US President Joe Biden issued two memoranda on Jan. 6 to prohibit new offshore drilling within three ocean and coastal regions, compromising over 625 million acres. One of the memoranda includes the withdrawal of the entire eastern US Atlantic coast and the eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as the Pacific Coast along California, Oregon and Washington. The other provides the withdrawal of certain portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska. According to the White House press release, the withdrawals in these regions are aimed at protecting "coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies—including fishing, recreation, and tourism—from oil spills and other impacts of offshore drilling."

In a video published on social media Jan. 2, a representative of the new transitional government in Syria spoke with Bakhour Chamntoub, head of Damascus' small remnant Jewish community, promising "peace and security" and even calling on Syrian Jews abroad to return to the country. Said the representative, Mohammad Badarieh: "Good evening everyone... from the home of the head of the Jewish community in Damascus, Bakhour. Reassure us that you're alright." Replied Chamntoub: "Thank God, all is well."  Referring to Syrian Jews outside the country, Chamntoub acknowledged: "They don't believe there will be peace, and that they can return home." But, addressing the diaspora, he echoed the pledge of the transition government: "You will be safe, there will be peace and quiet, and God willing, you'll return, everyone to his house, to his neighborhood, and to his people..."

Mere days before Congress is to certify the Electoral College votes, a movement has finally emerged to have Donald Trump disqualified from office under the Insurrection Clause of the 14th Amendment. A "14th Now March" in Washington is raising the demand, and is being promoted by the podcast and vlog Lights On with Jessica Denson. The idea has also been discussed on The Legal Breakdown with Brian Tyler Cohen and Glenn Kirschner, Legal AF with Ben Meiselas, The Romano Report with Mark Romano, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Constitutional law scholars Evan Davis and David Schulte make the case in an editorial for The Hill, "Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now." Several elected officials have been barred from office under the Insurrection Clause since ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868, but applying it to a former president who led an insurrection is the ultimate test of American democracy. In Episode 259 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg urges that this constitutional mechanism be used, and Trump's victory be nullified.

Ukraine became the 125th state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Jan. 1. With the ratification of the Rome Statute, Ukraine gains full participation rights within the ICC framework, which includes the power to refer cases to the Court. Moreover, ratification strengthens Ukraine's ability to prosecute international crimes domestically, aligning its legal system with international standards. Ukraine, however, invoked a transitional provision that limits ICC jurisdiction over war crimes committed by its nationals for seven years, raising concerns about potential selective justice and access to accountability for victims.

The Pentagon announced Dec. 30 that the US has repatriated Guantánamo prisoner Ridah bin Saleh al-Yazidi to Tunisia after more than two decades in detention. Al-Yazidi, identified as ISN-038, was transferred to Tunisia 11 months after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin informed Congress on Jan. 31, 2024 about the agreement reached for his return. His transfer followed a thorough interagency review process mandated by Executive Order 13492, issued in 2009. Of the 12 Tunisians who were detained at Guantánamo over the years, al-Yazidi, 59, was the only one still held there, with the others having been transferred to Tunisia or to third countries.

A group of UN human rights experts on Dec. 30 called for Israel to face immediate accountability and consequences for systemic violations of international law. As the armed assault on Gaza and forced displacement of its population continues unabated, the UN experts warned: "We cannot afford to lose the force of the multilateral system." They called for full-scale investigation and an end to impunity in a case of "potential genocide." They called on all states to "take immediate action to hold Israel accountable for its actions and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.... Only through accountability can the rule of law be upheld and human rights protected."

A trade dispute panel convened under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ruled Dec. 20 that Mexico's import restrictions on US genetically modified corn violates the accord. The conflict stems from a presidential decree published by Mexico in February 2023. The decree established an immediate ban on the use of genetically modified corn in dough and tortillas, and instructed Mexican government agencies to gradually end its use in animal feed and other products. The panel evaluating the restrictions determined that they were not based on science, and contravened the market access required under the USMCA.

A group of Palestinian-British individuals has taken initial steps to bring British Petroleum (BP) to court, accusing the company of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The action led by Bimdman's LLP asserts BP's complicity through the continuous supply of crude oil to Israel, facilitated by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline, amid ongoing military operations in Gaza since October 2023. The claimants, backed by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), aim to hold BP responsible for their suffering and press for the company's immediate cessation of activities they say expedite the conflict.