Content

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

Top News: Egypt to Try Six Reporters for Allegedly Defaming Minister

By EgyptSource

An Egyptian prosecutor has referred up to six local journalists to trial for allegedly spreading “false news” that defamed Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zind. Prosecutor Fathi Bayoumi said Wednesday that the six were sent to court after investigators found that they “intentionally published false information to defame” Zind.

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

Top News: Iran accuses Saudi warplanes of attacking its embassy in Yemen

By MENASource

Iran on Thursday said Saudi warplanes had attacked its embassy in Yemen’s capital, a development that would exacerbate tensions between the two feuding powers, and Riyadh said it would investigate the accusation.

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

EconSource: Iran Bans Imports from Saudi Arabia, Faces Saudi Boycotts

By EconSource

Iran and Saudi Arabia took further steps to sever commercial ties on Thursday, as Tehran announced a ban on imports from Saudi Arabia and Saudi groups called for boycotts of Iranian products.

SyriaSource

Jan 7, 2016

Syrian Christian Perspectives on the War

By Flavius Mihaies

Syrian Christians face the difficult question of how to preserve their communities. The Islamic State (ISIS) and other Islamist groups target Christians for a variety of reasons, including to gain credibility as the implementers of “true” Islam and for economic reasons, forcing Christians to pay higher taxes (Jizya), seizing their property, and even capturing Christians […]

Syria

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

Growing Violence in Turkey’s Southeast

By Aaron Stein

After a two-year ceasefire between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish government ended in July 2015, Turkish security forces and PKK-affiliated militias have clashed in urban centers in Turkey’s southeast.

Turkey

SyriaSource

Jan 7, 2016

Top News: January 7, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Russian activists say have evidence of Russian cluster bombs in Syria– ‘Dire situation’ in besieged villages in Syria– Syrian army, rebel fire kills 26 around Damascus– Russia reportedly deploying advisors near Palmyra– President Obama says Turkey must withdraw ‘unauthorized’ forces in Iraq– Iraqi Shia militias in mass anti-Saudi protest

Syria

Bremain vs Brexit

Jan 6, 2016

In Brexit Debate, David Cameron Averts Crisis. For Now.

By Ashish Kumar Sen

British leader’s decision to allow cabinet to pick sides on relationship with EU may not work in the long term, says Fran Burwell British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to allow members of his cabinet to pick sides and actively campaign for the United Kingdom to stay in or leave the European Union avoids a […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 6, 2016

China Still Holds the Key for Getting Tough with Pyongyang

By Jamie Metzl

The fourth North Korean nuclear test is a big deal and an additional provocation but not a game changer. In the coming days and weeks, many countries will condemn the test and additional sanctions will be considered in the United Nations Security Council. None of this will alter the geopolitics of the Korean peninsula in […]

China Korea

UkraineAlert

Jan 6, 2016

How Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Sabotaged the Reform Process

By Halya Coynash

Viktor Shokin, Ukraine’s prosecutor general, was upbeat in his New Year’s message to colleagues. While “2015 was a difficult and responsible year for us all,” he wrote, we “carried out unprecedented reform and overhaul of the prosecutor’s system, bringing it closer to European standards.” Almost twenty years after Ukraine promised to reform its prosecutor’s office […]

Ukraine

SyriaSource

Jan 6, 2016

Top News: January 6, 2016

By SyriaSource

United States sees Assad staying in Syria until March 2017String of attacks kill 20 Syria rebel commandersOPCW reports Syria’s entire chemical arsenal destroyedISIS has lost 30 percent of its territoryFears of more strife for Iraq amid Saudi-Iranian row

Syria