Latest news with #HighCourtofJustice
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First Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
West Asia News Live: US targets Iran tech smuggling as Iraq accuses Israel of airspace violations
July 14, 2025, 06:45:06 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Israeli High Court questions state over efficacy of law banning Al Jazeera Judges on Israel's High Court of Justice have questioned the state's arguments regarding the efficacy of a law that enabled the ban of Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera, The Times of Israel said in a report. During a hearing on a petition filed by a civil rights group and Al Jazeera arguing the law is unconstitutional, justices suggested the legislation's provisions were overly vague. One justice also referenced a lower court's finding, which the state considers factual, that alleges Al Jazeera is involved in terrorism, a claim the network denies. The court is reviewing the legality of the ban, which was enacted in April 2024 under a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign outlets deemed a risk to national security.
Local Spain
18-06-2025
- Business
- Local Spain
How parents in Spain can demand to work 100% from home
Working a job and looking after children or caring for relatives at the same time can be a tricky balancing act that demands a lot of time and sacrifice on your part, yet this is the reality for millions. The good news is that in Spain, if you are employed and have children under 12 years old or care for disabled or elderly parents who are completely dependent on you, then by law, your company must allow you to work from home – and not just occasionally. You actually have the right to request to work exclusively from home. This is not just a rule that you can request and that your company decides whether to grant you or not - this is your right as an employee. Your company is at the very least obliged to negotiate with you and can only refuse if it has a justifiable objection. This basically means it may depend on the type of work you have. If you work in an office, this will be possible, but if you have a client facing role as a tour guide or you're a teacher for example, it might not be. Here's what the law actually says: Article 34.8 of the Workers' Statute allows any worker to request adjustments to their working hours to balance work and family life. This includes: Shift or schedule changes Modified working hours Remote work, even at 100 percent capacity This right applies to those responsible for: Children under 12 years of age Dependent family members What are the key requirements? Your work must be able to be done remotely with the same or very similar results. The request must be motivated by real and justified work-life balance needs. To refuse, the company must be able to demonstrate clearly that it would do damage to their business if you worked remotely or changed your schedule. Several court rulings have in fact ruled in favour of the employee when the company refused, however. One recent case involved a worker who successfully argued that because she had worked remotely during the pandemic and already worked from home two days per week, then she could work remotely all the time. She proved that her performance was the same when working from home and in the office. Another example was in January 2025, when the High Court of Justice in Madrid ruled in favour of a lawyer with a disabled daughter and ordered her company to allow her to work exclusively from home. She was also awarded €7,500 in compensation for discriminatory treatment. How do I request to work from home or a change in schedule? You must send your request in writing asking for schedule adjustments or the ability to work from home. You must include: Your family situation and cite Article 34.8 of the Workers' Statute. Attach supporting documentation such as birth certificates, disability certificate, family record book, etc. The company must respond within a maximum of 15 days. If they refuse, they must explain their reasons in writing. If there is no agreement, you can go to court. According to legal experts, the procedure is quick and is usually resolved within a few weeks. Many companies in Spain continue to act as if being able to work remotely is simply a favour to you, but it's actually written into the law. When there is a real need for work-life balance, such as caring for children dependents, the law protects your right to request a different way of working, as long as it is both possible and reasonable.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Government advances dismissal of A-G Gali Baharav-Miara
The move comes amid what Levin described as an "unprecedented crisis of trust" between the attorney-general and the government. The coalition is advancing the dismissal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, Israeli media reported on Wednesday. According to Israeli media reports, the move comes amid what Levin described as an "unprecedented crisis of trust" between the attorney-general and the government. The draft proposes that a ministerial committee be authorized to hold a hearing and, if grounds for dismissal are found, to recommend termination of Baharav-Miara's tenure. A 75% majority in the government would then be sufficient to approve her dismissal. The attorney-general's office declined to comment on the proposed legislation. The draft argues that the legal consultation process, traditionally required with the attorney-general's selection committee, has become obsolete due to teh scale of distrust and functional paralysis it claims has gripped the government amid wartime. The existing committee - currently incomplete - was the body that originally selected Baharav-Miara and would typically be involved in dismissal deliberations. "Since the government unanimously expressed no confidence in the attorney-general, cooperation has deteriorated tot he point of dysfunction," the proposal reads. "Given the urgent need for unity during wartime, the government must be free to act decisively and remove officials who obstruct its functioning." The new process would replace the independent selection committee with a political ministerial body, a move critics say undermines legal oversight. Legal experts anticipate that the change, if implemented, will face legal challenges in the High Court of Justice due to questions over its constitutionality. Former Knesset Constitution Committee Chair MK Gilad Kariv strongly condemned the plan, calling it "a betrayal of the IDF and the public." "Levin weakened Israel before October 7, and she hasn't changed course," Kariv said. "This is not about governance - it's about caving to political pressure, especially from the ultra-Orthodox over the draft exemption issue." Opposition leader Yair Lapid also responded sharply: "Every time the coalition fails to pass a law exempting the Haredim from military service, they try to fire the attorney-general. It's all connected." Communications Minister Shlomo Karh, however, praised the move as a long-overdue reform. "The attorney-general was never elected and cannot continue to paralyze an elected government," Karhi said. "This is a necessary correction of the Shamgar Committee's excesses." National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed Karhi's sentiment, calling the dismissal proceedings a step toward "defeating the deep state." "For two and a half years, the attorney-general has blocked every initiative I've tried to promote," Ben Gvir said. "Now the government can act as it was elected to do." The tension between Baharav-Miara and the government reached a new high in March, when the cabinet approved an 83-page no-confidence proposal prepared by Levin, outlining extensive grievances regarding her conduct. The move formally initiated the process for her potential dismissal. In response, Baharav-Miara sent a defiant letter to the cabinet, asserting the rule of law: 'We will not be deterred. The government is not above the law.' If passed, Levin's resolution would mark the first time in Israel's history that an attorney-general has been removed mid-term—a move likely to reshape the balance between the judiciary and the executive branch for years to come.