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MENASource

Jan 29, 2015

Top News: Political Parties Threaten to Boycott Elections

By EgyptSource

 The Socialist Popular Alliance Party decided to suspend participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections, until five “urgent” demands are met. These demands include the dismissal of Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim, the rebuilding and restructuring of the police forces, the modification of the protest law, the release of all political prisoners, and guarantees that the upcoming […]

MENASource

Jan 29, 2015

EconSource: Egypt Central Bank Widens Band in Which Banks Can Trade Dollars

By EconSource

Egypt’s central bank widened the band in which banks can trade dollars to 10 piasters above or below the official rate, up from 3 piasters, prompting the lenders’ dollar rates to fall to their weakest ever levels. Expectations that the bank will devalue have grown since it announced a surprise 50-basis-point cut in benchmark interest […]

MENASource

Jan 28, 2015

Top New: President Obama visits new Saudi King

By MENASource

President Barack Obama met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Tuesday to pay respects to the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and bolster a relationship that now stretches well beyond oil interests to security cooperation across the Gulf region.

MENASource

Jan 28, 2015

Top News: Violations against Detained Protesters and Lawyers on January 25, say NGOs

By EgyptSource

Human rights groups and NGOs condemned the lack of transparency and violations related to the illegal detention of protesters, and restrictions on lawyers who tried to represent them. The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) issued a report Tuesday criticizing the lack of clarity on the number of arrests on January 25, and […]

MENASource

Jan 28, 2015

EconSource: Iraq Lowers Oil Price Forecast in Budget Proposal to $55 per Barrel

By EconSource

Falling oil prices forced Iraq’s cabinet to revise its draft 2015 budget and trim its forecast for oil to $55 a barrel from $60. According to a member of the parliament’s finance committee, spending was reduced to 119 trillion Iraqi dinars. Nonetheless, the budget deficit is expected to rise to 25 trillion dinars. The decision […]

MENASource

Jan 28, 2015

The Past, Present, and Future of Iraqi Tribes in Shaping National Identity

By Jeppe Stavnsbo Sorensen

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s encouragement of a tribal revolution to fight the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL), or the foreign enemy, seems to be a necessary reaction to the dire situation of the state army, struggling to maintain an effective force in the face of the jihadist threat.

Iraq

MENASource

Jan 27, 2015

Five International Organizations Approved to Monitor Egypt Elections

By EgyptSource

The High Elections Committee (HEC) announced Monday that five international organizations have been approved to monitor Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary elections in March.

Elections North Africa

MENASource

Jan 27, 2015

Readjusting the Transatlantic Middle East Policy

By MENASource

The roar of euphoria and promise that arose from the 2011 Arab awakening not more than four years ago now seem but a distant whisper in the wake of regional turmoil and international security concerns plaguing the once-transitioning countries of North Africa and the Middle East.

Middle East

MENASource

Jan 27, 2015

Top News: Eight dead in Tripoli hotel attack; Clashes continue despite ceasefire

By MENASource

A car bomb exploded outside the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli Tuesday morning and killed eight total people; three security guards and five foreigners.

MENASource

Jan 27, 2015

Top News: Parties Reconsider Running for Elections; Court Verdict Against Activists Upheld

By EgyptSource

The Democratic Trend Alliance, which includes the Dostour Party, the Social Popular Alliance Party, the Popular Current, the Karama Party, the Socialist Party, and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, will reconsider participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections in protest over a female activist’s death on Saturday.