Politics

At least 15  members of the security forces were killed and 22 injured on Sunday when an Iraqi military base north of Baghdad was targeted by multiple suicide bombers. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement distributed by supporters online. RT reports: Two bombers detonated their explosive-rigged vehicles at the western gate of Camp Speicher, a former US base outside the Sunni-majority city of Tikrit, Reuters reported, citing security sources. Three others made it to the part of the base used for training Iraqi police.

I don't talk about politics much here on the Slope of Hope, but it's a topic I find of great interest. Since 2016 is a U.S. Presidential election year, we're going to be absolutely buried in news, debates, advertisements, attacks, counter-attacks, and hip-deep in B.S.

I think the result of the election is actually pretty straightforward, since its outcome is dependent on the state of the world around us. From my point of view:

Earlier today, as Iranian police struggled to disperse protesters gathered outside the Saudi consulate in Mashhad, we said the following about the rapidly deteriorating situation:

The Holy See has announced this weekend that the planned recognition of Palestine as a state last summer, is now in effect. The move has drawn criticism from Israel. Equilibrio Informativo reports: “With reference to the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed on 26 June 2015, the Holy See and the State of Palestine have notified each other that the procedural requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled”, the Vatican announced Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was detained at London Heathrow airport for 12 hours before being deported after attempting to enter the United Kingdom in disguise and using a fake tourist visa, say Heathrow immigration officials. After arriving on an early morning Air China flight, his documents were questioned and he was taken into custody for further questioning.