Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—In spite of the tense political situation in Lebanon, the country still found time to celebrate glitz and glamor this week, crowning Sally Greige Miss Lebanon 2014 on Sunday. Politicians, including the Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon, the official sponsor of the ceremony,
Mursitpinar, AP—The US-led coalition pounded positions of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group in the Syrian border town of Kobani on Thursday in some of the most intensive strikes in the air campaign so far, a Kurdish official and an activist group said. But despite the airstrikes overn
Mexico City, Reuters—Thousands marched through the Mexican capital on Wednesday to demand the government find out what happened to dozens of missing students, who are feared to have been massacred by gang members and police. The students from a teachers’ college went missing after they clashed
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Noor and Salma, two 15-year-old Egyptian girls, were flushed with happiness when a policewoman accompanied them through the crowded entrance of the Metro cinema in central Cairo on the first day of Eid Al-Adha. The female police officer is a member of a newly formed police uni
The word “if” is Hezbollah’s propaganda tool to justify its involvement in Syria, pushing Lebanon’s Shi’ites, if not the whole country, into the conflict. The Shi’ite group justifies this by saying that if it had not supported the Assad regime, “Shi’ite religious shrines would have fallen,” or
Al-Khobar, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran will not be reducing its oil prices in order to match its competitors on the global market, Iran’s oil minister said on Tuesday, amid fears that discounts offered by Saudi Arabia to US and Asian customers in November could trigger a price war among OPEC members. “Ther
Washington, Reuters—US Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday added Saudi Arabia to the list of Middle Eastern countries to which he “clarified” remarks he made last week suggesting they had supported Islamist militants in Syria. He apologized to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates last wee
Washington and Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Washington has rejected Turkey’s conditions over its involvement in the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu have stressed in recent days Turkey
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Houthi movement has rejected the appointment of a new prime minister by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, as reports say rebels belonging to the Shi’ite group are advancing on the strategically important Bab El-Mandeb Strait to the southwest of the country. Preside
Mürşitpınar and Ankara, Reuters—US-led airstrikes on Wednesday pushed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters back to the edges of the Syrian–Kurdish border town of Kobani, which they had appeared set to seize after a three-week assault, local officials said. The town has become
Hong Kong, Reuters—Hong Kong pro-democracy protests that brought tens of thousands on to the streets last week dwindled to a few hundred on Wednesday after activist leaders agreed to talks with the government which are all but certain to go nowhere. The student-led protests have calmed since clashes
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi capital markets regulator is seeking the opinions of stock market analysts, economists and a host of other local financial experts on final steps to liberalize the country’s stock market for foreign investment, informed sources have told Asharq Al-Awsat, as the bour
Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat—Thespians from across the Gulf enjoyed the limelight during Saudi celebrations of Eid Al-Adha in the Eastern Province region with plays staged in Dammam and Tarout Island. Al-Rehla (The Journey), a socio-comedy co-starring Saudi actors Mohamed Ali, Nayef Fayez, Fahd Al-
It seems the “blame game” season is in full swing. It began just after it became evident that no one had expected the situation in Iraq and Syria to deteriorate to the extent that a terrorist organization can capture large expanses of territory, including a major city such as Mosul, in such a short
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—The recent record levels of reserve assets held by Saudi Arabia’s central bank are an indicator of the Kingdom’s economic stability and robustness in the face of major financial crises, economists have told Asharq Al-Awsat. Reserve assets held by the central bank, known as th
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Ongoing violations by Houthi rebels currently in control of much of Sana’a have prompted a mass exodus from the capital, with many civilians traveling abroad or to other cities during Eid Al-Adha, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The recent takeover of most state buildings and t
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Libya’s Islamist militant group Jaish Al-Islam has called on residents in the eastern port city of Derna to support the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), sources and local eyewitnesses have told Asharq Al-Awsat. This development, which is likely to stoke fears that Libya
Madrid, Reuters—The husband of a Spanish nurse who on Monday became the first person known to have contracted Ebola outside of Africa is now in quarantine in hospital, a Spanish health official said on Tuesday. The nurse, who had helped treat two Spanish priests after they were repatriated to Madrid
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Two of London’s most prestigious auction houses are due to launch a special week of sales of Islamic art on Tuesday. Islamic Art Week, hosted by Christie’s and Sotheby’s, will feature many centuries-old artistic treasures from across the Islamic world. Having toured Christie&
Mürşitpınar and Beirut, Reuters—Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters advanced into the south west of the Syrian Kurdish town of Ain Al-Arab, overnight, a monitoring group said on Tuesday, taking several buildings to gain attacking positions from two sides of the city. The prospect that th
