Stories about International Relations from September, 2012
Spain: Storming the Streets (and Web) on Catalonia's National Day
A mass meeting under the separatist slogan 'Catalonia: new state in Europe' has been organised for today (September 11) in Barcelona and huge participation is expected.
Ecuadorian Views on Assange Asylum Case
The government’s attitude and journalists’ blatant disregard for their code of professional conduct makes it impossible for us to consider Ecuador as a haven of freedom of expression. Nor can the diplomatic asylum granted Assange be taken as evidence of this. Eduardo Varas writes in the post “The Assange Case: the...
Mayotte, Comoros: Tensions Rise After 36 Refugees Disappear at Sea
We cannot be part of the Indian Ocean Community and be indifferent to these tragedies. The solution must involve both countries Saïd Larifou reacts to the recent drowning [fr] of refugees trying to reach Mayotte by sea. Currently 36 are missing [fr] after their boat capsized as it approached Mayotte. M. Larifou warns...
Kosovo: “Cinematic Darkness Knows No Nation”
At Kosovo 2.0 blog, Belgrade-based journalist Dušan Komarčević writes – here and here – about his July 2012 trip to Prizren, Kosovo, to attend the DOKUFEST International Documentary and Short Film Festival: […] The cinemas were filled with movie lovers from Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia,...
Mali: Militant group MUJWA Vows to Push towards Bamako after Killing
Militant group MUJWA said that the killing of 16 Muslim preachers by the Malian army in Diabaly leave them no choice but push forward towards the Capital Bamako. Malijet adds that Nabil Abu Alqama, one of the AQIM leader in Gao, was also killed [fr] in a separate incident.
China in Africa: The Real Story
Hibiscus is a Global Voices project designed to encourage conversations between bloggers who write about the China-Africa relationship. As part of this project, we will regularly feature key blogs or other social media; today we are introducing to you to the blog China in Africa: The Real Story.
Yemenis Organize Marches to ‘Reclaim’ Country's Wealth from Regime
Over the past two months, Yemen's revolutionary youth and activists have been organizing marches demanding an end to all corrupt deals deals made during President Ali Abdullah Saleh's reign.
Russia: U.S. Republican Convention in Context
Most delegates of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, United States, last week probably did not imagine that Russian netizens were commenting on the proceedings in real time. Indeed, Russian bloggers have developed strong opinions about the U.S. presidential contest.
Armenia: Students Pen Letter to Hungarian Prime Minister
The blog, An Armenian Journalist Notes, posts about a letter from a collective group of Armenian students addressing their frustration and disappointment about recent events involving the extradition of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani military officer serving a life sentence for killing Armenian military officer Gurgen Margaryan in 2004 while both...
Hong Kong: TV Station Claims London, Washington Behind Anti-National Education Protest
One of the two free terrestrial television stations in Hong Kong, Asia T.V, propagated that the anti-national education in Hong Kong is manipulated by foreign power from London and Washington to destroy Hong Kong. (More details in Badcanto)
Germany: Criticism of ‘Ich Will Europa’ Campaign
Eleven German foundations started the campaign 'Ich Will Europa' (I Want Europe) to advocate for European integration. However, there has been some strong criticism of the campaign on social media.
Chad, CAR: FPR Rebel Leader Transferred to Bangui after He Turned Himself in
Ursula Soares reports that FPR Rebel Leader Abdel Kader Baba Laddé was transferred to Bangui [fr] Capital city of the Central African Republic (CAR) after he turned himself in on September 3. Baba Laddé is reportedly ill and wishes to quit fighting with the CAR authorities.
Yemen: Anger as 13 Civilians Killed by US Drone Strike
Another US drone attack struck Yemen on Sunday in Al-Baydha, targeting the usual “suspected” militants. In what has now become a recurring theme, the target missed and according to local reports 13 civilians, including three women, were killed. Yemeni netizens turn to Twitter to express their anger
North Korea: Recap of its Satellite Development and Airspace Usage
North Korea Tech blog wrote a post on North Korea's space development and use of its airspace with data from he pulled from an old email archive, providing a bit of history. Attempts to open up North Korea’s airspace began gathering pace in the mid nineties. Flying over the country rather than...
Azerbaijan: Nationalism, Extradition, and an Axe Murderer
Scary Azeri comments on the extradition to Azerbaijan of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani soldier who murdered an Armenian counterpart on a NATO training course in Budapest, Hungary, with an axe. The blogger criticizes the presidential pardon and honoring of the killer in her native Azerbaijan while also abhorring the celebration...
Tunisia: Racism on the Rise ?
Frederick Gore Djo Bi wrote [fr] on africavox.com about the rise of racism against black Africans in Tunisia. In his post, Bi quotes a testimony of Fabien Siei, an Ivorian engineering student living in Tunisia since 2007 [fr]: Not a day goes by without a black African suffering from racial abuse....
Angola: Voter Silence Also Speaks
There were no serious disruptions to polling in Angola's elections today, yet a number of problems with the voting were reported by citizens. Moreover it appears that voter turnout was much lower that the 2008 election.
Hungary: Government Criticized for Its Handling of Ramil Safarov's Case
The extradition of Ramil Safarov to Azerbaijan was based on the belief that he would continue to serve his life sentence there. After Azerbaijan gave amnesty to the convicted murderer, however, Armenia suspended its diplomatic relations with Hungary.