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything we know about the Spain AirBnB saga so far
Spain is the most popular international destination for British holidaymakers, with 18 million of us visiting the sunny nation in 2024. However, those who have Airbnb bookings for the coming months may be startled to learn that Spain's authorities have called for the removal of 66,000 short-term holiday listings on the grounds that they are in breach of tourist accommodation regulations. So, what does this mean for already booked Airbnbs in Spain? We'll get to that, but it's useful to know why it's happening… Numerous anti-tourism protests have taken place in Spain since 2024, following a growing housing affordability crisis. Locals in places including Madrid and Barcelona have shone a spotlight on short-term holiday rentals - typically those in residential areas - claiming that the short-term rental market is pushing up housing prices. "No more excuses. Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country,' Spain's consumer minister Pablo Bustinduy said to journalists following the Spanish court's decision on delisting short-term rentals. Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry opened an investigation into Airbnb last year, and Spanish courts have since deemed many listings to be illegal, claiming thousands of them do not openly show a tourism licence or registration number (at least one that is recognised by the authorities), or they do not show the legal status of the landlords. The High Court of Justice in Madrid has ordered the immediate removal of 5,800 listings, and is promising two further phases totalling up to 66,000 listings. The listings include whole properties only – individual room listings do not feature in the ban. Airbnb claims that even this initial figure has been lowered to 4,984, after they flagged a number of instances where listings were in compliance with the applicable regulations. There will be no impact whatsoever on reservations for the summer in Spain, at least from Airbnb's side. Meaning no cancelled plans and no compensation needed as a result of the recent ruling. The online platform confirmed to Yahoo News that it would be appealing the decision and that it has no plans to take any listings down immediately. "No evidence of rule-breaking by hosts has been put forward,' it said in a statement. 'The decision goes against EU and Spanish law and a previous ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court.' Airbnb could also argue that it is a platform subject to the Digital Services Act, with no monitoring obligations. However, if it is asked to remove content by the Spanish Supreme Court, it would be required to do so. It will likely argue that it's not classified as a real estate provider, so displaying a registration number will lie with the final tourism service provider. The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) counted more than 350,000 short-term rentals in Spain in 2024, which includes listings on sites Airbnb, Vrbo and Only Airbnb has been targeted in the recent ruling. Airbnb doesn't only offer short-term rentals but also hotels, hostels, rural houses, bed and breakfasts and tourist apartments. There's a growing resentment towards short-term lets worldwide, with many claiming that short-term rentals are affecting house prices. Airbnb policies have become more strict in certain places, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Edinburgh and New York, but Airbnb claims that since the new anti short-term rental regulations in these cities have been in effect there have been no major changes to accommodation availability. 'The solution is to build more homes – anything else is a distraction,' Airbnb said in a statement to Yahoo News. 'Governments across the world are seeing that regulating Airbnb does not alleviate housing concerns or return homes to the market – it only hurts local families who rely on hosting to afford their homes and rising costs.' According to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) census in 2021, Spain has almost four million vacant homes that make up over 14% of Spain's total housing stock. 'Millions of euros [are] taken from everyday hosts and small businesses, often to the benefit of large hotel chains,' Airbnb claims. Read more: The key travel rules you must know after EU-UK deal Fish and chip shop wins fight to partially convert to Airbnb
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Defying SC order, Israel PM Netanyahu appoints IDF Major David Zini as next Shin Bet chief
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named IDF Major General David Zini as the next chief of Shin Bet. This appointment, however, comes as a direct violation of the order passed by the Israeli Supreme Court's High Court of Justice. Netanyahu's announcement of a new Shin Bet chief comes a day after the High Court of Justice ruling that the firing of Ronen Bar was done "improperly" and "unlawfully". In the ruling, attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara stated that the prime minister had a conflict of interest in Bar's removal. Furthermore, in her ruling, the attorney general stated that the prime minister was barred from appointing a new chief while the case was in the court. In response to the top court's ruling, Netanyahu described the decision as "disgraceful" and dismissed the attorney general's warning. Netanyahu's appointment of a new Shin Bet chief also comes after Ronen Bar announced that he would resign from the post and step down by June 15, 2025. Netanyahu fired the Shin Bet chief over a 'a loss of confidence." However, Ronen Bar hinted that political motives were behind his sacking and he further accused the prime minister of seeking 'personal loyalty." Major General David Zini currently serves as the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) training command and general staff corps. The father of 11 children is also responsible for advancing the draft of Haredi soldiers in the Israeli military. After his appointment, Zini was dismissed from the IDF for allegedly holding talks with Netanyahu behind the back of IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, reported the Times of Israel.
