Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat—A recent opinion poll conducted by a French newspaper showed that Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, France’s new minister of education, had become the country’s second most popular politician, only 15 days after her official appointment. The 36-year-old Moroccan-born politician is Franc
Pretoria, Reuters—A South African judge cleared Oscar Pistorius of all murder charges on Thursday, saying prosecutors had failed to prove the Olympic and Paralympic track star intended to kill his girlfriend or an imagined intruder on Valentine’s Day last year. As judge Thokozile Masipa delive
We can all agree with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his criticism of the US’s hesitation to confront extremist organizations in Iraq and Syria. However, it is difficult to accept his televised statement that Iran warned of the threats of extremism and religious dogmatism and that
London, Jeddah, Riyadh and Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—A major summit of US and Arab officials will take place in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Thursday to discuss the formation of a coalition to confront terrorism in the region. The meeting will be attended by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, J
Washington, Reuters—President Barack Obama told Americans on Wednesday he had authorized US air strikes for the first time in Syria and more attacks in Iraq in a broad escalation of a campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group. Obama’s decision to launch attacks
Edinburgh, Reuters—British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday begged Scots not to rip apart the United Kingdom’s “family of nations,” flying to Scotland to man the barricades against a surge in support for independence eight days before a referendum. Cameron appealed to Scot
The new government in Baghdad can be said to include all the old faces involved in Iraq’s crisis—and it doesn’t even include the the defense or interior ministers yet, who are yet to be named. Looking at the new government—in particular the new vice presidents and deputy parliament
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Heavy fighting between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a Baluch Sunni rebel group called Jaish Al-Adl broke out on Tuesday morning in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan. Heavy clashes were reported between the Revolutionary Guard forces
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shokri called for a global strategy to fight terrorism ahead of a regional meeting on combatting extremism set to be held in Jeddah on Thursday. The Jeddah meeting, which will be attended by representatives from a number of Arab and intern
Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat—The global Islamic economy is growing faster now than at any time previously, attracting increasing investment from around the world, according to the chief executive of a company operating in the sector. Nader Sabri, chief executive of Muslim lifestyle products manufacturer
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Libyan National Army, led by renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar, called on Libya’s militias to disarm, warning that the anti-Islamist militia force is “approaching the finish line” ahead of a renewed assault on the eastern city of Benghazi. “We are approa
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemeni and Houthi officials exchanged accusations of responsibility after a number of Houthi protesters and government security officers were killed in clashes in the capital Sana’a on Tuesday. Houthi protesters attempted to storm a government building in Sa
Kiev, Reuters—Ukraine’s president said on Wednesday Russia had removed the bulk of its forces from his country, raising hopes for a peace drive now underway after five months of conflict in which more than 3,000 people have been killed. Moscow denies sending troops into eastern Ukraine t
Baghdad, Reuters—US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday as he began a tour of the Middle East to build military, political and financial support to defeat Islamic State militants controlling parts of Iraq and Syria. Kerry on Monday had hailed the formation of a new, more in
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei underwent prostate surgery on Monday, according to official reports. Although the operation was described as “routine,” and was reported to have been successfully completed in less than 30 minutes. The announcement has fueled specu
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—After successfully managing to form a government on Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi faces a difficult week of talks with the Shi’ite National Alliance and Sunni Iraqi Forces Alliance to agree on names for the interior and defense minister positions. Abadi declar
It seems that Arabs’ habit of claiming disasters as victories is still alive and kicking. This habit has brought many tragedies upon the region and its people, who continue to pay the price. Yet admitting one’s defeat or mistakes, no matter how bitter they are, is the way forward, as it prompts one
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Arabia is set to host a special regional meeting in Jeddah to discuss the issue of terrorism on Thursday, the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has announced. The meeting will be attended by representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Egypt, Jordan a
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—As Steven Sotloff stood at a checkpoint east of the Libyan city of Sirte in the sweltering heat of August 2011, not far from where the late dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was hiding, he probably did not think he would meet a similar fate to that of the Libyan dictator, his final m
Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat—Prices of Brent crude fell below 100 US dollars per barrel for the first time in 14 months on Monday on the back of increased supply of shale oil from the US, while energy sector experts tell Asharq Al-Awsat they expect prices to stabilize during the winter season. On Monday,
