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

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.