Praljak: Bosnian Croat war criminal dies after taking poison in court – BBC News
Ok…
Category: International Affairs,
Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin’s complicated relationship with Vladimir Putin
Despite its intentions, the campaign has highlighted the dilemma facing Russian professional athletes living in the United States who support Putin. Several Russian hockey players, including those who have not publicly signed on to Ovechkin’s initiative, declined interview requests. Malkin waited five days after pledging his support on social media to answer questions about the campaign.
…One U.S.-based hockey agent who represents Russian players in North America said of Ovechkin’s initiative: “All of my clients, everybody’s rolling their eyes, basically, saying, ‘What the [heck]?’ It’s like he’s lobbying for a job in politics.”
…A person close to Ovechkin explained that he tries to navigate a delicate tightrope, supporting one country while trying not to offend the other, and that the PutinTeam initiative has underscored the innate difficulties he faces.
“If he played in Carolina, this probably wouldn’t be as interesting to some people as it probably is, just given where he lives and works and what he does,” said the Ovechkin associate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so he could talk more freely. “To say that Alex or anybody is following the daily nuances of really high-level, very complex geopolitical issues, they’re probably not doing that, right?”
…While the Capitals organization may not be eager to discuss Ovechkin’s relationship with Putin, team officials are aware that it could upset some fans. At the same time, they accept the demands being placed on him from Moscow and recognize the franchise has at times had to work around them, especially during the offseason.
…Kremlin observers explain that many Russian celebrities can face pressures both overt and indirect to take part in a Russian political campaign. For many, an endorsement might protect their families or help secure government funding for their projects. But most agree that Ovechkin probably is above such pressures — too rich, too high profile.
hmmm
Lebanon’s PM Saad Hariri backs off from resignation
In his resignation speech, Hariri blamed Iran’s “meddling” in the country and its Lebanese ally, the Hezbollah movement for his decision, adding that he feared an assassination attempt.
The sudden move plunged Lebanon – a country with fragile political stability – into an ongoing period of uncertainty, raising fears of a potential war between Saudi Arabia and Iran with Lebanon on the front lines.
…Lebanese officials previously said they would only accept his resignation if it was delivered on Lebanese soil.
Hariri’s political rival, Hezbollah, also refused to acknowledge the resignation.
In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah accused Saudi Arabia of forcing Hariri to quit and holding him against his will. The Lebanese unity government that Hariri formed a year ago includes Hezbollah members.
Lebanon’s PM Saad Hariri holds off resignation | News | Al Jazeera
hmmm
U.S. plans to end temporary residency permit program for Haiti
U.S. plans to end temporary residency permit program for Haiti – CBS News
sigh…. Trump hates on brown people. Yet again.
Tee’d Off: Right-Wing Extremists Tricked by Trojan Shirts
Tee’d Off: Right-Wing Extremists Tricked by Trojan Shirts – SPIEGEL ONLINE
an older story but that’s just damn good fun. Trojan T-shirts go viral, providing advertising among its target audience for Exit? Publicity they would never have without the participation of the psycho-hater-reich themselves?
what’s not love!
This one photo tells you all you need to know about Syria
The Assad regime now controls most of the cities that it practically can, or that remain standing and desirable, despite Assad once expressing ambitions to retake the entire country.
Other northwestern areas are held by Turkish-backed rebels, and in the northeast, US-backed Syrian Kurds control much of the territory.
These Sochi talks are likely to spell out these internal borders. But they will also address Turkey’s ambitions for the awkward northwestern part, where Syria’s tormented and disenfranchised majority — its Sunnis — have a homeland of sorts.
This one photo tells you all you need to know about Syria – CNN
hmmm
Tillerson Turns a Blind Eye to Countries Using Child Soldiers – Flagrantly Violating Federal Law
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been accused by about a dozen members of his department of breaching a federal law aimed at preventing foreign militaries from enlisting child soldiers. The bizarre move by government employees highlights the apparent disarray Tillerson has brought to the department, and is emblematic of the tensions [between] the former Exxon Mobil CEO [and the] more experienced diplomats under his direction.
