09.01.2020
Soleimani killing puts spotlight on Iraqi militias
The US killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani has focused attention on Iran's involvement in Iraq, in particular its support for Shia militias, or Popular Mobilisation Forces.more >
09.01.2020
Questions raised over Mexican leader’s war on graft
Lopez Obrador looks to be fulfilling his pledge to tackle corruption but his attitude towards independent institutions does not bode well. more >
10.12.2019
Health checks for FDI projects could boost emerging market investment
US-led vetting and certification of big-ticket projects may go a long way to allaying western investor concerns about rule of law and transparency issues.more >
04.12.2019
Regardless of the future, Libra has made its presence felt
Facebook’s controversial cryptocurrency may not survive the scrutiny, but the debate it has sparked has done much to progress
digital asset regulation.more >
03.12.2019
Can blockchain help to rid tech products of ‘conflict minerals’?
Distributed ledger technology used in efforts to remove minerals linked to conflicts from supply chains – but it doesn’t have all the answers. more >
27.11.2019
Rogue states look to cryptocurrencies to counter sanctions
Rogue states subject to punitive international sanctions are reportedly turning to cryptocurrencies to try to mitigate their impact. Iran, Venezuela, Russia and North Korea are said to be experimenting with blockchain technology to get around prohibitions on dollar-denominated transactions. more >
06.11.2019
Impact of new Syrian crisis on Turkish-Iraqi Kurd relations
The Turkish incursion into northern Syria has left the leaders of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq in a difficult position. While the KRG has expressed concerns for ethnic kin in Syria, it has to be careful not to jeopardise its crucial, some would say lifeline, commercial trade with Turkey.
more >
25.10.2019
How effective are western sanctions against Russia?
Sanctions have steadily increased in recent years yet the Russian economy, though struggling, appears to be surprisingly resilient.more >
18.10.2019
US weighs lifting terror-related sanctions against Sudan
Removal of restrictions may be key to consolidating the fragile new power-sharing administration. more >
15.10.2019
Headstrong Saudi Crown Prince confronts sobering realities
Mohammed bin Salman billed himself as the young strongman who could transform Saudi Arabia. Two years later, he has little to show for it.more >
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