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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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MENASource

Mar 8, 2016

Libya at Another Crossroads

By Mohamed Eljarh

The UN Security Council (UNSC) held a session on March 2 to discuss the situation in Libya, where the UN special envoy to Libya Martin Kobler briefed the Council on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in Libya. The session comes as the prospects for success of the UN-led peace continue to diminish due to […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2016

In Somalia, al Shabaab Far from a Spent Force

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US strike on terrorist group exposes ‘serious strategic challenge,’ says Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham A US airstrike that killed more than 150 al Shabaab fighters at a training camp in Somalia over the weekend emphasizes the extent of the terrorist threat in a country that US President Barack Obama once cited as a counterterrorism […]

East Africa Somalia

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2016

Turkey and the Kurds: A Perfect Storm?

By John Roberts

A perfect storm appears to be brewing as tensions rise between Turkey and the main Kurdish groups in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey itself. And this at a time when there are fears in Ankara that Russian support for Kurdish fighters in Syria might be accompanied by covert assistance for Kurdish groups at war with the […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
US Marine in BALTOPS, June 14, 2012

NATOSource

Mar 7, 2016

Who will Defend the Baltics? NATO, the US and Baltic Sea Security

By Anna Wieslander

In times of tension with Russia, security for the other Baltic Sea states is highly dependent on external allies.

NATO NATO Partnerships

MENASource

Mar 7, 2016

Top News: Militants attack Tunisian forces near Libyan border, 50 killed

By MENASource

Dozens of Islamist fighters stormed through the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdane near the Libyan border on Monday, attacking army and police posts in a raid that killed at least 50 people, including civilians, the government and residents said. Soldiers killed 33 militants and arrested six, the Interior Ministry said.

UkraineAlert

Mar 7, 2016

Why Does Putin Surprise Us Again and Again?

By Stephen Blank

From Great Britain to the Black Sea, Russia is waging a constant, unceasing information war against virtually every European government. This war takes many forms, but information war in essence entails what Peter Pomerantsev called the weaponization of information in the form of lies, misinformation, propaganda, exploitation of agents of influence, and reflexive actions inducing […]

Russia Ukraine

Trade in Action

Mar 7, 2016

TTIP&TRADEinAction – March 7, 2016

By Global Business & Economics Program

On Wednesday, March 2, the Atlantic Council hosted European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen and former EC President José Manuel Barroso to discuss a road map for European growth.

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
Russian military jets, May 9, 2010

NATOSource

Mar 7, 2016

Russia Says it Will Cut Defense Budget by 5 Percent

By Sputnik and Reuters

From Sputnik:  The Russian Defense Ministry’s budget cuts will amount to 5 percent instead of the previously reported 10 percent and will not affect the state armament and social programs, Deputy Defense Minister Tatiana Shevtsova said on Saturday.

Russia

IranSource

Mar 7, 2016

آرایش نوین مجلس دهم با حضور پررنگ تر زنان

By مهرناز صمیمی

شمار نمایندگان زن مجلس دهم ایران، نزدیک به دو برابر شمار آنها در مجلس نهم خواهد بود. افزایش کرسی های متعلق به زنان، ناظران را به کاهش نابرابری جنسیتی در نظام مردسالار جمهوری اسلامی امیدوار کرده است. تاکنون، نتایج انتخابات مجلس حاکی از راه یافتن ۱۴ نماینده زن به مجلس است، و تحلیلگران تخمین زده […]

Iran

SyriaSource

Mar 7, 2016

Top News: March 7, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Syrian opposition to attend Geneva peace talks– Syrians use truce to resume Friday protests– Syrian rebels take border crossing from ISIS– EU migration summit looks to Turkey to stem influx– Turkish president suggests building refugee city in northern Syria– Seized Turkish newspaper adopts pro-government line, receives international condemnation

Syria