A Tin Ear
COVID-19 Global Update More than 170 nations worldwide have confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The following have the highest number as of […]
The New Fire Sale
NEED TO KNOW SAUDI ARABIA & RUSSIA The New Fire Sale At the end of a recent OPEC meeting in Vienna, Saudi […]
The Jaws of Victory
NEED TO KNOW ISRAEL The Jaws of Victory Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Israel’s most powerful and longest-lasting leaders, now appears to be […]
A Tense Calm
NEED TO KNOW SYRIA A Tense Calm The humanitarian crisis in Syria has worsened in recent weeks in the wake of a […]
Bankrupt, and Dancing
NEED TO KNOW LEBANON Bankrupt, and Dancing Capital controls, the collapse of the local currency and high distrust in banks have led […]
Time’s Up, Maybe
NEED TO KNOW ISRAEL Time’s Up, Maybe Is time up for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? His opponents sure think so. “Netanyahu […]
Freedom of Choice
NEED TO KNOW IRAN Freedom of Choice Iranian voters will elect a new parliament on Friday. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged […]
Loss and Change
NEED TO KNOW OMAN Loss and Change In early 2017, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman invited Hassan Rouhani, the […]
Annals of Reconstruction
NEED TO KNOW SYRIA Annals of Reconstruction Russian President Vladimir Putin recently floated the possibility of a meeting between Syrian President Bashar […]
Taking Advantage of a Crisis
NEED TO KNOW IRAQ Taking Advantage of a Crisis The Islamic State was sinking. Now, maybe not so much. A coalition of […]
The Setting for Peace
NEED TO KNOW YEMEN The Setting for Peace Predictions had been optimistic for Yemen. “Violence in Yemen will likely subside in 2020, […]
Giving and Taking
NEED TO KNOW FRANCE Giving and Taking French President Emmanuel Macron’s move in late 2018 to increase fuel taxes to fight climate […]
Hostages
NEED TO KNOW IRAQ Hostages The killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani triggered a cascade of events that is upending the […]
The Fog of War
NEED TO KNOW AFGHANISTAN The Fog of War Americans recently learned that their military has been less-than-truthful about Afghanistan. “U.S. officials failed […]
Indirect Diplomacy
NEED TO KNOW LIBYA Indirect Diplomacy A new proxy war is escalating in Libya. Turkey is planning on sending troops to the […]
Of Ironies and Tragedies
NEED TO KNOW IRAQI KURDISTAN Of Ironies and Tragedies Kurds in Iraq voted for independence by a landslide two years ago. Since […]
Disillusioned in the Swamp
NEED TO KNOW PALESTINE Disillusioned in the Swamp After tense negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the political factions Fatah and Hamas, […]
Of Eggs, Tomatoes and Ballots
NEED TO KNOW ALGERIA Of Eggs, Tomatoes and Ballots Protesters in Algeria are throwing tomatoes and eggs at politicians’ campaign headquarters ahead […]
Springing Anew
NEED TO KNOW IRAQ Springing Anew In the years after the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, critics said the US had […]
Whack-a-Mole
NEED TO KNOW WORLD Whack-a-Mole The Islamic State was thought to be at a low. The death last month of the extremist […]
Glittering Skylines, Hedging Bets
NEED TO KNOW UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Glittering Skylines, Hedging Bets The glittering skylines of Dubai and Abu Dhabi highlight how the United […]
A Genie Is Out
NEED TO KNOW TURKEY A Genie Is Out Russian troops in Syria recently moved to the country’s northeastern border with Turkey, occupying […]
Letting the Genie Out
NEED TO KNOW SYRIA Letting the Genie Out The Turkish-Syrian border is on fire, according to Kurdish officials who spoke to Reuters […]
Of Pharaohs and Tin Ears
NEED TO KNOW EGYPT Of Pharaohs and Tin Ears Egyptians are furious about corruption. Their rage stems from viral videos posted by […]