Archive
Snowden in Self-made Passport Limbo
Every once in a while a story arises in the news that requires some theorising to contextualise its importance; Edward Snowden’s story is such an example. Snowden is the (in)famous
China’s Tug of War Between Central and Commercial Banks
Chinese banks experienced an unexpected credit crunch in the past weeks. On June 20, the Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate (SHIBOR) and overnight repo rate reached, at certain points, 25% and 30%
Sudan and South Sudan political tension to rise
For over four decades, intra-state conflict raged in the north east African state of Sudan. There were few intermissions from the violence until a long-awaited peace agreement was signed in
Egypt’s Fresh Start or Coup d’État
A four-day struggle between Egyptian protestors and their first democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi started on the 30th of June and ended up with his ouster on the 3rd of July.
ULA Woes Increase Competition in U.S. Launch Industry
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into unfair trade practices on the part of United Launch Alliance (ULA)—a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing that
Air Base Closure Reshapes Kyrgyzstan-Russia Relations
Last week, Kyrgyzstan announced that it will not renew its agreement with the United States that allowed NATO to use the Manas Air Base as a transit center for military
Globalisation of the Halal Industry
The market for halal products is a fast-growing, interconnected industry of global proportions. There are over 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, making for a sizable consumer base. Meanwhile, the halal market,
Cuba’s Reforms Pick Up Pace
Cuba is once again in the international spotlight with news that Edward Snowden, the former U.S. NSA contractor, was potentially seeking to fly there. This is not too surprising given
Four Issues to Monitor in African Politics
Making predictions is a risky business, which explains why the world’s major financial institutions are always careful to include caveats in their investment outlooks. While the stakes are not as
Big Questions Loom with China’s Trade Liberalisation
Trade negotiators are working long hours these days. The United States’ initiatives in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have attracted broad attention, especially as the
