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James Sweeney

Professor, Lancaster Law School, Lancaster University
Prof. James A. Sweeney's research is about the after-effects of conflict: principally human rights in transitional democracies, and the rights of refugees. His monograph, 'The European Court of Human Rights in the post-Cold War Era: Universality in Transition' was published in hardback by Routledge in November 2012, and in paperback in 2014. His work on the human rights of failed asylum seekers was cited by the House of Lords in the case of R (on the application of M) v Slough BC [2008] UKHL 52, by the Court of Appeal in R. (on the application of SL) v Westminster City Council [2011] EWCA Civ 954, and most recently in R. (on the application of Refugee Action) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2014] EWHC 1033 (Admin). In the latter case Home Secretary Theresa May was found to have acted irrationally by freezing the level of cash support to be provided to asylum seekers to meet their essential living needs, for the financial year 2013/14, at the rates which had applied since 2011.

Prof. Sweeney has acted as an expert advisor to the Council of Europe in relation to freedom of assembly projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan (with the Venice Commission), Georgia, and Kosovo. In March 2011 he delivered human rights legal training to judges of the Ukrainian Supreme Court as part of a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office project. Likewise in 2013 and 2014 he convened a series of workshops on human rights and judicial interpretation for the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Kosovo, on behalf of the FCO. Throughout 2009 he acted as an expert advisor to the EU's Committee of the Regions as it prepared its Opinion on reforms to the Common European Asylum System.

Prof. Sweeney joined Lancaster University Law School in 2013. Prior to that, he has worked at Durham, Newcastle and Hull. From 2011-2013 he was Deputy Director of Durham Global Security Institute.

Why have so few atrocities ever been recognised as genocide?

May 30, 2025 11:50 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Politics

An intense argument is raging over whether what has been happening in Gaza since October 2023 is an act of genocide. It is the subject of a case being heard in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in which South Africa...

Economy

EU Prepares €21B Tariff Response to Trump’s Trade Threats

The European Union is readying 21 billion worth of tariffs on U.S. goods if trade talks fail, according to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. This move follows U.S. President Donald Trumps recent threat to impose 30%...

Trump’s Spending Bill Pressures Medicaid Insurers Amid Cost and Coverage Concerns

President Donald Trumps new spending bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is expected to significantly raise administrative costs for Medicaid insurers like UnitedHealthcare, CVS Healths Aetna, Centene, and...

Serbia Faces Pressure as U.S. Talks Stall on Sanctions Against Russian-Owned Oil Firm NIS

Serbias negotiations with the United States over delaying sanctions on Russian-owned oil company NIS have hit significant roadblocks, according to Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic. Speaking...

Sweden’s June Inflation Rises 0.5% Monthly, Hits 2.8% Annually

Swedens consumer prices rose 0.5% in June compared to May, according to final inflation figures released by Statistics Sweden (SCB) on Monday. On a year-over-year basis, the headline inflation rate reached 2.8%, reflecting...

EU, US Close to Trade Deal Amid Trump Tariff Threat

The European Union and the United States are reportedly nearing a major trade agreement, signaling progress in efforts to ease transatlantic tensions. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Monday that negotiations...

Politics

Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Kellogg Visits Kyiv for Security, Sanctions Talks

U.S. President Donald Trumps special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv on Monday to discuss defense cooperation and tougher sanctions against Russia. According to Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian...

Albanese Urges China Collaboration on Global Steel Overcapacity During Shanghai Visit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for joint action with China to tackle global steel overcapacity during a high-level meeting with business leaders in Shanghai. Speaking on Monday, Albanese...

Trump Addresses Epstein Probe Fallout, Backs FBI Deputy Bongino

President Donald Trump said Sunday he had spoken with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino to address tensions surrounding the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Speaking to reporters, Trump...

Israeli Airstrikes Kill Children in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Stall

At least eight Palestinians, including six children, were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a water collection point in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza. According to local officials, the victims were gathering...

Trump to Send Patriot Missiles to Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he plans to send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, signaling continued support for the war-torn nation amid its conflict with Russia. Speaking to reporters at Joint...

Science

FDA Lifts REMS Requirement for CAR-T Cell Cancer Therapies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirement for all currently approved CAR-T cell therapies, a move expected to improve patient access to these...

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Surges on U.S. Patent Win for Rare Disorder Drug

Shares of Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:NEU) jumped over 10% on Thursday after the company announced a key development in its rare disease pipeline. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved Neurens patent...

CDC Vaccine Review Sparks Controversy Over Thimerosal Study Citation

A presentation on thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, set to be delivered to the CDCs advisory committee has come under scrutiny for referencing a non-existent study. The report, Thimerosal as a Vaccine...

SpaceX Starship Explodes in Texas During Test, Citing Nitrogen Tank Failure

SpaceXs Starship spacecraft exploded in a dramatic fireball during a late-night test at the companys Starbase facility in Brownsville, Texas, on June 18, 2025. The 400-foot Mars-bound rocket, a key part of Elon Musks...

NASA Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Recover After Boeing Starliner Delay

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are steadily recovering after spending nine unexpected months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to issues with Boeings Starliner capsule. Initially intended...

Technology

China Approves Synopsys’ $35B Ansys Deal Amid Easing Trade Tensions

Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has granted conditional approval to Synopsys (NASDAQ: SNPS) $35 billion acquisition of Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS), removing the final major regulatory barrier for the U.S....

Stifel Lowers HubSpot Price Target to $700, Maintains Buy Ahead of Q2 Earnings

Stifel analysts have revised their price target on HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:HUBS), lowering it from $750 to $700, while reiterating a Buy rating ahead of the companys upcoming Q2 earnings report. Despite the reduced target,...

Elon Musk Proposes Tesla Shareholder Vote on xAI Investment

Elon Musk has announced that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) will hold a shareholder vote on whether the electric vehicle giant should invest in his artificial intelligence startup, xAI. Responding to a question on social media, Musk...

J.P. Morgan: Generative AI Must Boost IT Workloads by 55% to Offset Cost Deflation

Generative AI is reshaping IT services, but it must drive over 55% more workload to offset significant cost deflation, according to a recent J.P. Morgan report. The brokerage estimates that large language models (LLMs) can...

Google Hires Windsurf AI Talent After OpenAI Acquisition Talks Falter

Google has hired key personnel from AI code-generation startup Windsurf, following failed acquisition talks between Windsurf and rival OpenAI. According to a Google spokesperson, Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder...