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Japanese traffic police are cracking down on tourists and travellers riding motorised suitcases. Under Japanese law, motorised suitcases — some of which can travel up to 13 kilometres or eight miles per hour — are classed as vehicles which can only be operated with a driving licence.

Northern Ireland's Labour Relations Agency (LRA) marked Belfast Pride Festival 2024 with a panel discussion on the impact of domestic abuse and violence within the workplace, particularly focusing on the LGBTQIA+ community. The 'Safe at Home, Safe at Work' event, featuring panellists from local supp

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has welcomed a "trend of substantial sentences being handed down for sexual crimes" following the sentencing of rapist Raymond Shorten. Shorten will serve 30 years behind bars following the imposition yesterday of a 17-year sentence for raping two young women on two dates i

New Irish legislation on European arrest warrants has still not brought Irish law in line with EU requirements, the European Commission has said. The European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Act 2024 was approved by the Oireachtas in March and was intended to address issues raised by the Commission in 20

A criminal ban on buying sex does not violate the rights of sex workers, the European Convention on Human Rights has ruled. The Strasbourg court yesterday handed down its judgment in a case brought by 261 men and women of various nationalities who said they habitually and lawfully sell sex in France

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Activists condemn shooting of pro-independence lawyer in West Papua | The National

Three EU member states are being referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for failing to transpose laws designed to guarantee fair trial rights. The European Commission yesterday announced further action to be taken in separate infringement proceedings against Hungary, Czechia a

A postman is facing criminal charges after being caught with 13,000 undelivered letters in his garage. Police swooped on the home of the postal worker in the French town of Isle-d'abeau, near Lyon, following a tip-off from his disgruntled wife.

Lawyers lined the front of the Four Courts yesterday during the third and final day of withdrawal of services by criminal barristers this legal term.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has reported a seven per cent increase in profit per equity partner to nearly £1.1 million — a 50 per cent increase over the last five years. The firm saw revenue increase by 10 per cent to £574 million and profit increase by eight per c

Pandemic-era rules allowing companies to hold AGMs on a hybrid or fully virtual basis are to be made permanent. The Companies (Corporate Governance, Enforcement and Regulatory Provisions) Bill 2024, published yesterday, will also make a number of reforms to the State's company law regulators.

The High Court is to hear a legal challenge to the requirement to register children born abroad to naturalised Irish parents on a 'foreign birth register' before they are recognised as Irish citizens. The applicant in the case is a naturalised Irish citizen whose child was born outside of Ireland.

Northern Ireland's Department of Justice is consulting on proposed changes to policing codes of practice in response to new counter-terrorism and national security legislation. The 12-week consultation seeks views on proposed changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

Major reforms to mental health legislation have been approved by ministers. The Mental Health Bill, to be published next week, will replace the existing Mental Health Acts 2001–2022 with the aim of providing a modern legal framework that will protect the rights of people with mental health dif

New legislation is to ensure that women undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses will not be forced to use maternity leave during treatment. The general scheme of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2024 will allow mothers who require treatment fo