International Law News and Global Legal Insights

International Law

Global Ocean Biodiversity Treaty Comes into Force, Strengthening Protection of High Seas

The United Nations’ Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement has come into force, marking a significant step toward the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the high seas and the international seabed.

The treaty addresses long-standing governance gaps in regulating activities in ocean areas outside national control.

The agreement is now legally binding on the 81 countries that have ratified it, after crossing the required threshold of 60 ratifications.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the treaty strengthens international law amid accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to advance coordinated global ocean protection.

Read Details / 5 days ago

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Guterres Cautions Against Forces Weakening Global Cooperation at UN’s 80th Anniversary

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that “powerful forces” are aligning to erode global cooperation, urging countries to reaffirm their faith in multilateralism and international law.

He made the remarks while addressing an event in London to mark 80 years since the UN’s first General Assembly session.

Guterres pointed to soaring military expenditure, the worsening climate crisis, and the destabilising impact of misinformation and digital platforms as key global challenges.

His remarks come amid sharp cuts in US funding to the UN, raising concerns about the organisation’s humanitarian and peacekeeping capacities. He nevertheless said ongoing reforms would make the UN more agile and effective.

Read Details / 5 days ago

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UN Charter Not “À La Carte”, International Law Erosion Visible Worldwide: UN Chief Guterres

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that selective adherence to the UN Charter is undermining global order and setting a dangerous precedent.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, he said international law violations are no longer hidden but unfolding “live in 4K” before the world.

Guterres stressed that the UN Charter is a binding compact, not an optional menu, and called on all nations to fully and faithfully uphold its principles.

He expressed concern over rising conflicts, attacks on civilians, and growing inequality, cautioning that erosion of international law threatens peace, human rights, and multilateral cooperation worldwide.

Read Details / 8 days ago

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United Nations Says U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela Undermines International Law

The United Nations has criticised the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, warning it undermines fundamental principles of international law by using force against another state’s territorial integrity and political independence.

UN rights officials stated that the forcible seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. commandos, supported by warplanes and naval assets, contravenes the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force.

The UN human rights office said such unilateral interventions could worsen human rights conditions and global security, urging respect for sovereignty and that Venezuela’s future be determined by its own people.

At a UN Security Council meeting, member states also expressed concern over the operation’s legality and its broader implications for international norms.

Read Details / 17 days ago

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UAE Lowers Age Of Legal Majority To 18, Overhauls Civil Transactions Law

The UAE has enacted a landmark overhaul of its Civil Transactions Law through a new Federal Decree Law, reducing the age of legal majority from 21 lunar years to 18 Gregorian years.

The reform allows 18-year-olds to independently enter contracts and manage financial affairs, aligning UAE civil law with global standards and existing labour and juvenile laws. The law also strengthens consumer protection, introduces duties of disclosure in contracts, clarifies remedies for defective goods, and recognises single-person companies.

It streamlines rules on insurance, construction contracts, compensation, and property rights, while enhancing safeguards for judicial integrity.

Aimed at legal certainty, the reform modernises civil law to reflect evolving social and business realities.

Read Details / 22 days ago

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Third-Party Litigation Funding Dispute Reaches UK Privy Council In Essar-Linked Arbitration Case

A major dispute on third-party litigation funding has reached the UK Privy Council, bringing the enforceability of funding arrangements under scrutiny.

Essar-linked OGD Services has challenged the enforcement of an arbitral award passed in favour of Norscot Rig Management.

The case will be argued before the Privy Council by senior Indian advocates Harish Salve KC and Nakul Dewan KC. The appeal comes against the backdrop of the UK Supreme Court’s PACCAR ruling, which unsettled the legality of certain funding models, and ongoing legislative efforts to reform the law.

The outcome is expected to have significant implications for the future of third-party litigation funding, both in the UK and internationally.

Read Details / a month ago

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India Raises Concerns Over Pakistan’s Democratic Backsliding, Flags Imran Khan’s Detention at UNSC

At the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace”, India strongly criticised Pakistan’s internal political actions.

India’s Permanent Representative, Harish Parvathaneni, remarked that Pakistan has a “unique way of respecting the will of its people” by jailing former Prime Minister Imran Khan, banning his party, and granting lifetime immunity to its military chief.

India also termed Pakistan a “global epicentre of terror”, citing decades of cross-border terrorism and justifying the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Read Details / a month ago

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Delhi High Court Intervenes as Celina Jaitly Unable to Contact Brother Detained in UAE

The Delhi High Court directed the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate contact between actress Celina Jaitly and her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the UAE.

The plea arose after Celina claimed she had not received updates despite approaching the Embassy and using the MADAD portal. The brother’s wife opposed the request, stating that he preferred not to contact her

The Court held that the petitioner is entitled to communicate with her brother and asked the MEA to ensure he is informed that he may reach out.

