On Wednesday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization formally invited the former Yugoslav nation of Montenegro to join the ranks of the 28 member alliance, despite Russian protests to the contrary.
Montenegro has been a partner of the alliance for a long time leading up to this offer of admittance into the alliance, starting with membership with the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006, and being awarded a Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 2009.
As such, this offer was seen by most observes as not a matter of if but when.
As a former Yugoslav country, Montenegro has traditionally been within the Soviet and later Russian sphere of influence.
Despite the 1999 bombing campaign by NATO, which included targets in Montenegro, the small country on the Adriatic coast has consistently sought integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.
Russia’s general antipathy to expansion of NATO, in addition to a continued loss of influence likely motivate the resentment to this announcement.
Montenegro’s ascension into the alliance would further seal the Adriatic Sea from Russian warships, and further its ability to project into the Mediterranean Sea.
In keeping with NATO’s values, Secretary General Stoltenberg has reiterated that: “on defense adaptation, on domestic reform, especially rule of law, and to continue to make progress in demonstrating public support for Montenegro’s NATO membership”.
This mirrors earlier calls by the Secretary General in June to bolster public support for membership, before becoming a member of NATO.
According to the New York Times, current public support in Montenegro for alliance membership is at 47 percent and opposition at 39 percent, though there are also fears that the Kremlin could pump money into parties opposed to NATO membership as they have with France’s National Front.
Cover Photo Credit: U.S. Army Europe Images/Flickr (CC by 2.0)
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Rise News Announces New Editor-In-Chief
Setareh Baig, a journalist from Weston, Florida has been named Rise News’s editor-in-chief.
Baig graduated from Florida State University last month, where she led the school newspaper the FSView and Florida Flambeau to impressive growth and increased journalistic excellence.
A rising star in the field, Baig boasts a diverse work background that has provided her great insight in how to organize young writers into producing great pieces of journalism.
Baig was lauded for her leadership during a campus shooting last November. In a tough judgement call, Baig and her team decided to not print the name of the shooter because of the potential impact on the still shocked campus community. It was a decision widely applauded on campus and in the greater Tallahassee area.
Rise News is a globally-focused grassroots journalism outlet that launched on August 31. It is owned by Rise News Group LLC, a Miami based company.
Over 100 of the best young journalists from around the world (including places like the United Kingdom, Canada and Egypt) are involved with the project. The company aims to increase that number to around 1,000 by the end of the year.
Baig said that she was excited about the opportunity to lead a globally focused organization.
“I’m excited to lead Rise News because we get to cover stories from everywhere,” Baig said. “On the Internet, you get all these perspectives, but sometimes you have to sift through the fluff to get to the stuff you really want to see. You have to seek it out yourself.”
Baig’s addition is a major development in the growth of the nascent media company.
“Our goal is to totally change the game and become the greatest source of news in the world for our generation,” Rise News CEO and Publisher Rich Robinson said. “Setareh is the missing piece that we needed to make this ambitious dream into a reality. With her, we can build something really special and important.”
Baig’s task is a immense one. She will be in charge of Rise News’ editorial content and in helping turn it into a global news organization – one with high standards.
“We are not building another clickbait site or something exploitive here,” Robinson said. “Setareh has a very traditional sense of journalistic values and some really innovative ideas on how to quickly build an audience of smart and urbane millennials.”
Baig said that she was excited about introducing the Rise News audience to new issues and places that aren’t covered by traditional news organizations.
“If we could find voices from the depths of a place we’ve never head of, then I would love that,” Baig said.
For press requests, please email [email protected]
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INSIDE: The Shocking Conditions That Condemned The Miami Shores Motel
What’s New With This Story:
-The Motel Shores at Biscayne was condemned a few weeks after a man was injured by a ceiling that collapsed on him while he slept in his room.
-The motel also had other issues, illustrated by photos taken inside of it by Miami Shores Building inspectors.
-The two buildings that make up the motel won’t be allowed to open until it meets a large number of requirements.
-Miami Shores Village had been looking into conditions at the motel since at least early 2016.
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The Motel Shores at Biscayne (10500 Biscayne Blvd) has long been considered a blight in Miami Shores by many locals.
A man was shot dead at the motel in 2016.
And a brutal rape that allegedly took place in the motel’s laundry room featured prominently in a 2014 Local 10 report about how the Miami Shores Police had failed to report certain crimes in official crime records.
So when the motel was shuttered by the Miami Shores Building Department in September, few were sad to see it go.
But after a public records request, we can see what the conditions of the motel were like when it was closed.
Read More: Massive 45 Story Luxury Tower Given Go Ahead Just North Of Miami Shores
The property failed an inspection on September 15, 2017 and was deemed unsafe.
Miami Shores’ Building Director Ismael Naranjo said in an email to a North Miami Beach architect named George S Tseng that the case into the motel’s condition had been open since early 2016.
“… the property owners had ample time to correct the deficiencies and illegalities,” Naranjo said in the email.
The two buildings that make up the motel won’t be allowed to reopen until the property owner hires a Florida licensed architect or engineer who can produce a set of plans showing how they intend to get the motel back up to code.
The buildings will also have to have an asbestos survey and mold assessment conducted.
The last straw seems to have come on August 27 when a large chunk of ceiling collapsed on a sleeping man in room 43 of the motel.
A Miami Shores Police photo from inside room 43 of the motel after the ceiling fell on a 53 year old man as he slept.
He called the police and was transported to Jackson North Hospital after suffering chest pain and a minor laceration to his leg.
Read More: New Book Claims That Miami Shores Floods With Poop During Every King Tide
The victim, Alphonso William Wallace, 53, listed the room as his address in the police report.
PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE CONDEMNED MOTEL: (Some are graphic in nature)
Taken by Miami Shores Village Building Department.
Taken by Miami Shores Village Building Department.
Taken by Miami Shores Village Building Department.
Taken by Miami Shores Village Building Department.
Read More: This Barry University Professor And His Martial Artist Friend Want You To Die
Photo Credit: RISE NEWS
Photo Credit: RISE NEWS
Photo Credit: RISE NEWS
Photo Credit: RISE NEWS
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Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it on in to [email protected]
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LIVE: Iowa Caucus Coverage
Don’t have a TV? No worries.
You can watch live coverage of the Iowa caucus here. (Video feed via ABC News).
Also follow along on our Twitter feed- @RiseNewsNow
ABC Breaking News | Latest News VideosCover Photo Credit: Phil Roeder/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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