Weekday News Wrap: July 3, 2012

03 Jul Weekday News Wrap: July 3, 2012

03.07.12 | 0 Comments

Syria’s President Assad has expressed regret at the downing of the Turkish jet last month and has vowed to apologize should it be established that the jet was shot down in international airspace.
Human Rights Watch has released a report on arbitrary arrests, detention and torture in Syria since the beginning of the civil unrest in March 2011.
A Reuters article discusses how the failing of diplomacy in Syria is pushing some states to get more actively involved in the dispute. UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has plead with states not to assist in the militarization of both sides to the conflict and has asked the UN Security Council to refer the conflict to the ICC.
Destruction of World Heritage Sites continues in Timbuktu, Mali. Militants have also placed landmines around the city of Gao, trapping the local population.
Australia’s Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, has suggested that Julian Assange’s extradition may not be so high on the US’ wish list anymore.
A proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic was blocked at the International Whaling Commission after Japan, China, Norway, Russia, Iceland, and several smaller countries voted down the idea.
The TPPA negotiators are meeting in San Diego for the 13th round of negotiations.

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