Category: Blogs

A ‘Glimmer of Hope’ in Ukraine?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A new deal that would end the fighting between Ukrainian security forces and Russian-backed separatists is being met with skepticism amid an escalation in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. “This is essentially the same ceasefire that failed before, so I expect the same issues to arise: Kyiv’s control of the border, lack of removal of […]

Top News: Al-Qaeda fighters seize Yemen army base

By MENASource

Yemeni military officials say al-Qaida militants have seized control of an important army base in the south following clashes with soldiers. The officials say at least four troops and four militants died in the fighting and that at least fifteen soldiers were taken hostage.

Tunisia Between Subsidies and Security

By Chris Chapman

With a democratically elected parliament and president, now come Tunisia’s difficult growing pains of balancing newly earned freedoms with security reform and economic transformation. Tunisia’s leadership must guide the country through a difficult path that addresses the primary needs of Tunisians—from curbing violent terrorism to increasing economic opportunity.

A setback for democracy in Malaysia?

By HuiHui Ooi

The decision by Malaysia’s highest court to uphold the sodomy conviction of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has raised questions about the intentions of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s administration and whether Malaysia is becoming an illiberal quasi-democracy. The conviction has sparked an uproar in Malaysia. There is widespread belief that Anwar is being politically persecuted and […]

Anti-Terror Financing Rules Choke Somali Remittances

On February 6, 2015, one of the last Western banks willing to transfer money to Somalia on behalf of the country’s diaspora—transfers which represent up to 80 percent of all funds sent from the US to Somalia—ceased operations, cutting off one of the diaspora’s last options to support relatives and friends still in Somalia.

Ukraine’s Fate Hangs in the Balance in Minsk, Once Again

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine are meeting in Belarus’ capital Minsk on February 11 to hammer out a deal to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The meeting takes place against a backdrop of a worsening conflict as Russian-backed separatists made a push to take new territory and consolidate their strongholds in […]

Obama to Cameron: Maintain UK Defense Spending or Weaken NATO

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

Barack Obama has told David Cameron that Britain must stick to its Nato spending target, or set a damaging example to its European allies.

Putin’s Visit to Egypt: Much Pomp but Little Circumstance

By Mark N. Katz

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a widely publicized visit to Egypt from February 9 to 10.   The government-backed Egyptian press gushed over how well Russia (unlike America) treats the Egyptian government.  Some commentary in the Russian press proclaimed the visit to be another sign that Russia was gaining influence in the Middle East while America […]