MENASource

FACTBOX: Evolution of the Islamic State’s Chemical Weapons Capacity

By Andrea Taylor

Days after the terror attack in Paris, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told the French parliament the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) presents a “risk [to France] of chemical or bacteriological weapons.”

EconSource: Algeria Sees Energy Earnings, Reserves Dropping Sharply in 2016

By EconSource

Algeria’s energy earnings are forecast to fall to $26.4 billion and foreign exchange reserves to $121 billion as low oil prices cut into the country’s economy, Finance Minister Abderrahmane Benkhalfa said on Sunday.

Top News: UN Condemns Syria over Rights Violations

A UN General Assembly committee strongly condemned human rights violations in Syria and said perpetrators of war crimes should face trial. A resolution presented by Saudi Arabia was adopted by a vote of 115 to 15, with 51 abstentions.

EconSource: Egypt, Russia Sign Deal to Build a Nuclear Power Plant

By EconSource

Russia on Thursday signed an agreement with Egypt to build the country’s first nuclear power plant. Russia also agreed to extend a loan to Egypt to cover the cost of construction.

Top News: Five Protesters Arrested in Mohamed Mahmoud Anniversary Commemoration

By EgyptSource

Five people were arrested for demonstrating on the October 6 Bridge on Thursday afternoon to mark the deadly clashes between protesters and security forces that broke out on Mohamed Mahmoud Street on November 19 four years ago.

Top News: Turkey’s Erdogan Urges United Muslim Front Against Terror

By MENASource

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a united front by Muslim leaders to fight extremism after the Paris attacks, warning that otherwise jihadists will commit further atrocities.

EconSource: World Bank says New Bond Scheme Seen for Middle East, North Africa by Spring

By EconSource

A new international bond and grant scheme to help countries dealing with the fallout of war and instability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) should be in place by spring, World Bank Vice President for MENA Hafez Ghanem said.

Tunisia’s Ruling Party Crisis

By Katherine Wolff and Elissa Miller

Nidaa Tounes may have to answer to a jaded constituency in the elections for failing its voters. While the current crisis is unlikely to trigger government collapse, it hampers the party’s ability to serve as a unified countervailing force to Ennahda and underscores the fragile nature of Tunisia’s balance of political power.

Top News: Egypt Says State Department Human Trafficking Report Lacks Credibility

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s Justice Ministry denounced in a statement on Wednesday the annual report issued by the US Department of State on “Trafficking in Persons,” describing it as lacking credible sources on actual efforts taken by the government to combat the problem.

Red-Teaming ISIS

By Bilal Y. Saab

If the Islamic State’s (ISIS or ISIL) intent behind the deadly attacks in France was to cause death, pain, and panic among Western societies (what transnational jihadists call “the far enemy”) then mission accomplished. But more importantly, what is ISIS’s ultimate purpose for this act of mass murder in Paris and possibly others in the […]