Stories about International Relations from August, 2023
China retaliates as Japan discharges treated radioactive water from Fukushima
China is the only country in the world that bans seafood from Japan over Fukushima discharge of treated radioactive wastewater.
‘Stop the dump’: Pacific communities protest Japan’s release of treated nuclear water
"If it is safe, dump it in Tokyo! If it is safe, test it in Paris! If it is safe, store it in Washington! But keep our Pacific nuclear free!"
PhD student from Gabon killed in Russia's fourth largest city
PhD student from Gabon François Ndzhelassili was murdered in Yekaterinburg, in what appears to be a racially motivated killing at a time when Putin has turned to the Global South in search of support.
Christian community comes under attack in Pakistan once again
On 16th August, over 19 churches and 80 Christian homes were vandalised by an angry mob reacting to an alleged incident of blasphemy in Jaranwala, a town in Faisalabad, Punjab province.
US band The Killers had a rough crash-course in Georgian politics
The American band, The Killers, was booed off the stage during their much-anticipated concert Georgia after they invited a Russian drummer to join them onstage.
Which African countries may join the BRICS group of nations, and why do they want to?
"Economic considerations, with BRICS countries constituting a significant portion of global GDP, offer expansive trade and investment opportunities for African economies ... [and] can attract direct foreign investment, technological advancement, and bolster export capabilities."
Museveni challenges World Bank's decision on loan suspension over anti-LGBTQ+ law in Uganda
"Uganda's defiance in the face of international pressure over this law reveals the complexities of balancing national sovereignty with global human rights standards."
African institutions maintain silence on sub-Saharan migrant rights abuses in Tunisia
Despite a number of documented fatalities, African institutions concerned with transcontinental migration issues remain silent on the treatment of Sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia.
‘I haven't seen a tree in three years’: An Australian journalist’s prison letter from China
"I miss the sun. In my cell, sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year. ... Most of all, I miss my children."
Undertones: Russia's war strengthens Venezuelan solidarity with Ukraine
Alessandra Soler’s research reveals that for many Venezuelans, ‘Venezuela is also a victim of Russia’
Hong Kong artist in exile in Taiwan uses protest art to resist Beijing's attacks on freedom in the region
For Hong-Kong political activists, journalists, and artists, Taiwan remains the last free Chinese-speaking society where they can operate. Global Voices interviewed Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong who moved to Taiwan in 2021.
For Venezuelans, the invasion of Ukraine hits close to home
For the past twenty years, the Venezuelan government has become increasingly intertwined with the Kremlin. Now, many Venezuelans protest against Russia's encroachments at home.
Suspectibility to conspiracy theories makes Western Balkans easy target for Russian disinformation, geopolitical analyst says
Although at first glance publishing disinformation seems accidental and sporadic, the occurrence is not at all random, but part of military doctrines of autocratic regimes intent of spreading geopolitical influence.
Uzbekistan's list of foreign policy challenges grows larger
Undoubtedly, the war in Ukraine is the most serious foreign policy challenge. In the event of a Russian victory, Uzbekistan would face unprecedented pressure to participate in Putin's geopolitical initiatives.
Africa reimagined: Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré advocates for resilience, recognition, and resistance
A call for a future where "Africa is no longer subjected to external exploitation, but instead stands strong as a federation of self-reliant, resilient nations, recognized equitably and globally."
A starter guide to Chinese open source data for non-Chinese speakers
This mini guides offers practical tools for non-Chinese speaking researchers and journalists to make a professional use of official Chinese sources to map China's presence across the world.
The story of the ‘little Russian houses’ in Havana, Cuba, in photos
The distant memory of the phrase, "I'm going to buy from the Russians" is a dusty memory of the period when they lived in this area.
Bosnian Genocide commemoration in Tuzla: ‘We don’t harbor hatred, but we will never forget’
“You lose everyone in the genocide and then someone says the genocide never happened. It’s very painful and it hurts. It’s like I had never had anyone,” said Srebrenica survivor Nura Begović.
Interview with Ukraine's most translated author, Russophone novelist Andrei Kurkov
Global Voices interviewed Andrei Kurkov, one of Ukraine's most prolific and translated authors, who writes his novels in Russian and his non-fiction in Ukrainian.
