London – Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by Washington, entered on Monday the strategic ISIS bastion in the Tabaqa city located in Syria’s Raqqa governorate, said the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “They seized control of several points in the town’
London – Unemployment in Iran weighed heavily on the fourth day of the presidential campaigns as candidates exchanged accusations and contested with numbers. While conservative candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed on Monday to provide five million jobs if he wins the election, he was accus
Paris – Four Arabs are among the nine candidates running for UNESCO’s top post, who will be interviewed this week before 58 members of the organization’s executive board. Last month, the United Nations announced nine possible candidates on a shortlist to replace the current chief of UNESCO, Irina Bo
Brussels – Abdullatif Hamam, Tunisian state secretary of commerce, took part in the forum organized by the Arab Belgian Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, to promote investment opportunities of Tunisia. On the symposium’s sidelines, the minister told Asharq Al-Awsat that such an event has signifi
Paris – Electoral campaigns for the second round of presidential elections, which will take place on May 7, kicked off Monday, witnessing an exchange of “strikes below the belt” between parties supporting centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron on one side and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on the oth
Beirut, London – While Syrian regime forces appeared on Monday to be racing with experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to Khan Sheikhoun to hide the remaining proof of their chemical attack on the town early this month, Washington enforced sanctions again
Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld a five-year jail sentence for a British-Iranian charity worker who was convicted on unspecified charges relating to national security, her husband said on Monday. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested by t
The United Nations Security Council must be prepared to impose new sanctions on North Korea amid escalating tensions over its missile and nuclear programs, United States President Donald Trump said on Monday ahead of a lunch with ambassadors from countries on the UN council. Trump, speaking to repor
With final French election results showing presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen on 24.01%, 21.30% respectively, France’s outgoing president, Francois Hollande, urged people to back centrist Emmanuel Macron in a vote to choose his successor next month. Hollande appealed to
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel stressed on Monday the significant role Russia can play in achieving a ceasefire as he embarked on a Middle East tour that he kicked off in Jordan. A truce in the war can only be achieved with the help of Russia as the only country with “real influence
For Mamadou Sakho, there is no satisfaction to be had in vindication. He has known for over a year he had done nothing wrong, and that the fat burner containing higenamine, for which he tested positive after helping Liverpool to Europa League progress beyond Manchester United, was not included on th
Kuwait- Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at Bayan Palace on Sunday. The two sides discussed the Palestinian Cause and bilateral relations and means of enhancing and developing them in all fields. Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) q
Riyadh- Acting Director-General of the General Authority of Zakat and Tax in Saudi Arabia Tareq al-Sadhan confirmed that tax evasion in Saudi Arabia is low; pointing out that the Kingdom is making efforts to maintain its tax revenues from foreign companies. Sadhan said that the problem of tax revenu
Casablanca- Brahim Benjelloun Touimi, the director general of BCME Bank and the chairman of the Bank of Africa, said that Al Baraka Banking Group will open a branch in Morocco in June – a step that falls under the partnership between BCME and Al Baraka Banking Group. Benjelloun Touimi told Asharq Al
When the Saudi King receives the Egyptian president, the Arab role in the region will prevail over talks between the two leaders. This goes without saying, as Saudi Arabia and Egypt constitute the pillars of any effective Arab role. Any strategic gathering between the two countries would be regarded
Ties between Turkey and the European Union could be revived if the bloc implemented the terms of a deal aimed at limiting the flow of migrants, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Monday. Turkey has received only 790 million euros ($857 million) of a 3 billion euro package promised
The World Health Organization announced on Monday that Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have been chosen to test the first malaria vaccine, which will be administered to hundreds of thousands of young children next year. The vaccine, which has partial effectiveness, has the potential to save tens of thousand
London – The Iranian electoral commission announced the schedule of the televised presidential debates, reversing a decision that bans their live broadcast. Spokesman for Iran’s Interior Ministry Seyyed Salman Samani said that the ban stemmed from “highly delicate” concerns, hinting at the exp
At least eight people, including a child, drowned when an inflatable boat carrying refugees and migrants sank off Greece’s Lesbos island, the Greek coastguard said on Monday. The coast guard said a Greek navy vessel located the bodies, believed to be of migrants attempting to enter Greece from
Manama – King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued on Sunday a Royal Order to form a legislative committee to review the new unified family law expected to be issued in the kingdom. The Royal Order 24/ 2017 directed that the committee be formed of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs called Leg
