Tensions have been rising in the South China Sea of late, and these are threatening to put strains on China’s relations with South East Asia and the US. Essentially, China has reiterated its long-standing claims over the whole of the South China Sea, including the Spratly and Paracel islands. Unsurprisingly, this sovereignty assertion is disputed… [Read more]
Although there is no smoking gun at this stage, several indications have led many Iranians to suspect that last Friday’s presidential election was rigged. While I expect the post-election unrest to die down over the coming days and weeks, public perceptions of electoral fraud could undermine the regime’s legitimacy over the longer term. Indeed, the… [Read more]
I love January. While most of my colleagues sit around the office complaining about the weather and the extra pounds they’ve put on over the holidays, I sit at my desk staring at the computer screen with a big grin on my face. What’s not to love? In addition to the underlying feelings of rebirth… [Read more]