NASA plays down Russia’s threat to halt ISS cooperation
Updates Science diplomacy, Space diplomacy UpdatesAfter provocative comments from the head of the Russian space agency, no steps have been taken and NASA says cooperation continues as normal. Head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos says that he will pull his country out of the International…
Will science diplomacy survive?
Updates Science diplomacy, Space diplomacy, Water diplomacyScience diplomacy will very likely survive, but in a different form. Diplomats will continue to negotiate scientific collaboration, as they do in other areas of diplomacy such as food, health, and trade. However, science diplomacy will fall…
The US is pursuing holistic digital diplomacy
Updates Digital diplomacyFollowing the 9/11 terrorist attacks, US intelligence agencies were fundamentally reformed in order to address fragmentation and policy silos as major reasons for their failure to prevent these attacks. It is now the turn of US diplomacy for…
Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to ensure the proper functioning of the EU internal market by 'promoting effective competition in digital markets' and, in particular, a fair and contestable online platform environment.
The new Russian cult of war
Updates International relations, law and politics UpdatesThe Economist discusses the deeper motives behind Russia’s war in Ukraine:
Russia’s shift away from modernization towards conservative priorities.
The idea of the ‘Russian World’ is based on a shared heritage, religion,…
Quantum hype and predictions for the future of technology
Updates Updates‘Predicting the future of technology is impossible—it happens when it happens.’ Sankar Das Sarma, a leading quantum physics researcher, summarized the possibilities of quantum computing in this manner.
He also criticized the current hype…
Weather and climate early warning systems to protect everyone
Updates Climate diplomacy, Sustainable development UpdatesEveryone on Earth should have early warning systems to protect them against increasing extreme weather and climate changes within five years. This goal was announced by Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary-General) during World Meteorological Day…
Five bot farms were discovered and shut down in Ukraine
Updates Cybercrime UpdatesAccording to the Ukrainian Security Service (SSU), five bot farms that spread fake news were discovered and shut down by them.
Bot farms could distribute misinformation and fake news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to at least 100,000…
Starlink won’t block Russian news sources
Updates Science diplomacy, Space diplomacy UpdatesSpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that his company won't block access to Russian media sources on its Starlink internet system despite requests from "some governments". "Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news…
Orbit debris struck the Moon
Updates Science diplomacy, Space diplomacy UpdatesOn March 4th a rocket part launched eight years ago struck the Moon at Hertzsprung crater on the far side. This debris is the third stage booster from the launch of a Long March 3C rocket that launched China’s Chang’e 5-T1 spacecraft from…
Elon Musk responds to Russia’s International Space Station potential threat
Updates Science diplomacy, Space diplomacy UpdatesElon Musk has countered a threat from Russia to drop the International Space Station from orbit, saying SpaceX will step in before that happens.
Last week, after Russia invaded Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his administration…
A stronger voice: How Namibian diplomatic practice is updating to the era of digitalisation
Updates Capacity development, Diplomacy courses and workshops, Diplomatic functions and tools, E-tools, Foreign ministries, Internet governance and digital policy, Pedagogy BlogsRead also:
Media release by the Namibian Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation: Namibian diplomats receive digital diplomacy virtual training from the Government of Malta and DiploFoundation
Media release by the Maltese…