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20 March 2014
U.S. Navy Seals have taken over an oil tanker that was seized by Libyan rebels who fled from a rebel-controlled Libyan port and managed to escape the Libyan authorities. There were no casualties during the operation, which took place in international waters off of Cyprus on the night of 16 March. According to the Pentagon Press Secretary, John Kirby, the seizure was authorised by the U.S. President Obama and requested by the Libyan and Cypriot governments. He stated that ‘[t]he Morning Glory is carrying a cargo of oil owned by the Libyan government National Oil Company. The ship and its cargo were illicitly obtained from the Libyan port of Es Sider.’
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Source: Reuters | U.S. forces seize tanker carrying oil from Libya rebel port
Source: The Guardian | US navy Seals take over oil tanker seized by Libyan rebels
Source: Reuters | Libyan port rebels say U.S. seizure of oil tanker act of piracy
Source: Reuters | Oil in seized tanker belongs to Libya's east: rebel leader
15 March 2014
This is our News Items Overview of 16 February 2014-15 March 2014, a summary of recent news relating to shared responsibility. (more…)
14 March 2014
At the 57th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, currently meeting in Vienna, countries from around the world are discussing ways to counter the global illicit drug trade. According to UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, the fight against the global drug trade is the responsibility of all people. Mr. Eliasson stated, ‘[n]o nation can escape the impact of these criminal networks. We all share the responsibility to forge effective solutions.’
Source: United Nations Radio | Fighting global drugs trade is shared responsibility
13 March 2014
States that condemn torture while using information and products obtained through the practice in other countries are hypocritical, according to UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Juan Méndez, saying ‘[g]overnments cannot condemn the evil of torture and other ill-treatment at the international level while condoning it at the national level’. He told the Human Rights Council that any use of torture-tainted information, even if the torture has been committed by agents of another state, is an act of acquiescence in torture that compromises the user-state’s responsibility and leads to individual and state complicity in acts of torture. (more…)
Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights | News | “No more hypocrisy, stop condemning torture committed by others while accepting its products” - UN expert
12 March 2014
Reuters reports that while Malaysia is conducting an investigation into the missing Flight MH370, with the assistance of foreign governments and agencies, they do not have the legal powers needed for a formal international probe under UN-sanctioned rules. Such powers include the right to take testimony from witnesses, the right to have exclusive control over the release of information and ability to centralise evidence. Additionally, under a formal investigation, a board is established comprised of the plane maker, engine maker, unions, the airline and aviation safety regulatory agency of the country where the airline is based. Furthermore, no other state has taken the lead in an official probe into the missing Flight MH370. Industry experts say this leadership vacuum is unprecedented. (more…)
Source: Reuters | Legal limbo hampers probe into missing Malaysia jet
Source: Free Malaysia Today | Legal limbo hampering search for missing plane