Syria Tries Another Ceasefire And Cameron Drops The Mic

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 IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Syrian Ceasefire: 14th Time Is The Charm

A temporary ceasefire between government and some rebel forces kicked into effect in parts of Syria on Monday, and, at the risk of sounding excessively cynical, we aren’t expecting much. Maybe that has to do with the fact that (1) it isn’t yet clear which rebel groups will be taking part in the ceasefire, or (2) how Assad used the weekend leading up to it to intensify attacks on the rebels, or (3) the fact that the ceasefire was already being violated by both sides less than an hour into it taking effect.

But, what if it does work?

If the ceasefire holds for seven days, the US and Russia will conduct joint operations against ISIS and other radical groups. The Syrian government would be banned from flying missions over the rebels. The ceasefire is not a comprehensive peace agreement, however, and even if it does work it won’t lead to disarmament and a political transition. The hope is that a lull in the fighting can bring relief to Syrians, most of whom are trying to celebrate Eid al-Adha this week.

David Cameron Finally Gets His #MicDrop Moment

David Cameron finally dropped the mic, though it felt more like an uncomfortable fumble with a microphone that everyone had to watch in silence as they waited for him to leave. Just two months after he resigned as Prime Minister, Cameron is stepping down from his position as the Conservative MP for Witney. Cameron came to the conclusion that his clout as the former PM might be too much of a “distraction” to Theresa May’s government, because there can only be so many daily reminders of what not to do. Now that he is standing down, there will be a by-election for his replacement. Cameron says he’ll give the Conservative candidate his full support.

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

#pnut4prez: GOP Finally Prioritizes Women’s Health

Hillary Clinton’s campaign said they would release additional medical information by the end of the week amidst mounting pressure after she announced that she has walking pneumonia. Her campaign said she has no other undisclosed conditions, so maybe Donald Trump will show some restraint like he did when he wished her a smooth recovery. But don’t hold your breath. We don’t know exactly when or how she will release the additional information, but don’t expect her to do it on The Dr. Oz Show, as Donald Trump plans to do on Thursday. Neither Trump nor Clinton has been as accommodating as John McCain was in 2008 when he invited reporters to a resort to review 1,173 pages of his health records.

Austria Falls Apart Over Bad Glue

Austria will have to postpone their presidential election yet again, as the reasons become more bizarre. The latest excuse: faulty glue. As you may recall, former Green Party leader Alexander van der Bellen beat the ultra-rightwing Freedom Party (FPÖ) candidate Norbert Hofer in a run-off in April, but only by 31,000 votes. The conservative FPÖ complained of irregularities in the postal votes, pushing the election re-do all the way to October. Now, this polarizing election is getting pushed to December 4 because the glue on the envelopes was not up to snuff. There were complaints that the adhesive seals on postal votes sometimes became unstuck, and that’s reason enough for FPÖ to prolong the inevitable.

This is already embarrassing to the efficiency-loving Austrians, but to make matters even stickier: Austria hasn’t had an elected president since July 8. Former President Heinz Fischer stood down over two months ago, leaving behind “joint acting presidents” and a government scrambling to find a glue that will bring the nation together.

The Orlando Shooter’s Mosque Was Set On Fire

An act of arson on the mosque at Fort Pierce Islamic Center is being treated as a suspected hate crime. The fire at the mosque – which was attended by Orlando Pulse gunman Omar Mateen – was reported at 12:31 am but was not quelled until 5 am. The event coincides with the advent of Eid al-Adha and the 15-year memorial of 9/11, and it’s difficult to believe that’s a coincidence. Meanwhile in New York, a woman dressed in traditional Muslim clothing was set on fire by an attacker. Fortunately, the victim survived and an investigation is underway for this possible hate crime. Social media forums have largely reacted to the incident with messages of support and criticism of these separate fires as an act of anti-Muslim bigotry.

KEEPING OUR EYE ON: 

Refugee Crisis: A Nigerian woman gave birth to a boy on board a rescue ship in the Mediterranean, a story that the press has struggled to convey as “uplifting.” The woman had been plucked from an overcrowded rubber dinghy before giving birth in international waters, a location that has already created complications for the child’s official nationality.

Charlie Hebdo: The controversial French magazine is facing another lawsuit, this time for depicting Italian earthquake victims as pasta dishes. Amatrice town council filed a petition for “aggravated defamation” with a local prosecutor, who will consider the claim before deciding whether to pursue the satirical magazine.

Russia: Norilsk Nickel, the world’s biggest nickel producer, claimed responsibility for a river in the Russian Arctic turning blood-red. The company blamed heavy rains for the “filtration dam” at its Nadezhda plant to overflow into the Daldykan river.

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

North Korea Dazzles Tourists With World’s Worst Hotel

Kim Jong-un’s efforts to boost tourism in North Korea is getting challenged on TripAdvisor. Reviews of the Ryanggang Hotel are so dismal, they’ve become viral and the “resort” is now being named TripAdvisor’s worst hotel. Of course, with matters related to electricity, hot water and even fruit, some of the reviews might be confusing the hotel’s problems with the country’s problems. A few gems include:

“This hotel is shocking. I flushed the toilet and my feet got a wash.”

“When we arrived, we were told hot water will be available from 9pm to 11pm. Later we will find out that it was a lie, there was no hot water on that day at all. It was also very cold, as heating seemed to be non-existent. We all had to walk around with coats on, and there seemed to be no radiators anywhere in the building at all!”

“My bed did not have a mattress, it was a plank with some cushioning on top..”

“Soviet style, dark hallways…”

“There’s also frequent power outages that last about 5-10 minutes, although that’s the case with most North Korean buildings.”

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