Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Given its notoriety and the brutality of its tactics, the fact that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has developed an impressively slick and professional new media arm is sometimes overlooked. In response, the most prestigious institute of Sunni Islamic learning in t
Rabat, Asharq Al-Awsat—Moroccan Justice Minister Mustapha Ramid warned this week that the state must confront extremist ideology and jihadism in all its forms in order to prevent the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) from gaining a foothold in the North African country. In comments to Ash
The little town of Ain Al-Arab, called Kobani by the Turks and Kurds, is becoming a more important place in the Middle East political map than the great city of Aleppo. The plight of this small Syrian town, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Kurds, has provoked a massive American and international re
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—Tunisia’s former ruling coalition made mistakes, but served to stabilize the country at a critical time, one of its most senior members told Asharq Al-Awsat in an exclusive interview ahead of fresh parliamentary elections next week. Imed Daimi, the secretary-general of the Con
Ottawa, Reuters—A gunman shot a soldier at the Canadian War Memorial in Ottawa and was then chased by police into the main parliament building, where at least 30 more shots were fired, according to media and eyewitness reports on Wednesday. Parliament was locked down and Prime Minister Stephen Harpe
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s insurgent Houthi movement is pushing for a larger role in the drafting of the country’s new constitution, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday. The movement, currently in control of large parts of northern and western Yemen, is putting pressure on the central
Hong Kong, Reuters—About 200 Hong Kong protesters marched to the home of the city’s Beijing-backed leader on Wednesday to push their case for greater democracy a day after talks between student leaders and senior officials failed to break the deadlock. Others continued to occupy main streets i
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—In his first televised speech following his appointment on Saturday, Iraq’s new Defense Minister Khalid Al-Obeidi pledged that Iraqi forces would retake all areas of the country that have been taken over by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). “We are committed
Egypt, Asharq Al-Awsat—“We have every Elvis record there is,” George says, as he flicks the towel on his head behind his shoulder, before taking a gulp of beer. George, a 70 year-old from Essex is in traditional Egyptian costume for the boat’s Jalabiya party, and somewhat of an enthusiast: thi
During a news conference following his meeting in Cairo on Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir—who appears to have some sort of gripe with the media—said: “In the past, we used to say that people followed the religion of their leaders, b
Amid the worry accompanying the siege imposed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters on the Syrian–Kurdish city of Kobani, Arab criticism and discontent surfaced despite the heated situation in the city and the fierce fighting on the ground. This discontent was frank and rather
Hong Kong, AP—Hong Kong student leaders and government officials talked but agreed on little Tuesday as the city’s Beijing-backed leader reaffirmed his unwillingness to compromise on the key demand of activists camped in the streets now for a fourth week. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told r
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Rival South Sudan’s political factions agreed on Tuesday that the country should adopt a federal system of government, one day after signing a framework agreement in the Tanzanian city of Arusha which aims to resolve the political crisis that split the country’s r
Cairo, Reuters—Egypt will introduce two new cash benefits early next year as part of government efforts to minimize the impact of subsidy cuts on the poor, a government minister said. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s government raised fuel prices by up to 78 percent shortly after he took offic
Jeddah and Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers on Monday urged Yemen’s warring factions to work towards reconciliation, as the Shi’ite Houthi movement continued its push across the country, taking control of Hajjah Governorate on the Saudi-Yemeni border. In
Ankara, Reuters—The head of Iran’s top clerical body has died after lying in a coma for months, leaving a gap in the only institution that has the authority to elect and dismiss the country’s Supreme Leader. The death of 83-year-old Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, reported by Irani
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Libyan army has achieved successive “military victories” against extremists in the eastern city of Benghazi this week, Libyan General Staff spokesman Col. Ahmed Abu Zeid Al-Mismari said following the announcement of an alliance between the country’s elected Tobruk pa
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Since the beginning of the uprising against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, the Syrian opposition has been plagued by infighting and division, both between radical Islamists and moderates, and within the ranks of the self-confessed moderates themselves. The la
Pretoria, Reuters—A South African judge on Tuesday sentenced Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius to five years in prison for the negligent killing of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year. At the culmination of one of the most watched murder trials in recent
Prior to June 6, Iraq’s former prime minister, Nuri Al-Maliki, treated warnings about the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) with disdain, claiming reports about the group were meant to exert pressure on him. Although American drones were roaming across Iraqi airspace on a daily basis, monitorin
