Libya. The UN Security Council authorized countries to board any ships suspected of carrying stolen Libyan oil from rebel-held ports. This comes just days after the United States forces captured an oil tanker transporting crude oil from rebel bases to be sold on the black market. This resolution supports the Libyan central government in their long-running standoff with rebel forces, who have now captured several ports scattered along the coast. Commenting on U.S. Naval involvement, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya Samantha Power expressed support for the swift implementation of the resolution to deter others from seeking Lybian oil as well. “Theft of Libyan oil is theft from the Libyan people,” Power said.
Reuters and BBC World Service
Egypt. An Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death on Monday. Those convicted are part of a group of 545 defendants on trial in the southern Minya province, arrested during protests against the dispersal of camps of protesters in Cairo by police forces. The charges included violence, murder, killing a policeman, storming a police station, attacking persons and damaging public and private property. According to lawyer Ahmed al-Sharif, the ruling can be appealed. During the trial, only 123 of the defendants were present. The rest were either released, out on bail or on the run.
Reuters
United States. A survivor of a 2009 chimpanzee attack is seeking to sue Connecticut for $150 million in damages. Charla Nash was mauled when trying to help her friend coax her 14-year-old chimpanzee named Travis back into the house. The chimp was shot dead at the scene by responding police officers. Because in Connecticut it is nessecary to gain permission before suing the state, Nash’s lawyers will present her case to the Connecticut State Judiciary Committee on Friday. Connecticut attorney general spokeswoman, Jaclyn Falkowski, said that the state is not responsible for Nash’s injuries and that taking responsibility would set a dangerous precedent.
CNN and The Gulf Times
Ecuador. Since 1993, a group in Ecuador called “afectados” (the affected) have battled Texaco over the alleged effects of years of oil drilling in the country. Texaco, now owned by Chevron Oil, had been drilling in the area until 1992. In the wake of the oil production, local, mostly indigenous people have experienced high rates of cancer. The court battle has spread to international courts as the afectados seek retribution from the multinational corporation. Just this month a United States court overturned a $9.5 billion settlement because of alleged corruption by one of the lawyers in the case. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa called the decision imperialism because of the involvement of the U.S. in the foreign matter.
NPR
