US urged to drop opposition to re-appointment of IAEA head News
US urged to drop opposition to re-appointment of IAEA head

[JURIST] Member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] are urging the United States to drop its opposition to a third term for current Director General Mohamed ElBaradei [official bio]. The US has become increasingly displeased with ElBaradei due to what the US sees as a lack of cooperation on Iraq and Iran and was reported to have bugged ElBaradei's phones [JURIST report] in an effort to find evidence that could be used to remove him from his position. Diplomats on the IAEA board are saying that the US is isolated in its opinion and that "The best policy for the US would be to back ElBaradei and then work with him. But ElBaradei will have to work hard to establish good relations with the new [US] administration." The IAEA will meet on April 27 to discuss a new term for ElBaradei, whose current term ends in September. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.