Category: Blogs

Top News: Minor Protests, Celebrations Mark January 25 Anniversary

By EgyptSource

About 100 people gathered in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Monday, not to celebrate those who instigated the revolt there five years ago that overthrew Egypt’s longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak, but to praise the police who tried to stop them. Government supporters chanted pro-police and army slogans, and handed flowers to police personnel stationed in the square.

EconSource: Saudi Aramco IPO Would Not Include Oil Reserves

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia’s potential sale of shares Aramco will not include the kingdom’s oil reserves. Shares could be sold on local or international markets, the Aramco Chairman Khalid al-Falih said in an interview with al-Arabiya TV.

Five Years On: Politics, the Judiciary, and Legislation

By Elissa Miller

On January 25, 2011, Egyptians launched a revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power. In the five years since, Egypt has witnessed significant political, economic, and societal turbulence. Many of the uprising’s demands remain unmet as Egypt continues to move forward.

January 25: The Anniversaries [Video]

Each year, the anniversary of the January 25 uprising has simultaneously been cause for celebration by some, and has been marked by violence and death for others.

A Roadmap for Europe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

White paper examines challenges facing Europe Union and the consequences of success and failure in dealing with them The European Union’s unity is being tested in some significant ways. Chief among these challenges are the United Kingdom’s potential exit—a “Brexit”—from the EU, mediocre long-term economic prospects, an influx of migrants that is the largest movement […]

Civilian Protection in Syria: Portal to Political Progress

By Frederic C. Hof

A consistent theme hammered home in these pages for years has been that the protection of civilians in Syria is the sole portal through which progress toward peace and political transition can be achieved. The Kremlin has and continues to regard this issue with contempt—under its current management, it sees widespread civilian terror, death, and […]

EconSource: Gulf Ministers Say Low Oil Price is Opportunity for Reforms

By EconSource

The sharp drop in the price of oil is an opportunity to end subsidies and introduce reforms, Gulf ministers said Friday. “With low prices… it is the right time” to cut subsidies on oil products, Kuwait’s Finance Minister and Acting Oil Minister Anas al-Saleh said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

What Falling Oil Prices Mean for Russia and Ukraine

By Anders Åslund

At present the price of Brent crude oil is $28 per barrel, while it was $114 per barrel in June 2014. This price fall by three-quarters is of great importance for the Russian economy and its policy toward Ukraine. The only rational option for the Kremlin is to wind down the conflict with Ukraine. Russia […]