By all indications both the Islamic Republic’s “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenei and US President Barack Obama appear determined to reach some sort of agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. The deadline they seem to have fixed is March 31, which coincides with the end of Iranian New Year holidays. Earli
Cairo, AP—Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reshuffled his cabinet on Thursday, replacing the powerful minister in charge of the nation’s police along with six other ministers, state television reported. Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim, who oversees police, was replaced by another poli
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is seeking to have international aid transferred from the capital Sana’a, where Houthi rebels hold sway, to his new southern stronghold in Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat has learned. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, a Y
Beirut and London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s official franchise in Syria, could split from the organization and create a new armed group to fight rival extremists the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the country, a senior member of the Western-backed armed opposition to
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Washington and Tehran have reached a “special understanding” over the forthcoming offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Tikrit, Iraqi political sources said, as the US warned the assault to retake the city must not fuel sectarian tensions. The
Beirut, Reuters—Insurgents attacked a Syrian government security building in the northern city of Aleppo on Wednesday, bombing it and then launching a ground assault, sources on both sides and a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 20 members of the security f
Seoul, Reuters—US ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert underwent two-and-a-half hours of surgery after he was slashed in the face by a Korean nationalist in an attack at a breakfast forum in Seoul on Thursday to discuss Korean reunification. Lippert, 42, was bleeding from deep wounds to his face a
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said recently that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz has managed to achieve in the first 10 days of his reign what no ruler could possibly achieve during their first 100. But for all their good intentions, Ban’s remarks include a small struc
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt’s postal service has issued stamps commemorating Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, one of the Arab world’s most celebrated screen actors, who died in January at the age of 84. Known as the “Lady of the Arab Screen,” Hamama made her screen debut at the age of seven and
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi diplomat recently freed from captivity in Yemen revealed on Tuesday he was treated badly by his Al-Qaeda captors. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat Saudi Deputy Consul Abdullah Al-Khalidi said he was “guiltlessly” kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in f
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Plans to strengthen Britain’s military presence in Bahrain will benefit the entire Gulf region, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said on Tuesday during a visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh. Fallon, who was in Riyadh as part of a region-wide visit, said plans to expand
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The rebel Houthi movement and Yemen’s ruling General People’s Congress (GPC) party turned down on Tuesday a proposal by embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to move UN-sponsored talks to Riyadh, a government source told Asharq Al-Awsat. The official, who spoke on
Montreux, Reuters—The US and Iranian foreign ministers began a third day of talks over Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned that the deal being negotiated was a serious mistake. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran̵
Donetsk, Reuters—A blast at a coal mine in the eastern Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Donetsk killed more than 30 people, a local official said on Wednesday, with dozens more miners who were underground at the time unaccounted for. Miners’ relatives were gathering at the entrance to the Zasyadk
The US is fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and so is Iran. At the same time, Washington is holding nuclear talks with Tehran and imposing sanctions on its government with the aim of reaching an attractive settlement albeit amid strong opposition from the Republicans. ISIS declare
One Arab writer argues that the three British schoolgirls of Asian origin—Kadiza Sultana, Shamima Begum and Amira Abase—who left their homes and snuck into Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are victims of negative propaganda. He writes that it is slanderous to desc
Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt will launch a new economic development program aimed at revitalizing the country’s flailing economy during an upcoming major investment conference later this month, the country’s investment minister said on Monday. Speaking on the sidelines of a Middle East-focused inves
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday, as the two countries looked to patch up recently strained relations. Erdoğan, who was in the Kingdom for an official state visit,
Baghdad, Reuters—Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and Shi’ite militiamen sought to seal off Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters in Tikrit and nearby towns on Tuesday, the second day of Iraq’s biggest offensive yet against a stronghold of the radical Sunni Islamist militants. Irani
Moscow, Reuters—Several hundred Russians, many carrying red carnations, queued on Tuesday to pay their respects to Boris Nemtsov, the Kremlin critic whose murder last week showed the hazards of speaking out against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin’s aides deny any involvement in killing
