Month: January 2014
Article
The Panama Canal Expansion Dispute, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of U.S. Navy Imagery Panama Canal Expansion Dispute: Unforeseen Circumstances or Planned Cost Hikes? by Oscar Lopez* I. Introduction The sun rises in the east, the tides go in and out, and construction projects run over budget. Recent statistical analysis shows that this old bromide is often true,[1] and international examples abound:…
Jan 2014
Article
Religion and Relativity in Iran, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of Abode of Chaos Religion and Relativity in Iran by Jordan Manalastas* On Valentine’s Day of 1989, the first Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, became perhaps the world’s surliest book critic by condemning British author Salman Rushdie to death.[1] Rushdie was charged with blasphemy for his less-than-flattering portrait of the Prophet…
Jan 2014
Article
Tokals & Sister Wives: The Role of Religion in Polygamy Law, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of kirinqueen Tokals and Sister Wives: The Role of Religion in Polygamy in Kazakhstan and Utah by Yujin Chun* Polygamy—the state or practice of having more than one spouse simultaneously—is technically illegal in the Republic of Kazakhstan, but in recent years it has been a “fact of life”[1] that carries no prescribed punishment.[2]…
Jan 2014
Article
South Africa’s Antitrust Framework for M&A Transactions, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of Heather Dowd South Africa’s Antitrust Framework for M&A Transactions by Byron Crowe* Sub-Saharan Africa continues to grow at an impressive rate, and South Africa has been characterized as the “gateway” to investment in the region.[1] This, coupled with the increasing popularity of cross-border M&A deals, means that foreign transactional attorneys are…
Jan 2014
Article
Uganda’s Anti Homosexuality Bill, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of Riek Havok Uganda’s Anti Homosexuality Bill by Matt Hasvold* The status of LGBT men and women has long been a controversial topic in Uganda and most of Africa. In 2009, Uganda’s LGBT policy was thrust into the limelight with the introduction of new anti-gay legislation. In response, there was a great…
Jan 2014
Article
Russia: Arctic Sun Sets on Greenpeace, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of Chesnot Jerome Arctic Sun Sets on Greenpeace by Alex Kerrigan* In the final chapter of Greenpeace’s recent Arctic saga, the Russian Federation has released thirty of the organization’s members, which had been held since mid-September.[1] The release comes after the Russian parliament granted the activists amnesty through a bill passed in…
Jan 2014
Article
Piracy in Southeast Asia: An Overview, Vol. 1
CC Image Courtesy of DVIDSHUB Piracy in Southeast Asia: An Overview of International and Regional Efforts by Ahmad Almaududy Amri* One of the main maritime security threats in Southeast Asia is Piracy. While piracy has been a perennial problem, this threat has received increasing attention in the region over the past few years. Reports published…
Jan 2014
Article
Smart Move: Argentina to Leave the ICSID, Vol. 1
CC Photo Courtesy of Jorge Gobbi Smart Move: Argentina to Leave the ICSID by Oscar Lopez* I. Introduction Due to the large number of claims that Argentina faces from international investors before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, the country has begun working towards leaving the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes…
Jan 2014