Cairo, Reuters—Gulf oil producers have given Egypt a free fuel lifeline totaling 6 billion US dollars in value to help fend off unrest on its streets in the summer when consumption soars, the head of its national oil company said. Tarek El-Molla, head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (E
Finally, we are seeing some early positive signs in the Arab countries that are undergoing political transition. The external environment is getting better as trading partner growth (especially in Europe) is strengthening, and food prices have recently declined. Diversification efforts, such as thos
Luanda, Reuters—US Secretary of State John Kerry threatened sanctions and other “consequences” for South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar on Monday if he refused to commit to peace talks aimed at ending more than four months of fighting that has killed thousands. Kerry flew to South Sudan on Friday,
Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Dozens of members of Al-Qaeda have been killed in a military operation which began a week ago in southern Yemen, according to a military source. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat that around 37 armed insurgents were killed in fighting on Sun
Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Saudi government is taking substantive measures to transform the Kingdom into a regional gold trading hub, according to a number of investors active in the sector. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Tariq Feteihy, an investor in the Saudi gold and jewel markets, said government
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syrian Islamist rebel group the Al-Nusra Front said on Sunday it would agree to orders from the Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri and stop attacks on its rival the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). A statement posted on the Al-Nusra Front’s website said it would not “in
Tripoli, Reuters—The head of Libya’s parliament has confirmed businessman Ahmed Maiteeq as the country’s new prime minister, according to a decree signed by him on Monday, one day after a deputy speaker had declared Maiteeq’s election invalid. The divisions in the assembly highligh
Odessa, Reuters—Ukraine’s Interior Minister said on Monday he had drafted a new special forces unit into the southern port city of Odessa after the “outrageous” failure of police to tackle pro-Russian separatists in a weekend of violence that killed dozens. Fighting continued near
Manila, Reuters—Thousands of Philippine and US soldiers began annual war games on Monday, the first under a new security pact with the United States, focusing on maritime security in the face of China’s growing naval presence in the disputed South China Sea. The joint exercises, “Balikat
Tehran, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iranian hardliners have increased their criticism of President Hassan Rouhani’s handling of nuclear negotiations the week before the latest round of talks between Iran and world powers. Iranian news agencies said a number of Iranian MPs, activists and officials who opposed th
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Michael Binyon is one of Britain’s most well-respected foreign correspondents, notably serving as Moscow correspondent for London’s world-renowned The Times newspaper, and also reporting from across the Middle East. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Binyon tak
The interim government that replaced Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 has built its legitimacy on “rescuing” Egypt from Mursi’s mismanagement, as well as from Islamist terrorism. Yet terrorist attacks continue almost a year after they took power. Egypt’s ongoing struggle with terrorism is set to be a key
The division of the Palestinian arena following a coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip on July 14, 2007 led to seven lean years that dealt the Palestinian cause a lethal blow. The division has led to severe damage, reflected in the weakening of the Palestinian position in the face of Israeli occupation,
After months of US shuttle diplomacy in the region and many rounds of negotiations, both covert and overt, the Palestinian–Israeli negotiations are back at square one. The powers-that-be in Ramallah have been disappointed once more and the US administration has again failed to push the peace p
Dubai, Reuters—Egypt’s tourism minister on Sunday announced ambitious plans to try to revive the country’s tourism sector, in distress after years of political turbulence. Government data showed last month that tourism revenue dropped 43 percent to 1.3 billion US dollars in the first qua
Abuja, AP—Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan met through the night with security, school and state officials and issued a new directive that “everything must be done” to free the 276 girls kidnapped by Islamic extremists, one of his advisers said Sunday. It was the first time th
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Negotiations between the Syrian government and rebels in the besieged city of Homs have entered a new phase, amid reports that the fates of Iranians and Hezbollah members being held by the opposition are being discussed. The Syrian government and opposition agreed a truce on
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki rejected calls from the leader of the Shi’a Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) to reform the National Iraqi Alliance on Saturday. ISCI leader Ammar Al-Hakim called for the recreation of the Alliance, an electoral coalition of largely S
Cairo, Reuters—A radical Islamist group claimed responsibility on Sunday for two suicide bombings which killed a soldier and wounded at least eight other people near the Egyptian tourist city of Sharm El-Sheikh on Friday. Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis, the most active of the militant groups waging an insurge
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Syrian Kurdish leaders have become increasingly split over whether to allow Bashar Al-Assad’s government to allow voting in Syria’s forthcoming presidential election in areas under their control in northern Syria, Asharq Al-Awsat has learned. The Kurdish Supreme Committee, a
