Opinio Juris » Weekday news wrap w34/12

Weekday News Wrap: Friday, August 24, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Libya has set a date for the trial of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, despite the calls for him to be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. More from Jurist can be found here.
Israel claimed that South Africa is acting like an “apartheid state” with its new move to mark goods coming from the West Bank with made in the Israel-Occupied Territories labels.
Justice in Conflict covers the best evidence that LRA leader Joseph Kony may be in Darfur.
The Taliban can be traced to up to 25% of all attacks against Western troops, according to the US General leading NATO forces, Marine General John Allen.
A US Navy SEAL who has written a book on the raid on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan could be face civil and criminal charges.
The UNHCR has indicated that it will not play an operational role in the refugee processing centres Australia is planning to open in Naura and Papua New Guinea.
The US and Turkey have met in Istanbul to discuss contingency plans in case chemical weapons are used in Syria and to plan for a post-Assad future.

August 24th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/08/24/weekday-news-wrap-friday-august-24-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, August 23, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Egypt has requested a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Despite the claims put forth by Julian Assange, the US says it has no case against him for which he could potentially be extradited.
In Guantanamo Bay, tropical storm Isaac has delayed hearings for five detainees charged in the 9/11 attacks.
The head of the IAEA has said he is “not too optimistic” for breakthroughs on talks with Iran, scheduled to resume tomorrow.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has decided to attend next week’s summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, despite pressure from the US not to attend.
Iran has assumed responsibility for crude oil shipments to enable oil exports to Asia to be resumed after the EU’s sanctions banned insurance on oil tankers from Iran.
Much to the chagrin of Israel, South Africa has approved “made in Palestine” labels for items imported from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israel’s Foreign Minister wrote to the Quartet, looking for international support to oust Palestinian President Abbas, although Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to respond that the letter did not represent an official government position.
Jurist covers Russia’s admission into the WTO yesterday.
The African Union and Senegal have reached an agreement about creating a tribunal to try former Chadian president Hissene Habre, accused of war crimes.
“Foreign fighters” have joined the rebel forces in Syria, some of whom have alleged ties to al-Qaeda.
In a phone call, President Obama and UK PM Cameron have agreed that the use or threat of chemical weapons in Syria would be unacceptable.

August 23rd, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | 1 Comment » http://opiniojuris.org/2012/08/23/weekday-news-wrap-thursday-august-23-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, August 22, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

The IAEA has confirmed that it will engage in new talks with Iran on Friday.
Iran has unveiled a new short-range missile and introduced plans to build a new missile-defense system in a show of readiness for any potential Israeli attack.
Were a conflict to break out between Israel and Iran, it could cost Israel’s economy upwards of $42 billion, according to a research report carried out by BDI-Coface.
Israel has also reported concern with its neighbor to the south, saying that it is worried about Egypt’s deployment of armored vehicles in the Sinai desert, claiming this was in violation of a 1979 treaty.
The US and Japan have followed the EU in WTO litigation against Argentina regarding their import licensing rules, accusing the South-American country of “protectionism.”
Argentina in return has said to be preparing WTO complaints against US restrictions on imports of beef and lemons.
Julian Assange’s receiving of Ecuadorian asylum is seen in Sweden as a travesty of justice in a country many say is known for welcoming, not extraditing, political refugees. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s President has alleged that the sexual allegations against Assange would not constitute a felony in Latin America.
Rebels have claimed new victories in Syria’s Aleppo, while heavy fighting continues.
Russia has warned the West with unilateral action after US president Barack Obama threatened the use of military force, were Syria to engage with use of chemical weapons.
At talks in Moscow, Syria’s Depute Prime Minister has indicated that although Assad’s resignation cannot be a condition for starting talks, it could be on the table during negotiations if necessary to reach a settlement.
Japan has decided to reappoint its ambassador to South Korea in an apparent effort to contain the fallout of the island dispute that flared up two weeks ago.
Mexico’s Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a provision in the Code of Military Justice expanding jurisdiction of military courts to all crimes committed by members of the military while on duty.
Romania’s Constitutional Court has reinstated the President ousted by referendum at the end of July, because the referendum did not meet quorum requirements.
The Guardian analyzes how the death of Ethiopian PM Zenawi affects stability in the region.

August 22nd, 2012 - 8:07 PM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/08/22/weekday-news-wrap-wednesday-august-23-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap, Tuesday, August 21, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

As UN monitors left Syria, fighting progressed to suburbs of Damascus.
US president Barack Obama has said that if Syria’s government were to use chemical weapons, the US would be forced to act.
German politicians have said that they will give no leeway to Greece regarding financial reform.
Israel has positioned an Iron Dome, a rocket interceptor and destroyer, on the Egyptian border following two rocket attacks on the city of Eilat.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counterterrorism says that the US government must allow investigation into drone strikes.
The ICC has rejected Laurent Gbagbo’s claims that the Court does not have jurisdiction to try him.
Reuters offers insight into how Julian Assange is living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Meanwhile, there has been some furore in the UK over the naming of one of the Swedish women involved in the sexual allegations against Assange on TV.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has passed away after being treated for illness abroad.
The US has welcomed Myanmar’s decision to abolish pre-publication censorship which required publications to be assessed by the censorship board before going to press.
China has threatened with unspecified sanctions if the US does not cut government support to six renewable energy schemes.

August 21st, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/08/21/weekday-news-wrap-tuesday-august-21-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Monday, August 20, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Julian Assange has thanked Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa for the “courage he has shown” in granting him political asylum in his first public appearance from the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
While Britain still denies Assange safe passage from London, Correa chastised the UK for their threats to storm the embassy to remove Assange, calling them “vulgar, inconsiderate and intolerable.” He also called on other Latin American countries to rally behind Ecuador in this international “David versus Goliath” movement.
Minister of UNASUR, the Union of South American Nations, have issued a statement condemning the UK’s earlier threats to forcibly enter Ecuador’s London embassy. The Organization of American States will also discuss the inviolability of the embassy this coming Friday.
Egypt’s president Mohamed Mursi is scheduled to visit Tehran at the end of the month, which will be the first such visit since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
In Syria, fighting rages for control of Aleppo’s airport.
A flurry of drone attacks in Pakistan on Sunday killed at least 13 and injured many others as Pakistani muslims celebrate Eid-al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
IPS reports about the plans of Palestine to ask for non-member observer status at the United Nations September 27th.
The Hill reports that Syrian rebel forces are entertaining the idea of joining forces with al-Qaeda.
UNICEF is concerned with the increasing number of children being recruited as soldiers in Northern Mali.
The New York Times reports that Iraq has been aiding Iran for months in getting around sanctions posed by the United States.
Anti-Japanese protests took place in more than 20 Chinese cities on Sunday after rising tensions over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.
Argentina is planning to file a WTO complaint against Spain’s decision to ban biofuel imports from outside the EU.

August 20th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/08/20/weekday-news-wrap-monday-august-20-2012/ |