Senate votes to reduce US funding for UN peacekeeping News
Senate votes to reduce US funding for UN peacekeeping

[JURIST] The US Senate voted Wednesday to cut the current US share of funding UN peacekeeping forces, rejecting a Democratic proposal to maintain current funding for the next two years 40-57 [Senate roll call]. The amendment to a Department of State appropriations bill would reduce the US share to 25%, down from 27.1%. Supporters argue that the decrease in funding would boost US negotiating power in the current UN reform process. A funding cut would still have to be approved by the House and then negotiated between the United Nations and the US mission to the UN [official website]. The Senate is meanwhile slated to hold confirmation hearings next week on the controversial nomination [advocacy website] of former State Department official and harsh UN critic John Bolton as UN ambassador; the Bolton hearings were slated for Thursday but were postponed because of Congressional travel for the Pope John Paul II's funeral in Rome Friday. Reuters has more.

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.