Reuters—Sporting success is an effective relief for any war-torn nation and Iraq, caught in a bloody war with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, will be seeking more respite when they launch their campaign for a second Asian Cup title in Australia. The Lions of Mesopotamia sent shockwaves around t
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has called for a “revolution” in religious discourse to confront extremist ideology during a speech celebrating the birth of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad on Thursday. Sisi called for “revamping religious speech in accordance with the t
Beirut, AP—The main Western-backed Syrian opposition group opened a three-day meeting Friday to discuss a range of issues, including a Russian initiative to hold peace talks in Moscow to broker a resolution to Syria’s civil war. The Syrian National Coalition is also expected to elect a new pre
Tel Aviv, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Palestinians filed a request to the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate what it believes to be Israeli war crimes committed during the 50-day war in Gaza in July and August 2014, along with its letters of accession to the ICC, a Palestini
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—A Libyan official has revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Libyan interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani may consider resigning from his position, with an “undeclared battle” to succeed him raging behind-the-scenes among members of the parliament. Speaking on the condition of an
Rome, AP—An Icelandic Coast Guard ship was towing a cargo vessel to Italy with about 450 migrants who were abandoned by smugglers, leaving the vessel navigating without a crew, authorities said. Italian Coast Guard Cmdr. Filippo Marini said Friday that after several hours of struggling in rough seas
With public sentiment rising against terrorism, the Pakistani and Afghan governments have decided to abandon their traditional policy of giving terror groups shelter in exchange for a promise not to carry out attacks inside the “host” nation. As a result of that self-defeating policy a variety of te
We are entering a new year bearing unresolved regional wars, such as the Syrian crisis which is threatening to engulf the entire region. The reason that this conflict endures is not due to the struggle between the two Syrian parties—the opposition and the government—but the struggle betw
Surabaya, Indonesia, Reuters—Heavy seas stopped divers reaching the possible wreck of an AirAsia Indonesia jet off Borneo on Thursday and an aviation official said it could be a week before the black box flight recorders are found. Nine bodies have so far been recovered from the Airbus A320-20
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Violence in Iraq and Syria killed more 90,000 people in 2014 as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took over large swaths of territory in both countries. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday announced that the conflict in Syria killed 76,
Beirut and Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat—Confusion continues over a prospective meeting between the Syrian opposition and the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Moscow, with the Syrian National Coalition set to discuss attending the peace talks in Cairo on Friday. The Russian consul-general in Istanbul, Alexe
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—A suicide bomber killed 33 people and injured around 70 in the central Yemeni province of Ibb on Wednesday, as people gathered to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, according to officials. The explosion took place at a student cultural center in the provincial ca
Cairo, Reuters—Egypt’s highest court has ordered a retrial of three jailed journalists working for Al Jazeera television, citing procedural flaws in last year’s trial, defense lawyers said on Thursday. Australian Peter Greste, Canadian–Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian national B
Shanghai, Reuters—A stampede killed at least 36 people during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Shanghai, authorities said, possibly caused by people rushing to pick up fake money thrown from a building overlooking the city’s famous Bund waterfront district. The government in China’s
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—This year has not been a kind one for the Kurdistan region in Iraq. The year began with a financial dispute with Baghdad, when Iraq’s federal government canceled the region’s share of the Iraqi budget and refused to pay its public sector workers’ salaries. Then-prime minister
Ramallah, AP—Stung by a resounding defeat in the UN Security Council, the Palestinians announced Wednesday that they joined the International Criminal Court to pursue war crimes charges against Israel. The move by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas set the stage for a diplomatic showdown with
After a turbulent year marred by terror woes, Ebola outbreaks and a horrific series of airline disasters, many could be forgiven for saying good riddance to 2014 and gratefully ringing in a new year. Across the globe, revelers looking for a respite from the gloom converged on the beaches of Brazil,
Tunis, AP—Tunisia’s new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country’s democratic transition. The inauguration of Beji Caid El-Sebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—A Libyan minister from the internationally recognized government in Tobruk has renewed accusations against Sudan of supporting the Islamist rebel faction Libyan Dawn. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, the minister said information obtained by his gover
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, was admitted to a Riyadh hospital to undergo medical tests, state media reported on Wednesday. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that King Abdullah was undergoing “medical checkups” at King Abdulaziz Me
