UN member states Saturday agreed to a legally-binding high seas treaty after nearly 20 years of talks. The high seas treaty aims to protect 30 percent of seas by 2030 (a target known as “30 by 30”). At present very little of the high seas are subject to any protection with pollution and overfishing posing a [...]

US Attorney General Merrick Garland Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the seven-member Joint Investigative Team (JIT) investigating Russian war crimes during a surprise visit to Ukraine Garland said he had made the trip on the invitation of Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to join international partners at the United for Justice Conference. [...]

James Joseph is UK Senior Correspondent for JURIST. On May 2, 2023, Irish criminal barristers plan to go on strike in response to the crisis in funding for Irish criminal legal aid. The barristers are protesting the failure of the Irish government to comply with Ireland’s “Rule of Law obligations” by downing tools in what [...]

James Joseph is UK Senior Correspondent for JURIST. A deal has been reached in the long-running deadlock between the UK and the EU over trade going across the border in Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland (EU). Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen announced in a statement [...]

James Joseph is UK Senior Correspondent for JURIST. The Government introduced a new Holocaust Memorial Bill to Parliament last week on February 23rd. The bill, called the Holocaust Memorial Act 2023, was launched under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the Bill would update [...]

The UK Special Immigration Appeals Commission Wednesday rejected 23-year-old Shamima Begum’s appeal against the government’s 2019 revocation of her British citizenship. The East London native was only 15 when she traveled to Syria to align with ISIL and marry an ISIL fighter. Begum had her British citizenship stripped under Section 40 of the British Nationality [...]

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President Kamala Harris Saturday said that the US has formally determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. Joining annual forum for academics, governments, and diplomats to debate pressing challenges to international security, Harris reaffirmed US support for Ukraine. She stated: In the case of [...]

James Joseph is a UK staff correspondent for JURIST. Leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon resigned in a press conference at her official residence at 11AM UK time. Nicola Sturgeon is the first female First Minister and the first woman to lead any of the devolved UK administrations. Her resignation marks a [...]

James Joseph is a UK staff correspondent for JURIST. It was announced Thursday in London that current Members of Parliament will be given a 2.9% pay rise from April 1st. This will bring their overall salary from £84,144 to £86,584. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority said the 2.9% increase was the same as the average [...]

James Joseph is a UK staff correspondent for JURIST. Building on JURIST coverage dating back to September, the Criminal Bar Association’s Spokesperson has spoken directly with me to release further information on Saturday’s announcement in relation to the increase of prosecution fees to match those of defence advocates. The full details are below: Kirsty Brimelow [...]