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MENASource

Mar 14, 2016

Top News: Egypt’s Parliament Rejects EU Parliament’s ‘Interference’ in Domestic Affairs

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s parliament has rejected all interference in its work and the country’s domestic affairs in response to a resolution from the European Union (EU) parliament on Thursday that criticized Egypt’s human rights record. The House of Representatives issued a statement on Friday after the EU parliament’s resolution, which was overwhelmingly passed on Thursday, over the […]

EconoGraphics

Mar 14, 2016

A Tale of Two QE’s

By Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla

On March 10, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced an expansion of its Quantitative Easing Program (QE), increasing the amount of government bonds it buys monthly from €60 billion to €80 billion. It also extended the range of assets it purchases to include investment grade non-bank corporate bonds. On top of that, the ECB lowered already negative deposit interest rates further down, to -0.4%, and its main interest rate to 0%. So, why have Central Banks embraced QE?

Economy & Business European Union

MENASource

Mar 14, 2016

EconSource: Egypt Devalues Currency to Record Low Against the Dollar

By EconSource

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) on Monday devalued the Egyptian pound to 8.85 per dollar from 7.73 and said it would move to a more flexible exchange rate policy, as it sold $198.1 million to local banks in a $200 million exceptional auction.

SyriaSource

Mar 14, 2016

President Obama’s Atlantic Interview: The Syria Angle

By Frederic C. Hof

Jeffrey Goldberg’s interviews with President Obama as recorded in The Atlantic shed additional light on how the president has processed the multifaceted challenges presented by Syria. Employing the time-honored principle that the best defense is a good offense, the president described his September 2013 chemical weapons red-line reversal as a source of pride: a rejection of […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Mar 14, 2016

The War on the Syrian Insurgency Continues in Plain Sight

By Faysal Itani and Hossam Abouzahr

It has been two weeks since a US-Russia brokered cessation of hostilities in Syria came into effect. Many analysts including these authors were skeptical about its prospects, due to the agreement’s terms and the regime’s perceived interests. Skeptics expected the regime and its allies to exploit a clause allowing attacks on the al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2016

Putin Takes a Leaf from Tsarist Playbook

By Mikaila Altenbern

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal of restoring his country’s role in shaping the politics and policies of its near-neighbors—nations that were once part of the Soviet Union or the Russian Empire—is rooted in Tsarist “Russification policies,” according to Agnia Grigas, the author of a new book that takes a systematic look at the Kremlin’s policies […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2016

Cautious Optimism Defines Argentina’s Future

By Mitch Hulse

Foreign investment, local support from communities to push policy reform, increased involvement of the international business community, and continued partnership between the United States and Argentina will lead to positive and sustainable political stability and economic growth in Argentina, according to Daniel Poneman, a former US Deputy Secretary of Energy. Poneman spoke at an event […]

Latin America

SyriaSource

Mar 11, 2016

Top News: March 11, 2016

By SyriaSource

– In Aleppo, five civilians killed in regime raids– Syrian army aims for eastward advance with Palmyra attack– Syrian opposition groups to attend Geneva peace talks– UN-monitored elections in Syria to start 18 months from March 14– NATO to boost surveillance on Turkey-Syria border

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2016

With the Middle East in Turmoil, Japan Looks to Diversify its Energy Options

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Spurred into action by the instability in the Middle East—its predominant source of crude oil—Japan is actively looking outside the region to diversify its energy options and enhance its own renewable energy production capabilities. Japan imports about eighty percent of its crude oil and around thirty percent of its liquefied natural gas from the Middle […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

MENASource

Mar 11, 2016

Top News: UN report sees violations of Libyan arms embargo, ISIS expansion

By MENASource

In their annual report to the UN Security Council, which was released on Wednesday, the experts monitoring UN sanctions against Libya found an array of companies, individuals, and countries supplying arms to factions in Libya, breaking a long-standing arms embargo on the North African country.

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