Over one half of the world’s crude oil is transported via sea-lanes. Almost 20% of the world’s oil transits the Strait of Hormuz. Over 85% of China’s oil imports move through the Strait of Malacca. However, oil isn’t the only major seaborne...
Criminal hackers have stepped up attacks on mid-level and large-sized US retailers, taking advantage of lower technical defenses relative to financial institutions. As the massive Target hack shows, brick-and-mortar businesses, even those with no web sales, are at similar risk for cyber hacking as purely...
Though different countries in many ways, Egypt and Libya have a common history of revolutions hardening into strongman rule, with change only coming via another revolution. On the same day that Egypt officially confirmed former Field Marshall al-Sisi as president, Libya witnessed the worst fighting...
The Soufan Group released a research paper today on foreign fighters in Syria. Key findings include: The number of foreign fighters is high, 12,000 and counting, and the spread of countries they come from covers much of the globe. Two recent events involving foreign fighters...
The release of the only US Prisoner of War from the Afghan conflict—held for five years—was the result of a conventional military tactic and convention in what has long been described as a thoroughly unconventional war on terror. The history of war—declared or undeclared, overt...
Despite an extended voting period and a holiday to encourage voting, the turnout of Egypt’s presidential election was between 15%-46%, a troubling sign of pubic apathy and concern about Egypt’s future...
Syria is becoming a victim of US-Russia tensions, and without the agreement of the major powers, peace is not possible. Differences between the US and Russia on Syria are not great, nor insurmountable, but are getting harder to resolve...
China announced the seizure of 1.8 tons of explosive precursor materials and partially-completed explosive devices, as well as the arrest of five people in Xinjiang Province. This follows last week’s attack and bombing in Xinjiang that killed 43 and injured 90, one of the worst...
The results of the April 30 election put Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in a commanding position to secure another term. The strong showing of Maliki’s State of Law slate reinforces his belief that use of force is the best way to end an insurrection led...
Climate models predict that in coming years, rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and decreased equator-versus-pole temperature differences will cause the number of intense storms to increase, as well as the intensity of drought and flood cycles...
This week, China and Russia announced the agreement of a major gas deal, over a decade in the making, and expected to amount to $400 billion over the next 30 years. By acting jointly on such long-term projects, Russia and China are signaling the emergence...
In the latest turn of events surrounding China’s and Vietnam’s dispute over territory in the South China Sea, China has evacuated thousands of Chinese who live and work in Vietnam, following anti-Chinese protests that led to casualties of Chinese citizens...
With an eye to the future, King Abdullah continues to consolidate the power of his branch of al-Saud. The line of succession to the throne is complicated by the need to transition to the next generation of leadership. Demographics and a popular desire for change...
After a five-week election that saw 551 million votes cast and a historic BJP victory, there remains a lack of concrete indications as to how Prime Minister-elect Modi will govern. Modi’s tenure as chief minister of Gujarat was marked by strong economic growth and violent...
Russian President Putin’s visit next week to China is expected to produce a significant energy deal between the world’s largest energy exporter and the world’s largest energy importer...