Charles Richardson
Psephologist and writer
Charles Richardson has contributed to Crikey since 2002, and was a ministerial adviser in the Kennett government and a former editorial manager at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney.
Joe Biden's reputation for outspokeness is being used by Barack Obama to advance his administration's interests in the "transcaucasus", says Charles Richardson.
The Uighurs are not engaged in some context-free ethnic rivalry; they are protesting against the threat of becoming a minority in their own land.
Not much has changed in South Australia since Chris Kenny described the state's politics 12 years ago as "Melrose Place on ugly pills".
SA's opposition leader has Martin Hamilton-Smith announced his resignation. Whoever replaces him faces an uphill battle.
Just as in neighboring Tibet, the Chinese keep control by military force over the ethnically distinct and hostile population of the Uighurs in Xinjiang.
The divergence of views over Ronnie Biggs is emblematic of the left-right split, says Charles Richardson in the same way as the Australian debate over Ned Kelly: rebel outlaw hero, or bank robber and murderer?
David Cameron, leader of Britain's Conservative Party and (barring some miraculous recovery in Labour's fortunes) the country's future prime minister, at least seems to keep his promises.
Election irregularities are a matter of degree. There is no such thing as a perfectly-run election. But in Iran, there were a lot of irregularities.
America's leverage in Iran is very small, writes Charles Richardson.
The Higgins preselection has been an on-again, off-again saga.
