World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

2012 is likely to be the hottest year on record.  Meteorologists in Australia have had to develop new colors for their temperature codes to include temperatures over 50 degrees C.  The four hottest temperatures ever recorded in Australian history were in 2012 and wildfires are ravaging the continent.  The evidence for climate change continues to mount even though the direct links cannot yet be conclusively drawn.

The political situation in Venezuela has become quite murky.  President Chavez, who recently won re-election, is quite sick and his inauguration has been postponed.  The rules of succession are not crystal clear under such circumstances, and the Vice-President claims to be “holding” the office until Chavez’s health concerns are resolved.  One could easily imagine turmoil in the country is Chavez’s illness leaves him incapacitated for an extended period of time.  The US is likely hoping for a change in government.

There have been small but persistent protests in China over censorship of the newspaper, Southern Weekend.  The protests are notable because the language in defense of free speech in China has been quite direct and explicit.  The protesters are taking their position in open confrontation to the government which has yet to respond in any direct manner.  We’ll have to see whether the protests grow larger over the next few days.