Members of the US Senate on May 19 voted 90-6 to approve an amendment eliminating $80 million from pending legislation intended to fund the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility. Introduced by Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and co-sponsored by five Republican senators, the measure prohibits using any funding provided by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 to "transfer, relocate, or incarcerate Guantanamo Bay detainees to or within the United States."

A US military judge on May 19 granted a government motion to postpone hearings for Saudi Guantánamo Bay detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi. Chief judge for military commissions Col. James Pohl granted the government's motion for a continuance until Sept. 24, reasoning that such a delay will permit the government to implement changes, complete the Detention Policy Review, and finish reviewing individual cases in a way that will serve the interests of justice.

Judge John Bates of the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled May 19 on the limits of detaining terrorism suspects at Guantánamo Bay who are not actual members of terrorist groups under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), rejecting the Obama administration's "substantial support" standard. The opinion rejected the government's argument that an individual who "substantially supports" a terrorist organization such as the "Taliban, al-Qaeda or an associated force" but is not a member can be detained pursuant to the AUMF.

President Barack Obama May 19 announced plans for national fuel efficiency requirements. The policy is aimed at increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce emissions by an approximate 900 million metric tons under the life of the program.

The beginning of President Obama's extention of long-overdue public control over Detroit. Let's hope it isn't also the end. From Motor Trend, May 12:

Chrysler cleared a major hurdle in its bankruptcy restructuring last week when holdout investors gave up their quest for better compensation, but there are plenty of hurdles left. Chrysler dealers, fearful of losing their franchises, are banding together to fight back against the company's consolidation while the Automotive Task Force has slashed the company's ad budget.

Key Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee endorsed a climate bill and Republicans readied more than 400 amendments to the measure May 19. Democrats are supporting a measure that would instate a carbon-trading system, which in theory would spur development of less-polluting energy sources such as wind and solar by regulating emissions caused by energy sources such as oil and coal.

As celebrations break out in Colombo over the Sri Lankan armed forces' taking of the last small strip of coastline controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebels, there are ominous signs that the coming "peace" will be a grim one at the very best. AP reports May 18 that three Sri Lankan doctors who treated hundreds of badly wounded civilians in understaffed, makeshift hospitals in the besieged zone were detained on accusations they gave false information about the casualties to the media.

Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, leader of Darfur's United Resistance Front, appeared before the International Criminal Court at The Hague May 18 to face war crimes charges over an attack that killed 12 African Union (AU) peacekeepers in September 2007. He is the first suspect to appear before the ICC regarding the Darfur conflict. Abu Garda, 46, turned himself in voluntarily a day earlier to face the charges.