19 Feb Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
19.02.13
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- Over at the International Economic Law and Policy Blog, Rob Howse brings daily updates of the Seal hearings at the WTO.
- The New Zealand government has decided to go ahead with plans to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products, but the enactment of the actual legislation could be postponed depending on the outcome of the WTO and arbitration cases pending against similar Australian legislation.
- A US Congressional delegation is visiting Mali and has announced that the US would likely renew support to the Mali military once democracy has been restored in the African state. Meanwhile, the EU has pledged to organize an international donor conference in mid-May to help with Mali’s reconstruction.
- The EU has eased sanctions on Zimbabwe and pledged to lift sanctions on a state-owned diamond company once fair elections have been held. North Korea on the other hand has to face increased sanctions from the EU, going beyond those already imposed by the UN Security Council.
- The EU has decided not to lift the arms embargo on Syria, but will increase direct support to the rebels. Meanwhile, a UN inquiry has argued that the situation in Syria should be referred to the ICC.
- Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo is set for his pre-trial hearing at the ICC today at 2:30 p.m. Hague time (GMT +1). You can watch a streaming version in English or French if you follow the ICC website link here.
- Over at Armed Groups and International Law blog, there’s a post about the recent protection of civilians in armed conflict debate at the Security Council.
- A recent UN report has found a decrease in Afghan civilian deaths for the first time in six years but shows an increase in civilian injuries and an increasing concern for targeting women, girls and government officials.
- Afghan officials have arrested a top Pakistani-Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan.
- The EU has approved tighter sanctions on North Korea in response to the nuclear test carried out last week by Pyongyang.
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