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MENASource

Aug 4, 2015

Top News: Australian Foreign Minister Warns Egypt of ‘Ramifications’ of Trying Al Jazeera Reporter

By EgyptSource

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop revealed that her country warned Egyptian authorities of “ramifications” if they continue with the prosecution of Al Jazeera English journalist Peter Greste, who was deported to Australia earlier this year while his trial over terrorism-related charges continues.

MENASource

Aug 4, 2015

EconSource: Egypt to Cut Oil Debt in August, Repay Rest by End of 2016

By EconSource

Egypt aims to reduce its debt to foreign oil companies to $2.9 billion from $3.5 billion by the end of 2016. Oil Minister Sherif Ismail said Egypt plans to repay the rest of the debt by the end of 2016, pushing back the deadline by about six months.

MENASource

Aug 3, 2015

A Breakdown of US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue Discussions

By Elissa Miller

On August 2, US Secretary of State John Kerry sat down with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the first US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue since 2009. Kerry discussed a number of issues with his Egyptian counterpart, including Egypt’s economy and the recent Iran nuclear deal. Kerry also met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to discuss Egypt’s […]

North Africa
RAF Typhoons Intercept Russian Jets, July 24, 2015

NATOSource

Aug 3, 2015

NATO Reports Surge in Jet Interceptions as Russia Tensions Increase

By Alberto Nardelli and George Arnett, Guardian

World powers are reporting surges in airspace violations and instances where aircraft are scrambled to intercept foreign jets, amid a sharp rise in geopolitical tensions in Europe and Asia.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Aug 3, 2015

To Vote or Not to Vote: An In-Depth Study of Egypt’s Electoral Participation

By EgyptSource

The prospect of parliamentary elections in Egypt are once again emerging after their postponement in March 2015, and according to official statements, will be held before the end of the year. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approved amendments to laws governing parliamentary elections and a new date for elections is due to be announced after the […]

North Africa
Norwegian and Italian figher jets participating in NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, May 22, 2015

NATOSource

Aug 3, 2015

NATO to Cut Half the Jets Patrolling Baltic Allies

By Alberto Nardelli and George Arnett, Guardian

Nato member aircraft were forced to conduct more than 500 scrambles over Europe in 2014 – a fourfold increase on the previous year.

NATO Northern Europe

MENASource

Aug 3, 2015

Kerry Visits Egypt For Strategic Dialogue Talks

By MENASource

The United States and Egypt are returning to a “stronger base” in bilateral ties despite tensions and human rights concerns, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday after talks with his Egyptian counterpart.

MENASource

Aug 3, 2015

Top News: US, Egypt Resume Formal Security Talks with Kerry Visit

By EgyptSource

The United States and Egypt are returning to a “stronger base” in bilateral ties despite tensions and human rights concerns, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday after talks with his Egyptian counterpart. “Egypt remains vital … to engagement and stability in the region as a whole,” said Kerry, who held the first bilateral strategic […]

UkraineAlert

Aug 3, 2015

Retribution in the New Crimea

By Melinda Haring

In March 2015, the Atlantic Council and Freedom House published a report by Crimean journalist Andrii Klymenko showing how Russia’s occupation and annexation of Crimea has unleashed an ongoing chain of human rights violations across the peninsula. Five days after release of the report—Human Rights Abuses in Russian-Occupied Crimea—Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) charged Klymenko […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Aug 3, 2015

How Oligarchs Have Ruined Ukraine’s Economy and How to Fix It

By Basil A. Kalymon and Oleh Havrylyshyn

Ukraine finds itself in an economic crisis of massive proportions. In the past twelve months, its GDP has contracted by over 7.5 percent, the national deficit exceeds 10 percent, its currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value, its banks are insolvent and the national debt-to-GDP ratio has ballooned to more than 100 […]

Ukraine