MENASource

Top News: Putin Sends Air Defense Missiles to Syria; Erdogan and Obama Seek to Ease Tensions

By MENASource

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered state-of-the art air defense missile systems to be deployed to a Russian airbase in Syria following the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkey on Tuesday. Despite the deployment, Russian FM Sergei Lavrov insisted it does not plan to wage war against Turkey.

Russian Defense Ministry says Egypt to Buy Advanced Weapons from Russia

By EgyptSource

Egypt plans to buy advanced weapons from Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered federal service for military-technical cooperation to rapidly respond to an Egyptian request to buy armaments, Russian Interfax agency reported.

Factbox: Egypt Completes First Round of Second Phase of Elections

By Elissa Miller and Brandan Martini

Egypt held the second phase of its parliamentary elections in November 22 and 23. Candidates competed for 282 seats in the second phase of the parliamentary elections, including 222 individual seats and sixty party-based seats. Voting took place at 12,946 polling stations in thirteen governorates: Cairo, Qalyubia, Daqahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr al-Sheikh, Sharqiya, Damietta, Port […]

EconSource: Fuel Prices to Triple as Tripoli Removes Subsidies

Libya’s Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) has approved plans to remove subsidies for fuel and related products. According to the GNC decision, petrol prices will jump from LD 0.15 per liter to LD 0.45. The changes will not be implemented immediately, as direct payments designed to replace subsidies have yet to be made due to […]

The Debate over Egypt’s Constitution

By Khaled Dawoud

On September 13, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stated that while Egypt’s 2014 Constitution “was written with good intentions,” nations “cannot be built with good intentions alone.” This statement appears to have sparked a heated debate in Egypt over amendments to the 2014 constitution.

US Indecision over War Powers to Fight ISIS

By Daniel R. DePetris

In yet another attempt to reinforce his administration’s counter-Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) strategy, President Barack Obama has determined that the United States needs a small contingent of US ground personnel to enable the offensive capability of moderate Syrian opposition forces in northern Syria.

Top News: Russian Jet Shot Down Near Syria-Turkey Border

By MENASource

On Tuesday, Turkey shot down a Russian fighter plane it claims violated its airspace. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Turkey’s action a “stab in the back by the terrorists’ accomplices,” and warned of “significant consequences.”

EconSource: Former Finance Minister to Take Charge of Economy in New Turkish Cabinet

By EconSource

Former Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek will be in charge of the economy as Deputy Prime Minister in a new cabinet in which allies of President Tayyip Erdogan took key posts.

What Went Wrong With Leon’s Libya Agreement?

By Azza K. Maghur

After a long and difficult journey in the Libyan political minefield that deeply affected both his mission and reputation, UN Special Representative to Libya Bernardino Leon left his post and has been replaced by the newly appointed envoy Martin Kobler on November 17. Leon’s legacy leaves neither a signed agreement between Libyan participants to the […]

Top News: Four dead in North Sinai Militant Attacks on Hotel Hosting Judges

By EgyptSource

Four people—a judge, a prosecutor, and two security personnel—were killed Tuesday, and fourteen were injured in North Sinai’s al-Arish during attacks on a hotel where judges supervising the ongoing parliamentary polls were residing.