Weekday News Wrap: Monday, March 19, 2012

In addition to its recently introduced Weekend Roundup, Opinio Juris is pleased to offer you the Weekday News Wrap. This Monday-through-Friday feature aims to offer a selection of news items from around the world related to many topics of interest on the blog. As usual, feedback is very welcome and we wish you happy reading!

• The first ITLOS judgment on maritime delimitation was issued last Wednesday (ITLOS press release). Commentary here and Dapo Akande discussion of the timing of the decision, coming on the same day as the ICC’s Lubanga decision, here.
• The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that at least 8,000 are dead in Syria and urged an end to the violence.
• Despite criticism of the rocket technology it will use, North Korea plans to go ahead with its satellite launch, citing its sovereign right of “peaceful development and use of space.”
• The WTO appellate body ruled that US subsidies to Boeing are illegal; the ICTSD reports on the decision here.
• Javier Solana discusses sovereignty at Project Syndicate.
• A cache of approximately 3,000 e-mails were leaked to The Guardian from insiders from the Syrian regime, including President Bashar al-Assad and his wife. Foreign Policy Passport gives a guide to reading them here.
• Jurist reports about the US sending Afghan detainees to prisons known for torture.
• Abdullah al-Senussi, the former Libyan chief-of-intelligence, has been arrested in Mauritania. The ICC, the Libyan National Transitional Council, and France have all requested his custody.
• The L.A. Times reports on the psychological strain drone crews face.
• Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, calls for a US troop withdrawal by the end of next year, previously scheduled for the end of 2014.
• The NY Times reports that Ethiopian forces stormed into Eritrea and the clashes are stirring new tensions between the two countries.
• Invisible Children’s production, Kony 2012, was screened in Uganda and stirred anger amongst viewers.
• With all the hype stirred up by Hollywood stars surrounding the Kony 2012 campaign and activities in Darfur, Foreign Policy takes a look at the phenomenon of “Celebretarian Intervention.”