Category: Blogs

Key Regional Perspectives: Central Asia

By Anna Borshchevskaya

Afghanistan is both the key and the lock preventing the Central Asian region from moving further, said Ambassador Robert Finn as he opened yesterday’s “Key Regional Perspectives: Central Asia” session at the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum. “We need to talk about Afghanistan when we talk about Central Asia,” he said.

Norway hit by major data-theft attack

By the AP

From the AP:  Data from Norway’s oil and defense industries may have been stolen in what is feared to be one of the most extensive data espionage cases in the country’s history, security officials said Thursday.

Arab League asks Britain and France to develop a robust international response for Syria

By Deutsche Welle

From Deutsche Welle:  Britain and France have been approached by senior Arab League officials about taking the lead in a Libya-style contact group which would coordinate the next phases of action against President Bashar al-Assad, and plan for what many regard as his inevitable departure from power.

Inside Egypt’s electoral alliances

By Magdy Samaan

Ten months after the January uprising, Egypt’s political scene is more diverse and competitive than ever before, as dozens of new parties ranging in ideology from Salafi to secular seek a place in the post-Mubarak political order. However, only a handful of the more than fifty-registered parties are organized enough to stand a chance at […]

News Update: November 18, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Tens of thousands of protesters converged on Tahrir Square for an Islamist-dominated rally to demand an end to military rule and condemn the supra-constitutional principles proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmi. The vast majority of protesters appeared to be Islamists, many of whom were transported to the square from other governorates in buses sponsored by […]

Syrians would accept Turkish intervention: Brotherhood leader

By Simon Cameron-Moore, Reuters

The military’s legitimacy crisis

By Bahaa Hashem

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ (SCAF) performance leading Egypt through the transition to democracy has taken a turn for the worse over the last few months. Gone are the days when the popular chant, “The army and the people are one hand,” was heard by demonstrators everywhere. Tarnished is the image of the […]