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In the News

Each year Chatham House experts, speakers and publications contribute to around 5000 interviews and articles in the national and international media. The list below is a short selection of contributions in recent days and weeks.

The Observer, Sunday 5 October
Somalians Back Their Heroes of the High Seas
A new Chatham House paper says some pirate money finds its way to the coffers of the radical militant group al-Shabaab, which seeks to establish a theocracy in Somalia and is loosely affiliated to al-Qaeda.

The Sunday Telegraph, Sunday 5 October
What is it about Austria? Why the Birthplace of Hitler has Just Voted for the Far Right
The Schengen agreement countries have effectively lost control of their immigration policies to the EU, because they have no real individual control over their borders, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House.

The Independent on Sunday, Sunday 5 October
Pirates of the High Seas
The rapid inflation in the price of ransom is one of the main reasons for the rising number of pirate attacks. In addition, a more organised approach is being taken by pirates, with the use of mother ships, GPS devices and even the adoption of an employees' code of conduct, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House.

The Economist, Friday 3 October
The Mystery of Bombs in Syria: Jihadist Blowback?
Saad Hariri, Lebanon's senior Sunni politician, has been paying jihadis not to be jihadis but they've been rebelling against him, says Nadim Shehadi, Chatham House. You don't play Gandhi with a jihadi.

Associated Press, Friday 3 October
Somali Pirates Say They Will Fight Commando
In some cases of hijacking by pirates they have held out for almost two months, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House. The likeliest conclusion to the recent hijack is the payment of ransom. The alternative for the shipping company and the international community could be tragic.

The Financial Times, Thursday 2 October
Somali Piracy 'Threatens Global Business'
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has cost shippers between $18m-$30m so far this year in ransoms and is threatening global business, claims a new Chatham House paper on Somali pirates.

BBC News, Thursday 2 October
EU Force to Fight Somali Pirates
A study by Chatham House on Somali pirates reports that the number of hijack bids by pirates had more than doubled in 2008 and that the pirates were becoming more aggressive and assertive.

The Guaridan, Thursday 2 October
Big Rise in Piracy Could Close Suez Canal Trade
The dramatic increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden could trigger a humanitarian and environmental disaster in the Horn of Africa and cut off global sea routes through the Suez canal, a Chatham House paper on Somali piracy warns.

BBC News, Wednesday 1 October
US Superpower Status is Shaken
The US is seen as declining relatively and there has been an enormous acceleration in this perfect storm of perception in the waning days of the Bush administration, says Dr Robin Niblett, Director of Chatham House. The rise of new powers, the increase in oil wealth among some countries and the spread of economic power around the world adds to this.

The Guardian, Wednesday 1 October
Tension Grows Between Syria and Lebanon After Bombings
It's possible that there is no connection between the bombings in both Tripoli and Damascus. But the perception in Lebanon is that terrorists are sent from Damascus, and Syria is keen to show that when they were in charge there they managed to keep a lid on terrorist groups, says Nadim Shehadi, Chatham House.

The Independent, Wednesday 1 October
Cold War Stand-Off Over Pirates' Weapons Ship
A new briefing paper to be published by Chatham House says piracy could see shipping forced away from the Gulf and into the longer route to Europe and North America, producing a drastic effect on oil and commodities prices.

Middle East Times, Tuesday 30 September
Sierra Leone Threatened by Drug Traffic
Despite having a successful election last year, the stability of Sierra Leone remains threatened by transnational drug trafficking and poverty, argues a new Chatham House briefing paper.

Forbes, Monday 29 September
Austria's Angst
The central reason for the success of the far right in Austria is that if you want to register a protest vote against domestic policy, immigration or the EU, you have no other choice but the far right, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House.

St Petersburg Times, Sunday 28 September
US Needs New Strategy for Terror Threat in Pakistan
In backing President the United States failed to build up workable alliances with a wider set of political parties and civil society groups in Pakistan, with the result that it finds itself in a position where it faces a climate of intense anti-Americanism says Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House.

