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Russia claims that the arms deal it has with Syrian President Assad was made before the Syrian civil war started and simply just carried out the deal throughout the war. On the other hand, Assad states that they signed agreements at the beginning of the war, maybe a bit earlier. 

Hamas has removed all signs of the Muslim Brotherhood from the streets and mosques in Egypt in an attempt to detach itself from the group it appears. Leading figures of the Brotherhood are included in the images being taken down, and instead have been putting up slogans referring to Palestine.

Syria and Russia have signed agreements worth 850 million euros to restore infrastructure in the Arab nation, Russia's RIA news agency quoted Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaki as saying on Monday.

This could be good news. Apparently, the cease-fire that has been in the workings is close to success. The article states that there have been several key players to already sign the truce. This hopefully means less death and more success against ISIS, but we will have to wait and see.

This could be good news. Apparently, the cease-fire that has been in the workings is close to success. The article states that there have been several key players to already sign the truce. This hopefully means less death and more success against ISIS, but we will have to wait and see.

This article explores both the street and the formal art scene after the events of January 25. It discusses how these scenes have had both positive and negative signs (positive: the concept of social art "seems to be winning grounds in the fabric of social enterprises"/negative: the art scene is still "underdeveloped, fragmented and alien to the majority of its own people.").

In this link the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, offers information on chlorine gas poisoning including: what chlorine is, where it is found and how it is used, exposure, how it works, signs and symptoms, and long term health effects. This is beneficial for understanding one of the main chemical weapons in Syria, chlorine gas.

A Syrian Opposition group killed 1300 civilians in a chemical weapon attack in Damascus. Many of the victims were women and children. The victims presented with classic signs of chemical poisoning, including foaming mouth and dilated pupils. The attach occurred on August 21, 2013

This article states that if Bashar al Assad's use of chemical weapons in a suburb is true then why isn't the United States acting to protect the Syrian civilians. This article, contrary to the one I posted earlier, says that Syria is legally at fault in regards to chemical warfare because they signed the Geneva Convention.

This link is to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons website. The link specifically takes you to information regarding the Chemical WEapons Convention where you can see the states that have signed it, the goal of the convention, and the specific agreements that a state must agree too.

BP has signed an $12 billion agreement to develop natural gas in Egypt. Production will start in 2017 and may result in 1.2 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas being put back into the countries natural gas grid.

Iraq is accusing ISIS of using chemical. the first event happen back in September, where a doctor saw clear signs of chemical weapon use on a victim.

This article is partly a news report and partly a discussion of gender equality in the PKK. On October 27, rumors began to spread on social media that a Kurdish female fighter known by the pseudonym Rehana may have been beheaded by Islamic State militants in Kobani. Rehana became the face of the PKK's female fighters after a picture of her making the victory sign was retweeted hundreds of times on Twitter. An image of a beheaded woman whom IS fighters claim to be Rehana was posted on pro-IS social media sites on the 27th, but it is impossible to verify whether the photo is genuine. The author goes on to discuss the complicated history of gender equality in the PKK. Currently, the group has the largest female militia in the world, and has a history of feminism rooted in it's founder Abdullah Ocalan's ideology. However, the author cites claims made by Berfu Kiziltan about how while the PKK has historically recruited women as well as men, in its early days, recruitment was sometimes by force. The author also mentions the PKK's history of female suicide bombers, as well as a recent suicide bombing in Kobani carried out by a female PKK soldier.

Tunisia kicked off investor meetings for a Eurobond without US guarantees. Tunisia's stock market has already shown political stability. Tunis index rose more than 16 percent in 2014 and trades 10 percent below record highs hit before the Arab Spring. Tunisia has potential to reform but it is in need of foreign direct investment to drive economic growth and job creation. Tunisia signed a two year deal with the international Monetary Fund in 2013, agreeing to follow certain economic policies; keeping its deficit under control, making the foreign exchange market more flexible and structural reforms.

In 2012 there were signs of rebound from the recession in 2011. The GDP increased by 4.8 percent, tourism and FDI started picking up in the first quarter. Exporting for Tunisia would not be as strong because of the recession in Europe. Achieving higher growth will reduce high unemployment. Directors saw a need to support economic activity while safeguarding macroeconomic stability. Directors considered that structural reforms are needed to reorient the Tunisian economy and harness its potential for higher and more inclusive growth.

Obama has signed an executive order that gives government agencies greater leeway in sharing data with private corporations. His idea is that if the government and corporations work together, vulnerabilities exposed by the internet will have better protection from cyber attacks.

Evidence reveals that North Korea and Iran may be working together in cyber warfare after an attack on Sony Pictures. A scientific and technology cooperation was signed between the two countries after attacks on Iran's nuclear program.

In 2011 the number of tourists dropped by a third, by 2013 Tunisia was showing signs of a comeback, with income from tourism. The total contribution of the industry to Tunisia's economy was 15.2 percent of its gross domestic product. With the attack on the museum it was a major setback to the growth and promise of tourism and not just in Tunisia.

After the attack on the National Bardo Museum the president of Tunisia has signed several agreements to strengthen economic and security cooperation with France. Essebsi addressed the Senate in the French capital calling for further cooperation in other areas such as the fight against extremism.