Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, people! Here is what I have for you today: a great international law analysis, some news from the US and Europe, and even a song! I hope you’ll keep reading! Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014): The “Foreign Terrorist Fighter” as an International Legal Person, Part I and Part II Great analysis of SC Resolution 2178 and its legal effect on actual individuals, the ones the resolution addresses as “foreign terrorist fighters”.  As Senate Confirms More Career Diplomats, Fate of Obama’s Political Nominees Remains Uncertain Hungary is without a US Ambassador for over a year now. I have posted…

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Understanding the Origins of the Islamic State

Great animated video by Bruce Riedel of Brookings Institute.

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united-nations: Wednesday is World Toilet Day.  While for many, having a clean, private bathroom is a basic convenience, for others it is an unimaginable luxury.  2.5 billion people in the world today do not have access to adequate sanitation and 1 billion people still defecate in the open. In many places, women and girls are at risk of rape and abuse because they have no toilet that offers privacy. For them, going to the toilet can mean danger and fear.  Help spread the word and take action. Find out how you can help here:http://j.mp/11lpNqT #WorldToiletDay #WeCantWait

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Sunday Smack

Hello Everybody, it is Sunday again! How are you all doing? As you can tell, I sort of neglected this blog lately. This one is like the 5th or 6th weekend I spent at home trying to “bed rest” this illness. Yes, talking about the same illness that started more than two months ago. I have now heard countless theories on why on earth this one does not go away, medical and less medical reasons alike, have taken more medicines in the past weeks than ever before in my life, but still don’t have the solution. Something happened this weekend…

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Russia under pressure at G20 summit

Russia under pressure at G20 summit Russia has been rebuked by Western leaders about its role in the Ukraine crisis, at a G20 summit in Australia. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he needed to “get out of Ukraine”. US President Barack Obama said Moscow’s “aggression” in Ukraine was a “threat to the world”, while the UK threatened more sanctions unless Russia stopped “destabilising” its neighbour. The two-day summit in Brisbane is focusing on promoting economic growth.

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ourpresidents: The Fall of the Berlin Wall – Twenty Five Years Ago this Weekend Following World War II, tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union intensified. In 1949 Great Britain, France, and the United States unified their individual occupied zones of Germany into the Democratic Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). The fourth portion remained under the Soviet Union’s control and became known as the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). After years of contention the Soviet Union began constructing a permanent wall on August 13, 1961 which split East from West Germany, therefore dividing the city of Berlin in…

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Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, everybody! Hope you all are doing well. The final season of The Newsroom starts tonight, who is excited?  While waiting, check out this week’s top posts from my rss feed. The Forest and the Trees: Syrian Reactions to Foreign Actions Against ISIS It is like two of Syria’s enemies fighting against each-other, perhaps that is why those reactions are not quite clear to figure out. Washington Cuts Funds for Investigating Bashar al-Assad’s War Crimes Meanwhile, war crimes committed by the Syrian leader has ranked lower on the American foreign policy agenda.  Darfur Has Faded from the Headlines, But…

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Viktor Orban Steers Hungary Toward Russia 25 Years After Fall of the Berlin Wall

Viktor Orban Steers Hungary Toward Russia 25 Years After Fall of the Berlin Wall “Now, as the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is commemorated Sunday, Hungary is a member of NATO and the European Union and Mr. Orban is in his third term as prime minister. But what was once a journey that might have embodied the triumph of democratic capitalism has evolved into a much more complex tale of a country and a leader who in the time since have come to question Western values, foment nationalism and look more openly at Russia as a model.” Unfortunately the world…

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Sunday Smack

Can you believe it’s already November? Well, it’s been a while since the last time when there was no post between two Sunday Smacks. That happened this week. I recently read a blog post where the author wrote she thought it was quite annoying when bloggers complain about neglecting blogging, while she actually was complaining about just that. I will not do that. I was a little busy this week, that’s all. What have you all been reading about this week? Hope you’ll check out these posts too. Mass Graves, Missing Students, and Mexico’s Long Road to Reform This is something…

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Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, people! How is everybody doing? After a four day long weekend in Hungary I feel like I am in the process of really recovering. I know, I said that quite a few times in the past 6+ weeks, but this time it must be for real. I have so many plans for when I will be well enough to do things! I want to be able to do things and go to places again so bad! Well, at least I was still able to read, I hope you’ll check out these posts from last week. Why Banning Travel…

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