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25 March 2014
On 24 March 2014 a senior US military official confirmed that the US is sending 150 special troops and at least four military aircraft to Uganda in order to search for the fugitive warlord, Joseph Kony. In 2005 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Kony, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Source: The New York Times | More U.S. Troops to Aid Uganda Search for Kony
Source: The Washington Post | US sends more troops, aircraft to search for Kony
Source: The Guardian | US sends special forces to Uganda to hunt for brutal warlord Joseph Kony
25 March 2014
Japan will turn over more than 700 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium, estimated at 450 pounds, to the US. In the past, Iran has criticised Japan’s nuclear stockpiles as evidence of a double standard for trusted countries. Also, last month, China began to criticise Japan’s supply as well. However, the portion of stockpiles that Japan is handing over is only a fraction of Japan’s overall stockpile. Additionally, Japan plans to open up a new nuclear plant which could produce tons more per year, but the US has been urging Japan to abandon the programme. Regardless, Japan’s announcement is a success in President Obama’s push to secure the world’s most dangerous materials. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a National Security Council official, regarding the agreement with Japan stated, ‘[t]his is the biggest commitment to remove fissile materials in the history of the summit process that President Obama launched, and it is a demonstration of Japan’s shared leadership on nonproliferation.’
Source: The New York Times | Japan to Let U.S. Assume Control of Nuclear Cache
25 March 2014
Meeting in the margin of the Nuclear Security Summit, the G7 adopted a declaration which states that Russia’s actions in recent weeks were not consistent with the ‘shared beliefs and shared responsibilities’ that were the reason why the Group came together. The declaration also states that the ‘clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations.’ It recalls that in response to Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to demonstrate the determination to respond to these illegal actions, ‘individually and collectively we have imposed a variety of sanctions against Russia and those individuals and entities responsible.’ The declaration calls on Russia to take diplomatic avenues, and suspend the participation of the 7 states in the G8 until ‘Russia changes course’.
Source: EUROPEAN COMMISSION | STATEMENT/14/82 | THE HAGUE DECLARATION following the G7 meeting on 24 March | 24 March 2014
21 March 2014
The German government has requested federal prosecutors to investigate if German companies violated the law by exporting materials to Syria during the 1980s and early 1990s that may have enabled the country to develop a chemical weapons programme. Based on information given to it by Syria, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has provided a list of companies to Germany, said a spokesman of the German ministry of economy on 19 March 2014. According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung on 19 March 2014, Russia, France and China were also involved in providing Syria with materials that could be used to produce chemical weapons.
Source: Reuters | German prosecutors probe firms for Syria chemical weapons links
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.’ (more…)
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