Skimm'n it

Every week, one of the interns has to present a quick briefing on Middle Eastern events. They are typically very informative, albeit serious and dry. That's why when I became the next briefer, I decided to still give the pertinent material but in a much more loose, chill, Californiannnnn, Aubs style--aka gifs and inside jokes. 

I modeled it after my favorite daily newsletter, theSkimm, which is a five-minute email sent to your inbox every morning in a manner that's exciting and often makes me giggle. I especially love when they give you ways to insert current event info into every day life and conversations.

My briefing actually got postponed to next week, which makes my finalized version for this week basically irrelevant for my presentation. So, I figured I'd share it with you guys! Without further ado, here's everything you need to know about the Middle East for the past few days:

What to say when your best friend is considering going back to her terrible ex…

                                     

I’m getting some vicious déjà vu. You’ll probably feel the same way upon hearing the news that Obama is considering sending hundreds more troops to Iraq in a move to amp up the fight against ISIS. However, there has been no official proposal yet, and White House officials insist that a decision over the addition of more bases and an increase of troops from the current 3,550 won’t be made for at least a few weeks. TBD.

When Kajsa (aka a fellow intern) finally gets rid of the cockroach in her apartment sink...

Good riddance. Same goes with al-Qaida-linked terrorist Belmokhtar, who was allegedly killed in an American airstrike on Libya this past Saturday, and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, al-Qaeda’s second-in-command. The latter death is said to be “the biggest strike on al-Qaeda since Bin Laden’s death in…2011,” while the former death is still unconfirmed by the United States.

 When you ask a co-worker when she’s due, and it turns out she isn’t pregnant…

                                      

Yikes. Wish I could take that one back. CEO of the major cellphone company Orange, Mr. Stephane Richard, is feeling the same way over anti-Israel comments he made last week. Richard apparently voiced support for ending a deal with an Israeli partner that operates in the West Bank. Richard came to Jerusalem in order to “clear up the confusion” with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israelis and the French president have condemned his comments, with the president calling to better the government’s relations with Israel.

When you find out that Preeti, Kajsa, Kara, and I are about to leave for Turkey…

And be careful over there. Especially since ISIS just came head to head with Syrian Kurdish fighters in the Turkish-border village Tal Abyad. Thousands of Syrian refugees fled into Turkey as American airstrikes provided cover for the Syrian fighters. The Syrian Kurds have reported a victory, and the loss of this key city closes a direct route for ISIS jihadists and supplies into the region.

When your stomach growls hours before lunch break…

How much longer til I can eat? If you were in a Muslim country, it’d be til sunset—Ramadan begins Friday the 17^th. But with the fasting also comes (hopefully) a ceasefire in Yemen. The UN chief is bringing Houthis rebels to Geneva in order to discuss a temporary peace for the next two weeks. The outlook for compromise isn’t too great, but it is undeniably necessary—80% of the Yemeni population is in need of humanitarian aid. Hopefully the next two days will bring an end to conflict and essential help.

Hope y'all enjoyed your informative and undeniably Aubrey update!

With love,

Newscaster Aubs