Tripoli, Asharq Al-Awsat—Heavy fighting between rebel fighters and rogue government forces was reported in Benghazi on Friday, as Tripoli denied any involvement in the fighting and called on residents to “resist.” The so-called “Libyan National Army,” led by former army chief Gen. Khalif
Berlin, Reuters—The German diplomat moderating ’round table’ talks to promote political reconciliation in Ukraine said on Friday the first meetings this week had included members of pro-Russian separatist groups such as the mayor of the eastern city of Donetsk, making it a meaningful pro
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is seeking to unify the areas under its control in Syria and Iraq, prompting fears of the establishment of an Islamic emirate. ISIS is seeking to connect the Syrian territory under its control, particularly in Deir Ezzor, with Iraq’s
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—In the midst of the Lebanese parliament’s struggle to select a successor to President Michel Suleiman, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said that he did not expect a new president to be chosen anytime soon. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Progressive Socialist Party leader W
During the 2011 uprisings against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s 40-year rule, demonstrators raised the tricolor flag of the monarchy. That flag somehow reassured the Libyan people—not because they wanted the monarchy to return, but because the flag symbolized the national unity experienced under K
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Friends of Syria Core Group, which met in London on Thursday, will “take further steps . . . to increase support for the moderate opposition National Coalition” and the moderate military opposition, according to a final statement released after the conferen
New Delhi, Reuters—Opposition candidate Narendra Modi will be the next prime minister of India, with counting trends showing the pro-business Hindu nationalist and his party headed for the most resounding election victory the country has seen in thirty years. Modi’s landslide win was welcomed
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi launched a fierce attack on the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) on Thursday, accusing its members of being biased in favor of certain political trends. “The IHEC is not qualified to run the elections,” Allawi said in a sta
[inset_left]The Arch and The ButterflyBy Mohammed AchaariTranslated by Aida Bamia324 pages Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, Doha: May 2014[/inset_left]It is a rather disappointing beginning: the narrator, a middle-aged, Left-leaning Moroccan journalist, receives a one-line letter asking him t
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Gulf banks are set to resume dealings with their Sudanese counterparts following efforts from Gulf finance ministers, but the Arab League will play no role in the process, an official from the organization told Asharq Al-Awsat. “There are no plans for the Arab League to [help
If all goes according to plan, the Islamic Republic of Iran is expected to announce another interim accord regarding its nuclear program. Though marketed with much noise, the first “agreement” unveiled in Geneva was not signed and thus could not be regarded as binding. It was downgraded to “a joint
Moscow and Kiev, Reuters—Moscow and Kiev took tentative steps on Thursday towards ending their standoff over the price of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine that has threatened to disrupt onward deliveries to western Europe. A day after Moscow suggested price negotiations with Kiev could resume if its
Kabul, AP—Afghan voters will return to the polls next month to choose a successor to outgoing President Hamid Karzai, whose refusal to sign a deal permitting US troops to stay beyond the end of the year has raised security concerns as the Taliban press their deadly campaign of bombings and attacks.
Ramallah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Officials from rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have drawn up a list of cabinet members for a new interim unity government to be led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Asharq Al-Awsat has learned. After Wednesday’s one-day talks in Gaza, the two gro
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki has called on the security forces to stand firm in battles with militants in Anbar, amid criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis in Iraq’s largest province. In his weekly address on Wednesday, Maliki said soldiers and police s
Beirut, Reuters—Lebanese lawmakers failed for a fourth time to choose a new head of state on Thursday and will try again in a week’s time, only three days before President Michel Suleiman’s term ends. If the next round on May 22 fails, many fear it will create a power vacuum in a country
Soma, Turkey, Reuters—Four Turkish labor unions called for a national one-day strike on Thursday in protest against the country’s worst industrial disaster that killed at least 282 people in a coal mine in western Turkey. Representing workers in a range of industries, the unions are furious ov
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—EgyptAir may suffer losses of up to 10 billion Egyptian pounds (1.4 billion US dollars) this year, according to the chairman of the airline’s parent company. Speaking during a news conference held by the Ministry of Aviation and attended by leading officials representing a num
The negative attitude—verging on blatant animosity—of some Egyptian media outlets, as well as Egyptian Arabists and Leftists, towards the Syrian opposition is truly surprising. The absurdity of this recent development becomes obvious with analysis and serious contemplation, since the slo
London, AP—The spread of a puzzling respiratory virus in the Middle East and beyond doesn’t yet constitute a global health emergency despite a recent spike in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday. The decision was made after a meeting of the WHO’s expert group on the
