Category: Blogs

Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta Targets Social Media and Reality TV

By EgyptSource

In the wake of the advance of the Islamic State of Syria and al-Sham (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta has been focused on a campaign combating extremism. Dar al-Ifta, the religious institution, has called on international media to stop referring to the extremist group as the Islamic State, and aims to “promote […]

EconSource: African Development Bank Report: ‘North Africa Under Scrutiny”

By EconSource

Follow the latest in economic news and developments about the Arab transition countries. 

Quick Take: NATO Summit Will Make No Big Step on Ukraine-Russia Crisis

By Jorge Benitez

Alliance Will Talk Budgets, Partnerships, and Rapid Deployment, But Its Ukraine Move Will Be Symbolic As NATO convenes its annual summit conference this week, policy analysts have urged the alliance to take a major step in response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine. They are unlikely to do so, focusing instead on three more prosaic […]

Top News: Yemen’s Houthis Reject Government Move to Quell Protests

By MENASource

Yemen’s president dismissed his government on Tuesday, proposed a national unity administration and suggested reinstating fuel subsidies, government sources said, in moves to quell weeks of unrest by a rebel movement.

Top News: Egypt State Council Bans Al Jazeera, Raba’a on NileSat

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s State Council ruled on Wednesday to ban broadcasts of two pro-Muslim Brotherhood TV channels – the privately privately-owned Raba’a channel and Qatari-owned Al Jazeera – on Egypt’s satellite operator NileSat. 

In a Dirty War, a Ukrainian General Builds Trust With Rebels to Free Hostages

Volodymyr Ruban Crosses the War’s Front Lines to Negotiate With Russian-Backed Separatists Amid the war in southeast Ukraine, hundreds or thousands of people have been imprisoned by  both sides – some as enemy combatants, others more arbitrarily. The man whom both sides call to get hostages or prisoners released is an officer of Ukraine’s military […]

US and Allies Should Take Three Steps Now to Prevent Putin’s Moves Beyond Ukraine

By John E. Herbst

As NATO Convenes Its Summit, It Should Stiffen Its Doctrine and Arm Ukraine for Self-Defense The Kremlin’s seizure of Crimea, its six-month-old war-by-proxy in southeastern Ukraine, and now its invasion of the southeast with its own paratroopers, armor, and artillery, are conclusive proof of a dangerous policy that requires a strong, comprehensive response from the […]

Special Summit Series: Denmark and NATO

By Magnus Nordenman

Denmark approaches the Wales Summit in the context of a radically changed security environment, due to, among other things, the Ukraine crisis.

Top News: Kerry Reassures Egypt over Apache Delivery

By EgyptSource

Secretary of State John Kerry told his Egyptian counterpart on Friday that the United States intends to make good on its promise to deliver ten Apache helicopters to help Cairo’s counterterrorism efforts.