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New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2016

How Will Iran’s Oil Exports Rebound?

By Sara Vakhshouri

Global oil prices hit their lowest point since 2003 after the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations on January 16 lifted sanctions on Iran in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s conclusion that the Islamic Republic was in compliance with the terms of a nuclear deal. Brent Crude fell to $27.67 […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2016

Obama Must Institutionalize Iran Nuclear Deal Diplomacy

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Barbara Slavin suggests posting US diplomats to Interests Section in Tehran The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations lifted nuclear-related sanctions on Iran on January 16 after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified that Iran is in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal it reached with the […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

What Minsk Accord? Kremlin-Backed Militants Hold Luhansk Journalist Hostage for Year

By Halya Coynash

Eleven months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agreement in Minsk that all prisoners must be released, Kremlin-backed militants are continuing to hold a number of prisoners, including many civilians, like 31-year-old Luhansk journalist Maria Varfolomeyeva. Varfolomeyeva worked for the local news website Svobodny Reporter and has worked as a fixer for various national media, including […]

Russia Ukraine

SyriaSource

Jan 19, 2016

Factors Driving the Destruction of Syria’s Natural Heritage

By Amr al-Faham

The Assad government has long neglected Syria’s environment and natural heritage in favor of actions that have short term gains but that have increased the rate of desertification and ruined agricultural land. The civil war has created a new set of problems: lack of protection for reservations, increased smuggling encouraged by a lack of law […]

Syria

SyriaSource

Jan 19, 2016

Top News: January 19, 2016

By SyriaSource

– ISIS captures government held ground in eastern Syria – Four injured in blast at Turkish school near Syria– Dispute over opposition’s seat at table threatens to push back Syria peace talks– Iraq searching for three US citizens reportedly abducted – Battle against ISIS has turned Ramadi into a ghost town

Syria

MENASource

Jan 19, 2016

Top News: Libya’s Presidential Council Names New Government

By MENASource

Libya’s Presidential Council announced a new government on Tuesday, although two of its nine members rejected it in a sign of continuing divisions.

MENASource

Jan 19, 2016

Top News: Parliament Approves Terrorist Entities, Regulatory Bodies Laws

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s new parliament approved two controversial laws Sunday as it started reviewing legislation passed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi since 2014. As the parliament races to meet its two-week deadline, Parliamentary Speaker Ali Abdel Aal urged MPs to expedite the ratification of decrees that were issued during the legislature’s three-year absence.

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

How to Help Ukraine: An Alternative Vision

By Vladislav Inozemtsev

Three former US Ambassadors to Ukraine recently wrote an op-ed article in the New York Times (“Investing in Ukraine’s Future,” December 30, 2015) that called for an increase in Western financial assistance to Ukraine and argued that the country is now “teetering on the brink.” I strongly support their willingness to stay firm against a […]

Russia Ukraine

MENASource

Jan 19, 2016

EconSource: Saudi Arabia Plans New Sovereign Wealth Fund

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia plans to create a new sovereign fund to manage part of its oil wealth and diversify its investments. It has asked investment banks and consultancies to submit proposals for the project.

UkraineAlert

Jan 19, 2016

How Ukraine’s Reformers Beat the Pharma Mafia

By Josh Cohen

A little over a month after US Vice President Joe Biden told Ukrainian legislators that graft was eating Ukraine “like a cancer,” an order from Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers struck a decisive blow against pharmaceutical corruption. This order outsources the purchasing of numerous medicines for seriously ill Ukrainians from the Ministry of Health to respected international […]

Ukraine