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MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

Top News: Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda becomes biggest in parliament as ruling party splits

By MENASource

Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda Party became the biggest in parliament after more lawmakers in President Beji Caid Essebsi’s Nidaa Tounes party resigned from the parliamentary bloc on Monday. The rift does not present an immediate threat to the coalition government, which includes Ennahda.

MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

Top News: Egypt’s First Parliament in Three Years Convenes

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s first legislature in more than three years held its inaugural session on Sunday, where it elected a constitutional expert as its speaker. Ali Abdel Aal was elected speaker of the house with 401 out of 585 votes. Abdel Aal is a constitutional law professor at Ain Shams University and is the nominee from the […]

MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

EconSource: Egypt’s President Sisi Launches Loan Program for SMEs

By EconSource

Egypt’s banking sector will inject EGP 200 billion ($25 billion) to support small and medium businesses (SMEs), President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday.

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

The Impact of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Policy

By Haytham Tabesh

The ongoing price war continues between crude oil producers, as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) maintains its Saudi Arabia-led policies to maintain high oil output, contributing to a glut that has brought prices to record lows.

Energy & Environment
Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

Top News: ISIS-Affiliated Group Claims Attack on Giza Hotel, Bombing of Sinai Gas Pipeline

By EgyptSource

The Islamic State’s (ISIS or ISIL) Egypt affiliate, Sinai State, claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel near the Giza Pyramids the previous day,  according to a statement circulated Friday by sympathizers of the militant group.

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

Top News: Sixteen members of Tunisia’s ruling party resign from parliamentary bloc

By MENASource

On Thursday, 12 Nidaa Tounes members of parliament submitted their resignation from the Nidaa Tounes parliamentary bloc. This brings the number of resigning members to 16, including four representatives who resigned at the end of December.

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

EconSource: Saudi Aramco Confirms it is Studying Potential Share Sale

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia’s government is considering selling shares in state oil giant Saudi Aramco as part of a privatization drive to raise money in an era of cheap oil, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman told The Economist in an interview.

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

ISIS Expansion in Libya and the Government of National Accord

By Karim Mezran

Libya’s Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) branch has expanded its grip on Libyan territory through multiple parallel tactics and the sluggish pace of negotiations between the feuding governments in Tripoli and Beida has contributed to this expansion.

Libya

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

Egypt’s New Parliament: What Do the Results Mean?

By Yussef Auf

With the newly-elected Egyptian parliament about to convene, several questions have been posed regarding the election in which the members were chosen: was it fair? Is it a genuine addition towards democracy? And what do the numbers indicate?

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 7, 2016

Top News: Egypt to Try Six Reporters for Allegedly Defaming Minister

By EgyptSource

An Egyptian prosecutor has referred up to six local journalists to trial for allegedly spreading “false news” that defamed Justice Minister Ahmed al-Zind. Prosecutor Fathi Bayoumi said Wednesday that the six were sent to court after investigators found that they “intentionally published false information to defame” Zind.