Stories about International Relations from June, 2012
Video: Youth and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Andrea Arzaba[es] posted a video of young people from all over the world who are attending the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) sharing their perspective on sustainable development in the Latin American region, what they are doing to help and what results they expect from the conference which...
North Korea Seems to be Testing Digital Radio Broadcasting
North Korea Tech blog wrote about evidence showing that North Korea tested digital radio broadcasting. The blogger also embeded a Youtube video posted by a radio monitor in Japan.
Poland: Football Fans Clash Ahead of Poland-Russia Game
Over 180 people were detained due to clashes that broke out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in Warsaw on June 12. Anna Gotowska reports.
Portugal: Cartoon Satirizes Merkel's Influence on Upcoming Greek Elections
A cartoon of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the Uncle Sam of Europe, with her finger pointed saying “I respect your right to vote, as long as you vote right”, is the way Portuguese ‘guerrilla’ designer Gui Castro Felga [pt] addresses the upcoming Greek elections on June 17. She wonders...
Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident
Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.
Yemen: $audi Influence Explained
The influence of Yemen's rich and powerful neighbor on it's internal affairs is no secret. Saudi Arabia's interference has been felt among Yemenis for decades. Now Yemenis have a list of politicians and tribal leaders said to be on Saudi Arabia's payroll. See how Yemeni netizens react in this post by Noon Arabia.
Algeria: Qatar's Role in Mali
Algerian-American blogger Kal, from The Moor Next Door, discusses claims of Qatar's alleged role in funding armed groups in northern Mali in this post.
Poland: Obama's “Polish Death Camp” Gaffe Causes Controversy
In the last days of May, a storm of controversy struck the Polish public opinion when the US President Barack Obama used the expression "a Polish death camp" rather than stating clearly that what he meant was a Nazi Germany-operated death camp on the Polish territory. Anna Gotowska reports.
Croatia: President Josipovic Uses Facebook to Invite IT Investor Group
President Ivo Josipović used Facebook to invite an IT investor group to Croatia and Southeast Europe, showing that the region is ready for innovation and development. Danica Radisic reports.
Africa: US Military Initiatives Lack Transparency
Cassidy identifies problems with US military initiatives in Africa:”Current military and counterterrorism initiatives in and assistance to many countries in Africa – and, in particular, those in East Africa – lack transparency and congressional oversight. Though sources at the National Defense University have, for example, estimated related assistance to Kenya...
Equatorial Guinea: Dictatorship Seeks Entry in Portuguese Language Community
In July 2012 the Maputo Summit will take place in which a decision will be taken on the possible entry of Equatorial Guinea into the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). On the one hand there are various initiatives which condemn Teodoro Obiang's 33 year regime, hostile to the orienting principles of the CPLP. However, there are also those who support the country's admission.
India, Bangladesh: Water Disputes and Teesta River Diplomacy
Longstanding tensions between India and Bangladesh on how best to share river waters have recently come to head in a dispute over the Teesta River that threatens bilateral relations. At stake, are the lives of countless Bangladeshi and West Bengali people who depend on the river waters for survival.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Spectre of War in the South Caucasus?
Following clashes on the Line of Contact (LoC) separating Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, South Caucasus Diary ponders the likelihood of war once again breaking out over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. Meanwhile, Yerevan-based Armenian-American analyst Richard Giragosian tweets that Azerbaijan's new strategy appears to be reaching operational readiness for...
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resumes… On Twitter
In war, as the old saying goes, the first casualty is always the truth. This is particularly true in the South Caucasus where the media in Armenia and Azerbaijan more often than not spreads misinformation or subjective propaganda concerning the long-running and unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. On 7 June that was certainly the case on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Ukraine: “Friendly” Euro 2012 Grassroots Initiatives
These “friendly” grassroots initiatives are meant for those football fans who are traveling to Ukraine for Euro 2012, which begins today: Friendly Ukraine, an umbrella “community of friendly and hospitable people [who] offer free help to our guests: accommodation, transfers from airport to city, guidance, translation and information services” (RFE/RL...
Catfight Between China and the US Over Air Quality
The Chinese authority is unhappy about the monitoring of air quality by foreign consulates and embassies, while the U.S suggests China to do the same thing and check upon the air quality in U.S's land. Offbeat China points out that the cat fight is a competition of “soft power” between...
Zambia Fixes Maize Price Again, Flustering World Bank
Increases in the price of maize, a staple food of Zambia, has previously led citizens to riot and even stage a government coup. Despite warnings from the World Bank that it will damage the agriculture sector, Zambian leaders continue to fix the floor price.
Zambia Donates Five Million Litres of Fuel to Malawi
Years of diplomatic incidents between various major political figures of Malawi and Zambia, recently culminated in the Zambian donation of five million litres of fuel to Malawi. The gift was ostensibly for the funeral of the country's late President Bingu wa Mutharika, who died on April 5, after a heart attack. The political wrangling that has led up to this gesture, makes however, for a complicated backstory.
Poland, Ukraine: Euro 2012 and Racism
Football fans across Europe have been presented with quite a list of reasons not to travel to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012, which is scheduled to begin in a week. The newest item recently added to this extensive and diverse negative publicity menu is racism.
