Editors' Pick

The Diplomacy Cable 03/27/2017

The Diplomacy Cable

With the invention of the telegraph cables in the 19th century, international consulates and embassies began sending shorter encrypted telegrams, using Morse Code. While the messages are now sent electronically, the moniker “cable” stuck and the term is still in use today for shorter, encrypted diplomatic messages.

Martin McGuinness’s Farewell

Former Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness died last Tuesday of a rare heart disease that was the reason for his retirement from politics. A former commander in the Irish Republican Army turned peacemaker, McGuinness was heavily involved in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement, and he has been described as a “giant of Irish politics” according to the Belfast Telegraph. Thousands descended upon his hometown of Derry for his funeral, including former president Bill Clinton.

Mubarak is Freed

Egypt’s ex-president Hosni Mubarak was freed after serving six years in prison. Al Jazeera reports he was acquitted for his supposed role in the killing protestors in Cairo in the 2011 uprising even though he was sentenced for life. He returned to his home in a suburb of Cairo, and other Mubarak-era figures are also gradually being cleared of any charges.

Turkish Referendum

Turkish citizens have begun to vote on whether or not to move Turkey from a parliamentary republic to a presidential one. According to BBC, “Turkish citizens in six European countries have started to vote in a referendum, the campaign for which has caused an international dispute.” This has caused issues with Turkey and its European neighbors.

Slight Land Shift in New Zealand

Scientists have discovered that the Kaikōura earthquake moved New Zealand’s South Island five meters. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in November has changed the way scientists are thinking about this natural phenomenon around the world, reports Radio New Zealand. Dr. Ian Hamling said this earthquake is one of the best-recorded ones in the world, making it a perfect case to study the behavior of large quakes.

UK Police and Cannabis Farmers

Kevin Hyland, the UK’s independent anti-slavery commissioner, has criticized police forces for failing to deal with enslaved Vietnamese teenagers who are brought to work illegally on cannabis farms in the UK. According to the Guardian, “Vietnam is consistently one of the biggest source countries for trafficked labor into the UK.” Vietnamese men are often forced to work on cannabis farms while women are forced to work in nail bars.

Diplomacy Fast Facts:

Which previous US President vomited on Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa during a diplomatic banquet?

George Bush Senior.

Patricia Mace is a second semester graduate student at Seton Hall University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations with a specialization in global negotiation and conflict management. She received her undergraduate degree in History, Japanese, and International Relations from University of Delaware.

Erin Dobbs is a second year graduate student at Seton Hall University. She is pursuing her master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations with specializations in foreign policy analysis and global negotiation and conflict management. She received her undergraduate degree in political science and history from Villanova University.

Follow the Journal of Diplomacy on Twitter at @JournalofDiplo

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *