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A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Iranian lawyer arrested during protest in October sentenced to three years in prison | RFE/RL

MBM Commercial has announced that Iain McDougall and Caroline Urban have been appointed as partners of the firm.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have challenged Police Scotland to boost efforts to support BME staff after a freedom of information request revealed that a larger proportion of BME officers and staff left compared to those who identified as White Scottish. The party submitted a freedom of informatio

Law students are more likely to misuse alcohol and have suicidal thoughts than their peers, according to a new study. A research paper produced by academics at Ulster University (UU), Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Uppsala University explores whether students in certain disciplines are

The biggest farmers' association in Italy has condemned the use of mafia terms to sell food and drink around the world – including a machine gun-shaped bottle of whisky produced here in Scotland. Coldiretti found that some 300 restaurants are mafia-themed, among them El Padrino in Spain, Don C

Airbnb has failed in an EU court challenge to Italian tax rules requiring the platform to collect a 21 per cent rental income tax and share information with tax authorities. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rejected arguments that two of the three obligations introduced in 2017 are

Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has imposed fines totalling €390 million on Meta Ireland in connection with its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Meta has said it strongly disagrees with the DPC's findings and will "appeal the substance of the decision" in the Irish courts.

Lawyers in Aberdeen have brought an end to industrial action as a “demonstration of collective goodwill” and ahead of an increase to the legal aid budget, the Press and Journal reports.

Police are no longer interested in catching scammers and con artists, a top fraud lawyer has claimed. Clare Montgomery KC, of Matrix Chambers, said she did not believe police “have any interest in prosecuting fraud anywhere”.

A man who was injured while working as an HGV driver has won an appeal in the Sheriff Appeal Court against a sheriff’s decision that the entire matter had been settled following a settlement with one of two defenders. Thomas Ward was employed by ADR Network, the second defender and respondent,

Dr Felicity Loughlin, lecturer in the history of modern Christianity at Edinburgh University, writes about Scotland’s last persecution for blasphemy as a criminal offence, and what this can tell us about changing attitudes towards religion and free speech in the Victorian age. In 1837, a

Naomi Pryde has joined DLA Piper as a partner in its Edinburgh litigation & regulatory team. Ms Pryde, formerly of DWF, is a qualified solicitor in Scotland, England & Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Lindsays has reported a year-on-year increase in the average price of properties it has sold, with the average price in Edinburgh reaching £325,000. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and political turmoil, the firm believes market appetite remains steady and notes that predictions of price

The teenage stars of a famous 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet have launched a $500 million lawsuit against Paramount Pictures over its controversial nude scene. Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who were 15 and 16 respectively at the time of filming, allege that they agreed to film the bed

Three legal directors at Thorntons have started 2023 in their new roles as partners. Both Anne Miller and Mike Kemp have been promoted to partner in the dispute resolution and claims team in Dundee while Graeme Dickson steps up to partner in the private client team in Edinburgh.