[Celina Jaitly v. Union of India]

Read Details / a month ago

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Centre Tells SC It Will Bring Back Pregnant Woman, Son Deported To Bangladesh On Humanitarian Grounds

The Central Government informed the Supreme Court that it will bring back Sunali Khatun, a pregnant woman deported to Bangladesh, along with her 8-year-old son Sabir, purely on humanitarian grounds.

The assurance came during the Union’s appeal against a Calcutta High Court order on repatriation.

The Court noted that Sunali will be returned to Delhi and may be shifted to Birbhum, where her father resides. It also directed West Bengal to provide medical care for her pregnancy and ensure the welfare of the child.

The matter will be heard next on December 12.

[Union of India v. Bhodu Sekh & Ors.; Union of India v. Amir Khan & Ors.]

Read details / a month ago

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Delhi High Court Seeks Centre’s Stand on Christian Michel’s Extradition Challenge

The Delhi High Court sought the Centre’s response on Christian Michel’s plea challenging the applicability of the India–UAE extradition treaty in light of the Extradition Act, 1962.

Michel contended that Section 21 of the Act prohibits prosecution for offences not expressly included in the extradition order, whereas Article 17 of the treaty permits trial for “connected offences,” creating an inconsistency.

He also assailed the trial court’s refusal to grant him release under Section 436A CrPC. The Court issued notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, CBI and ED, and listed the matter for further hearing on January 9.

[Christian Michel v Union of India & Ors]

Read Details / 2 months ago

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Munich Court Finds ChatGPT Liable for Copyright Infringement Over Reproduced Song Lyrics

A Munich court held that ChatGPT infringed copyright by reproducing protected German song lyrics, ruling in favour of GEMA in a case concerning nine works.

The court found that generating altered or partial versions of copyrighted lyrics amounted to unauthorised derivative works under German copyright law. It clarified that the use of copyrighted material during AI training does not shield the platform from liability for infringing outputs.

The court, however, rejected GEMA’s ancillary claim alleging violation of the authors’ general personal rights relating to attribution of modified lyrics. The ruling underscores platform liability for AI-generated content that reproduces protected creative expressions.

[GEMA v OpenAI]

Read Details / 2 months ago

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Bangladesh ICT Sentences Sheikh Hasina to Death Over 2024 Protest Killings

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity arising from the 2024 student-led protests that resulted in the collapse of her government.

The Tribunal held that she ordered the deployment of lethal weapons, helicopters, and drones against demonstrators, relying on verified audio material, forensic reports, and witness accounts.

Two former officials, the home minister and the police chief, were also convicted. The Tribunal found that the use of disproportionate force and targeted assaults on civilians satisfied the statutory elements of murder and persecution as offences against humanity.

The verdict intensified Bangladesh’s political volatility ahead of the 2026 elections.

Read Details / 2 months ago

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CBI Can Examine American Witness via Video Link, Rules Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court allowed the CBI to record U.S. businessman C. Edmonds Allen’s testimony via video conference from the Indian Consulate in New York in the Abhishek Verma OSA case.

The Trial Court had earlier denied the request, citing the potential risk of disclosing classified information and the absence of the accused’s consent.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, however, held that the OSA does not prohibit electronic recording of evidence if adequate safeguards are ensured.

Considering Allen’s age, health, and security concerns, the Court directed that the deposition be recorded in-camera over a secure, encrypted connection.

[Central Bureau of Investigation v. Abhishek Verma & Ors.]

Read Order / 2 months ago

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Supreme Court Declines to Quash FIR Over Babri Masjid Post

The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea seeking to quash criminal proceedings against a law graduate accused of posting on Facebook that the Babri Masjid would be rebuilt.

The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi stated it had examined the post and found no ground to interfere, allowing the petitioner to withdraw his plea.

The post, uploaded on August 5, 2020, read, “Babri Masjid too will one day be rebuilt.” The petitioner argued his post was a protected expression under Article 19(1)(a) and that vulgar comments by others were wrongly attributed to him.

The criminal trial remains pending.

Read Details / 2 months ago

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DIFC Court: Law of Arbitral Seat Governs Arbitration Agreement, Even if Contract Has Different Governing Law

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court held that the law of the arbitral seat governs the arbitration agreement, even if the main contract is subject to a different governing law.

Justice Sir Jeremy Cooke ruled in a dispute between Oswin and Otila & Ondray over a joint venture operating a hazardous waste facility.

The Court rejected the defendants’ claim that UAE federal law and Abu Dhabi courts had exclusive jurisdiction, holding that the JVA’s arbitration clause constituted an independent agreement.

The Court maintained the injunction restraining unilateral management actions until the arbitral tribunal resolves the dispute.

[Oswin v Otila]

Read Order / 3 months ago

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