Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—An exhibition currently running in Jeddah draws inspiration from a phrase graffitied in one of the city’s streets and provides a general view of street art in Saudi Arabia. Though it may surprise many, street art has become a tool of artistic expression for an increasing numb
Washington, AP—Muslims in the US and around the world have a responsibility to fight a misconception that terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) speak for them, President Barack Obama said Wednesday in his most direct remarks yet about any link between Islam and terrorism.
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—With Egypt appearing to be gearing up for a military intervention in Libya, Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani sat down with Asharq Al-Awsat in Cairo to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the volatile North African state. Egypt launched a number of airstrikes
Over the course of three days the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, has been receiving Gulf leaders in the Saudi capital Riyadh: the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah; then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Na
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s southern secessionist Al-Hirak movement has offered to work with the Shi’ite Houthi movement which recently seized control of the country’s government, to help ease Yemen’s political crisis, as reports surface that the Houthis have begun
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani paid a state visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the third Gulf leader to arrive in Riyadh this week after the Emir of Kuwait and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia met with Sheikh Tam
United Nations, AP—The United Nations envoy to Syria said on Tuesday he has received a commitment from the Syrian government to suspend airstrikes and artillery shelling on the city of Aleppo for six weeks to allow a proposed UN plan to “freeze” hostilities in the country’s largest
Kiev, Reuters—Some Ukrainian forces began to pull out of a town under siege by Russian-backed separatists on Wednesday as renewed fighting threatened to wreck an international deal aimed at ending the conflict. Rebel forces, who the pro-Western government in Kiev say are supported and armed by Mosco
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Cairo has a diplomatic role to play in helping arrest Libya’s continuing slide into chaos and civil war, the country’s former foreign minister told Asharq Al-Awsat this week, as news emerged that the Egyptian Air Force had bombed several targets in Libya in r
Kuwait City, Asharq Al-Awsat—Global oil prices rose above 60 US dollars a barrel for the first time this year on Monday, on news of a sharp drop in US oil drilling activity and falling output from Libya, though they slipped slightly again during trading on Tuesday. Global benchmark Brent crude rose
The UN Security Council has come to a rare consensus on rejecting the Houthi seizure of power in Yemen. But there’s no real appetite for military action or for dropping the quest for reconciliation, which UN envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar is trying to achieve. There is actually more than one reason to
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—While many teenage girls around the world are preoccupied with navigating the adolescent dramas of high school, feuding with their parents, and dreaming of Justin Bieber, one Palestinian teenager recently returned home after gaining the dubious distinction of becoming
Kiev, Bloomberg—Rebels in eastern Ukraine said Tuesday they took control of most of the strategic crossroad town Debaltseve in fighting that’s threatening to undermine a fragile truce. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic said 300 government troops had surrendered as it took con
The Yemeni crisis has reached a critical moment of truth. The Gulf and the international community have both declared their opposition to the Houthi coup, with these stances resulting in the subsequent closure of several foreign embassies in Sana’a, leaving the Houthi coup without international cove
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—In remarks on his recent request for a new authorization from Congress for military action against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), President Barack Obama made an odd new commitment: not to allow “these terrorists to have a safe haven.” In fact, ISIS has the only s
Sana’a and Aden, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Shi’ite Houthi movement in de facto control of Yemen rejected on Monday calls from the United Nations demanding it give up power in the country. The UN Security Council said on Sunday it “deplored” the Houthi takeover of Yemen’s central government, and pass
Beirut, Reuters—The Syrian army backed by allied militia have captured several villages near Aleppo in battles aimed at encircling the northern city and cutting off insurgent supply lines, a monitoring group said on Tuesday. The advance on Aleppo is the second major offensive by pro-government force
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, held talks with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Royal Palace in Riyadh on Monday, the sta
Brussels, AP—Greek shares led a European retreat on Tuesday as investors reacted negatively to the breakdown in talks between Greece and its creditors in the 19-nation eurozone over the country’s attempt to renegotiate its financial bailout. A meeting on Monday was cut off short, with the euro
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—The office of Iraq’s prime minister called for greater Arab investment in Iraq on Monday, saying Arab firms should break the “monopoly” held by Turkish and Iranian companies, on the same day Iran’s vice-president began a three-day official visit to Iraq. “Iraq needs its Arab
