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Arab states have began to jump on board offering support to the coalition against ISIS. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon have recently voiced their support. Turkey, the only Arab member of NATO has voiced their lack of support in the coalition thus far. Saudi, the home to major religious cities, feels like a direct threat to ISIS and have made it clear that they will be playing a major role in the war against the Islamic State. UAE allegedly initiated bombings from Egyptian bases on Libya due to islamic militia takeovers of major cities and institutions. Arab states along with France, Germany, and Britain have agreed to form a "coordinated military campaign." Bringing in Assad from Syria is somewhat crucial, but the coalition is hesitant due to the loss of the Assad Regime's legitimacy over the past years of civil strife. Official plans of attack are still sketchy, but are definitely in the works. The coalition of states have made it clear that in order to tackle this ISIS threat, they must band together to dynamically exterminate the Islamic State from all angles.

This article discusses women's health rights and their misconceptions. According to this article it is a misconception that women have to obtain permission from their legal guardian to receive medical treatment. Women have the right to health care but are unaware of this right. Many doctors are also unaware of this right or fear the possible repercussions from the guardian if they perform a procedure without consent.

Human rights campaigners welcomed a landmark decision in Saudi Arabia to ban domestic violence. However, they urge caution. The law is a big step but there are many issues not being take into consideration. For example, the issues of rape within marriage. Further, how are women in particular supposed to report when they are abused if they have to go through their guardian for their every actions.

This article from The Guardian describes what happened when Mubarak tried to shut down social media in the Egypt in 2011. It touches on many issues such as the protests following this event and the relation to censorship and freedom of speech.

Willie Morris [biography], the British ambassador from 1968 to 1972 talks about his experience working in Saudi and corruption

In this Guardian editorial, a Palestinian touches on the subject of Israel encroachment, the state of the two-state solution, and proposes hope for a divided future.

This article illuminates the aftermath of Gaddafi's reign from a first person perspective of a citizen fleeing the country due to its devastating chaos. He offers a short version of the conflict and the rise in militant groups. The root of the issue is the fact that when the GNC took power, the factions funded the militant groups for their own insurance rather than working towards their disbandment. The Islamist coalition dominated parliament, and as chaos deepened when they realized they would loose the election so they just delayed having one. This is where General Khalifa Haftar chimed in, launching his offense against islamic insurgency by storming the capitol in Tripoli leading the country to slip into civil war. The Author says "We are like a class of kids where the bad teacher is suddenly dead," he said. "Now we all fight each other." When the light finally comes to a country that was for so long in the dark, its blinding. 

This Guardian article talks about the details of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel brokered by Egypt on August 26th, 2014. This article also notes the unaddressed issues that many are said to believe may result in further conflict later.

Hamas monthly news

Domestic violence is high in Saudi Arabia. Many cases go unreported for many reasons such as fear of the attacker and lack of punishment. If not much will be done to stop the attack then why report it. Abuse by guardians has become part of a societal norm as well making it difficult for the abused to come forward.

The gender inequity in Saudi Arabia leads to many issues regarding health and education. More women than men are illiterate due to the young ages that women can be married and forced to turn into stay at home moms. There are also limitations on women exercising in school and public places increasing the rate of obesity for women. Additionally, there are issues involving access to healthcare. Women frequently need permission from their guardians to receive medical care.

This is an article from the New York Times regarding a call from activists and social media to release two women that were arrested for driving. Both women held valid driers licenses but because they are women driving without a guardian they were arrested.

Five years after the start of the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is fast becoming the new frontier of the western war against Islamic State. The US and its allies have grown increasingly worried about the expansion of Isis in Libya, where the insurgency has an estimated force of 6,500 fighters. With this threat in place America is set to have a new bombing campaign in Libya in order to cease the threat of the Islamic state in Libya.

This article states that Russia and Iran have been changing the situation in Syria according to their own agendas. It is in Russia and Iran's interests to maintain Assad's rule in Syria. Consequently, the article states that the west should get involved before Russia and Iran have done too much.

Turkey's role in this war is interesting. Accused of loosening border restrictions to let foreign fighters enter Syria, Turkey is now accusing EU countries of doing the same. There is a huge number of foreign fighters in Syria and it is hard to believe that EU countries had no idea these people were leaving.

A 26-year-old Briton on an EgyptAir plane Tuesday did what Millennials do all the time: He took a selfie. This wasn't just any selfie, however. The photo included the man authorities say hijacked Ben Innes' plane. Innes was one of the remaining hostages during a six-hour standoff at Cyprus' Larnaca airport, the Guardian reported.

15-year plan includes diversification, privatisation of state assets, tax increases and creating a $2tn sovereign wealth fund