Milosevic trial adjourned again due to illness News
Milosevic trial adjourned again due to illness

[JURIST] The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website] announced late Wednesday that the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic [Wikipedia profile] has been postponed again until Monday, February 14. Milosevic is still recovering from a bout of influenza that had caused a previous delay and complained of a temperature during Wednesday's hearing. His trial, which started in February 2002, has already been interrupted several times due to Milosevic's health, in particular a heart condition. An ICTY press release stated that Milosevic will be evaluated by a doctor before returning to court on Monday. If convicted, Milosevic could face life in prison. AFP has more. JURIST has more on the trial here.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.