Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz called on the Arab League to back Egypt’s initiative to stabilize Libya and disarm its Islamist militias. Arab League foreign ministers are set to meet in Cairo on Sunday to discuss a number of contention issues, including
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—One of the myths prevalent in literary circles across the globe today is that poets write their best work between the ages of 17 and 30. In other words, poetry is the fruit of the tree of youth. In real life, however, the muse can visit whomever she wants, regardless of
Has the rising globalization that we have witnessed over the past decades come to an end? There is no doubt that this seems to be the case on the political level. The US seems to have completely lost its appetite to deal with international affairs, concentrating instead on domestic concerns and devo
In response to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mouallem’s statement calling on the US and UK to obtain permission from Bashar Al-Assad’s government to strike the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Assad’s government lacks political legitimac
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—Interim Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa highlighted the political and economic achievements secured by his caretaker cabinet ahead of an important “Invest in Tunisia” conference set to be held on Monday. Jomaa, who is heading an interim government until e
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq’s outgoing prime minister and speaker of parliament have been offered the posts of vice president, along with Iraqiya bloc leader Iyad Allawi, as Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi seeks to announce a new government before a September 10 deadline
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz launched Phase I of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ project for border security on Friday during a joint press conference with Bahraini monarch King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Saudi Arabia is seeking to fortify its borders to safe
Kiev, AP—A ceasefire in Ukraine’s rebellious east appeared to be holding on Saturday, but claims by a pro-Russian separatist leader that the Ukrainian side had violated the agreement showed that the fragile deal could quickly unravel. National Guard Commander Stepan Poltorak was quoted b
There can be no collective action without organization; no organization without direction; no direction without control; and no control without proper financing. Despite all the ideological, political and social discourse surrounding the rise of extremist groups and terrorism, there is another quest
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—According to sources close to the Iranian government, Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has agreed to allow the Iranian military to coordinate with the US to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Although a number of international media outlets qu
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs in Erbil said Kurdish fighters have no plans to leave Kirkuk and other disputed areas in Iraq. “The Peshmerga forces are free to stay and roam across Kurdish areas that are outside the [Iraqi Kurdistan] region. Our forces will never with
Unconfirmed reports appeared last week about alleged air strikes carried out by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt on Libya to stop Islamists from taking control of the capital, Tripoli. These media reports attracted a lot of attention and raised a few eyebrows. Throughout its history, the UAE
Venice, Asharq Al-Awsat—Before film director and scriptwriter Suha Arraf approached the New Israel Fund (NIF) to produce Villa Touma (2014)—her first fictional film as a director—she applied to a number of Arab corporations for funding, but didn’t even receive a reply. “I kno
Washington, Reuters—The Pentagon confirmed on Friday that Ahmed Abdi Godane, a leader of the Al-Shabaab Islamist group, was killed in a US airstrike in Somalia this week, calling it a “major symbolic and operational loss” for the Al-Qaeda-affiliated militants. “We have confir
Newport, Reuters—The United States said on Friday it was forming a “core coalition” to battle Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants in Iraq, calling for broad support from allies and partners but ruling out committing ground forces. President Barack Obama sought to use a
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Lebanon’s cabinet on Thursday explicitly rejected a prisoner-swap deal to secure the release of captured soldiers held by Syrian jihadists, opening the door for the Lebanese army to launch a military operation to free the soldiers. “The Cabinet unanimously agreed
Mariupol and Donetsk, Reuters—Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels clashed just east of the strategic port of Mariupol on Friday, hours before envoys from Ukraine and Russia were expected to announce a ceasefire as the starting point for a wider peace plan. Renewed gunfire and artillery fir
Paris, Asharq Al-Awsat—As Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud returned to Saudi Arabia following his four-day state visit to Paris, a French diplomat described it as a “a successful visit by any and all standards.” The Saudi Crown Prince discussed a number of important issues with
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) has ordered the country’s security forces to prevent commemorations of the assassination of Islam’s second Caliph, fearing the celebrations may stoke sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shi’ites, according to a document le
While victory has a thousand fathers, defeat is always an orphan. The Latin proverb came to my mind the other day as I watched Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh boasting on live television about his group’s “historic victory” in the recent mini-war with Israel. The 90-minute harangue was
