Stories about International Relations from December, 2011
South Asia: Challenges to Railway Connections Between South Asian Countries
Chandan Sapkota from Kathmandu analyses the obstacles hampering the implementations of railways connection between neighboring South Asian countries.
Arab World to Gingrich: “If Palestinians Are Invented People, Americans Are …”
Palestinians are “invented” people, who want to destroy Israel, says US Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. His comments, in an interview with a Jewish television channel, have drawn the anger and ridicule of netizens across the Arab world.
Russia: “Why Are Russians Protesting Now?”
On Saturday, the world watched the biggest show of political activism seen in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. This is hardly the first time Putin's Russia has been accused of undemocratic policies, so the question is, "Why are Russians protesting now?"
Russia: Ukrainian Blogger's Photos From the Moscow Rally
Kyiv-based blogger Oleksandr Arhat (LJ user olarhat) posts a photo report [uk] from the Dec. 10 post-election rally in Moscow, which reminded him of the 2004 post-election protests in Kyiv: “Unbought people, protesting [not in order to get a piece of bread in return]. Doesn't happen every day, especially in...
Russia: Anglophone Bloggers Comment on Election and Protests
Kevin Rothrock of A Good Treaty asks eleven Anglophone Russia bloggers to comment on the Dec. 4 parliamentary electionand its aftermath: “The result, I hope readers will agree, is a fruitful diversity of informed opinion from some of the Web’s most prominent and colorful Russia-watchers.” Kevin's own take on the...
Confusing information for NGOs at COP 17 in Durban
Addressing the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) in Durban on climate change, René Audet complained on the website blogueaqlpa.com: “Since the arrival of Ministers in Durban, negotiations have been taken to another level, so to speak. Now, this level is inaccessible to observers like us. Information circulates well within NGO networks, but they are confusing.”
D.R. of Congo: Congolese Diaspora Erupts Against Kabila
While the DR of Congo awaits the final tally of the presidential and parliamentary elections, the Congolese Diaspora, although not allowed to vote, has shown its commitment to making its voice heard. Julie Owono reports.
Trinidad & Tobago: The CARICOM-Cuba Summit
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog reports on the arrival of Cuban President Raul Castro, while KILKAYTAY comments on “the hurricane in the snocone cup over the shifted location of the 2011 CARICOM-Cuba Summit”.
Iran:Tehran displays captured US drone
Several bloggers such as Az Mian Negarha, linked to a YouTube film where Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps displayed a US captured RQ-170 Sentinel plane on TV on Thursday afternoon.
Iran: ‘Ready to hack US virtual embassy’
Haji Digital, a pro-government online user in Iran, says in Friendfeed [Fa]: “We are ready to take over the US virtual embassy in Iran and completely hack it”.
Iran: US virtual embassy blocked
Nima Akbarpour, Iranian blogger and IT journalist, says [Fa] that Iranian authorities have blocked US virtual embassy website, hours after its launch. He says that was predictable.
North Korean Restaurant in Cambodia
The Travel Fish blog introduced North Korean restaurants in Phnom Penh that offer a glimpse into the hermit kingdom's cuisine and music. Most of North Korean oversees restaurants were set up to acquire foreign currency for the regime.
Pakistan: Reaction on NATO's Attack Killing 24 Pakistani Soldiers
November 26, 2011 marked the death of 24 Pakistani troops as a result of a violent attack by NATO helicopters and fighter aircrafts on Pakistan Army's border posts in Mohmand Agency of FATA in Pakistan. No less than 13 troops were also injured in the attack. The attack is being condemned and protested against by politicians, journalists, religious organizations and members of the civil society ever since.
Bermuda: The UK's Vision
Respice Finem comments on the UK's current review of its relationship with its overseas territories, which includes getting feedback, within the confines of its vision, from the colonies themselves: “By limiting the review to that which is consistent with its vision, the UK has demonstrated it is not seriously interested...
Palestine: Gazans Sleep and Wake Up to the Sound of Explosions
The world's silence at the regular attacks on Gaza has drawn the ire of netizens, who have charged that the world no longer views Palestinians as human beings. This follows news of an Israel attack on the Gaza Strip, early this morning, which resulted in one dead and five injured.
Iran: US Virtual Embassy for Tehran
Faryad Azadi reported[fa] that USA has launched a virtual embassy for Tehran.
D.R. of Congo: Half-Hearted Democracy Promotion
Ben Brockman discusses half-hearted democracy promotion in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “Would the international community seek a power-sharing agreement like in Kenya in 2007 or Zimbabwe in 2008 to quickly end the crisis in the name of stability?”
South Korea: Anger Over Free Trade Agreement and Media Silence
Rallies have been held daily in the South Korean capital of Seoul for two weeks now, protesting against the country's free trade agreement with the United States. Citizens have expressed deep discontent, as well as strong distrust of the mainstream media who rarely report on anti-FTA protests.
Haiti: Business Wins, Haiti Loses
Haiti Grassroots Watch has been looking at the issues surrounding the inauguration of an industrial zone in the north of the island, and finds that “once again, Haiti’s government and her private sector – and their international supervisors – are pitching sweatshop level salaries as a key ‘comparative advantage.'”
Macedonia, Greece: Reaction to International Court of Justice Decision
Blogger Effo was the first to comment on the verdict [pdf], in which the Hague International Court of Justice found that the Greek obstruction of Macedonia's NATO entry in 2008 was in violation of the 1995 Interim Accord. He demands [mk] that Macedonia stop the negotiations about the name issue...
Macedonia: Satirical Blog Blames Name Dispute for Greek Bankruptcy
A renowned Macedonian blogger published a satirical article which, in a way, sums up many of the local jokes about the Greek financial problems and the political situation in Macedonia. Filip Stojanovski reports.
