First Independent Mena Newspaper
After meeting a number of ministers and representatives of UNICA, Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh announced during a press conference earlier in January that all new taxes and fees imposed on vehicles by the 2014 budget would be suspended until further notice. Prime Minister added that the government opted for suspending of several fees on […]
With less than four days before the crucial referendum, Egypt has got its first public presidential candidate. Ahmed Shafik, Mubarak’s last Prime Minister, said he will be running for presidency if General Al-Sisi fails to be a candidate. The approval of a new constitution in Egypt will pave the way for presidential and parliamentary elections. […]
Tunisian authorities are under pressure to reduce the hardship on the population as public protests continue to increase. The government said it is trying to convince the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for half a billion dollar loan in order to take the necessary actions. The looming elections could slow IMF’s decision. Finance Minister Ilyas Fakhfakh […]
Algeria is to reopen the major gas plant Tiguentourine after foreign investors and firms operating at the plant negotiated a deal with the Algerian government to resume work. British Petroleum and Statoil workers are about to return to their previous workplace, which they left after the terrorist attack on January 13 last year. The attack […]
Comments made by Iran about Egypt have resulted in the summoning of the Iranian Charge d’affaires in Cairo. The Iranian comments were centered on the daily confrontations between the supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and security personnel; the last of which left more than 14 people dead. They were made by Iranian Ministry of Foreign […]
Tunisia’s constitutional assembly voted earlier this week to enshrine gender equality in its draft constitution, upholding the country’s status as having one of the Arab world’s most progressive laws on women’s right. The text enshrining the equality between men and women was approved by a large majority of 159 lawmakers out of the 169 who […]
North Africa’s aviation companies are engaged in a battle to dominate the skies. The latest move to increase its effectiveness in the skies emanates from Air Algerie. The company boosted its fleet with the signing of three 250 seat Airbus passenger jets and eight 150-seat jets from Boeing, company officials said. The deal is worth […]
The ongoing voting of the constitutional articles is surrounded with great enthusiasm and debates. The different political parties are blaming each other for the approval or rejection of certain articles. Voting began at the end of last week. Death threats have already been sent to a couple of members in parliament thereby delaying the voting […]
Experts forecast that the Egyptian Stock Exchange will rise by 40 percent in the new year, which should, along with the major political events like the constitutional referendum and parliamentary and presidential elections, promote expectations of stability and security. The director of investment at Egyptians Abroad Investment and Development Co. said that the country’s stock […]
Morocco has launched on Thursday the legalization process of undocumented migrants as recommended by the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and as promised by the country’s king last September. Very early on Thursday, long queues of illegal immigrants were waiting to submit their applications at the « Aliens’ bureaux » opened throughout Morocco, a premiere […]