Opinio Juris » weekday news wrap w50/12

Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Syrian forces first surrounded a Palestinian camp in Damascus before then taking full control of it, a day after air raids killed at least 8 who were seeking shelter there inside a mosque.
Israel has approved 1,500 more settlement homes in East Jerusalem, prompting Palestinians to say they may seek a UN Security Council meeting on the issue.
The US Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss (.pdf) a lawsuit (.pdf) challenging the US government’s targeted killing of three US citizens via drone strikes.
The U.N. Security Council extended the work of the judges of the ICTY, but Russia abstained from the vote because it said the resolution did not address inefficiencies of the court.
Amnesty International condemned what it called “widespread and endemic” exploitation of migrant workers in Italy and urged the government to overhaul its immigration policies.
The United States will “increase pressure” on North Korea, following the latter’s recent long-range rocket launch.
A way must be found to end the deadlock with major powers over Iran’s nuclear program, according to Iran’s foreign minister and reported by an Iranian news agency.
Ghana has nominated its former Trade Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen for the post of WTO Director-General, to succeed Pascal Lamy from September 2013.
After Honduras and Ukraine, the Dominican Republic has filed a request to establish a WTO Dispute Settlement Panel over Australia’s plain packaging legislation for tobacco products. Meanwhile, the European Commission’s draft proposals on tobacco regulation do not provide for plain packaging, but leave the option open to individual member states.
British PM David Cameron has admitted that a withdrawal from the EU is “imaginable,” although it is not his position that this would be advisable.

December 18th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/18/weekday-news-wrap-tuesday-december-18-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Friday, December 14, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

The United Kingdom has paid $3.5 million to settle a rendition case brought by Libyan dissident Sami al Saadi.
The European Court of Human Rights released its decision (.pdf) in the Al Masri v. The Republic of Macedonia case finding he was a victim of CIA rendition.
The ICC Appeals Chamber dismissed a challenge from ex-Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo that the Court lacks jurisdiction over him.
Progress was reported in Iran’s talks with the IAEA, though there is no news on the scheduling of a site visit, and new talks are scheduled for mid-January.
In related news, the US has imposed new sanctions on Iran over the latter’s nuclear program.
Near a Hebron checkpoint where a 17-year old Palestinian was shot to death earlier this week, Israeli soldiers punched two Reuters cameramen with the butts of their guns before making them strip in the street and opening a tear gas canister in front of them.
Russia is culpable in the death of Alexander Litvinenko, according to the lawyer acting on behalf of the inquest.
Uruguay’s lower house approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage; if the bill passes the senate, as it is expected to do, Uruguay will become the second Latin American country (in addition to Argentina) to grant equal marriage rights to all individuals.
Mark Kersten at Justice in Conflict poses the question: if the ICC intervenes in Syria, where will Assad go?
Times are getting even busier for Argentina at the WTO; Panama has now also filed a request for consultations with Argentina over alleged discrimination.
Over at Project Syndicate, former UK Foreign Secretary and current MP David Milliband reflects on this week’s 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Reports that Russian officials acknowledged for the first time that Syrian President Assad is losing his grip on power have been subsequently denied by the Foreign Ministry.

December 14th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/14/weekday-news-wrap-friday-december-14-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, December 13, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Syrian troops have been accused of using Scud missiles in populated areas, according to a US official and Human Rights Watch.
The United Kingdom has announced its intent to legalize same-sex marriage in the coming year.
Trial Chamber II of the ICTY convicted Bosnian Serb commander Zdravko Tolimir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and sentenced him to life in prison.
The European Parliament adopted legislation to create a single European patent, taking effect in 2014.
Human Rights Watch has released a report (.pdf) about indiscriminate bombings and abuses in Sudan’s Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
With the help of Facebook, the FBI has foiled an international cyber crime ring and made arrests in seven countries.
A Palestinian teenager was shot dead in the West Bank city of Hebron by Israeli forces.
The United Nations has condemned North Korea’s rocket launch yesterday stating that it is a violation of the resolution “banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.”
Japan has protested after Chinese planes flew over the contested Diaoyu/Senkaku islands.

