MENASource

Top News: Justice Minister Resigns Amid Criticism over Classist Remarks

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s Justice Minister resigned on Monday after raising a public uproar by saying in a TV interview that the children of sanitation workers are too lowly to become judges.

EconSource: Western Allies Warn of Conflict Over Control of Libya’s National Resources

By EconSource

The United States and five European countries warned that Libyan state institutions that control billions of euros of national assets risked being exploited by rival forces wrestling for control of the country.

The Gulf Gulf

By Thomas O. Melia

When President Barack Obama welcomes leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to Camp David later this week for the rare honor of a two-day gathering at the presidential retreat, he will be hosting representatives of an unusual collection of hereditary monarchies.

Iran’s Influence is Tied to Assad’s Future

By Nicholas Blanford

A string of defeats for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad since late March in north and south Syria has broken the stalemate that existed for more than a year and potentially opens up space for the West and its regional partners in the Arab world to pursue a negotiated solution to a war now […]

The Choice at Camp David: A Bold Middle East Strategy or Just Another Summit?

By Nabeel Khoury

The recent victories of Islamist and jihadist forces in Syria portend the possible demise of the Assad regime, but also the advent of a potentially vicious internecine struggle within the jihadist front and between it and the more secular nationalist rebel movement.

Egyptian Journalist Sues Al Jazeera for $83 Million in Punitive Damages

By EgyptSource

In a Monday press conference, Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy announced he has filed a lawsuit against his employer, Al Jazeera. The journalist is suing the Qatar news network for 100 million Canadian dollars ($83 million) for negligence.  

Top News: Egypt Court Upholds Three Year Sentence Against Mubarak on Graft Charges

By EgyptSource

A Cairo criminal court has upheld a three-year sentence against Mubarak on graft charges, but the former strongman will return home since he has served the full sentence, his defense team said.

Top News: King Salman Will Not Attend Camp David Summit

Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that its new monarch, King Salman, would not be attending meetings at the White House with President Obama or a summit gathering at Camp David this week, in an apparent signal of its continued displeasure with the administration over United States relations with Iran, its rising regional adversary.

Syria: A Strategy Possibly Emerging, But to What End?

By Frederic C. Hof

Recent media reports indicate (if not conclude) that the anti-Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) “train and equip” effort of the US Department of Defense will be based largely in Jordan and focused mainly on preparing Syrian fighters of tribal origin to operate in ISIL-occupied eastern Syria.

EconSource: Iraq to Slash Investment Spending in 2015

By EconSource

The Iraqi government is expected to slash investment spending for 2015 by over 80 percent as weak oil prices hit state revenues.