Commentaries by Arnav Laroia and Ria Garg | West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences

The Rohingya Crisis in Court: A Guide to the ICJ Proceedings

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The Rohingya Crisis in Court: A Guide to the ICJ Proceedings

Arnav Laroia and Ria Garg | West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences

February 2, 2026 04:26:00 pm

The ongoing Rohingya crisis in Myanmar is a significant humanitarian and legal challenge now before the International Court of Justice. The Gambia’s accusations of genocide have placed Myanmar’s conduct under close legal scrutiny, with the merits proceedings examining questions of state responsibility and accountability under international law. What is the origin of the current dispute? [...]

THIS DAY @ LAW

Jamaica achieves full independence

On February 9, 1962, Jamaica left the Federation of the West Indies, becoming a fully-independent nation for the first time in its history. The country did, however, remain a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Read the Constitution of Jamaica from the Georgetown University archives.

First US federal anti-narcotics legislation passed

On February 9, 1909, Congress passed the first federal legislation prohibiting narcotics. The "Act to Prohibit Importation and Use Of Opium" barred the importation of opium at other than specified ports and for other than medicinal use.

US House elects John Quincy Adams President

The US House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as President of the United States on February 9, 1825 after no candidate won a majority of electors in the 1824 presidential election. Adams prevailed by a 13-7-4 vote even though future President Andrew Jackson won more electors than him the previous November. The Twelfth Amendment to the US Constitution requires the House to determine the president if nobody secures a majority of electors. Learn more about the Election of 1824.