As news of a potential Covid-19 vaccine raises the world’s hopes, it is important not to lose sight of the long-term impacts of the virus and the very real consequences of still living a socially-distanced, ‘static’ personal and professional life for many months to come. Understandably, businesses will be slim-lining and restructuring their operations in […]
Business generation in a pandemic Read More »
Earlier this year, against the backdrop of runaway COVID-19 infections, Russian citizens voted in a referendum that will reset Putin’s residential term limits. The result was never in any doubt. A large public campaign promoting the “Yes” vote and swathes of the opposition banned from campaigning or boycotting the event entirely proved the death knell
Decline and Fall: Democracy in Modern Russia Read More »
Another day, another regime change. Hand-picked president Sooronbay Jeenbekov, intended to stay in position for decades and enable his predecessor to influence things from behind the scenes, has voluntarily resigned after Kyrgyzstan was rocked by political protests and violence. Jeenbekov stated that he could not permit bloodshed against his own people, so has gone and
Kyrgyzstan: Silk Roads to crossroads Read More »
Once again, the US election is to be fought between the two least-liked candidates in history and, once again, legitimacy concerns are swirling. President Trump has, without any evidence or provocation, declared the very practice of mail-in ballots to be ‘fraudulent’ and has openly stated that he is only likely to recognise the contest as
The Virgin Islands. The Cayman Islands. Panama. Nevis. Switzerland. Malta. Not only a list of attractive holiday destinations but a run-down of some of the world’s most notorious tax havens and offshore registries, for decades now providing safe spaces for those who prefer that ‘hide’ does not always need to be followed by ‘seek’. But
A plague on all our houses? Read More »
Nine months into the Covid-19 outbreak, and it is arguable that the world has reshaped itself around the virus in a way that has not really happened since the industrialisation wave straddling the turn of the 20th century. The way in which humanity lives and works has been significantly, and perhaps permanently, changed. While some
Covid-19 and the surveillance state Read More »
The Beirut port explosion still echoes around Lebanon, even though the damage has long since been done. It sent an already fractured country into a further tailspin of anger, fear, and resentment, and yet – despite the unarguable tragedy – may be the catalyst for real and lasting change. For too long now, Lebanon has
Lebanon: A Time for Change? Read More »
In 2020, it seems that we lurch from one existential threat to another. While our news feeds are all but consumed by coronavirus and the resulting economic setbacks, it is worth remembering that the wheels of politics and national security continue to grind. As the thin veneer of society slips with supply shortages and financial
States of Insecurity Read More »
Eleven years after his untimely death, Sergei Magnitsky may be about to deal the biggest blow yet to the Russian criminal state – among others. A new and comprehensive law has been introduced in Britain, targeting those accused of human rights abuses in Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia with sanctions, asset freezes and travel
The Magnitsky Act: A gamechanger at last? Read More »
We all know Richard III – or at least we think we do. The hunchbacked, kin-murdering, usurper king of England thrown down by Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond to end the Wars of the Roses and usher in the glorious era of the Tudors. But a growing body of historiography is now putting forth a
“And every tale condemns me for a villain…” Read More »
