Category: Blogs

Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 5, 2016

Saudi-Iranian Crisis, China’s Economic Slide Set Stage for Perfect Storm in the Oil Market

By Ariel Cohen

The deepening rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran may have dire consequences for global oil markets because the kingdom’s Eastern Province, where the Shia are in the majority, produces most of its oil. Production would suffer if Iran were to foment unrest among this population. This crisis between the Middle East’s two major oil producers […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

UkraineAlert

Jan 5, 2016

Ten Reasons Why I’m Optimistic About Ukraine’s Economy in 2016

By Anders Åslund

The outlook for the Ukrainian economy in 2016 is positive. Many important reforms were carried out in 2015. The necessary exchange rate adjustment has occurred and most required bank closures have taken place. The parliament has adopted tax changes and a decent budget for 2016. The debt restructuring deal has postponed foreign debt service. The […]

Russia Ukraine

SyriaSource

Jan 5, 2016

Top News: January 5, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Russia says ISIS use of chemical weapons likely– United States expects Syria meetings despite Saudi-Iran tensions– Syrian opposition to demand confidence-building moves before talks– Istanbul police raid 16 suspected ISIS locations– Turkey to report to ECHR on curfew southeastern towns– Iraqi fighters killed while thwarting ISIS assault in Anbar

Syria

MENASource

Jan 5, 2016

Top News: Russia says ISIS use of chemical weapons likely

By MENASource

A fact-finding mission by the UN chemical weapons watchdog has found that some people in Syria may have been exposed to sarin or a sarin-like gas, according to a report released Monday.

MENASource

Jan 5, 2016

Top News: Endowments Ministry Instructs Imams to Prohibit Participation in January 25 Protests

By EgyptSource

The Religious Endowments Ministry distributed a leaflet to mosques on Monday instructing imams to prohibit participation in January 25 protests during Friday sermons.

UkraineAlert

Jan 5, 2016

Putin’s Next Potential Target: The Baltic States

By Stephen Blank

Although Russia’s economy is reeling and its military forces are increasingly engaged in Syria and Ukraine, NATO commanders, governments, and analysts are concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adventurism has not run its course. Most anxieties focus on the Baltic states as Russia’s next potential military target. Russia has many advantages in the Baltics. The […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 5, 2016

From Ordinary Business Trip to Russian Jail: Former Ukrainian Political Prisoner Exhorts West to Keep Pressure on Russia

By Yuriy Yatsenko

Editor’s Note: Yuriy Yatsenko testified before the US Helsinki Commission in Washington on December 11, 2015. His remarks have been shortened. I am a Ukrainian citizen who was illegally arrested and detained by the Russian Federation for over a year for political reasons. Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, and others who are less known have suffered and […]

Russia Ukraine

MENASource

Jan 5, 2016

EconSource: Saudi Arabia to Support Egypt with $3 Billion of Loans, Grants

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Egypt with more than $3 billion in loans and grants to support the country’s economy. The kingdom will loan Egypt $1.5 billion to develop the Sinai Peninsula and $1.2 billion to finance Egypt’s oil purchases, Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr said.

MENASource

Jan 4, 2016

Top News: Tunisian Writer Deported at Cairo Airport, Labeled ‘National Security’ Threat

By EgyptSource

Tunisian writer Amel Grami was deported from Cairo International Airport on Sunday and denied entry into Egypt, despite being invited to participate in a conference by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

New Atlanticist

Jan 4, 2016

The Saudi/Iran Break: Politics of Fear in the Gulf

By Richard LeBaron

Saudi Arabia’s decision to break diplomatic ties with Iran represents another chapter in the politics of fear that have dominated Saudi military and diplomatic moves since the ascension of King Salman just shy of a year ago. The fear finds its main source in the Saudi conviction that Iran is intent on displacing it as […]

International Organizations Iran
Load More