Stories about International Relations from November, 2011
Uzbekistan: How to Be Outraged Effectively
Joshua Foust shares his view on the popular debate over whether the U.S. government should work with the abusive government in Uzbekistan or not.
Cuba: Papal Visit Challenges
Crossing the Barbed Wire suggests that the proposed Papal visit to Cuba next year “presents challenges for three essential actors of the current Cuba”; El Cafe Cubano, meanwhile, says: “I don't believe the Pope's visit will do anything to ‘CHANGE’ things in Cuba.”
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Facebook Diplomacy
In an attempt to initiate a mature discussion on resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, The South Caucasus Diary asks a Facebook Question to solicit responses on possible solutions and explains why. In a separate post, Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor comments...
Taiwan: Netizens React to Diplomat Accused of Abusing Domestic Labor
Thanks to slow, reluctant legislators, and “some” – or I should say “many” – cruel employers, Taiwan has a notoriously bad record of mistreating foreign labor. However, this time an inconvenient and awkward case has not happened in Taiwan, but in a Taiwanese diplomat's residence in the United States. The headlines of...
Syria: Arab League Suspends Syria's Membership
The Arab League slapped Syria on the wrist today for killing more than 3,000 of its citizens by suspending its membership from the pan-Arab group, starting on Wednesday. Netizens react to the League's decision.
Gabon: Bongo Indulges With Football Match Against Brazil
The Brazilian national football team came to Libreville, Gabon for a friendlly football match against the Gabonese national team on November 10. The social challenges the team witnessed are in stark contrast with the spending habits of the current Gabonese President Ali Bongo.
Cuba: On the Pope's Potential Visit
On hearing news that the Pope may visit Cuba next year, diaspora blogger babalu says: “If the Pope does indeed visit Cuba and the Castro regime is still in power, there can only be two possible outcomes: either the visit will be ‘apolitical,'…or the Pope will stand up and vehemently...
Global: Replacing Moreno Ocampo at the International Criminal Court
Luis Moreno Ocampo's term as the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is coming to an end and elections for judges are scheduled for December. The discussions taking place regarding the potential candidates to replace Moreno Ocampo are highlighted here by Evan Fleischer.
China: On the Rise But Feeling Boxed In
China is surrounded by 85% of the political hotspots in the world, argues one prominent professor, and needs to be free to deal with those and other geopolitical problems it faces, beginning with access to the seas it borders.
Pakistan: India Is The Most Favored Nation For Trade
Riaz Ali Toori comments that a dream came true when the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan declared India as the most favored nation of Pakistan for trade.
Equatorial Guinea: Teodoro Obiang Nguema and Son Face French Justice System
The French justice system has dismissed a complaint by the Equatorial Guinean president against a report accusing him of having stolen from his people. Abdoulaye Bah investigates.
Iran: Bloggers React to Rumors of Military Strikes
The rumor of an impending Israeli or American millitary attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has become a top news story for both mainstream media and Iranian netizens.
China: Japan's Imaginary Enemy
Recent Japanese media reports portraying China as the enemy in a Japan-US naval exercise reportedly scheduled for this week have brought even more tension to territorial claims between the two Asian nations. John Kennedy reports.
Trinidad & Tobago: Court Says “No” to Extradition
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog and Globewriter report on an “important ruling” that was handed down yesterday, resulting in “Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson [winning] their judicial review hearing against the decision of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to sign extradition warrants against them” for their alleged roles in the corruption...
Bhutan: An Open Letter To The Minister Of Singapore
Passu writes an open letter to the National Development Minister of Singapore, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, in response to his controversial statements about Bhutan.
Russia/Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan Airlines Refuse to Check-In Russian Citizen with Armenian Surname
LJ-user dimulenka re-publishes [ru] the closed post [ru] of Sergey Gurdzian, “Avtovaz” export director, who writes about a case of ethnic discrimination by Azerbaijan Airlines. Airline representative at the Domodedovo airport refused to check-in Gurdzian on the flight to Baku referring to his Armenian surname and some ‘security instructions.’
Armenia: Impressions and reflections on Turkey
Back in Armenia from his motorcycle ride through Turkey, Areg Harutyunyan reflects on the journey and shares his impressions of the country. Despite its political and historical problems with Armenia, the motorcyclist and blogger says Turkey is fascinating, hospitable, complex, and diverse.
Greece: The Prime Minister at Cannes, A Referendum And The 6th Tranche
Immediate and various online reactions emerged, after Greek PM Papandreou's appearance at G20 Summit in Cannes. Sarkozy and Merkel said that a Greek referendum must address the question of whether Greece wants to remain in the Eurozone or not, otherwise "the 6th tranche will not be disbursed if Greece does not respect the October deal."
Equatorial Guinea: President Appoints Son as Deputy Envoy to UNESCO and the FAO
According to guineequatoriale-info.net [fr], the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has appointed his son to lead the National Directorate of the ongoing referendum campaign to create a vice-presidency position. This appointment comes one week after appointing him as deputy envoy to UNESCO in Paris and to the...
Russia: Reactions to Arms Smuggler Viktor Bout's Conviction
Many citizen media outlets from around the world have captured the controversy surrounding the November 2 conviction of the Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout by an American jury. Donna Welles reports.
Palestine: Israeli Commandos Intercept Gaza-bound Flotilla and Arrest Activists
Israeli soldiers boarded two ships heading to Gaza earlier today. The Canadian ship Tahrir (Liberation) and Irish Saoirse (Freedom) were en route to Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli siege on it.
