Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudis have condemned the suicide bomb attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the eastern city of Dammam on Friday as details of the foiled terrorist plot continue to emerge. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, an eye-witness said that the suicide bomber had attempted to gain access to
Geneva, AP—A month out from a nuclear deal deadline, the top US and Iranian diplomats gathered in Geneva Saturday in an effort to bridge differences over how quickly to ease economic sanctions on Tehran and how significantly the Iranians must open up military facilities to international inspections.
Zurich, AP—Sepp Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president for a fifth term on Friday, chosen to lead world soccer despite separate US and Swiss criminal investigations into corruption. The 209 FIFA member federations gave the 79-year-old Blatter another four-year term after Prince Ali bin al-Hu
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi security forces have foiled a terrorist attack on a Shi’ite mosque in the eastern city of Dammam on Friday, a security spokesman confirmed. Four people were killed when a car bomb exploded near the Al-Anoud mosque, however the loss of life would have been far grea
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Against the backdrop of the ongoing advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in eastern Nineveh governorate in Iraq, a political storm has broken out that resulted in the dismissal of Nineveh governor Atheel Al-Nujaifi on Thursday. A majority of Iraqi MPs
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s exiled government and several political factions said on Thursday that they refuse to negotiate with the Houthi rebel group unless it withdraws forces from the areas it has occupied. UN-sponsored talks aimed at resolving the crisis in Yemen, originally scheduled for M
Amman, Reuters—The Syrian army has pulled back from the northwestern city of Ariha after a coalition of insurgent groups seized the last city in Idlib province in northwestern Syria near the Turkish border that was still held by the government. A coalition of rebel groups called Fatah Army said it h
Abuja, Nigeria,AP—Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. As Buhari finished taking the oath of office in traditional robes and an embroi
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani this week launched a stinging attack on critics of his administration’s foreign policy and reminded everyone that politics was all about choice. “This government has chosen moderation and peaceful cooperation, and non-intervention in the affairs of other nations,” he
Riyadh and Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat—The King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Works and UNICEF have begun joint efforts to deliver humanitarian relief to Yemenis caught up in the country’s current conflict. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday to cooperate on a j
Washington, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi forces fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will receive 2,000 anti-tank missiles by the end of the week, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, Pentagon spokesperson Commander Elissa Smith said: “Contact is ongoing b
Moscow, AP—Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of meddling in FIFA’s affairs and hinted that it was part of an attempt to take the 2018 World Cup away from his country. Putin said in televised comments Thursday that he found it “odd” that the probe was launch
Muscat and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—All political factions in Yemen need to be involved in any process aimed at ending the current crisis in the country, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javid Zarif said on Tuesday. In a clear reference to the Shi’ite Houthi movement, Zarif said all groups in Yemen
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The United States is refusing to “cooperate” with the Libyan government’s counter-terror efforts unless a national unity government is formed, Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Al-Dairi said. In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat during a state visit to Riyadh, Libya’s for
It must be admitted that the idea of suicide bombings is intimidating in itself. It contradicts our human nature and instincts of self-preservation. Suicide bombings do not take place in battlefields; instead their perpetrators sneak around among safe, civilian gatherings. Hence the vile and cowardl
Seoul, Reuters—The United States and two key Asian allies discussed how to increase pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear program and will urge China to help bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, officials said. The talks in Seoul follows a test of what the North said was a subm
Baghdad, Reuters—Iraq’s Shi’ite paramilitaries said on Tuesday they had taken charge of the campaign to drive Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from the western province of Anbar, giving the operation an openly sectarian code name that could infuriate its Sunni Muslim populati
Paris, Reuters—UEFA President Michel Platini has reiterated his support for Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein in the Jordanian’s bid to usurp incumbent Sepp Blatter in this week’s FIFA presidency vote. Prince Ali is the only remaining candidate standing against Blatter in Friday’s election
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—After two months of intense fighting, Popular Resistance forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have recaptured the southern Al-Dalea province from Houthi militias and forces loyal to ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Yem
A full year has passed since Lebanon’s presidency became vacant. Failure to elect a president does not happen in a country that claims to be sovereign and independent. It is also unknown in a system described by its defenders as “democratic”, and within a political entity whose factional leaders try
