Category: Blogs

The Sixth Round of TTIP Negotiations and Approval of Juncker as New Commission President

Top News 6th Round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) starts Yesterday, the sixth round of TTIP negotiations got underway in Brussels. All issue area working groups will meet to discuss the issues of trade in goods and services, regulatory issues, government procurement, environmental protection and labor rights, energy and raw materials, and small- […]

Lithuanian President Approves Increased Defense Spending

By New Europe

Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite signed the amendments of state and municipalities budgets on increased defense spending for the year 2014 in Vilnius on Monday.

Top News: UN Security Council Authorizes Cross-Border Aid Access in Syria

By MENASource

Despite strong objections by the Syrian government, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Monday to authorize cross-border convoys of emergency aid for millions of deprived Syrian civilians in rebel-held areas. The aid will be delivered through different routes coming from Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, without the prior approval of the Syrian government.

Syria: Lesser of Two Evils?

By Frederic C. Hof

Three distinguished American ex-diplomats—Ryan Crocker, William Luers, and Thomas Pickering—wrote on July 12 in The Washington Post, “In Syria, the choice for Bashar al-Assad’s government is either to turn its military power against the Islamic State or to continue to kill fellow Syrians…

EconSource: Egypt’s New Subsidy System Tackles Bread Consumption

By EconSource

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

After the West’s Retreat on Sanctions: Putin, Tanks & Missiles Escalate the War on Ukraine

By James Rupert

Kyiv Government and Local Residents Report New Tanks From Russia Entering the Fight A week after the European Union backed away from its vow to impose broad economic sanctions on Russia over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, the government of President Vladimir Putin has intensified the assault. Ukraine’s government and independent reports say Russia has […]

YemenSource | President Hadi Implements Austerity Measures as Economy Falters

By YemenSource

In a press statement, President Hadi ordered austerity measures to address the country’s financial problems. These measures aim to cut government spending and include restricting international travel for senior officials, stopping the new hiring of staff or office rentals, and cutting down on office expenses.

Rasmussen: If Attacked, NATO Members ‘Can Count on the Aid of All Other 27’ Allies

By Spiegel

Excerpts from interview of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen by Christiane Hoffmann and Christoph Schult, Spiegel.

The Week in Egypt [July 14, 2014]

By Elissa Miller

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.