Search: kony 2012

13 Oct Weekend Roundup: October 6 -12, 2012

This week on Opinio Juris, Eric Posner’s Slate article about the legality of US drone strikes in Pakistan attracted the attention of Julian Ku and Kevin Jon Heller. Julian wondered whether Koh’s “conversion” on the issue will serve as a shield against international arguments about the illegality of the strikes. Kevin in turn expressed hope that Posner’s rejection of the “unwilling or unable” test will stop the spread of this standard from the US into non-US opinio juris. Kevin reflected, twice, on how history tends to repeat itself,...

22 Aug Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, August 22, 2012

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...

01 Aug Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Fighting rages on in Syria’s Aleppo, trapping many citizens inside the embattled city. The tens of thousands who have managed to escape have become refugees, many struggling to find shelter and food. Libya’s Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is seeking a trial in The Hague at the ICC, rather than in Lybia. His lawyers say a fair trial in his home country is impossible. Foreign Policy outlines how the Taliban financially benefits from the reopening of NATO supply routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan; estimates from 2010 show $360 million...

10 Mar Weekend Roundup March 3-9, 2012

If you have not been able to keep up with the stream of posts on Opinio Juris this week, we are pleased to offer you a weekend roundup. Three topics and a symposium fought for your attention. First, the US Supreme Court hearings in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum continued to provide food for thought, particularly after the Court’s order on Monday to re-open the argument on the specific issue of extra-territoriality. Following up on discussions last week, Julian Ku pointed to the importance of Sosa. Ken Anderson...

14 Dec The UN Security Council Set to Renew Ombudsperson’s Mandate for Al Qaida Sanctions Regime

...Blog. Of particular note in this regard is that Kadi was recently delisted by the Sanctions Committee in October 5, 2012, as noted on the Ombudspersons’ website. Another recent decision of interest is the European Court of Human Rights’ September 2012 judgement in Nada v. Switzerland. The Court found that Switzerland violated Nada’s right to family and a private life in its implementation Resolution 1267, and noted that implementation of the Resolution does not bar domestic judicial review. Life is hard for someone on a UN “blacklist”. Once an individual...

04 Jun Weekday News Wrap: Monday, June 4, 2012

Perhaps as a good primer to our upcoming book discussion this week, a few drone-related news items: Despite Pakistan’s requests to the US to stop the program, the third drone strike in Pakistan in as many days has taken its toll on new victims; irrespective of the method of civilian or combatant counting, there are at least 27 dead. The Washington Post points out that drone strikes in Yemen raise legal questions. Canada has come out in support of the US’ use of drones. The UN Committee...

21 Aug Weekday News Wrap, Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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...

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...

14 Nov Weekday News Wrap: Wednesday, November 14, 2012

UN Development Program Chair, Helen Clark, has argued for a greater UN economic role. Preparations are underway to exhume Yasser Arafat’s body for forensic analysis. France has become the first European country to recognize the Syrian opposition coalition as the sole representative of its people. Despite the EU’s decision to suspend its ETS with respect to international aviation, the US House of Representatives has accepted a modified Senate bill protecting US airlines from the effects of the EU ETS. China’s Communist Party has concluded its conference with...

26 Jun Weekday News Wrap: June 26, 2012

As NATO meets over the downing of Turkey’s jet by Syria, Turkey has also written to the UN Security Council that the attack is a “serious threat to peace and security”. The EU foreign ministers have urged Turkey to exercise restraint in its responses. Meanwhile, Syria has allegedly shot at a second Turkish jet. In an interview, the Director-General of MI5 has revealed that the UK has faced 11 credible terrorist threats since 2001, and that the terror threat has been widening since the Arab Spring. Rwanda’s...

21 Sep Weekday News Wrap: Friday, September 21, 2012

A Syrian airstrike has killed at least 54 amid heavy fighting in northern Syria. At a UN Security Council meeting, Iran was attacked about the aid it is providing to Syria’s government forces. At the IAEA’s meeting in Geneva, Iran and Israel squared off about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East region. The US has lifted a ban on New Zealand naval ships visiting US ports or bases in place since 1986, after New Zealand’s decision to ban any nuclear powered ships or nuclear armed ships from...

31 Jul Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Syrian forces have intensified their attacks on the crucial Aleppo, while rebel fighters say that they are holding firm in the city they expect will become the “regime’s grave.” Russian president Vladimir Putin has ratified a stricter adoption agreement with the US, wherein foreign adoptions will be subject to tighter restrictions and families wanting to adopt will be vetted more thoroughly. An unwed couple in northern Mali was publicly stoned to death, the first reported Sharia killing since the occupation. Indonesia has challenged the European Union over...