Atlantic Council blogs

Egypt’s Virtual Fight Against Terrorism

By MENASource

When one thinks of cybercrime, thoughts typically veer toward identity and information theft or hacking and sabotage of websites—but the Egyptian government has taken it a step further. This month, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s cabinet sent a draft sent a cybercrime bill to the State Council for review.

As Europe Breaks in Two, Putin Gains

By Henrik Breitenbauch

Driven by different external threats, Europe is breaking in two strategically speaking.

Efforts to Fight Extremism in Education Miss the Point

By Ursula Lindsey

On April 13, photos circulated in the Egyptian media of a book-burning ceremony. Several Ministry of Education officials can be seen in the pictures standing in a school courtyard, holding Egyptian flags and watching while a small pile of books turn to ashes in front of them. The books, reportedly from the school library, all […]

Top News: Saudi-Led Coalition Will Continue to Combat Houthi Violence

By MENASource

Restarting political dialogue in Yemen remains the only solution for ensuring the country’s future, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday.

Egypt’s Draft Cybercrime Law Undermines Freedom of Expression

By Ragab Saad

In 2007, blogger Karim Amer was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of insulting Islam and the president. It was the first instance in which Egyptian authorities targeted an individual on charges relating to online freedom of expression. Over the years, the public debate on online freedoms has grown, prompted by the advent […]

Top News: Execution Brigade Claims Responsibility for Tahoun’s Assassination, Warns Other Police Officers

By EgyptSource

An obscure terrorist group identifying itself as the Execution Brigade has claimed responsibility for the assassination of Wael Tahoun, the chief investigation officer of the Matariya Police Station. The group said the attack was meant to avenge lawyer Karim Hamdy, who was found dead in his cell at the Matariya police station on February 24. 

EconSource: Rebel Seizure of Syrian Border Post Hits Exporters Across Region

By EconSource

Syrian rebels’ seizure of the main frontier crossing with Jordan has dealt a heavy blow to the Damascus government’s efforts to revive a once thriving export trade crippled by civil war, hurting businesses across the region.

TTIP Action | April 23

By Global Business & Economics Program

Secretary of State John Kerry at the Atlantic Council Speeches & Official Announcements Trade and National Security: Renewing US Leadership Through Economic Strength “2015 is simply not the time for us to decide that trade negotiations are too hard, or somehow vacate the field and let seventy years of lessons from the Great Depression and […]

Burundi’s President Set to Defy Term Limits, Upset Delicate Peace

The ruling party of the tiny, Great Lakes nation of Burundi will make arguably the most momentous decision in the young country’s history when it chooses a candidate for June’s presidential elections this Saturday. Despite an apparent constitutional limit of two five-year terms, current President Pierre Nkurunziza, in power since 2005, is angling for a […]

The Pentagon’s New Cyber Strategy

By Department of Defense

The increased use of cyberattacks as a political instrument reflects a dangerous trend in international relations.