On February 14, 2023,  in Halet v Luxembourg, the European Court of Human rights overturned the conviction of Raphael Halet, a former employee of PwC (PriceWaterhouseCoopers.)[1]  Halet had shared fourteen tax returns and two cover letters relating to tax agreements (ATAs) between the Duchy of Luxembourg and PwC clients, to French journalist Édouard Perrin.  In some 72 pages, the Court detailed the factors to be considered in weighing Halet’s actions that were contrary to his employer’s right to confidentiality. The Court concluded that Halet’s conviction interfered with his right to freedom of expression, in particular his freedom to impart information, under Article 10 of the  European Convention of Human Rights, and had not been necessary.  The Court also pointed out that the concept of “whistle blower” had not been given an unequivocal legal definition, and that the question called for an assessment which took account of the circumstances of each case. ^[2]

On February 16, 2023, GBBC Digital Finance (GDF), the largest digital asset industry association, announced they are becoming an Affiliate Member of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO).  In their press release, GDF announced their intention for “engagement with regulators and policy makers and jointly examining how we might construct a DeFi (Decentralized finance) education and engagement platform.”[1]  GDF is signing on with IOSCO to assist in IOSCO’s 2022-2023 Crypto-Asset Roadmap published on July 7, 2022.   This roadmap outlines an investigative phase of various cryptocurrency markets with the aim of finding regulatory gaps and areas of concern within the industry.  The plan requires the assistance of major national regulating bodies and private entities to share data and expertise for developing a fruitful regulatory framework in the future.

On February 16, 2023, the European Parliament adopted two resolutions on the issue of transparency and integrity in EU decision-making. MEPs are asking for more reforms, building on the ones announced by the Conference of Presidents, and demand an EU’s independent ethics body be set up swiftly.

On January 31, 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union, Grand Chamber, (the Court or CJEU) delivered a judgment in a politically sensitive case concerning the surrender of Catalan exile Lluís Puig Gordi, former Catalan Minister of Culture currently in Belgium since October 2017.[1]

On February 16, 2023, the United States Department of Justice announced that it is sharing approximately $954,807  with the government of the Federal republic of Nigeria pursuant to an agreement between the governments to share assets the U.S. forfeited and are traceable to the corruption of the former Governor of the State of Bayelsa in Nigeria, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (DSP).[1]

On December 30, 2022, the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) published the amended Wildlife Protection Law (WPL) in its final form.  At least two environmental non-governmental organizations have criticized the amended WPL as not sufficiently protecting wildlife.

On January 18-19, 2023, United States and Cuban officials met in Havana to discuss subjects of bilateral interest on law enforcement matters under the U.S.-Cuba Law Enforcement Dialogue.[1]

 On February 14, 2023, U.S. federal law enforcement arrested three U.S. citizens and a legal permanent resident living in Florida pursuant to criminal complaints on charges concerning their participation in activities leading to the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse of Haiti.  After the arrests, a grand jury in Miami returned a third superseding indictment charging these four individuals, along with seven others already detained and charged in the U.S. for their alleged roles in the conspiracy.[1]

On January 31, 2023, United States authorities transferred from detention in Haiti four men to face criminal charges in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida concerning their alleged involvement in the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021.[1]

On February 8, 2023, Europol and Eurojust announced the successful dismantling of an international sex-trafficking ring that held hundreds of Chinese women held through debt bondage across Europe. Law enforcement authorities from five European Union countries participated in the law enforcement operation.[1]