International Maritime Organization: 2023 Maritime Decarbonization
After implementing a sulphur fuel regulation in 2020, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) introduces ,“IMO 2023” to further reduce ocean shipping’s carbon emissions.
New Digital Residency Law Passed in Palau
Palau is an island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, consisting of more than 500 islands. The capital and the seat of the government is Melekeok on the island of Babeldaob.
UN Rapporteur to Investigate Human Rights Abuses in Russia
On 7 October, the UN Human Rights Council passed a historic resolution to appoint a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. The move marks the first time the UN body will examine the rights record of one of the so-called P5 members that hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council.
German Employment Law in 2023
On January 1, 2023, Germany will begin to implement digitization processes in the statutory health insurance system. As a result, the paper certificate of incapacity for work, previously known as the “yellow certificate”, which doctors usually issue to an employee to certify their sickness, will no longer be valid. From now on, employers will be informed electronically by the relevant statutory health insurance fund about the incapacity to work of employees who are insured under the statutory health insurance.
UK’s Supermarket ‘Iceland’ Food Ltd Patents Cancelled
EU Iceland rulings set ground-breaking precedent on country names as trademarks. The Grand Board of Appeal of the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has upheld a decision to cancel UK supermarket Iceland Food Ltd.’s EU-wide trademark for the word ‘Iceland’.
UK Bans Celebs From Gambling Ads
Britain bans celebrities including footballers, TV stars and social media influencers, from featuring in gambling adverts to protect young and vulnerable people.
Mali’s Constitutional Referendum
Nigeria's structure and composition are a legacy of British colonial rule. The country has gone through many divergent society with rampant political corruption and as a result has had many attempts to form an effective constitution. These efforts include civilian and military rule, centrifugal and centralized federalism, presidential and parliamentary systems, and other political institutions.
Canada’s Online News Act
The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-18,the Online News Act, which will ensure major digital platforms fairly compensate news publishers for their content and enhance fairness in the Canadian digital news marketplace, including the sustainability of independent local news businesses.
Refugees Status to Afghan Women
All women and girls from Afghanistan are eligible for refugee status, the European Union’s agency for asylum has declared. But it's up to each country to decide whether it agrees.
Italy’s - Decreto Flussi 2023
The Decreto flussi is an Italian government law that sets how many non-European citizens can enter Italy for work. Specifically, the Decreto Flussi, establishes the number of non-European citizens who can enter Italy for seasonal work, non-seasonal employed work or self-employed work. In addition to the number of non-EU citizens who can enter Italy for work, the Decreto Flussi, also sets the number of people who can convert their residence permit (for example a residence permit for study) into a residence permit for subordinate work or autonomous.
Uzbekistan: New Constitution 2023
In Uzbekistan, constitutional referendum gained enormous support allowing the President to stay in power until 2040. The reforms also were promising to strengthen individual rights. The referendum was held in accordance with Uzbekistan Senate Resolution No. PS-702-IV of March 14, 2023. The new constitution became effective on May 1, 2023, upon official publication.
EU – first major laws on AI 2023
The European Parliament, passed the first major law draft known as the A.I. Act, a potential model for policy makers around the world, which is a major issue at stake to guard the rapid developing technology and its highly volatile uses. The main focus of this legislation is to first give an uniform definition for AI which is technology neutral and create an environment which is safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory.
China Qinghai-Tibet plateau Ecosystem protection Art 2023
In April, the National People’s Congress, China’s legislative branch, passed the “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) Ecosystem Protection Act. The QTP Act is China’s first legislative vision for the environmental protection of the Tibetan plateau and its surroundings, covering larger than the area of western Europe.
Japan: An urge to protect the rights and jobs of entertainment industry from AI
A group of artists in Japan called Arts Workers Japan is urging the government to protect their rights and activities amid the growing amount of content produced by artificial intelligence (AI). The group, which is composed of actors, musicians, and other artists, emphasized the impact of AI on artists’ activities and submitted a request to the government for necessary action.
Taiwan 2023: Expansion of Adoption Rights
Taiwan’s parliament allows gay couples to jointly adopt children, a move hailed by activists as “another big step forward” for marriage equality. Taiwan is at the vanguard of Asia’s burgeoning LGBTQ rights movement, becoming the first place in the region to legalise marriage equality in 2019.
Indiana’s Abortion Burial law
Indiana law requires abortion clinics to either bury or cremate fetal remains . The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to re-consider the multiple lawsuits challenging this law. The court gave no explanation for its decision in an order it issued turning down hearings in several dozen cases.
Bolivia’s Gold law: 2023
Bolivian senate approved the ‘Gold law’ aiming to strengthening the country’s foreign currency reserves. It is aimed at ensuring a stable economy in the pluri-national state.
Children of Austria v Austria
On February 21, 2023, a group of Austrian children filed a complaint with the Austrian Constitutional Court. The applicants alleged that the Federal Climate Protection Act (Klimaschutzgesetz 2011) is, in part, unconstitutional for violating the constitutionally guaranteed rights of children and the fundamental right to equality before the law.
Protection of Online Gamers in EU
The Parliament calls on the European Commission to analyse the way in which loot boxes are sold as well as to take the necessary steps to bring about a common European approach to ensure protection of consumers.
EU-Green Shipping Deal
The shipping industry is fully committed to eradicating its GHG emissions completely, in line with the ambitious targets agreed for the sector by its global regulator, the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) . The IMO Strategy includes a target to cut total GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 50 percent by 2050 (compared to 2008) regardless of maritime trade growth, whilst pursuing efforts towards phasing them out as soon as possible in this century.
