Kiev, Reuters—Ukraine’s military said on Monday its forces were battling a Russian tank battalion for control of a vital airport in the east of the country as President Petro Poroshenko accused Moscow of “direct and open aggression” against his country. Ukrainian coastguards meanwh
It was good that US President Barack Obama was recently honest enough to admit that his government doesn’t have a strategy to deal with the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria. His frank confession attracted attention and angered some American po
Beijing, AP—China’s legislature on Sunday ruled out allowing open nominations in the inaugural election for Hong Kong’s leader, saying they would create a “chaotic society.” Democracy activists in the Asian financial hub responded by saying that a long-threatened mass occupat
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Lebanon’s justice minister has called for the “sternest punishments” to be applied to individuals who burned the flags of the militant groups the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS) and the Al-Nusra Front in Beirut on Saturday, leading to widespread criticism from politicians and ci
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Talks between the Sunni Iraqi Forces Alliance and the Shi’ite National Alliance on the formation of a new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi collapsed on Saturday. Salman Al-Jumaili, head of the Sunni delegation at the negotiations, blamed membe
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—A political showdown between Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and his conservative opponents is brewing over plans to renew licenses and expand the country’s 3G cellular phone network, in a development that could have a massive impact on the country’s telecommunications sector
Manila, Philippines, AP—Under cover of darkness, 40 Filipino peacekeepers made a daring escape after being surrounded and under fire for seven hours by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights, Philippine officials said Sunday, leaving 44 Fijian troops still in the hands of the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.
Jeddah and Kuwait City, Asharq Al-Awsat—The dispute between Qatar and its neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates remains unresolved, despite positive statements on the issue at the conclusion of Saturday’s meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) foreign ministers in Jed
Baghdad and Washington, Reuters—T he United States carried out air strikes on Saturday against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters near the besieged Shi’ite town of Amerli in northern Iraq and airdropped humanitarian aid to civilians trapped there, the Pentagon said. President Bara
Brussels, Reuters—The European Union threatened Russia with new trade sanctions if Moscow fails to start reversing its action in Ukraine, but sharp divisions among leaders at a summit in Brussels left the timing of any measures uncertain. After a lengthy briefing by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshe
Once again, US Vice President Joe Biden returned to talk about the possibility of dividing Iraq into three federal states—Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish. As a man advances in age and his career, one would expect him to become wiser and more knowledgeable, not the opposite. Mr. Biden, however
Some say, whether out of ignorance or negligence, that the current criticism of Islamists and political Islam is nothing more than a trend that will soon fade out of fashion. However, those who put forward this point of view do not understand that this “trend” has destroyed Arab and Islamic states,
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) unanimously agreed to fulfill their commitments on safeguarding the security of the Gulf region following the conclusion of the 132nd GCC Ministerial Council in Jeddah on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime
Dubai and Vienna, Reuters—Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday new US sanctions were against the spirit of Tehran’s nuclear negotiations with world powers, but added he was not pessimistic about the talks continuing. The United States on Friday penalized a number of Iranian
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Over thirty delicious dishes with a Lebanese twist have been brought to Monaco by Lebanese chef Maroun Chedid, in collaboration with long-time friend and French celebrity Chef Marcel Ravin. Clientele flocked from across the microstate to taste Baba Ghanouj, Al-Kabba Al-
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has prepared a “three-stage contingency” plan to secure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, high-level Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The move comes following an agreement between the Ramall
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud warned that terrorists present in Iraq and Syria will seek to target the West in the future unless they are confronted today, during a meeting in which he received the credentials of a number of new ambassadors to the Kingdom. “
Kiev, Reuters—Ukraine called on Friday for full membership in NATO, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in armored columns that have driven back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels. Russian President Vladimir Putin, defiant as ever, compared
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Burham Salih, former head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and a former deputy prime minister of Iraq, is able to walk the streets of the Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah unencumbered by bodyguards. Such is the popularity and respect enjoyed by the senior Patriotic
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Shi’ite leader Moqtada Al-Sadr called on Baghdad to pursue a new regional foreign policy with the formation of a new government led by Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi. “We must open up to the other countries [in the region] to end the security and sectar