Associated Press, Saturday 27 September
Russia Sends Ship to Somali Coast to Fight Piracy
Most pirate attacks are based on opportunity, so if they see something that looks captureable they will attack it, whereas a high-profile cargo makes them more vulnerable, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House.

Voice of America, Thursday 25 September
Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Resigns
The Congo is all but a failed state in which everything is a priority and the means to live up to the expectations of the people are very limited. The government that have just left power failed to do so, says Muzong Kodi, Chatham House.

Bloomberg, Thursday 25 September
Brown Urges US to Back Bailout
Gordon Brown's open support of the US rescue plan is unusual but we are in unusual times, says Vanessa Rossi, Chatham House. It is also likely that a similar plan might emerge in the UK.

Voice of America, Wednesday 24 September
EU Says Iran Close to Developing Nuclear Weapon
North Korea's barring of IAEA inspectors from accessing its main nuclear reactor is a serious development and its significance cannot be underestimated, says John Swenson-Wright, Chatham House.

Voice of America, Tuesday 23 September
UK-Pakistan Relationship Seen as Real Target of Bombing
There is intense debate about how deep military to militant ties are in Pakistan, says Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House. Some believe the intelligence agencies act independently, while others - certainly within the Bush administration - believe there are very close links between Pakistan's intelligence agencies and militant groups.

Forbes, Tuesday 23 September
Gordon Brown's Political Hurdle
In his speech Gordon Brown made an emphatic plea to the Labour Party to support and unite around him, but it is doubtful whether this is enough, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House. As house prices collapse over the next 12 months, real income declines and people start to lose their jobs, Brown will suffer in the opinion polls.

The Guardian, Tuesday 23 September
Pakistani Leaders were to Dine at Blast Hotel, Says Minister
Pakistan is teetering on the brink, says Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House. There is a weak and deeply divided government and a disorientated army with no clear strategy.

Euronews, Monday 22 September
End of an Era in Investment Banking
This banking crisis is a historical moment and as a result there will be a total restructuring and re-thinking of the international banking and financial system, says Paolo Subbacchi, Chatham House.

The Yorkshire Post, Thursday 18 September
It's Still Too Soon to Say When the Turbulence Will End
Like a recurrent nightmare, the collapse of Wall Street institutions is a reminder that the worst may not be over and perhaps other banks, in the US or somewhere else, are in line for a similar fate, writes Paola Subacchi, Chatham House.

The Daily Telegraph, Thursday 18 September
Reliance on Russian Gas 'Threatens Britain's Security'
A Chatham House report, A British Agenda for Europe, argues that while building up Britain's power supplies, the Government must also take the lead in persuading European countries to team up as a united energy market to end dependence on Russian gas.

The Guardian, Thursday 18 September
Time for Britain to Join the Euro?
In a new Chatham House Report, A British Agenda for Europe, the authors write that Britain may have to reconsider its position on giving up the pound if economic conditions continue to worsen.

The Toronto Star, Wednesday 17 September
Pakistani Backlash Feared
The US attacks across the border have put the new Pakistani government in an impossible situation as it desperately struggles to find its feet, says Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House.

BBC News, Wednesday 17 September
HBOS Confirms Lloyds Merger Talks
We are clearly going through a phase of restructuring and consolidation in the financial system and the fact that two big players, HBOS and Lloyds TSB, are signalling their intention to merge is another sign that we are going in that direction, says Dr Paolo Subacchi, Chatham House.

Bloomberg, Tuesday 16 September
Arctic Ice Retreat May Be Harbinger of Climate Change
There's going to be a dramatic increase in traffic through the Arctic, says Cleo Paskal, Chatham House. The situation is changing quickly because of climate change and the subseqeunt shrinking of Arctic ice. The seasonal melt is also opening up potential trade routes between the Atlantic and Pacific and making undersea resources more accessible.