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New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2016

Privatization of Saudi Aramco: A Path to Good Governance?

By Jean-François Seznec

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman, gave a fascinating interview to the Economist on January 4. Among the many subjects he covered, one in particular appealed to energy wonks—the privatization of Saudi Aramco. This topic has been discussed within the kingdom for years, but never got anywhere, probably because a privatized Saudi Aramco […]

Saudi Arabia

SyriaSource

Jan 11, 2016

Top News: January 11, 2016

By SyriaSource

– Aid heads for starving Syrian town Madaya– Toll in Russia raids on Nusra Front-run Syria jail rises to 81– Nusra Front briefly abducts prominent media activists– Syria regime advances on rebels’ main Latakia stronghold – Iraq forces evacuate hundreds of civilians from Ramadi– Turkey plans to issue work permits for Syrians

Syria

MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

Top News: Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda becomes biggest in parliament as ruling party splits

By MENASource

Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda Party became the biggest in parliament after more lawmakers in President Beji Caid Essebsi’s Nidaa Tounes party resigned from the parliamentary bloc on Monday. The rift does not present an immediate threat to the coalition government, which includes Ennahda.

MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

Top News: Egypt’s First Parliament in Three Years Convenes

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s first legislature in more than three years held its inaugural session on Sunday, where it elected a constitutional expert as its speaker. Ali Abdel Aal was elected speaker of the house with 401 out of 585 votes. Abdel Aal is a constitutional law professor at Ain Shams University and is the nominee from the […]

MENASource

Jan 11, 2016

EconSource: Egypt’s President Sisi Launches Loan Program for SMEs

By EconSource

Egypt’s banking sector will inject EGP 200 billion ($25 billion) to support small and medium businesses (SMEs), President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Saturday.

British Typhoon intercepts Russian Su-34 jets over Baltic airspace, July 24, 2015

NATOSource

Jan 8, 2016

NATO Jets Scrambled 160 Times to Protect Lithuanian Airspace in 2015

By Lithuania Tribune

Lithuania’s Defence Ministry said that NATO jets patrolling airspace over the Baltic Countries scrambled 160 times to intercept Russian planes in 2015, up 14% on the previous year.

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Jan 8, 2016

Has Turkey Become a Distraction in the War on ISIS?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Turkey is a helpful coalition partner, but Ankara-Baghdad rift puts Iraqi Prime Minister in a tough spot, says Aaron Stein Turkey’s entry into the US-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) last summer was marked by Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish militias—a departure from the coalition’s mission. In November, Turkey shot down […]

Iraq Syria

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

The Impact of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Policy

By Haytham Tabesh

The ongoing price war continues between crude oil producers, as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) maintains its Saudi Arabia-led policies to maintain high oil output, contributing to a glut that has brought prices to record lows.

Energy & Environment Saudi Arabia

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

Top News: ISIS-Affiliated Group Claims Attack on Giza Hotel, Bombing of Sinai Gas Pipeline

By EgyptSource

The Islamic State’s (ISIS or ISIL) Egypt affiliate, Sinai State, claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel near the Giza Pyramids the previous day,  according to a statement circulated Friday by sympathizers of the militant group.

MENASource

Jan 8, 2016

Top News: Sixteen members of Tunisia’s ruling party resign from parliamentary bloc

By MENASource

On Thursday, 12 Nidaa Tounes members of parliament submitted their resignation from the Nidaa Tounes parliamentary bloc. This brings the number of resigning members to 16, including four representatives who resigned at the end of December.

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