Tag: Syria

Syria: UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi resigns

Syria: UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi resigns Amidst an international community “hopelessly divided” over how to end more than three years of bloodshed in Syria, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that he has regretfully accepted the resignation of Lakhdar Brahimi, the Joint United Nations-League of Arab States Special Representative on the crisis.

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Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, everybody! After the last long weekend, this one was a one day weekend in Hungary, and I can’t believe tomorrow’s Monday already, I would have needed so much more sleep. And staying up for ESC last night did not help. About that: I am really saddened by all the hate that’s pouring my social media streams from Hungary. Normally I like to think that we are way over this stone aged thinking, just to realize time and again that we are so not. For me, the song itself wasn’t my favorite at all, so I did not think…

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Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, everybody! I’ve spent the last four days (long weekend in Hungary) relaxing mostly, but I tried to keep up with the news as well. Here’s a few blog posts of last week’s news for you. Russia and the USA Fight. Syrians Lose. I just don’t think it works this way – like Russia calls Syria saying ‘you guys can let loose and behave badly’. Let’s hope it’s not nearly like this, especially since after quite a few grievous days in Ukraine again, the US-Russian relationship is not likely to improve.  Is Assad Now Using Chlorine to Gas His…

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Sunday Smack

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful sunshiny weekend! The past week was full of international commemorative days as you might have noticed, although I did not even mark all of them. Now, check out a bunch of other news of the week… Russia Builds Case for Military Intervention in Ukraine All signs seem to point this way. Question is: what the international coummunity’s response will be? We have witnessed how sanctions don’t touch Russia at all. Will A Massacre in South Sudan Actually Change Anything? Mark Leon Goldberg suggests Washington needs to pay attention to South…

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Sunday Smack

Happy Sunday, everybody! Another weekend has already passed, that I did not spend how I meant to: with rest. Perhaps next week. A lot of exciting things going on in the world these days that worth paying attention to, though. Here’s what I’ve read about them up until Friday, since I have yet to catch up with the latest myself. What can I say, it happens. 🙂 Kerry Accuses Moscow of ‘Unmistakable’ Covert Ops in Eastern Ukraine And Russia’s pursuit of domination in Ukraine goes forward already. One would think Putin at least could wait a little to divert attention….

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thepoliticalnotebook: Spanish journalist Javier Espinosa and photojournalist Ricardo Garcia Vilanova returned home today after six months held captive by an Al Qaeda-linked group in Syria. Above, Espinosa greets his son Yerai on the Torrejon military airport in Madrid. Photo: AFP/Getty

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Sunday Smack

Happy first weekend of spring and happy Oscars night everybody! So many things to be excited about! There are a lot of exciting (although worrisome) news in world affairs as well thes days… “Maidan” v. Yanukovych et al.: Ukraine and the ICC? While Ukraine never even signed the Rome Statute, one of the first decisions of the new leadership was to prosecute Yanukovych and a few of his men at the ICC. Whether it will be possible to put him on trial (at the ICC or anywhere) is another question. Obama to Putin: ‘There Will Be Costs’ To Invading Crimea…

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Unanimously approved, Security Council resolution demands aid access in Syria

Unanimously approved, Security Council resolution demands aid access in Syria 22 February 2014 – The United Nations Security Council today unanimously approved a resolution to boost humanitarian aid access in Syria, a move Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said can ease some civilian suffering, if it is implemented quickly and in good faith.

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Sunday Smack

I hope everybody’s weekends are going well! Here are some great reads for you to look back on this past week. Olympic Game: Washington Hopes Sochi Will Force Putin’s Hand on Syria I don’t know about that… It certainly doesn’t seem that way. Russia is again paralyzing the Security Council on a crucial Syria resolution. CAR is Falling Apart. And Everyone Knows Why Despite the Security Council resolutions, the peacekeeping troops on ground, and the new president elected, things don’t seem to improve in the CAR. Why Bosnians Are Protesting Great piece on Bosnia after the Dayton Peace Accords and…

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Sunday Smack

Happy first Sunday of February! While preparing for the week ahead, here are some great posts for you to check out. How bad is the situation in Ukraine going to get? It could get very bad indeed. The real question is what would it take for the protesters to give up this time? It really seems they won’t unless the president steps down. The Original Sin of the Syria Chemical Deal With the Geneva talks ending with not much result, it seems the Syrian government is finding its way out of their non-ploriferation obligations as well. Edward Snowden nominated for…

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