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UkraineAlert

Mar 2, 2016

Two Cheers for Cold War!

By Alexander J. Motyl

Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev’s recent suggestion that Russia and the West are embroiled in cold war provoked hasty denials by Western policymakers and commentators. In fact, Medvedev was right: cold war between Russia and the West does exist. But the West’s denials were unnecessary, because cold war is the best possible option for its […]

Ukraine

SyriaSource

Mar 2, 2016

Top News: March 2, 2016

By SyriaSource

– UN to restart Syria peace talks on March 9– Jordan says operation near Syria border foiled ISIS attacks– Syrian government forces open new battle with rebels in northwest– Kurdish-led fighters close in on Syria’s Aleppo city– Ankara denies it is blocking NATO’s Aegean operation; EU returns 150 migrants to Turkey– Turkey’s Diyarbakir governorate bans […]

Syria

MENASource

Mar 2, 2016

Top News: Syrian government forces open new battle with rebels in northwest

By MENASource

Syrian government forces launched an attack Wednesday to capture a rebel-held hill in northwestern Syria, a rebel official and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported, an expansion of operations that have continued in that area despite the ceasefire.

UkraineAlert

Mar 2, 2016

Women of the Euromaidan: Where Were They Then and Where Are They Now

By Josh Cohen

As Kateryna Kruk walked among her fellow protesters in Kyiv’s central square while checking her phone during the early days of the Euromaidan in December 2013, she noticed an opportunity: Ukrainians shared news of the revolution almost entirely in Ukrainian or Russian. Inspired by the use of social media during the Arab Spring, Kruk started […]

Ukraine

MENASource

Mar 2, 2016

Top News: Sinai State Reportedly Kills Father, Son in Public Square; Three Soldiers Killed in Sinai Blast

By EgyptSource

Journalists in North Sinai have said that a man and his son were killed by members of Sinai State in a public square in the city of al-Arish on Monday. Journalist and al-Arish resident Ahmed Abu Darea told Daily News Egypt, “Four masked people drove into al-Fakhwaryia Square after kidnapping the victims. They began firing […]

MENASource

Mar 2, 2016

EconSource: Egypt Seen Raising Interest Rates as Pressures Mount

By EconSource

Rising yields on Egyptian treasuries signal the market is expecting the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to raise interest rates this month to dampen inflation and ease mounting pressure on the currency, bankers and economists say.

MENASource

Mar 1, 2016

Shocking Ruling for Coptic Teenagers Renews Contempt of Religion Debate

By Khaled Dawoud

A ruling against four Coptic Christian teenagers in which they received maximum sentences on charges of contempt of religion has renewed calls for amendments to Egypt’s blasphemy laws. On February 25, the Beni Mazar Juvenile Misdemeanor Court sentenced Muller Atef, Bassem Amgad, and Albert Shafik to five years in prison on charges of insulting Islam. […]

North Africa
British Marines skiing in Norway, Feb. 17, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 1, 2016

NATO Warned of Vulnerability to Moscow in Eastern Europe

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

A chorus of voices across Nato is warning that the alliance cannot defend Europe’s eastern border against an increasingly aggressive Russia.

Germany NATO

MENASource

Mar 1, 2016

Top News: Assad backs Syria truce, accuses opposition of violations

By MENASource

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad described the ceasefire as a “glimmer of hope,” but accused the opposition of violating the agreement intended to halt the fighting. He pledged Tuesday to do his part to ensure a fragile ceasefire holds and offered “full amnesty” to rebels who hand in their weapons.

SyriaSource

Mar 1, 2016

Top News: March 1, 2016

By SyriaSource

– United States, Russia in new Syria military safety talks – Assad backs Syria truce, accuses opposition of violations– UK admits bombing ISIS in Syria not working; Pentagon expands cyber war– United States under pressure to take lead in Syria migrant crisis– United Nations says food aid will be restored to Syrians– Turkey partially lifts curfew […]

Syria