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Tom Smith

Lecturer in International Relations, University of Portsmouth

Tom is a Lecturer in International Relations for the University of Portsmouth based at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He specialises in terrorism, political violence and insurgencies with a focus on Southeast Asia but more broadly on jihadist (al Qaeda, ISIS, etc.) and political violence related to transnational Islam. He has fieldwork experience in Mindanao in the Philippines and Southern Thailand and is regularly asked by development, conflict and governmental organisations to contribute to research design, project planning and for advice. A former Visiting Lecturer at De La Salle University in Manila, Tom has worked across Asia in conflict environments for NGOs, charities and IGOs. Tom is best known on an international basis for his expertise on the Abu Sayyaf Group in the Southern Philippine province of Mindanao but has also become perhaps one of the UKs most recognised authorities on Filipino politics and Filipino foreign affairs. This often means that regional security is his headline theme with wider influence in strategic affairs in Southeast Asia and the US pivot to the Pacific. Following an honours degree in Law Tom graduated from the London School of Economics with an MSc in Global Politics specialising in Conflict and Peace Studies and Islam in International Relations. Tom was one of Fred Halliday’s last students and Fred encouraging Tom to complete a doctorate and fuelled much of his current work.

Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte's dictatorship sinks to new depths with closure of main broadcaster

May 09, 2020 07:26 am UTC| Politics

After just four years in power, Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, has turned his country into a deadly dictatorship one again. Now the closure of the countrys major mainstream news platform ABS-CBN on May...

Global Geopolitics Series

Rodrigo Duterte terminated a military agreement with US – why it could push Philippines closer to China

Feb 18, 2020 01:15 am UTC| Insights & Views

The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, decided to terminate a prominent and unpopular military agreement with the US in early February. The move came as a direct response to Washingtons invocation of the...

Global Geopolitics Series

Why Trump's Syrian strike was a good thing

Apr 10, 2017 13:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The Syrian people and their Muslim brothers and sisters have been screaming for help for years as crimes against humanity racked up against them and their kin. Yet the West has so far refused to intervene directly and...

Economy

Impact of Iran-Israel conflict on Stocks, Gold and Bitcoin

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. The information provided is for general purposes only. No information, materials, services and other content provided on this page constitute a solicitation, recommendation,...

Japan Posts 7.7% Growth in Machinery Orders

In a striking development that looks set to invigorate Japans economic prospects, a key gauge of capital spending in the country has seen its most significant jump in over a year. According to Cabinet Office data released...

How cuts to marginal income tax could boost the UK’s stagnant economic growth

The British prime minister recently claimed the UK economy has turned a corner. Rishi Sunak said inflation figures were encouraging, and proclaimed that 2024 would be the year Britain bounces back. According to his...

A sustainable future begins at ground level

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a call to action in global partnership. By 2023 it appears that our progress has been far from satisfactory in achieving these...

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africas digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement,...

Politics

Nvidia RTX 4090D Embroiled in US-China Tech Rivalry; South Korea Navigates Chip Export Dilemma

The U.S. government has tightened export restrictions on high-performance semiconductor chips to China, including the Nvidia RTX 4090D, and is urging South Korea to enforce similar curbs, marking a significant escalation...

Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants

One year after the federal government closed Roxham Road, refugee claims in Canada continue to increase: there were 143,785 in 2023 compared to 91,730 in 2022. The surprise announcement in March 2023 to modify Canadas...

Who will Trump pick as his running mate?

Being second in line for leadership of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy job. But for Mike Pence, vice president under Donald Trump, things were even harder than usual. As insurrectionists descended...

US and Japan Boost AI, Semiconductor Alliance; EU Eyes Reduction in China Dependence

Japan and the United States are poised to deepen ties in the high-tech sector, signaling a strategic move to enhance their global partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and semiconductor...

US Finalizes Ban List for Chinese Chipmakers; Boosts Mexico Semiconductor Ties

The United States is finalizing a list of Chinese chip factories banned from receiving vital technology, aiming to curb Beijings tech advancements amid national security concerns. Concurrently, a US-Mexico semiconductor...

Science

Could a telescope ever see the beginning of time? An astronomer explains

The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST for short, is one of the most advanced telescopes ever built. Planning for JWST began over 25 years ago, and construction efforts spanned over a decade. It was launched into space on...

US media coverage of new science less likely to mention researchers with African and East Asian names

When one Chinese national recently petitioned the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become a permanent resident, he thought his chances were pretty good. As an accomplished biologist, he figured that news...

If life exists on Jupiter’s moon Europa, scientists might soon be able to detect it

Europa is one of the largest of more than 90 moons in orbit around the planet Jupiter. It is also one of the best places to look for alien life. Often termed an ocean world by scientists, observations to date strongly...

Exploding stars are rare but emit torrents of radiation − if one happened close enough to Earth, it could threaten life on the planet

Stars like the Sun are remarkably constant. They vary in brightness by only 0.1% over years and decades, thanks to the fusion of hydrogen into helium that powers them. This process will keep the Sun shining steadily for...

An eclipse for everyone – how visually impaired students can ‘get a feel for’ eclipses

Many people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to witness nearly four minutes of a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, as it moves from southern Texas to Maine. But in the U.S., over 7 million people are blind...

Technology

Bitcoin Halving 2024 Complete: New Era for Miners and Market Speculation

Bitcoin has successfully completed its fourth halving, reducing mining rewards to 3.125 BTC per block and sparking widespread speculation about future price surges. As the crypto community eyes potential market shifts,...

Tesla Cybertruck Recall: NHTSA Flags 3,878 Units for Pedal Issue

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered a recall for Teslas Cybertruck, citing a severe pedal issue that necessitated temporarily halting deliveries to address potential safety...

ShibArmy Issues Critical Alert: No BONE Airdrops, Beware of Scams

The Shiba Inu community is on high alert as ShibArmy Scam Alerts warns against phishing emails falsely promising BONE airdrops. These fraudulent communications are designed to steal personal information and digital assets...

Michael Saylor Nets $370 Million from MicroStrategy Shares Amid Crypto Surge

Michael Saylor, the prominent bitcoin advocate and chairman of MicroStrategy, has capitalized on the companys robust stock performance this year, selling shares worth nearly $370 million. His strategic stock sales coincide...

Bitcoin Braces for $35 Trillion Market Shift With Upcoming Halving

As Bitcoin approaches its pivotal fourth halving today, experts forecast a dramatic surge in value, potentially reaching a $35 trillion market cap. This significant reduction in Bitcoin mining rewards from 6.25 to 3.125...