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MENASource

Dec 11, 2014

Top News: Congress Expected to Adopt Bill Allowing Obama to Reopen Military Aid to Egypt

By EgyptSource

The long-term spending bill that Congress is expected to adopt this week would allow the State Department to resume military aid to Egypt despite ongoing concerns with the country’s human rights record.

North Africa Political Reform

MENASource

Dec 11, 2014

EconSource: Tunisia’s Parliament Unveils 2015 Draft Budget

By EconSource

Interim President Medhi Jomaa on Wednesday presented draft proposals to the 2015 state budget to the newly elected parliament and urged its members to maintain the pace of  structural reforms taken to stabilize the country’s economy. Jomaa said that his administration had taken aggressive measures to combat a stagnated growth rate, high unemployment, and rising […]

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

So Who Killed the Protesters?

By Sonia Farid

Who killed the protesters? This question was the headline of almost every major Egyptian newspaper, after charges against former president Hosni Mubarak were dropped, and his interior minister Habib al-Adly, and six ministry aides were cleared of charges in what was known as “the trial of the century.” In addition to corruption charges, Mubarak was […]

North Africa

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

Top News: Kerry Calls for New War Powers, Urges Flexibility in anti-ISIS Fight

By MENASource

US Secretary of State John Kerry testified before congress Tuesday where he urged lawmakers to authorize new war powers for the ongoing campaign against Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). Kerry also implored congressional leaders to not limit US military action in Iraq and Syria or prevent President Obama from authorizing ground troops if he later deems them […]

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

Top News: Security Approval Required for Egyptian Travelers to Turkey and Iraq, Says Interior Ministry

By EgyptSource

Egyptians wishing to travel to Turkey or Iraq are now required to get security approval from passport control authorities. General Ayman Hamed, chief of the media bureau for the interior ministry said that the decision came earlier this week during “exceptional timing” for the region.

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

The Morsi Leaks: Not Much of a Scandal

By Khaled Dawoud

The Egyptian government spent much of this week denying the authenticity of a series of leaked alleged conversations between senior military aides. According to the leaks, official records were tampered with to show that former president Mohamed Morsi was not illegally imprisoned after his removal by the army on July 3, 2013. They allege that […]

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

EconSource: Iraq Economy to Shrink 0.5 Percent in 2014

By EconSource

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Iraq’s oil-dominated economy is expected to shrink 0.5 percent this year, a significantly smaller contraction than the 2.7 percent fall forecast two months ago. While the first forecast was attributed to the oil production drop caused by the Islamic State insurgency, the renewed figures reflect recent higher figures […]

MENASource

Dec 10, 2014

Reading Saudi Tea Leaves in Yemen

By Danya Greenfield and Owen Daniels

The international press reported on December 4 that Saudi Arabia had suspended most financial aid to Yemen as a result of the Houthi movement’s ongoing occupation of Sana’a. As the most overt Saudi policy move in Yemen since the northern Houthis captured the capital in mid-September, it set off a chain of worrying political and […]

Saudi Arabia Yemen

MENASource

Dec 9, 2014

Top News: UN to Include Rival Government in Postponed Libya Peace Talks

By MENASource

The United Nations will widen a new round of negotiations by including the rival General National Congress (GNC) based in Tripoli, Special Representative Bernardino Leon said on Monday. After the first unsuccessful round of talks held in September, a second round was meant to begin on Tuesday but is postponed until the beginning of next […]

MENASource

Dec 9, 2014

Top News: Egypt’s State Council Approves “Terrorist Entities” Draft Law

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s State Council on Monday approved the draft law on “terrorist entities,” which would allow for the dissolution of these entities and ending their activities.