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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is to establish a commission to consider whether the UK should withdraw from various international treaties, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and amend domestic laws that some in the party believe are restricting government action. The commi

The trial of a Libyan man accused of constructing the bomb that brought down Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie has been postponed until spring 2026. Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Masud, was due to go on trial in Washington last month, but proceedings were delayed due to his health and th

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. DRC: M23 rebels executed at least 21 civilians in Goma, Human Rights Watch says

The average selling price of property across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders during March-May 2025 was £283,335, 3.6 per cent higher than the same time last year. The most expensive region to buy a property was Edinburgh, with an average price of £301,077, while the most af

Burges Salmon has advised the majority shareholders of Aberdeen-based Encomara, a floating wind and subsea engineering firm, on the sale of the business to Inverness-headquartered Aurora Energy Services. Encomara will maintain its brand and product identity while gaining access to Aurora’s glo

Perth law firm Kippen Campbell LLP has raised £3,380 by participating in Will Aid. Jacqueline Dow, from the firm, said: “Will Aid is a fantastic initiative, and we’re thrilled to have helped so many people put their affairs in order while raising such a substantial amount for chari

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has announced a funding boost for a specialist centre aimed at tackling violent crime. The Scottish Violence Reduction Unit is to receive a seven per cent boost in funding to £1.2 million due to concerns about a “youth violence epidemic”.

The introduction of a bill aimed at simplifying the law around crofting is a welcome step towards long-awaited and much needed reform, according to the Law Society of Scotland. The Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill was introduced by the Scottish government this week and proposes to amend the law

A pedestrian safety activist is facing a criminal trial after making his own crossing with chalk. Charlottesville, Virginia man Kevin Cox used what he said was spray chalk to create a makeshift pedestrian crossing at an intersection where a fatal accident took place last October.

The UK government has said it will not amend the law to make it easier to establish safe drug consumption facilities, even if Glasgow’s new pilot site proves successful. The Thistle in Glasgow, which opened earlier this year, is the first such centre in the UK and is intended to address Scotla

A US city has announced a $105 million reparations initiative aimed at addressing the enduring harm of a massacre that took place a century ago. The 1921 race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of the worst episodes of racial violence in US history. The plan includes investments in housing, educati

There is a “real danger” to the UK’s international reputation if issues such as court backlogs remain unaddressed, the deputy president of the Supreme Court has warned. Lord Hodge told the Lords Constitution Committee that persistent problems weaken "our sell of the UK as a success

Kennedys, which has offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, has reported 13 per cent growth with a record revenue of £428 million for the financial year ended 30 April 2025. This marks the 11th consecutive year of growth at Kennedys, signalling further global expansion across the firm’s region

Aberdein Considine has appointed Marianne McJannett as a partner in the firm’s Glasgow office. Ms McJannett, who qualified as a solicitor in 2012, joins Aberdein Considine from Bellwether Green, where she was head of employment.

A solicitor who was secretly working for three law firms at the same time has been struck off. Belinda Sarkodie, a property lawyer in England, submitted timesheets for the same hours to two firms when she was also meant to be working full-time for a third firm.