Weekly News Wrap: Monday, February 24, 2014

Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world:

Africa

• Nigeria has closed its northern border with Cameroon to block the movement of Boko Haram members who use the area as a launch-pad for attacks.
• French troops may stay much longer than originally planned in the Central African Republic.
• Civilians in South Sudan have been the main target of recent ethnic violence that is likely to have killed thousands, and thousands more have been raped, arrested and tortured, according to the UN.
• Al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has attacked the heavily-fortified Somali presidential palace compound, blasting through a gate with a car bomb and engaging palace guards in a fierce gun battle that left 14 people dead.

Asia

• India’s government will proceed with stringent actions against Italian marines charged with the killing of two Indian fishermen, an incident that soured diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Rome.
• Reuters has an insight about reforming the bloated steel sector in northern China’s Hebei province as a key part of Beijing’s efforts to cut air pollution.

Americas

• Talks between the US and EU for a comprehensive trade and investment pact are set to kick into higher gear, following a highly-anticipated “political stocktaking” meeting between the two sides’ top trade officials.
• US prosecutors plan to seek the extradition of Mexico’s most wanted man, drug cartel kingpin Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman, to face trial in the United States after he was captured in Mexico.

Middle East

• The UN Security Council achieved rare unity to act on Syria’s civil war when Russia and China supported adoption of a resolution to boost aid access in Syria that threatens to take “further steps” in the case of non-compliance.
• Additionally, the UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution to impose travel bans and asset freezes on people in Yemen who obstruct or undermine the country’s political transition and those who commit human rights violations.
• At least 80 people have been executed in Iran so far this year, marking a rise in its use of capital punishment, the UN’s human rights office has said. Jurist has more here.

Europe

• The British government has said it will introduce measures to increase the economic benefits from North Sea gas and oil, as it tries to persuade Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. Polls show that Scots are becoming more skeptical about the idea of Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom.
• Ukraine’s interim leadership pledged to put the country back on course for European integration now that Viktor Yanukovich has been ousted from the presidency.
• Leaders from 46 countries pledged last week to act together to combat a growing illegal wildlife industry, following a high-level meeting convened by the UK government and the British royal family.