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MENASource

Aug 25, 2015

Top News: Egyptian Religious Authority Says Brotherhood Seeks to Legitimize Violence

By EgyptSource

Dar al-Ifta, Egypt’s major authority on religious edicts, said the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group has sought to “legitimize violence” after a document affiliated to the group urged what Dar al-Ifta called “terrorist acts” and the killing of police and military personnel.

SyriaSource

Aug 25, 2015

A Potential Ground Component for the ISIS-Free Zone

By Andrea Taylor and Abigail Kukura

The Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) attack on Marea on August 11 closely resembled their offensive in northern Aleppo two months prior. In both instances, ISIS launched attacks against the Levant Front (or Jabhat al-Shamiyya), in close proximity to the Turkish border and within ten miles of a Turkey-Aleppo supply route critical to rebel forces.

Syria Turkey

MENASource

Aug 25, 2015

EconSource: Iraq Oil Minister Says $9 Billion in Arrears Paid to Oil Firms

By EconSource

Iraq has paid foreign oil companies $9 billion in remaining arrears for 2014 and will pay outstanding fees for 2015 in stages until the beginning of next year, Oil Minister Adel Abel Mehdi said

UkraineAlert

Aug 25, 2015

How the West Can Stop Russia’s Escalating War in Ukraine

By Maksym Khylko

This month, Russia stepped up military pressure on Ukraine, concentrating about fifty thousand troops along its border with Ukraine, using its proxy militias to shell Ukrainian government positions in the Donbas, and threatening Kyiv with “a big war.” The current escalation indicates Russian discontent with Ukraine’s refusal to make unilateral concessions such as allowing the […]

Russia Ukraine
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, June 25, 2015

NATOSource

Aug 24, 2015

Secretary of Defense Carter on Russia and NATO

By Ash Carter, Foreign Affairs

[W]e continue to have the magnetic power to attract everyone around the world. As I travel around the world, I see that they all want more—more association with us, more contribution from us.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Aug 24, 2015

Facing up to Fear

By Amr Hamzawy

I face up to it, this fear that day in, day out curses my family – our security, stability, and happiness – and my own wellbeing. This fear might silence my outspoken opposition to the increasing injustice holding us under siege on all fronts. It might compel me to disregard the moral and social imperative […]

North Africa

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Aug 24, 2015

Top News: Egypt Arrests Three Under New Terrorism Law

By EgyptSource

Egyptian police have arrested, under a new anti-terrorism law, three individuals who are accused of spreading Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) propaganda through Facebook.

MENASource

Aug 24, 2015

Top News: ISIS Blows Up Ancient Temple At Palmyra

By MENASource

The Islamic State (ISIL or ISIL) set off explosions at a temple in the ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria on Sunday, continuing a pattern of destruction that they have visited upon historical sites across the territory they control there and in Iraq.

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2015

Ukraine Has Every Right to Play Hardball With Its Creditors

By Josh Cohen

As Ukraine fights Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas, the government is simultaneously engaged in a battle with its foreign creditors for the debt relief it desperately needs to prevent a full-scale economic collapse. Private investors hold about $19 billion of Ukrainian debt. To stave off disaster, the International Monetary Fund and other western donors agreed […]

Russia Ukraine

MENASource

Aug 24, 2015

EconSource: Fitch Revises Saudi Arabia’s Outlook to Negative From Stable

By EconSource

Fitch Ratings revised its outlook on Saudi Arabia to “negative” from “stable,” citing lower oil prices and increased spending tied to the accession of King Salman.

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