protect albinos.... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Israel: Attorney General Rules that Restaurants May Display Private Certification of Kashrut

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Food labeling - Yehuda Weinstein, Israel's Attorney General, has ruled that Israeli restaurant owners can present certificates attesting to their restaurants' being under private kashrut (Jewish dietary law) supervision. Weinstein's ruling is viewed as "breaking the monopoly" of... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Brazil: New Arbitration Law Approved

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Alternative dispute resolution - The Brazilian Federal Senate approved a proposal on May 5, 2015 (Projeto de Lei do Senado No. 406 de 2013, Senate website), that extends the use of arbitration as a means to resolve judicial conflicts.... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Brazil: Constitutional Amendment Passed Increasing Justices

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Constitution; Judges; Judiciary; Supreme court - On May 6, 2015, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved a constitutional amendment that increases the age of compulsory retirement of the members of the Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF), the Audit Tribunal of... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Burundi: Court Permits Third Bid for Presidency

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Constitution; Elections and politics; Judiciary; Protest and dissent; Racial and ethnic relations - On May 5, 2015, the Constitutional Court of Burundi decided that the country's president, Pierre Nkurunziza, could run for a third term; six of the seven judges signed the decision. (Burundi Court Upholds President's... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Denmark: Animal Protection Act Strengthened by Ban on Bestiality

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Animal protection; Animals; Sex offenses; Tourism - On April 21, 2015, Denmark's legislature approved a motion that bans bestiality; the goal of the action is to combat animal-sex tourism. The ban, which comes into force on July 1, was passed by a... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Portugal: "Medicine Baby" Authorized

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Child health; Families ; Health - The National Council for Medically Assisted Procreation (Conselho Nacional de Procriaandccedil;andatilde;o Medicamente Assistida) of Portugal for the first time authorized a couple whose five-year-old daughter suffers from leukemia to have a baby, selected from laboratory-generated embryos,... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Oman; Portugal: Convention to Avoid Double Taxation Signed

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Income tax; Taxation; Treaties and International Agreements/Taxation - The Portuguese Secretary of State for Fiscal Affairs, Paulo Nuncio, and the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman in Portugal, Humaid Al Maani, recently signed a convention to avoid double taxation and fiscal evasion in connection... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Tuesday 5 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : Indonesia: District Adopts Sharia-Based Rules, Bans Unmarried Couples on Motorbikes

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Human rights; Motor vehicles; State and local government - According to a May 4, 2015, report, North Aceh, a district in Aceh Province of Indonesia, has adopted a law prohibiting unmarried men and women from riding motorbikes together. Local legislator Fauzan Hamzah said the... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Egypt: NGOs Protest Decree Defining Terrorist Organizations

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Human rights; Terrorism - On May 1, 2015, non-governmental organizations officially protested Egypt's presidential decree containing Law No. 8 of 2015, on identifying terrorist organizations. The NGOs claim that under the broad definition in the Law, some NGOs might... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Seychelles; World Trade Organization: WTO Membership Accepted

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

International affairs; Trade agreements and negotiations; Treaties and International Agreements/World Trade - On April 26, 2015, Seychelles was officially accepted as the 161st member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). (WTO Welcomes Seychelles as Its 161st Member, WTO website (Apr. 27, 2015).) The process,... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Otmane El Rhazi : Thailand: Draft of New Constitution Completed

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Constitution - On April 17, 2015, Thailand's Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) completed the first draft of a new Constitution. Relevant stakeholders, including the Cabinet, the military, and the National Reform Council, will have the opportunity until May... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.

Friday 1 May 2015

Otmane El Rhazi : Sweden: District Court Declares Drone Use Does Not Constitute Camera Surveillance

Otmane El Rhazi from Law Library of Congress: Global Legal Monitor.

Right of privacy; Science and technology - On April 13, 2015, the Administrative District Court of Malm announced that using a drone to take pictures of an outdoor public garden is not camera surveillance that requires a prior permit. (Jaqueline Balcer Bednarska,... The Global Legal Monitor from the Law Library of Congress covers legal news and developments worldwide.