Russia and China continue to make themselves very unpopular with the west, by yet again vetoing stricter sanctions on Syria, proposed by the UN. It is now the 3rd time Russia and China have vetoed Security Council resolutions, that would pressure president Bashar al-Assad to leave power. The latest resolution drafted by Britain, in collaboration with the US, France and Germany, would have given the Damaskus government, 10 days to withdraw its troops and heavy artillery, from populated areas, before facing heavy non-military sanctions against the regime’s elite – the proposed sanctions would include asset freezes and international travel restrictions. Russia continues to stand its ground in its opposition towards any regime change, that they believe, is induced by the west. I wonder why! China chimed in and vetoed the new proposal because it only targeted one party of the conflict. Since the fatal bomb attack that killed three leading Syrian officials, President Bashar al Assad appeared on state TV, supposedly showing how he is inaugurating a new defence minister. The Security Council now has to decide, if the mandate of a UN mission in Syria, due to end on Friday, should be renewed or not. The end of the mission would be the end to finding a diplomatic solution, leaving the fate of Syria in the bloody hands of war.
In the latest information on the fatal terrorist attack in Bulgaria, Bulgarian media have named, Mehdi Ghezali, as the suicide bomber, who killed 5 Israeli tourists and a local bus driver at the airport of Burgas. Ghezali reportedly arrived in Bulgaria 5 weeks before the bombing. He reportedly arrived to the airport by taxi and was given the bomb by someone else. On a Wikipedia page Ghezali is described as a Swedish citizen, of Algerian and Finnish origins, and that he had been held by the US in Guantanamo bay for two years, for suspicion of being an al-Qaeda operative. Under the Swedish government’s effort Ghezali was handed over to Sweden in 2004 and no charges had been pressed against him. So maybe not Iran after all. Stay tuned for more updates.
In the world of sport we have some sad news. Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Olympic Games 2012, due to tendinitis of the knee. That is indeed very sad news as we were excited to see if he can reclaim his 2008 victory of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Team mate Feliziano Lopez will be replacing Nadal and the Spanish Olympic Games committee will now have to decide who the new Spanish Flag bearer should be, since Nadal, being the obvious choice, will not be to do it. We will sure miss seeing you at the games Rafa! Cuidate!
Russia and China continue to make themselves very unpopular with the west, by yet again vetoing stricter sanctions on Syria, proposed by the UN. It is now the 3rd time Russia and China have vetoed Security Council resolutions, that would pressure president Bashar al-Assad to leave power. The latest resolution drafted by Britain, in collaboration with the US, France and Germany, would have given the Damaskus government, 10 days to withdraw its troops and heavy artillery, from populated areas, before facing heavy non-military sanctions against the regime’s elite – the proposed sanctions would include asset freezes and international travel restrictions. Russia continues to stand its ground in its opposition towards any regime change, that they believe, is induced by the west. I wonder why! China chimed in and vetoed the new proposal because it only targeted one party of the conflict. Since the fatal bomb attack that killed three leading Syrian officials, President Bashar al Assad appeared on state TV, supposedly showing how he is inaugurating a new defence minister. The Security Council now has to decide, if the mandate of a UN mission in Syria, due to end on Friday, should be renewed or not. The end of the mission would be the end to finding a diplomatic solution, leaving the fate of Syria in the bloody hands of war.
In the latest information on the fatal terrorist attack in Bulgaria, Bulgarian media have named, Mehdi Ghezali, as the suicide bomber, who killed 5 Israeli tourists and a local bus driver at the airport of Burgas. Ghezali reportedly arrived in Bulgaria 5 weeks before the bombing. He reportedly arrived to the airport by taxi and was given the bomb by someone else. On a Wikipedia page Ghezali is described as a Swedish citizen, of Algerian and Finnish origins, and that he had been held by the US in Guantanamo bay for two years, for suspicion of being an al-Qaeda operative. Under the Swedish government’s effort Ghezali was handed over to Sweden in 2004 and no charges had been pressed against him. So maybe not Iran after all. Stay tuned for more updates.
In the world of sport we have some sad news. Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Olympic Games 2012, due to tendinitis of the knee. That is indeed very sad news as we were excited to see if he can reclaim his 2008 victory of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Team mate Feliziano Lopez will be replacing Nadal and the Spanish Olympic Games committee will now have to decide who the new Spanish Flag bearer should be, since Nadal, being the obvious choice, will not be to do it. We will sure miss seeing you at the games Rafa! Cuidate!