Seoul, Reuters—North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has confirmed he will attend celebrations in Russia in May marking the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said on Wednesday, citing a Kremlin spokesman. The trip would be Kim’s first foreign
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Disagreements over outstanding debts are threatening to undermine the agreement signed in late 2014 to end a near year-long oil dispute between the Iraqi government in Baghdad and the government of the country’s autonomous Kurdish region. Members of the State of Law co
It is natural that Western media outlets and researchers have been abuzz with outpourings of analyses, studies and conclusions about the direction Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policy will take after King Salman Bin Abdulaziz ascended to the throne after the death of his brother, King Abdullah
Tripoli, Reuters—Two heavily armed gunmen stormed a luxury Tripoli hotel favored by top Libyan officials and visiting delegations on Tuesday, killing at least eight people including four foreigners before blowing themselves up, authorities said. Shooting erupted inside the five-star Corinthia Hotel
Al-Khobar, Asharq Al-Awsat—Oil prices could rebound to 200 US dollars per barrel if investments in the oil sector dry up in light of current low prices, according to OPEC’s secretary general, Abdallah El-Badri. Speaking to Bloomberg in London on Monday, Badri warned that new investment was needed in
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Several of Yemen’s political parties have said they will boycott talks with the Houthi movement sponsored by the UN to reach a solution for the nationwide crisis, claiming conditions are unwelcome following the Shi’ite group’s recent power grab. Key blocs from the Joint Meeti
New Delhi, Reuters—President Barack Obama will fly a 30-member delegation, including top officials and respected Republican foreign policy veterans, to Riyadh on Tuesday to meet Saudi Arabia’s new King Salman Bin Abdulaziz as the crisis in neighboring Yemen continues to boil. The hastily sched
New York, AP—Tens of millions of people along the US East Coast hunkered down for a storm that for most failed to live up to predictions that it would be one of the worst they’d ever seen. Forecasters originally said the storm could bring up to 3 feet (about 1 meter) of snow and punishing [&he
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—At the same time that the Iraqi army has announced the liberation of Diyala province in the east of the country from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the region’s local tribes accused some of the Shi’ite volunteer forces who helped liberate the province of targeti
A friend of mine recently told me a story about how her husband once asked her if, during her time as a student in London, she had ever suffered Islamophobia. Yes, she said, she did experience Islamophobia a few times, especially when seeing a Muslim woman with a niqab (full face veil) or a Muslim [
Kiev and St. Petersburg, Reuters—Russian-backed rebels advanced to encircle a Ukrainian army garrison town on Monday in a new offensive that has again unleashed all-out war after a five-month ceasefire and brought threats of new Western sanctions against Moscow. The United States and the European Un
Beirut and Istanbul, Reuters—Kurdish forces took full control of the Syrian town of Kobani on Monday, driving out remaining Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters to end a four-month battle that became a focal point of the international fight against the ultra-hardline Islamist group. Monit
What will change in Saudi policy, both foreign and domestic, over the coming period? This is the question that has been most repeated in the Western press since the death of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz and the ascension of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. How will Riyadh
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—At least 18 people were killed and 52 injured in clashes throughout Egypt on Sunday, on the fourth anniversary of the January 2011 revolution that toppled the regime of former president Hosni Mubarak. Hisham Ata, a member of the Emergencies Committee at the Ministry of Health,
Sana’a, AP—Shi’ite rebels armed with knives and batons attacked and detained demonstrators Monday protesting against their power grab in Yemen’s capital, witnesses said. The Houthi rebels seized Sana’a in September and days of gunbattles last week ended with them placing the
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—World leaders continued to flock to the Saudi capital Riyadh for the third day in a row on Sunday, to offer their condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz on the passing of his brother, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. Among those present at
Athens, Reuters—Greek left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras struck a deal with a right-wing party to form a government to confront international lenders and reverse years of painful austerity following a crushing election victory by his Syriza party. The success of the anti-bailout party reignites fears o
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—A new wave of Lebanese TV anchorwomen, sporting a more relaxed and outgoing presenting style, are appearing on Egyptian satellite TV channels, sparking a new debate about the competition between foreign and homegrown media talent in the country. Media experts informed As
In 2010, while Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz—then Prince Salman—was leaving a dinner reception held for him in Norway by the country’s minister for higher education, a crowd of people, including Norwegians and members of the Arab and Muslim communities in Norway, gathered outs
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Female activists in Baghdad have established Women for a Civil Iraq, an organization that aims to promote Iraqi civil culture, preserve human rights and freedom of expression, and promote the separation of religion from politics in the country. To honor its establishment, a
