Houthi-hit Ship Sinks in Red Sea

 qCaptain posted on 19 June 2024 an article titled "Shipping Industry Calls for Action after Tutor Sinking in Red Sea" by Mike Schuler.

The Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned coal carrier, M/V Tutor, discussed on 16 June below has now sunk in the Red Sea.  The Houthis also severely damaged the Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, and Polish-operated M/V Verbena.

Shipping industry groups issued a joint statement calling on "states with influence in the region" to safeguard seafarers and de-escalate the situation.  

Russia and China in Africa

 The Warsaw Institute, a Polish think tank, posted on 27 October 2023 a commentary titled "Russia and China in Africa" by Janos Hajdu.

The author contrasts the policies of China and Russia in Africa.  Put simply, Russia provides mercenaries through the Wagner Group while China offers loans to build infrastructure.

Ethiopia's Foreign Relations

Lit Verlag in Germany published in 2015 a book edited by Lukian Prijac titled "Les relations entre l'Ethiopie et les nations etrangeres" or "Foreign Relations with Ethiopia."  The chapters, which are written by a variety of authors, are in French or English.  I wrote the chapters on the United States and China, both in English.

Other relations covered include Armenia, Austria, Israel, Japan, Vatican, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Ottoman Empire, Hungary, and Russia. 

Europe and Africa from a Polish Perspective

The Central and Eastern Europe Development (CEED) Institute in cooperation with the Polish Centre for African Studies just published a major study titled "Africa-Europe on the Global Chessboard: The New Opening."

The objectives of the study are threefold.  First, it seeks to critically discuss major economic, political and social trends in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Second, it examines an on-going shift in Africa's international relations with the outside world where Europe's clout is waning and South-South cooperation is on the rise.  Third, it seeks to better understand the business and political practices of developing countries in Africa and provide food for thought to the European Union, whose business presence in Africa has been alarmingly limited.