The World's Plaidiest News Source

St Petersburg Introduction and Week 1 Class Info

• World
• European Eurasia

St Petersburg, Russia introduction.

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G20 about to get “Syri-ous”

• International Organizations

The big boys are all gathering this week…in St. Petersburg, Russia! The G-20 aka the Group of 20 are the world’s biggest 20 economies that send their actual heads of state to pow-wow once a year over all matters fiscal, economic…and sometimes even political! And that certainly will be the case this year in Russia, as the SYrian situation deepens, the US is contemplating action, a move that the Russians will certainly try to discourage. WHile they mostly are a talking shop of world economy, this summit is going to be getting Syri-ous on military maneuvers as well! Watch out Obama! Putin has home field advantage!

Keywords: G-20, Russia, St. Petersburg, USA, Putin, Obama, Syria, G-7, G-8

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“I’m on a boat” semester

• World

I’ll be sailing on Semester at Sea this fall for 4 months and will be posting podcasts from each port. Check out the voyage info here: http://www.semesteratsea.org/voyages/fall-2013/

Keywords: semester at sea

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Super-Shinzo is Set for Sino-Slamming

• East Asia-Pacific

Anchors away! Japan just launched Izumo; the biggest and most powerful battleship they have built since WW2…and is it having repercussions across the Pacific realm! Japan’s very popular Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seems to be leading Japan into a new era of national pride, and perhaps an increasingly more assertive military posture. And China no like! Could we be witnessing a return of Japan into a more formidable military force…a position the US heartily encourages? Find out more about it here! Pikachu would be proud!

Related Stories:
For Better Or Worse, Japan To Ease Reins On Its Military
Japan Unveils the Izumo, Its Largest Warship Since WWII, Amid Tensions With China

Keywords: Japan, constitution, Article 9, Abenomics, self-defense, military, battleship, warship, Izumo, China, Senkaku, Diaoyu, islands, friction, Spratley, Article 9, USA, Pacific, ASEAN

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Crikey! New World Leaders Update!

• World

G’day mates from across the plaid planet! Looks like our esteemed Skype guest from last semester, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has once again become the current Prime Minister of Australia! Crikey! This podcast covers that palace intrigue, as well as pointing out some particulars about new world leaders in Iran, Pakistan, and even a shout out to the clown prince of politics in Italy. New peeps in charge across the planet! Learn more here!

Related Stories:
Kevin Rudd ousts Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Profile: Hassan Rouhani
Profile: Who Is Nawaz Sharif?
Berlusconi found guilty after case that cast spotlight on murky premiership

Keywords: Australia, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Hassan Rouhani, Iran, Italy

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