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The webpage lays out the larger plans and goals when providing aid to Egypt's women to promote equality. The goals range from various aspects including career development, civic participation, reducing poverty (including an increase in girl's enrollment in school), and an increase in healthy habits and standards. The concerns and goals listed also reflect the outline of the  U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. 

The webpage lays out the larger plans and goals when providing aid to Egypt's women to promote equality. The goals range from various aspects including career development, civic participation, reducing poverty (including an increase in girl's enrollment in school), and an increase in healthy habits and standards. The concerns and goals listed also reflect the outline of the  U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. 

USAID helps women gain equality and they promote women empowerment. It helps through various programs in agriculture, education, and health.

General Al-Sisi, who took over Egypt after a coup against the Muslim Brotherhood is set to address the UN General Assembly on September 25th. His first 100 days in office has seen economic growth and increasing political stability. His government has increased fuel prices to curb the deficit and set out on a project to double the capacity of the Suez canal. With rising turmoil in the Middle East, Egypt has made its return as a moderating force. However the general's reliance on heavy-handed police forces to quell uprising and the continued holding of political prisoners continues to draw ire. To counter this he has released high profile prisoners and may revisit the anti-protest law.

In this Global Research interview, author Adri Nieuwhof speaks with Farid Esack. Esack, chairperson of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel) South Africa, speaks about his ten year history with the cause and the increasing amount of backlash he is receiving in regards to the organization's stance against Israel. Stating that the Arab Spring eroded much of the local support for Palestine, Esack calls for increased support of BDS.

This article is about the improvement of education in Yemen. Yemen is a very poor country with a large population growth. These programs have created platforms and finances to attract teachers, advocates for girls groups, advocates for education, and have pushed the literacy rate up towards 90%

There has been an increase in the number of children involved in human trafficking over the years. In past decades one in five human trafficking victims was a child, but now that number has increased to one in three.

The fighting in Syria and Iraq has expanded and gained more foreign fighters from many more countries around the world. 

pushes for the increased participation of women in conflict mediation and peace processes by shifting the paradigm around the role of women in society at both the grassroots and policy levels

ABU DHABI // Expatriates have embraced the UAE's culture and traditions, and increased their understanding of Islam since they moved here. Most western expatriates (94 per cent) say they have embraced the culture, followed by Arab expatriates (93 per cent) and Asian expatriates (89 per cent). Wow, so according to this source people moving into the UAE from Western culture have apparently started embracing that culture. This article sounds really good on the surface, but recalling that UAE is like one of the countries that actually still enforces possibility of death penalty for homosexual activity and prison sentences or beatings for adultery...

This article discusses an increase in the number of forced marriages in Saudi Arabia. Tahjeer, a term used to describe a "marriage" in which the wife is unaware of doesn't consent to until it is over, is discussed.

This article discusses the large gap amongst girls and boys in Yemen. There are fewer women in the population, not as many teachers, the literacy rate is 15% lower for girls as compared to boys. This project will deploy 700 teachers to rural areas of Yemen, hoping to attract 25,000 more students, and it will increase cash stiphens to encourage families to let their daughters go to school

The issues surrounding the brotherhood and the fear surrounding the idea that all of Egypt would be expected to become part of the brotherhood are discussed on this page. The original foundation of the brotherhood was based on the idea of "liberating them from foreign imperialism" as well as forming "unification" as a nation. Issues presented with the brotherhood include: a "poor economic stability or growth, increased crime, and assaults on women."

The Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest and largest opposition group group in Egypt. It's members control many of the country's professional organizations.

This article gives background information regarding who and what the Muslim Brotherhood is. It provides historical significance of the group as well as give suggestions as to why there is interest in learning about the group and their ideals.

In Algeria, the number of human trafficking victims and unaccompanied minors has increased considerably. The main groups of people of concern for UNHCR in Algeria are vulnerable Saharawi refugees.

Iran has recently been going against the nuclear deal and freed itself of previous restrictions. It has created more hostility between the United States and Iran which is the opposite of what the plan was supposed to do.

This article talks about how women's economic and social empower remains low in 2016. According to the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights, gender equality status remains low in terms of economic and social empowerment and violence against women. Though some progress has happened with equality, about a 14% increase in female representatives in the parliamentary elections.

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

Compiled by faculty members at the German University in Cairo, this working paper series addresses the effect that watsa has on competence and morality in Middle Eastern economics and society. The authors define watsa as, "the intervention of a patron in favor of a client to obtain benefits and/or resources from a third party." In simpler terms it is a system of social networking in Arab culture in which family and social ties play a significant role in the attainment of economic advantages and resources, largely in the hiring process in businesses and organizations. A person applying for a job seeks out watsa to increase their chances of getting hired. Comparable to nepotism and cronyism, but is not restricted to friends and associates, watsa can also involve strangers linked through some social web of people. Watsa runs somewhat parallel to a Chinese concept of guanxi, based on Confucian ethics and focusing on strong collective ties. While guanxi is a part of Chinese ethics it actually defies Muslim ethical values, which advocates hiring the person most capable. In a Jordanian survey, 87% of respondents want watsa eradicated. While we know that unemployment in the Arab region is widespread, we can assume that this motivates people to do anything they can to improve their chances of obtaining a job. However, the practice of watsa as a whole is actually degrading the economic systems in the Arab sates even further. The article explains the linkage between watsa and poor job performance, economic decline, and the festering of injustice and frustration among the masses in Arab countries.

This looks super interesting, but I can't get the link to open. Thanks for writing a thorough summary of it!

All Kurdish towns ban together to fight any opposition of extremists - along with Turkish Kurds. Kurdish law now requires 6 month service from each man and fighting rarely ceases. With Assad slowly gainig territory and increasing heat from extremists, will the Kurdish stand their ground?

Syria is determined to keep Russia in the loop when it comes to its presence in the Middle East. As the United States increases its presence so to those Russia and Syria claims that they encourage Russian presence solely to "keep the balance" in the Middle East.