Saudi Arabia rounded up thousands of newcomer workers following the expiration of an amnesty introducing new employment rules. It is estimated that about a million of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Nepalese, and Yemenis have left the country in the last three months in contrast to four millions of other workers who managed to get a […]
International
Africa: Security Challenges Require Global, Integrated Approach
The security challenges posed to parts of the Atlantic Basin, particularly in Africa, by extremist ideology, weak institutions, economic uncertainty, and weak rule of law require a global and integrated approach that promotes socio-economic development. This is one of the conclusions reached by the Atlantic Dialogues 2013, an annual global issue forum that was held […]
Palestine and Israel return to negotiations
The secret negotiations from Palestine and Israel have resumed despite the dissatisfaction of the Palestinian delegation. Although both parties have renewed their desire to solve their differences, the demarcation of the border between them has been a major setback. Palestinian’s claim that Israel’s response has been slow during talks and the absence of the U.S […]
France’s Persistent Role in Africa: The Other ‘Indispensable Nation’?
While recently attending a conference in Benin, the crisis in Mali still loomed large. The conflict in Mali had threatened to unravel the entire security situation in the Sahel and Western African nations spent much of the last year bickering whether a military intervention to save Bamako from approaching Islamist militias was feasible. In the […]
UN Security Council reacts to Syria’s chemical attack
Claims that government forces have used chemical weapons have attracted the United Nations Security Council’s attention. The council wants more information on the reports but Russia has refuted such allegations. More than 1,300 people have been killed by the attack. Three permanent members of the Security Council namely France, Britain and the United States together […]
Libya to become OCSE Partner
Libya has applied to become a partner of the Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OCSE) in a bid to receive support from this international security body and benefit from its assistance in matters of security, arms & border control, promotion of human rights, freedom of the press and polls’ organization. The Libyan application […]
Emir of Qatar Hands Over Power to Son
The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has announced this Tuesday he was stepping down and naming his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, 33, as his successor. During the past weeks, there were some swirling rumors circulating in the media and diplomatic spheres that the 61-year-old emir was preparing to step down […]
Negotiations underway between Mali and the MNLA
Official negotiations are underway today between the Malian state and the Touareg rebellion of the “National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)”. The negotiations are to be held under the auspices of Burkina Faso with the main objective of resolving the case of the city of Kidal, which has been under the control of […]
Over 40 Nations Participated in Huge US-Sponsored Drill Near Iran
Over 40 nations from the five continents have participated earlier this month in mine-warfare exercises in the Gulf not far from Iranian coasts. The some 35 ships, 70 aircraft, and 6,500 personnel from 41 countries which participated in the exercises practiced not only mine warfare and minesweeping, but also tested the ability to command and […]
US Navy first X-47B Drone Launch
The US navy has launched on Tuesday for the first time the X-47B drone from the USS George H.W. Bush nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The first 65-minute test flight of the remotely piloted combat aircraft, from the carrier at sea to the Navy’s “Pax River” test site ashore, has enabled to validate among others the flight […]









