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MENASource

Feb 12, 2015

Top News: Egypt Court Releases All Al Jazeera Case Defendants Pending Retrial

By EgyptSource

Two Al Jazeera journalists, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, were released on bail on Thursday by a Cairo criminal court after spending over a year in prison. The court postponed the first session in a retrial of the journalists and a number of other defendants to February 23 and ordered the release of all defendants pending trial. 

MENASource

Feb 12, 2015

Tunisia Between Subsidies and Security

By Chris Chapman

With a democratically elected parliament and president, now come Tunisia’s difficult growing pains of balancing newly earned freedoms with security reform and economic transformation. Tunisia’s leadership must guide the country through a difficult path that addresses the primary needs of Tunisians—from curbing violent terrorism to increasing economic opportunity.

North Africa

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Putin’s Visit to Egypt: Much Pomp but Little Circumstance

By Mark N. Katz

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a widely publicized visit to Egypt from February 9 to 10.   The government-backed Egyptian press gushed over how well Russia (unlike America) treats the Egyptian government.  Some commentary in the Russian press proclaimed the visit to be another sign that Russia was gaining influence in the Middle East while America […]

North Africa Russia

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Top News: US Embassy Closes, Houthis Seize Vehicles

By MENASource

Houthi rebels took all US embassy vehicles parked at the Yemeni capital’s airport and would not allow departing US Marines to take their weapons with them.

MENASource

Feb 11, 2015

Top News: Prosecution Says Sabbagh Killer in Custody; Two More Islamist Parties Boycott Elections

By EgyptSource

The Qasr al-Nil prosecution announced Tuesday that the killer of leftist activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh is in custody, but their identity will be revealed by Prosecutor General’s office within days.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

Lessons for Sinai from Yemen

By Nervana Mahmoud

Following the recent major attacks by militants that killed at least twenty-seven people, mostly soldiers, in Sinai, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made two important decisions. He has established a unified military command east of the Suez Canal to fight radical groups in the Sinai Peninsula. He has also pledged $1.3 billion to develop the […]

North Africa Yemen

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

Top News: American ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller confirmed dead

By MENASource

The United States has confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller, who had been held hostage since August 2013 by the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) after being captured in Syria.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

US National Security Strategy, Implementation, and the Middle East

By MENASource

The US National Security Strategy, released on February 6, reflects President Barack Obama’s world view in the context of dynamic and volatile global change. The document focuses on US leadership in the face of complex emergencies with a strong commitment to promoting US values through global cooperation with capable partners.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

Top News: Appeals Court Issues Reasoning for Al Jazeera Retrial; Prosecution Detains 18 Zamalek Supporters

By EgyptSource

A Cairo appeals judge has issued a damning appraisal of last year’s trial of three al-Jazeera English journalists, a month after he quashed their convictions and sent their case to a retrial that will begin on Thursday.

MENASource

Feb 10, 2015

EconSource: Algeria Pumps $650 Million Into Oil projects

By EconSource

According to the director of production and technologies at Sonatrach, the government of Algeria has earmarked $650 million to develop a series of hydrocarbon projects to be carried out by state-owned agencies Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. Algeria’s crude production stood at 1.2 million barrels per day during the past three years but the country is seeking […]