Tokyo, Reuters—Japan “strongly protested” on Wednesday against Russian military exercises on Pacific islands that it also claims and which have been at the root of strained relations between the two countries since the end of the Second World War. The exercises on the disputed isla
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—During times, especially in recent years, when Islamic extremism seems to almost monopolize the media spotlight, attention often turns to the question of who truly represents the religion of Islam and carries the flame for the “authentic” interpretation of the faith. Inv
It is odd that an organization that adopts an extremist ideology and is responsible for much bloodshed, such as Al-Qaeda, would feel embarrassed by another organization that outdoes it in terms of violence and cruelty, to the extent that it denounces it and distances itself from its actions. The gro
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Three weeks of fierce fighting between rival militias in Tripoli have come close to reducing Libya’s capital to an empty shell, as civilians continue to flee for their lives. “Thousands of refugees have left their homes in Tripoli, which has turned into a ghost city,” a reside
Istanbul, Asharq Al-Awsat—Cracks have appeared within Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as president-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prepares to move into Çankaya presidential palace, while the man he is replacing, Abdullah Gül, is eyeing the soon to be vacant post of party chairm
Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Mahares International Fine Arts Festival in Tunisia will this year pay homage to world-famous painter Paul Klee. Now in its 27th year, the festival opened its doors to art lovers on Sunday, August 10 in the small coastal town of Mahares. The festival’s events are att
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—Thousands of Iraqi Yazidis have suffered a hideous ordeal over the past week, trapped in Iraq’s Sinjar Mountains after seeking refuge there from attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The family of Maloul Jambuland is just one of thousands of Yazidi famil
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal confirmed that international donors, including Saudi Arabia, have pledged 500 million US dollars for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, during an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OI
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was politically outmaneuvered after Iraqi President Fuad Masoum took the decision to task Haider Al-Abadi—a member of Maliki’s own Islamic Da’wa Party and a close aide—to form the next government, a former ally t
London, Reuters—Brent crude oil fell to around 104 US dollars a barrel on Tuesday, touching its lowest level in nine months as steady supplies dispelled concerns over potential disruptions in producers including Iraq and Libya. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said while the situation in severa
Ramallah and Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Hamas announced its agreement on allowing the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take control of Gaza’s border crossings on Monday, clearing the way for indirect peace talks with the Israeli government to continue. The demand was one of Israel’s main conditions at the
Moscow, AP—A convoy of 280 Russian trucks headed for eastern Ukraine early Tuesday, one day after agreement was reached on an international humanitarian relief mission. But the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is due to coordinate the operation, said it had no information
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—A visit to one of Egypt’s archaeological museums usually inspires a sense of wonder at the majesty of Ancient Egypt’s architecture. A visit to the first “torture museum” in Egypt and the Arab world, however, only leaves one with shivers running down the spine. Inside thi
Two months ago, fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) were marching south towards the gates of Baghdad following their capture of Mosul and Anbar province. Despite that, they did not enter the capital; against all expectations, they headed north towards Kurdistan. In Syria, ISIS fol
Baghdad, Reuters—Iraq’s president named a new prime minister to replace Nuri Al-Maliki on Monday, urging him to form a broad government that can stem communal bloodshed, but it was unclear whether Maliki would bow to US and Iranian pressure to step aside. A Shi’ite Muslim blamed by erstw
Erbil, Asharq Al-Awsat—With the insurgents of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) getting closer to the borders of Iraqi Kurdistan, the number of volunteers who want to fight alongside the Kurdish Peshmerga has seen a sharp increase. Solider need weapons, and as a result the gun market of Erb
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—A graduate of the American University of Cairo, Texas-based author Lawrence Wright shot to international fame in 2006 with his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11, which was widely hailed as a masterful account of the rise of the world
The anger felt by many Saudis was expressed by Prince Turki Al-Faisal in an article, ‘The Denial of Saudi Efforts toward the Helpless,’ published in this newspaper last Wednesday, and in which he wrote about “the outrageous attempts by the Israeli government and its lackeys to portray Saudi Arabia a
Gaza/Jerusalem, Reuters—Israeli negotiators arrived in Cairo on Monday for talks on ending a month-old Gaza war with Palestinian militants after a new 72-hour truce brokered by Egypt appeared to be holding. The Israeli military said one rocket was launched at the Tel Aviv area, in Israel’s com
Jeddah,Asharq Al-Awsat—Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz held a meeting with visiting Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in Jeddah on Sunday. The meeting discussed recent events in the Arab, Islamic, and international arenas, most prominently the recent developments
