Section: The Huffington Post (USA)
Obama Faces the Test of Emerging Out of the Gray Zone
President Barack Obama insists on adopting mystery, be this constructive or destructive, as the basis of his policies, because he is comfortable in the gray zone. Some see him as a president who is conscious of the fickle attitudes and desires of the American people, and thus backs non-clarity and non-commitment especially as relates to foreign...
EU Extends Sanctions Over Ukraine To 13 New People
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is extending economic and travel sanctions to 13 people and five entities it accuses of involvement with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The EU’s 28 member countries agreed to the action Friday, the bloc announced in a news release. The EU said the names of the people, organizations and...
Malaysia Airlines Apologizes For Insensitive Tweet, Reports Losses
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia Airlines on Friday said its loss widened last quarter and apologized for a promotional tweet slammed as insensitive after two deadly passenger jet disasters this year. In its last public financial result before a planned privatization and overhaul, the flag carrier said its net loss in the July-September...
Victor Pinchuk, Mistral Warships, and the Jews of Ukraine
On November 18, 2014, in Kiev, philanthropist Victor Pinchuk was awarded the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Medal of Honor by the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine for his contributions to Ukrainian-Jewish understanding and cooperation. What follows is a corrected version of my remarks at the ceremony. * * * Grand Rabbi, Archbishops and...
Asia Is on the Brink of a Golden Era. Here’s Why.
SINGAPORE — Asia will experience a new golden era of peace and prosperity over the next 10 years. The export-led growth model of the past will no longer work for the major Asian economies. Hence, we are unlikely to see a return to double-digit growth. If the major Asian economies, especially China, India and Indonesia, are able to maintain...
Germany’s Merkel Says Continued Russia Sanctions Are ‘Unavoidable’
BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says continued sanctions against Russia are “unavoidable” and that it will take “patience and perseverance” to end the crisis in Ukraine. Speaking to Parliament on Wednesday, Merkel said “nothing excuses or justifies Russia’s annexation of Crimea and nothing excuses...
Russian Envoy: Ferguson Shows Racial Discrimination In U.S.
MOSCOW (AP) — The violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, reflect simmering U.S. tensions over racial discrimination that could undermine the country’s stability, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday. The comments by the Russian Foreign Ministry’s human rights envoy, Konstantin Dolgov, were among the sharpest from a foreign official...
Note to Ukraine: Time to Reconsider Your “Cossack” Pride
Confronted with an existential threat in the form of Vladimir Putin, Ukraine is embracing patriotism and, in some cases, nationalist symbolism. In Ukrainian consciousness, the notion of the “Cossack” looms large, and during recent protests against the unpopular government of Viktor Yanukovych and subsequent drive to war with Russian...
France Suspends Delivery Of Warship To Russia
PARIS (AP) — France suspended the delivery of a warship to Russia on Tuesday, after months of speculation about what would be the biggest arms sale ever by a NATO country to the Kremlin. The French president’s office announced the suspension “until further notice” after growing pressure from allies due to tensions over...
Russians Invade Afghanistan (Again!), Chinese Fight Iraq War (Again!)
What If It Weren’t Us?Cross-posted with TomDispatch.comLet’s play a game, the kind that makes no sense on this single-superpower planet of ours. For a moment, do your best to suspend disbelief and imagine that there’s another superpower, great power, or even regional power somewhere that, between 2001 and 2003, launched two...
