Stay Updated


Content

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

NCHR Pushes for Prison Visits amid Complaints, Reports of Torture

By Khaled Dawoud

For the first time, this February, the National Council for Human Rights called on the Ministry of Interior to allow it to visit detention facilities in Egypt’s police stations. The demand comes amid continued complaints over the state of detention cells at police stations, deaths due to overcrowding, lack of ventilation, and stories of alleged […]

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

Top News: Egyptian Authorities Move to Shut Down Torture Watchdog

By EgyptSource

The Nadeem Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence was nearly shut down on Wednesday by an interagency task force, reportedly at the orders of the Health Ministry’s Department for Private Medical Treatment.

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

Abadi’s Unsavvy Politics

By Ramzy Mardini

Only a year and half since coming to power in Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has failed to learn how to adapt to assure his political survival. Last week, the Iraqi leader announced a new round of radical reforms from a position of weakness, despite having generated a great deal of pushback from Iraq’s political […]

Iraq

MENASource

Feb 18, 2016

EconSource: S&P Downgrades Credit Ratings of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman

By EconSource

Rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman’s credit ratings on Wednesday, citing pressures being created by the drop in oil prices. S&P downgrade

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

After the Coming Devaluation of the Egyptian Pound, What Next?

By Mohsin Khan and Elissa Miller

There is consensus both within and outside Egypt that a devaluation of the Egyptian pound is imminent. The question is not if there will be a devaluation, but when. The general view is that it is only a matter of weeks or months before the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) will have to give up […]

Economy & Business North Africa

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

The Four Real Security Challenges Facing Egypt

By H.A. Hellyer

In the lead up to the fifth anniversary of the January 25th revolutionary uprising, the Egyptian authorities reacted with a number of measures – many of which seem to assess the situation with a certain type of suspicious persistence. Indeed, the Ministry of Interior claimed it thwarted several plots by ‘foreign’ and ‘Brotherhood’ elements – […]

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

Top News: UNSC criticizes Turkey’s strikes in northern Syria

By MENASource

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council criticized Turkey for its strikes into northern Syria that are fueling fears of a serious escalation. As a rapid advance of US-backed Kurdish fighters seized new ground in northern Syria on Tuesday, Turkey fired artillery from across the border to try to halt their advances in northern Syria.

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

Top News: Former Presidential Candidate Sabbahi Referred to Prosecution

By EgyptSource

Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek referred a report against former presidential candidate and founder of the Popular Current Hamdeen Sabbahi to prosecution for further investigation. Lawyer Ashraf Farahat accused Sabbahi of attempting to overthrow the regime and incite violence, in the wake of televised statements by the former candidate in January 2016.

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

The YPG’s Next Move: A Two Front War for the Manbij Pocket

By Aaron Stein

The Kurdish-majority Democratic Union Party (PYD), its militia the YPG, and an allied Arab-majority rebel group called Jaysh al-Thuwar have swiftly expanded the territory they control in the Azaz corridor in northern Aleppo. In recent days, the YPG led force have taken control of the Menagh Airbase, Tel Rifaat, and reportedly is in the final […]

Turkey

MENASource

Feb 17, 2016

EconSource: OPEC Presses Iran, Iraq to Cap Crude Oil Production

By EconSource

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased pressure on Iran and Iraq on Wednesday to limit their oil production following a tentative deal between Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other oil producers to freeze output.