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UkraineAlert

Apr 14, 2015

The Balkan Piece of the Putin Puzzle

By Stephen Blank

While the Russian threat to Poland and the Baltic States has sparked justified anxiety, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s imperial adventure is just as much of a threat to the Balkans.  Moscow is putting on a full-court press—using energy exports, information warfare, trade, arms sales, and efforts to obtain military bases in Cyprus, Montenegro and Serbia—to […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

MENASource

Apr 14, 2015

Top News: President Obama, Iraq’s Prime Minister Abadi to Discuss ISIS Fight in Washington

By MENASource

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and President Barack Obama will discuss the fight against Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) on Tuesday at a White House meeting likely to be dominated by Iraqi requests for US arms and tension over Iran’s role on the battlefield.

UkraineAlert

Apr 14, 2015

A View from Luhansk: Waiting for War to Return

By Alina Polyakova

Luhansk Oblast – Ukrainians are waiting for war to start again. Since a ceasefire agreement went into effect in February, the winter has been relatively quiet in Luhansk Oblast, marred only by sporadic rockets fired from the territory of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR). In many respects, life appears oddly normal in the small […]

Ukraine

MENASource

Apr 14, 2015

Top News: No Egyptian Ground Troops in Yemen says Military Spokesman

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s military has said that it has not deployed ground troops to war-torn Yemen as part of the Saudi-led military offensive against Houthi rebels there.

MENASource

Apr 14, 2015

EconSource: Iraqi Prime Minister, in Washington, Seeks Billions to Overcome Deficit

By EconSource

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi used his first official visit to Washington this week to pursue billions of dollars in loans and international assistance as his government struggles with plunging oil prices and a large budget deficit.

MENASource

Apr 14, 2015

The UNSMIL Draft Agreement and International Engagement with Libya

By Azza K. Maghur

Since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon nominated Mr. Bernardino Leon as the UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in August 2014, stagnant Libyan waters have moved.

Libya

EconoGraphics

Apr 14, 2015

Who is Investing Abroad?

By Global Business & Economics

While the US still leads the world in outflowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the emerging markets are catching up quickly. Chinese outflowing FDI, in particular has grown tremendously: since 2005, it increased more than 30-fold in 8 years from $5 billion to $166 billion. While initial Chinese foreign investments focused on natural resource industries, over time the investments have spread to diverse industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and professional services. BRIC FDIs are emerging as key growth drivers for low income countries, improving their business environment, building infrastructure, creating jobs, and adding much-needed revenue to government coffers.

China Russia
Hungarian Defense Minister Csaba Hende

NATOSource

Apr 13, 2015

Hungary Increasing Its Defense Budget

By Hungary Today and Debating Europe

From Hungary Today:  [Defense Minister Csaba] Hende said the outstanding performance of the Hungarian armed forces in international missions must continue.

Hungary NATO

MENASource

Apr 13, 2015

Egypt’s Azhar Flexes its Muscles

By Khaled Dawoud

Egypt’s oldest Islamic establishment, Al-Azhar, came out in full force this week against what it claims is an organized plan to undermine its historic role in representing “moderate Islam.” After an initial complaint to the Free Media Zone Authority asking it to ban a controversial television talk show critical of traditional Islamic schools of thought […]

North Africa

UkraineAlert

Apr 13, 2015

New Ukraine Disrupts Old Ukraine

By John E. Herbst

There’s good reason for guarded optimism in the new Ukraine. President Petro Poroshenko and the parliament brought the country’s most powerful oligarch to heel in March 2015 and the justice department has set its sights on the richest oligarchs.

Ukraine