News

Average house prices in Edinburgh have risen to almost £355,000, according to Lindsays. The firm said its average sale price in the capital during 2025 was £354,522 – up 2.6 per cent on the previous 12 months (£345,310).

McDonald's is facing a class action lawsuit in the United States over the alleged absence of rib meat from its popular McRib. A complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in late December accuses the global fast food chain of deliberately misleading customers,&nbs

Thorntons Property grew its sales by eight per cent in 2025, following continued expansion of the business and a strengthening marketplace in Scotland. The estate agency, which is part of Thorntons, sold 1,341 properties last year compared with 1,240 in 2024. While the rise reflects an overall incre

Commercial mediator Pam Lyall has passed away. Ms Lyall died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 18 December after injuring her head in a fall. 

Thousands of offenders have had their alcohol levels tracked over the new year period by electronic tags that monitor their sweat levels. The tags – worn by 5,000 people who have been released from jail or are serving a community sentence – have kept them sober over the festive season an

US efforts to topple the Venezuelan government by military means are in breach of the UN Charter, the International Bar Association (IBA) has warned following the dramatic capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Prisoner escort firm GEOAmey delivered inmates late to court on 10,474 occasions in a 10-month period, according to newly released figures. The company, which holds a £238 million contract to transport prisoners, has already been fined around £4m for performance failures. Late arrivals c

Tim Eicke KC has been appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the King’s New Years Honours List 2026 in recognition of his services to the protection of human rights in Europe. The honour reflects his distinguished career and his excepti

Ian Forrester KC, a member of Ampersand Advocates and a former Judge of the Court of the European Union, has been conferred the honour of Knight Bachelor in the 2026 New Year Honours list. Sir Ian is recognised for his lifetime contribution to international legal practice, writing and teaching in la

Views are being sought on whether legislation should be introduced to raise the minimum age of marriage and civil partnership in Scotland from 16 to 18, as part of a consultation on wider proposed reforms to family law. While marriages involving 16- and 17-year-olds are rare, the consultation respon

Security staff at Aberdeen Sheriff Court confiscated more than 100 bladed items during 2025, along with an imitation firearm, according to new figures. Data provided by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) for the first 10 months of last year reveal that staff at Aberdeen Sheriff Court a

A senior police officer has credited the roll-out of body-worn video (BWV) cameras with a sharp fall in the number of officers being required to attend court, freeing them to spend more time on patrol. Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen told The Press and Journal that the introduction of BWV across t

The four bars have have expressed deep concern over UK government plans to restrict jury trials in England and Wales. Since the UK government announced its proposal to restrict the right to a jury trial in response to Sir Brian Leveson’s criminal courts review, the Bar of England and Wales has

The 'not proven' verdict has now been abolished in all new criminal trials. The jury majority required for a conviction has also now changed from a simple majority to at least two-thirds of the 15 jurors. In addition, measures to enable more detailed research into jury deliberations have also been c

Criminal barristers in Northern Ireland today begin a withdrawal of services from all legally-aided Crown Court cases in a major escalation of their campaign for legal aid fee increases. Members of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) last month voted overwhelmingly in support of the action, the lates