December 13th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/13/weekday-news-wrap-thursday-december-13-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, December 12, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Following the EU’s example yesterday, the US has recognized Syria’s opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and many more world powers are poised to do the same at the “Friends of the Syrian People” conference opens today in Morocco.
Human Rights Watch has a report of the Syrian government using incendiary bombs on at least four occasions since mid-November in civilian areas.
North Korea has successfully launched a rocket. The UN Secretary-General has condemned the test.
The US has defended its low-key approach to the situation in Eastern Congo.
The US Trade Representative has indicated that the US will focus on negotiating regional rather than bilateral trade agreements during President Obama’s second term of office.
To protest against having its emissions capped at the levels during the height of the financial crisis, Belarus is considering withdrawing from the freshly extended Kyoto Protocol. Ukraine and Kazakhstan may follow suit.
Iran expressed readiness in addressing IAEA inspectors’ concerns but still insists on retaining the “right” to enrich uranium.
Russia must test imports of U.S. and Canadian beef and pork on grounds of safety, not politics, rejecting concerns the new demands, which could affect U.S. sales of $500 million, are in response to a U.S. human rights bill.
Israel will withhold Palestinian tax revenues at least until March in order to pay off debts to utility companies, according to Israel’s foreign minister.
The United States and the Philippines have agreed to an increased US presence with more aircraft, military ships and troops rotating through the Philippines.
Eric Posner has a post at Slate claiming that despite what Jeh Johnson said in his recent speech, the war on terror will be ever with us.

December 12th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/12/weekday-news-wrap-wednesday-december-12-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, December 11, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

The WTO General Council yesterday approved Tajikistan’s accession package, opening the way for membership 30 days after ratification of the package by Tajikistan.
The ACLU will file a petition this morning with the Inter-American Human Rights Commission over the treatment of Jose Padilla by the US government since his designation as ‘enemy combatant’ in 2001.
Mali’s Prime Minister resigned after the military arrested him for not working in the interests of the country, while he was on his way to France.
The United States and France differ in how they would view handling the crisis in Mali, with France supporting Ban Ki-Moon’s proposal last month of one mission and the US preferring that it be split into two missions (first training the Malian soldiers and then an international intervention).
According to the European Commission President, a newly independent state like Scotland would have to apply for membership to the EU rather than be granted it automatically.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the IMF, has settled the civil lawsuit with a maid out of court for an undisclosed amount of money.
The EU has boosted the status of Syria’s opposition, calling the coalition the “legitimate representatives” of the Syrian people.
Over at Lawfare, Ashley Deeks has a post about Syria, chemical weapons and possible US military action.
For those who have not seen it yet, the second batch of basic materials for the Jessup Competition is now available.

December 11th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/11/weekday-news-wrap-tuesday-december-11-2012/ |

Weekday News Wrap: Monday, December 10, 2012

by Jessica Dorsey

Today is International Human Rights Day; 64 years ago, the UN Declaration of Human Rights was signed. The Empire State Building in New York will be illuminated in blue today to honor the work of Human Rights Watch. Also today, and with the end of the year fast approaching, Amnesty International has released its year in human rights for 2012.
The 18th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded in Doha, Qatar, with an agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol until 2020, and on a broad principle to reimburse developing nations for loss and damage as a result of climate change. A list of all decisions can be found here.
The EU has accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, but not without criticism.
Israel’s ambassador to the US has told in an interview to Fox News that Israel will respond if Syrian chemical weapons fall in the hands of Israel’s enemies, such as Hezbollah.
Critics of US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, argue that she is protecting Rwanda by not criticizing its role in the eastern DRC.
ASIL has published an Insight into the legal implications of the UN General Assembly vote on Palestine.
Beijing tightens rules against anti-China protests as Tibetan self-immolations rise.

December 10th, 2012 - 8:00 AM EDT | Comments Off http://opiniojuris.org/2012/12/10/weekday-news-wrap-monday-december-10-2012/ |