After Egypt Coup, Tunisia’s Islamists Make Concessions
Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party agrees to let more secular politicians into the government to stave off further unrest.
Nick Ottens
Nick Ottens is a public affairs officer for the Dutch Animal Coalition and a board member for Liberal Green, the sustainability network of the Dutch liberal party VVD. He is a former political risk consultant and a former research manager for XPRIZE, where he designed prize competitions to incentivize breakthrough innovation in agriculture, food and health care. He has also worked as a journalist in Amsterdam, Barcelona and New York for EUobserver, NRC, Trouw, World Politics Review and Wynia’s Week, among others.
Syrian Army Repels Incursion of Assad’s Alawite Homeland
Troops loyal to Bashar Assad push back a rebel offensive in the heartland of his Alawite sect.
Russia Unlikely to Pressure Ukraine into Customs Union
Tighter border checks of Ukrainian exports will not convince Russia’s former satellite state to fall in line.
Dutch Consider More Austerity as Deficit Rises
The government must cut deeper to keep its shortfall under the European treaty limit.
Britain Threatens Legal Action as Warship Sails for Gibraltar
Spain is accused of raising tension with Britain to divert attention away from its own problems.
Obama Administration Should Greenlight Natural Gas Exports
Nineteen different proposals for exporting natural gas are inexplicably awaiting approval from the Energy Department.
Russia Denies Saudi Deal to Withdraw Assad Support
Russia won’t take the Arabs’ money to influence its diplomacy in the Middle East.
Health, Security Disputes Reveal Republican Divide
The real divide in the Republican Party isn’t one of ideology, but of electoral realism.
Czech Cabinet Loses Confidence Vote
A cabinet formed by allies of the leftist president, Miloš Zeman, fails to get the conservative majority’s support.
Syria’s Rebels Launch Offensive Into Assad’s Alawite Heartland
A rebel incursion in the northwest risks exacerbating Syria’s sectarian divide.
German Social Democrats Shun Both Conservatives, Far Left
Party leader Peer Steinbrück doesn’t want to enter into another “grand coalition” nor govern with the far left.
Obama Proposes “Grand Bargain” on Tax Reform, Infrastructure
The president offers to reduce corporate taxes if opposition Republicans agree to raise infrastructure spending.
Tunisia’s Islamists Reject Opposition Demands to Step Down
Emboldened by events in Egypt, Tunisia’s opposition seeks to force the Islamists out of office.
China, Europe Resolve Solar Panel Imports Dispute
China will be able to continue to sell its solar panels cheaply but won’t be allowed more than half a market share.
Autonomy for Syria’s Kurds Failure of Turkish Policy
By supporting the war against Bashar Assad, Turkey has inadvertently exacerbated an internal security threat.