Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, May 16, 2012

16 May Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, May 16, 2012

• Plenty to report on international criminal law tribunals today: Ratko Mladic’s trial began yesterday at the ICTY, where he said he was proud of his Bosnian “legacy;” Charles Taylor’s sentencing hearing is today at the SCSL, where he will reject calls for the 80-year sentence the prosecution is seeking; and at the ICC, closing statements began yesterday in the Katanga and Ngudjolo case.
• In other tribunal news, the ECHR will begin hearings on an extraordinary rendition case today, Al Masri v. Macedonia, for violations of Articles 3 (torture or inhumane/degrading treatment or punishment), 5 (liberty and security) and 13 (effective remedy). Those interested can watch the webcast of the hearings on the Court’s website.
• More on HRW’s report about deaths in Libya NATO has allegedly not accounted for on Al-Jazeera’s Inside Story (video link).
• EU helicopter gunships have carried out strikes against Somali pirates for the first time on land. Foreign Policy and Lawfare offer more context on this operation.
• Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has raised concerns with the US Congress that his family is being harassed.
• The IAEA and Iran have agreed to continue talks next week.
• Obama’s statement in support of same-sex marriage has sparked debate in the Caribbean.
• OJ Guest Contributor Mark Kersten offers some analysis of the recent capture of the LRA leader, Caesar Achellam, over at Justice in Conflict.
• Sudan is refusing South Sudan access to its oil pipelines until the border disputes between the two states have been resolved.
• The Financial Times reports that out of a total of more than 1,200 airlines, 10 Chinese and Indian airlines have refused to divulge emissions data to their designated national authority in the EU, a first step in non-compliance with the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS.
• Greece’s political leaders have failed to reach a coalition agreement and are planning to form a caretaker government until the next elections in June. Meanwhile, the IMF is pondering more openly  the possibility of a “Grexit.”
• The South Korean President is visiting Burma for the first visit by a South Korean leader in almost 30 years.
• Following the rejection of his civil lawsuit immunity, Dominique Strauss-Kahn has counter-sued Ms. Diallo, the hotel maid who accuses him of sexual assault, for $1 million.
• China has aired a documentary blaming the Dalai Lama for instigating self-immolations in Tibet. The British Ambassador in Beijing has also been summoned after PM David Cameron met with the Dalai Lama, which China considers a “serious interference” in its domestic affairs.

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