For those of you who have been following Farouk Hosni's run for UNESCO, here's something I wrote for Foreign Policy right after his loss was announced. (Foreign Policy had a terrible piece earlier this month on the issue, and this was partly a response).

I didn't mention it in the article, but it's worth noting with what lightning-speed the Minister has moved to squash any expectations that he might resign from his position (as he had reportedly promised).

✪ U.S. to block Goldstone Gaza referral to ICC - Laura Rozen | Great move for credibility on other war crimes!
✪ Iranians Favor Diplomatic Relations With US But Have Little Trust in Obama - World Public Opinion | Iranian poll.
✪ Free Mohammad Othman | Solidarity campaign for Palestinian activist Muhammad Othman, arrested September 22 while crossing the Allenby bridge.
✪ AFP: Egypt press: UNESCO loss shows 'clash of civilisations' | Nationalist backlash in reaction to Farouk Hosni's loss.
✪ The Lucrative Business of Israel-Bashing - Jeffrey Goldberg | Savor the irony of this headline from a professional Palestine-basher sitting on his lucrative perch in American journalism. The content of this post if pure invective, what Goldberg now is professional nastiness (as in his recent attacks on Stephen Walt.)
✪ The Associated Press: Fraud allegations at UNESCO race | Rumors that Egyptian delegates offered $50k bribes going around.