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Natural resources and energy South and Central Asia

Russia is eyeing China to expand energy ties with Asia

As Europe aims to diversify its energy sources, Russia is looking to the East to develop links with the more energy-prospective Asian markets. In June 2013, Russia’s oil giant Rosneft

Asia Pacific Finance

Is the new AIIB just more of the same?

The Asian infrastructure market and the new investment vehicle, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), present a potentially highly attractive opportunity for investors. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has estimated

Asia Pacific Politics

Masuzoe new Tokyo governor, defeats anti-nuclear rivals

Despite efforts to make Tokyo’s gubernatorial election a referendum on nuclear energy, Yoichi Masuzoe won by focusing on more basic economic issues. This reflects a desire to see “Abenomics” restore

Asia Pacific Security

Forgotten southern insurgency divides Thailand

The political power struggle in Bangkok has dominated international reports from Thailand since the military coup seven years ago, yet a far more lethal conflict goes on in Thailand’s Deep

Middle East/North Africa Politics

Turkey attempts to curtail judicial independence

Judicial reforms proposed in Turkey, though shelved for the moment, call into question Erdogan’s ability to emerge from the current political crisis with an intact democracy and rule of law.

North America Security

As global defense spending rises, US firms push abroad

Global defense spending is set to rise for the first time since 2009, as Middle Eastern and Asian-Pacific nations invest more heavily in their militaries. US contractors, squeezed by tight

Asia Pacific Politics

Ambassador Baucus could bring U.S beef back to China

Former U.S. Senator Max Baucus of Montana, confirmed as the next U.S. Ambassador to China, could help restore U.S. beef exports to China. China banned all U.S. beef exports after a

Europe Politics

The Ukraine crisis via the lens of history and EU relations

A primer on how historical context of Kiev’s political evolution and relations with the European Union inform the current situation in Ukraine Violence in Ukraine has greatly escalated in recent

Asia Pacific Natural resources and energy

New rules for Indonesia’s mining sector see exports static

Indonesia has placed an export ban on mined ore to encourage local processing. The regulatory changes have been met with resistance from international mining companies, and investor confidence in Indonesia’s mining sector

Latin America Politics

Growing protests in Venezuela threaten Maduro’s rule

Massive anti-government protests have erupted across Venezuela in what President Nicolas Maduro has called an “evolving coup.” Maduro’s comment might become a self-fulfilling prophecy if protesters and the political opposition continue