Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has met with a number of ex-Muslim Brotherhood figures to discuss ways of confronting Islamic extremism in the North African country. Cairo designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in December 2013, less than six
Dhaka, Bangladesh, AP—A prominent Bangladeshi-American blogger known for speaking out against religious extremism was hacked to death as he walked through Bangladesh’s capital with his wife, police said Friday. The attack Thursday night on Avijit Roy, a Bangladesh-born US citizen, occurred on
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—In a televised speech on Thursday, Yemeni Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi issued a strongly-worded message backing his group’s coup in the capital Sana’a. Houthi criticized Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s exit from Sana’a, and his establishment of a rival
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Celebrated Saudi artist Ahmed Mater is currently filing a court complaint against Swiss watchmaker Omega for plagiarism of his iconic work Magnetism in an advertisement. Asharq Al-Awsat discussed the dispute with the artist and those close to the negotiations currently underw
United Nations, AP—The Syrian government expelled two key UN humanitarian staffers because of their contact with armed opposition groups while trying to arrange aid deliveries—a decision that could harm a new effort to secure a six-week truce in the country’s largest city, the UN humanitarian
Berlin, AP—Germany’s parliament overwhelmingly approved the four-month extension of Greece’s financial bailout on Friday, despite unease over the new government in Athens. Lawmakers voted 542-32 to back the bailout extension. There were 13 abstentions. Greece was granted the extension by
According to Western governments, more than 12,000 of their citizens have traveled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in various capacities including frontline fighters. Estimates also show that 8,000 citizens of some 20 other nations have also traveled to ISIS-hel
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Cracks are appearing within the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) amid reports of divisions and confrontation between foreign fighters and local tribesmen in the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh, Salah Al-Din and Anbar. The divisions have emerged over ISIS’s execution of
When Saddam Hussein invaded and occupied Kuwait in 1990, an international coalition was formed to expel his army. The coalition was advocated and embraced by Saudi Arabia who effectively participated in it both militarily and politically and in terms of security while Egypt was at the forefront of t
London, AP—A British-accented militant who has appeared in beheading videos released by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in Syria bears strong similarities to a man who grew up in London, a Muslim lobbying group said Thursday. Mohammed Emwazi has been identified by news organizations
Riyadh and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Wednesday resumed their work in Aden, the Red Sea port city where Yemen’s President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi fled after escaping house arrest in Sana’a imposed by the powerful Houthi movement, a Gulf source told Asha
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia this week intensified its anti-terrorism efforts with a series of high-level meetings with foreign officials to discuss the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and ways to combat the group. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz met
Buenos Aires, Reuters—The revamp of Argentina’s intelligence service faced its final legislative hurdle on Wednesday, with Congress poised to create a new agency after the government said a renegade spy was linked to the death of a star prosecutor. State investigator Alberto Nisman was found w
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has traditionally played the role of kingmaker in Lebanese politics. However, nine months after the end of the presidential term of Michel Suleiman, there is still no new president in Beirut’s Baabda Palace. The Hezbolla
Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, Reuters—President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Russia would halt gas supplies to Ukraine if it did not receive advance payment, raising the possibility of onward deliveries to Europe being disrupted for the fourth time in a decade. Criticizing Ukraine for cutting of
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Libya’s parliament on Tuesday took its first official steps towards naming Gen. Khalifa Haftar as commander-in-chief of the Libyan army. Libyan parliamentary spokesman Faraj Bouhashem told Asharq Al-Awsat that MPs had voted on a proposal to issue a draft law establishing
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq’s parliament on Monday allocated 60 million US dollars to support and develop Popular Mobilization forces in the ongoing fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The Popular Mobilization Committee, otherwise known as the Hashid Al-Shaabi forces ar
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen authorities loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi said on Tuesday they had foiled a mutiny by soldiers guarding the president’s residence in Aden. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, a Yemen presidential source said officers from Yemen’s
Beirut and Amman, Reuters—Kurdish militia pressed a big offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in northeast Syria on Wednesday, cutting one of its supply lines from Iraq, as fears mounted for dozens of Christians abducted by the hardline group that recently beheaded 21 Egyptian Cop
Stephenville, Texas, Reuters—Eddie Ray Routh was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Tuesday after a Texas jury found him guilty of murdering Chris Kyle, the former US Navy SEAL whose autobiography was turned into the hit movie American Sniper. Routh, 27, a former US Mar
