Search: kony 2012

23 Jul Opinio Juris’ Readers’ Survey – June/July 2012

Unless you have just started reading Opinio Juris or have been on a field trip in North Korea, you will have noticed that we recently held our first Readers’ Survey. We are very grateful to all 274 respondents who took the time to complete our questionnaire. Many also entered their name in the sweepstakes for the $100 Amazon voucher. We are pleased to announce that the winner is Antonino Cutrupi, who is a trainee lawyer in Italy. The responses have given us a lot of information to digest,...

23 Aug Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, August 23, 2012

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...

15 Oct Weekday News Wrap: Monday, October 15, 2012

A Human Rights Watch report outlines Syria’s recent use of cluster munitions in civilian areas, a potential war crime. Turkey has banned Syrian aircraft from its airspace as a show of its increasingly firm stance against President Al-Assad’s regime. The EU plans new major sanctions against the banking sector, industry and shipping in Iran. Iran said that the launch of a drone intro Israel by Iranian-backed Hezbollah was a sign of the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities. Colombia’s government and leaders of the FARC will sit down this...

25 Apr Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

US authorities have arrested the first suspect in the BP oil spill case for allegedly destroying evidence linked to the 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Pakistan has successfully tested a nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile, approximately a week after India did the same. The International Criminal Court is closely monitoring the situation in Mali, following the surge in violence since January. While the stalemate about the NLD members’ parliamentary oath is on-going, the Myanmar military strengthens its position, replacing military affiliated members with higher ranking...

01 Dec Weekend Roundup: November 25-30, 2012

This week on Opinio Juris, Kevin Jon Heller wrote about Niger’s offer to extradite Saadi Gaddafi to the ICC, should this be requested. Kevin also discussed the conditions attached by the UK for a vote in favour of Palestine’s “non-member state” bid in the UN General Assembly. The requirement that the Palestinian authority does not apply for ICC or ICJ membership most likely proved to be a dealbreaker, as the UK ultimately abstained. Following the vote, Kevin argued that Palestine can accept the ICC’s jurisdiction retroactively by making...

10 Sep Weekday News Wrap: Monday, September 10, 2012

Violence in Syria continues, with reports stating that scores of government forces have been killed by bombing in Aleppo. The UN has called for an increase in humanitarian aid for Syria amidst the ongoing violence while t he European Union has agreed to increase sanctions. Leaders from Japan and China have met amid tensions regarding disputed islands in the East China Sea. Japan has infuriated China with a deal to purchase two disputed islands from their private owners. The United States has officially declared the Pakistan-based Haqqani...

18 Dec Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

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....

03 May Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, May 3, 2012

Chen Guangcheng says he felt pressure to take the deal to leave the US Embassy and now wants to leave China on Hillary Clinton’s plane. The US has promised to do what it can once his wishes are clear. The FAO Food Index has indicated that global food prices were down in April, though fears about inflation remain. Security is tight in Barcelona as the European Central Bank meets to discuss ways in which to fight the Eurozone crisis; protesters do not have high hopes of many...

09 Oct Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Libya will challenge the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in order to try him on Libyan soil. Mark Kersten at Justice in Conflict has more analysis about the battle of where the trial will be held. Police in Sierra Leone have arrested an investigator employed by former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s defense team on charges he attempted to bribe prosecution witnesses to recant their testimony during Taylor’s war crimes trial. Nigerian soldiers have shot more than 30 civilians dead in the northeastern...

17 Dec Weekday News Wrap: Monday, December 17th, 2012

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm at the worsening violence in Syria, including the reported mass killing of Alawites and alleged firing of long-range missiles on Syrian territory. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea celebrated its 30-year anniversary. France reported that officials from the Afghan government, the Taliban rebel movement and other factions would meet this week near Paris to discuss the country’s future. Libya’s ruling national congress ordered the temporary closure of its borders with four of its neighbors over the weekend and...

29 Nov Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, November 29, 2012

The UNGA is expected to recognize Palestine as a “non-member” state during a vote today. Following massive protests earlier this week in Cairo, the Assembly drafting the new Egyptian Constitution has vowed to publish, and vote on, a draft today. The US is considering options to intervene more strongly in the Syrian conflict, while the EU has renewed its sanctions for another three months leaving the door open for a closer involvement after March 1. China will give police in its Southern Hainan province broader powers to...