Thursday, December 10, 2015

Map: Kazakhstan Joins WTO

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Map of World Trade Organization (WTO) member and observer countries, updated for December 2015 to include new member Kazakhstan
Member and observer states of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Map by Evan Centanni, starting from public domain blank map (license: CC BY-NC-SA).

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Syrian Civil War Control Map: December 2015 (Subscription)

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Map of fighting and territorial control in Syria's Civil War (Free Syrian Army rebels, Kurdish YPG, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Al-Nusra Front, Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), and others), updated for December 2015. Highlights recent locations of conflict and territorial control changes, such as Kweires airbase, Hader, Kafrah, Delha, Deir Hanna, Sheikh Meskin, Hawl, and more.
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Research by Djordje Djukic, with additional reporting by Evan Centanni

The Syrian government's newly Russian-backed offensive against rebels and the so-called "Islamic State" (IS, formerly ISIS) is beginning to pick up momentum. Meanwhile, Western European countries are increasingly becoming involved in the war on IS as well, with a new Western-backed, multi-ethnic ground coalition making significant gains of its own against the group.

See all this and more on the newest update to PolGeoNow's concise, professional-quality Syrian Civil War control map, which includes a timeline of changes since our previous Syria map report near the end of October.

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Exclusive map report includes:
  • Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Syria, color-coded for the Assad government, rebel groups, "Islamic State" (ISIS/ISIL) extremists, and Kurdish YPG forces. Special symbol indicates rebel-held towns dominated by Al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (the Nusra Front).
  • New in this edition: Special symbol indicates towns held by multi-ethnic anti-ISIS Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
  • Detailed indication of city-by-city control, highlighting key towns and other locations important to current events.
  • Locations of recent fighting and military operations, including Kweires airbase, Hader, Kafrah, Delha, Deir Hanna, Sheikh Meskin, Hawl, and more.
  • Detailed timeline of important events and changes to territorial control since October 30, 2015, compiled by our Syria-Iraq expert, with links to sources.

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Friday, November 20, 2015

New Zealand Voting on New Flag Design

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Updated 2015-12-16: Continue to the bottom of the article for the results of the flag referendum!

Graphic illustrating the five flag designs up for a vote in New Zealand's November-December 2015 flag referendum: Silver Fern (Black and White), Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), Silver Fern (Black, White, and Blue), Koru (black), and First to the Light (Red Peak)
The five options for a new flag of New Zealand. Clockwise from top left: Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood; Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood; Koru (Black) by Andrew Fyfe; Silver Fern (Black and White) by Alofi Kanter; and Red Peak by Aaron Dustin. More information in article below. License: CC BY 3.0 nz

By Evan Centanni

A New Flag For New Zealand?
For decades, New Zealand has debated whether to change its flag, and now the country is finally putting the matter to a vote. A controversial initiative of Prime Minister John Key, the referendum officially began today, November 20. Over the coming three weeks, New Zealanders will choose their favorite from five contending flag designs. A final vote on whether to adopt the winner or stay with the old flag will happen next March. New Zealand's current flag has been in place since 1902, nearly fifty years before the country became fully independent from the UK. Its top left corner is occupied by the so-called "Union Jack", which is still the flag of the UK today.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Yemen's Civil War: Map of Control in November 2015 (Subscription)

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Map of territorial control in Yemen as of November 17, 2015, including territory held by the Houthi rebels and former president Saleh's forces, president-in-exile Hadi and his allies in the Saudi-led coalition and Southern Movement, and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Includes recent areas of fighting, such as Taiz, Wadiah, Bayda, Marib, Mukayras, Mocha, Dhubab, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
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Timeline by Djordje Djukic, with additional reporting by Evan Centanni; map by Louis Martin-Vézian and Evan Centanni

Over the past month and a half, all sides in Yemen's civil war have achieved territorial gains. The international coalition backing President Hadi - now including troops from Sudan, as well as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar - has made gains against the Houthis, even as the Houthis have recaptured other areas. Meanwhile, Al Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos to continue continued its gradual expansion of power.

See all this and more on the newest update to PolGeoNow's Yemen territorial control map, which includes a timeline of changes and important events since our previous Yemen map report in September.

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  • Up-to-date map of current territorial control in Yemen, color-coded for the pro-Hadi coalition, Houthi/Saleh forces, and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
  • Detailed indication of town-by-town control, including provincial boundaries, all major cities, and many smaller ones
  • Markers for key areas of recent fighting such as Taiz, Marib, Bayda, Mukayras, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and more
  • Timeline of changes to the situation since late September, with links to sources

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Friday, November 6, 2015

The Death of a Currency: Zimbabwe Dollar Demonetized

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$100 trillion dollar bill in Zimbabwe dollars, front side, from Zimbabwe's worst period of hyperinflation in 2008

By Olga Rodriguez-Walmisley, with additional reporting by Evan Centanni

The End of the Zimbabwe Dollar
As of last month, the Zimbabwe dollar (Z$) no longer has any monetary value: After more than a decade of extreme inflation, it has been permanently retired. It was the official currency of Zimbabwe for 29 years, from 1980 to 2009, and continued to be circulated until this past September. Today, the government of Zimbabwe uses US dollars, while at least seven other foreign currencies are also accepted as legal tender: the South African rand, Botswana pula, British pound, Indian rupee, Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, and Australian dollar.