Tillerson allegedly violated the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) in June, when he decided to exclude Iraq, Myanmar and Afghanistan from a U.S. list of offenders regarding the use of child soldiers, according to a confidential “dissent” memo from July 28 obtained by Reuters.
Does Rex Tillerson Support Using Child Soldiers? Secretary of State Accused of Violating Federal Law
Useless asshat.
Drug Labs Used By The Taliban In Afghanistan Are Now A U.S. Target
The United Nations found in a survey released last week that opium production has nearly doubled since 2016. Poppy cultivation has increased by 63 percent. Afghanistan is the world’s main cultivator of the poppy, from which heroin and opium are made.
Drug Labs Used By The Taliban In Afghanistan Are Now A U.S. Target After Trump Authorizes Strikes
hmmmm
Haaretz Reports Trump peace plan will not include settlement evacuation
Based on Israeli sources, the report said that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to propose the Palestinians declare independence, after which the United States will recognize the Palestinian state. The Palestinians will also receive hundreds of millions of dollars from Sunni Arab countries as aid.
In addition, the United States is expected to adopt the principle of land swaps, but not necessarily according to the 1967 lines, said the report. The proposal will also meet most of Israel’s security demands. At this stage, no Jews or Arabs will be evacuated from their homes, and the issue of Jerusalem is not yet on the agenda. The question of moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem will also be postponed.
Report: Trump peace plan will not include settlement evacuation – Israel News – Haaretz.com
hmmm
Parasites make treatment of N. Korean defector harder, doctor says
The soldier has successfully undergone a second round of surgery at Ajou University hospital earlier in the day, which lasted for about three-and-a-half hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. He is still in a critical condition, according to Lee Cook-jong, the physician who treated him.
The operation concluded with the removal of a bullet lodged in the abdominal wall, Lee said.
“We are struggling with treatment as we found a large number of parasites in the soldier’s stomach, invading and eating into the wounded areas,” Lee said. “We have also discovered a parasite never seen in Koreans before. It is making the situation worse and causing tremendous complications.”
…“I don’t know what is happening in North Korea, but I found many parasites when examining other defectors,” said Professor Seong Min at the Dankook University Medical School. “In one case, we found 30 types of roundworms in a female defector. The parasite infection problem seems to be serious even if it does not represent the entire North Korean population.”
Parasites make treatment of N. Korean defector harder, doctor says – Korea Biomedical Review
hmmm
Trump’s bizarre claim that Obama ‘never got to land’ in the Philippines
Trump obviously earns Four Pinocchios. But the bigger question is: Doesn’t the president have staff who can point out to him that he keeps making a very foolish mistake?
Trump’s bizarre claim that Obama ‘never got to land’ in the Philippines – The Washington Post
right???
Saad Hariri plans France trip after resigning as Lebanon’s prime minister in Saudi Arabia
His resignation — which he blamed on pressure from Iran and its Lebanese Shiite proxy, Hezbollah — stunned Lebanon and the wider region and raised fears the country would plunge again into factional turmoil.
But Lebanese officials had said Hariri, who is a dual Lebanese-Saudi citizen, had been forced to resign by Saudi authorities and was unable to move or speak freely from Riyadh. Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, said Wednesday that Hariri was a “hostage,” and that his government would not accept such an “attack on Lebanese sovereignty.”
…But as Shiite Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, have competed for influence in the region, the threat of upheaval in Lebanon intensified. Iran has long backed Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most powerful political and military movement, and which is key to Iranian regional reach.
…For its part, Riyadh has sought to bolster Hariri and his Sunni bloc in Lebanon, and have fought what Saudi officials claim are Iranian proxy forces in Yemen. Iran denies having direct links to the Houthi forces in Yemen that drove out the Saudi-backed president in 2015.
hmmmm
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