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MENASource

Nov 18, 2016

ISIS in Sirte: From Caliphate to Insurgency

By Marco Arnaboldi

With the Libyan city of Sirte almost completely liberated from the Islamic State, the group appears to be adapting rather than collapsing. Despite a significant decline in interactions with outsiders, recent statements by ISIS leaders and the tactics used in its fight in Sirte point to how it might deal with the aftermath. In its […]

Libya

Trade in Action

Nov 18, 2016

TTIP&TRADE in Action – November 18, 2016

By Global Business & Economics Program

During his last visit to Europe as the President of the United States, President Barack Obama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among other European leaders. The two called on president-elect Donald Trump not to give up on a transatlantic trade deal. Read more here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

SyriaSource

Nov 18, 2016

Dar al-Qada statement in Jabal al-Summaq: Translation & Analysis

By Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi

The Dar al-Qada (‘Abode of Judges’) serves as the de facto judicial branch of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, Syria’s official al-Qa’ida wing), whatever claims might be made of its supposed independence. Though the Dar al-Qada operates in certain areas where it enjoys wider backing (e.g. Hureitan in north Aleppo countryside), it […]

Syria

IranSource

Nov 18, 2016

Iran’s Take on the Trump Victory

By Mehran Haghirian

The victory of Donald Trump brought both relief and fear in Iran. While some are jubilant that Hillary Clinton lost and believe that Trump will conduct his presidency with a business mindset, most are fearful for the fate of the nuclear deal and the new era of international relations that Iran has been enjoying since […]

Iran

SyriaSource

Nov 18, 2016

Aleppo Residents Confront the Siege with Rudimentary Methods

By Hosam al-Jablawi

The military siege imposed by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally has entered its second month. Its effects on the close to 4,000,000 people that are estimated to be living in this area are becoming more severe—most food and medical supplies are running out.

Syria

AfricaSource

Nov 17, 2016

Bond Notes: A Final Blow to Zimbabwe’s Rock Bottom Economy?

By Chloë McGrath

A briefer on Zimbabwe’s impending quasi-currency Seven years since abandoning its own currency, Zimbabwe’s government is moving full steam ahead to introduce what it calls “bond notes” into the country’s multi-currency system. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced this month that it has released the regulations creating the legal precedent to print and circulate […]

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Nov 17, 2016

Trump’s Victory: It’s Still the Economy, Stupid

By Andrea Montanino and Jacqueline Lavalleye

Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election on November 8 came as a major surprise— especially to pollsters and political pundits. But it should have come as no surprise to those who were paying close attention to the economic indicators in the swing states, states that can tip the outcome of a US presidential […]

UkraineAlert

Nov 17, 2016

The Russian Plot against Europe

By Alina Polyakova

Russia’s influence reaches deep into Western Europe. France has a major far-right, Eurosceptic, and openly pro-Russian party that receives funding from the Kremlin. In London, Brexit provides an opportunity for Moscow to gain a toehold in British politics. Germany’s former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder serves as chairman of the Russian-German pipeline Nord Stream. But these examples […]

European Union France
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Vladimir Putin, Nov. 16, 2012

NATOSource

Nov 16, 2016

German Intelligence Agency: ‘We’re Alarmed’ About Russia’s Intervention in German Politics

By Deutsche Welle

Ahead of 2017’s federal election, the head of Germany’s intelligence agency has raised concerns about Russia intervening in campaigns. Moscow has already been accused of “interfering” in the US and French elections.

Germany Russia

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2016

Between Trump and Putin: A Way Ahead for Georgia

By Alexandra Hall Hall

The election which mattered most for Georgia was not the one that returned the incumbent Georgian Dream party to power last month, but the one that took place in the United States last week. Georgia’s leaders were swift to congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and express confidence in the US-Georgian relationship. But privately, they may harbor […]

The Caucasus