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MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

As Charlie Hebdo Ups Print Run, Egypt to Ban Foreign Publications Insulting Religion

By Joel Gulhane

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab was handed the power to outlaw the distribution of foreign publications in Egypt, as per a decree issued by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday. The order allows Mahlab to ban publications deemed “offensive to religion or publications promoting erotica in a way that can disturb the public peace.” At the time […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

Top News: EU Parliament Calls on Egypt to Release Political Detainees; Egypt Hits Back

By EgyptSource

The European Parliament has called on Egypt “to release immediately with no condition” all political detainees, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood. In a statement issued on Wednesday the European Parliament expressed its concerns about the “restrictions” imposed in Egypt on fundamental human rights, citing concerns about freedom of expression, the right to assembly, restrictions […]

MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

Top News: US Will Send 400 Troops to Train Mainstream Syrian Opposition

By MENASource

The US military is planning to deploy more than 400 troops to help train Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL), along with hundreds of US support personnel.

MENASource

Jan 16, 2015

EconSource: Libya Central Bank Seeks Cuts to Plug $19 Billion Budget Gap

By EconSource

Libya’s central bank has proposed reducing the country’s diplomatic missions abroad and halting foreign scholarships and other state allowances to plug the country’s budget deficit, estimated at $19 billion. It also wants to suspend family and child allowances while reviewing international medical treatments funded by the state. The bank has tried to stay out of […]

MENASource

Jan 15, 2015

The Temptation of the Lesser Evil in Syria

By Marcel Kurpershoek

Marcel Kurpershoek served as the Netherlands’ Special Envoy to Syria from August 2013 through December 2014. Ambassador Kurpershoek is a well-respected Dutch Arabist, and was ambassador for the Netherlands in Poland, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also served as a diplomat in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Before leaving his post as envoy, Kurpershoek delivered remarks […]

Syria

MENASource

Jan 15, 2015

Top News: UN talks aim to form unity government in Libya

By MENASource

  UN-sponsored discussions between the rival Tobruk-based House of Representatives and Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) began this week despite some members of the GNC refusing to attend.

MENASource

Jan 15, 2015

Top News: EU Won’t Send Full Observation Mission to Egypt Elections

By EgyptSource

The European Union will not send a full mission to monitor Egypt’s parliamentary elections, the bloc’s top diplomat said Wednesday, while criticizing the country’s human rights record.

MENASource

Jan 15, 2015

EconSource: Tunisia Trade Deficit Widens in 2014

By EconSource

According to recent statistics published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Tunisia’s trade deficit widened further in 2014, reaching a worrying level of 13,635.9 million Tunisian dinars. This deficit, 26.7 percent of which come from the energy balance deficit, was translated into a 2.5 percent drop in the coverage of imports by exports. Tunisia’s […]

MENASource

Jan 14, 2015

Top News: Al-Qaeda in Yemen claims responsibility for attack on Charlie Hebdo

By MENASource

Al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP) claimed responsibility for the attack on French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, saying it was ordered by the Islamist militant group’s leadership for insulting the Prophet Mohammad, according to a video posted on YouTube.

MENASource

Jan 14, 2015

Top News: Sisi Moves on Banning Foreign Publications Offensive to Religion

By EgyptSource

President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree giving Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab the power to ban any foreign publication offensive to religion. Issued in the official State Journal on Tuesday, the presidential decree delegated the prime minister the president’s powers stipulated in a law regulating the publishing of printed media in Egypt.