Ankara, Reuters—Turkey’s Constitutional Court Chairman Haşim Kılıç denounced “excessive” political criticism of his tribunal on Friday, in a defiant challenge of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has criticized recent court rulings. “To say that the Constitutional Cour
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Egyptian military announced on Thursday that it had eliminated “terrorism” from the restive Sinai Peninsula, contradicting statements made the same day by interim president Adly Mansour slamming terrorism in the same region and calling for “the elimination of its ro
Next week’s general elections in Iraq are the first to be held since the US military withdrawal in 2011. Some analysts claim that because the Americans are no longer present the exercise is attracting less attention. However, there may be another reason for the relative decline in interest regarding
Tehran, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iran’s National Orchestra is set to be heard again after years of setbacks and internal strife, having been suspended in 2012 over financial issues. In the last few years, the work of Iran’s National Orchestra was suspended, which was the same fate of many other similar cultu
Why the disagreements among Palestinian politicians and factions, whether before the establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964 or after it? Is it because of the love of Palestine? The importance of regaining the rights of the Palestinian people? Is it the importance of all
Jerusalem, Reuters—Israel suspended peace talks with the Palestinians on Thursday in response to President Mahmoud Abbas’s unity agreement with Hamas Islamists. “The security cabinet decided unanimously this evening that the government of Israel will not hold negotiations with a Palestin
Slaviansk, Ukraine/St Petersburg, Russia, Reuters—Ukrainian forces killed up to five pro-Moscow rebels on Thursday as they closed in on the separatists’ military stronghold in the east and Russia launched army drills near the border in response, raising fears its troops would go in. Under an i
Beirut, AP—A 54-year-old lawmaker and a former minister, became the second candidate to register his bid in Syria’s almost universally scorned presidential elections, officials said on Thursday. A day earlier, a lawmaker from Aleppo announced his candidacy for the June 3 vote. The second candi
Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat—Following parliament’s inability to choose a successor to outgoing President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday, Lebanon’s political blocs and figures are preparing for an intense week of politicking and lobbying ahead of a second round of voting on April 30. Only four members of p
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Several European countries have launched fresh efforts to prevent their citizens traveling to join the fighting in Syria, ahead of a meeting scheduled for April 30 between French, Belgian, German and British officials to discuss the issue. On Wednesday, the British Metropolit
Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Rival political parties in Iraq traded accusations of politicizing the security crisis on Wednesday, one week ahead of legislative elections and amid reports that a suicide attack south of Baghdad killed at least 10 people. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki accused his riv
There have been constant calls for the liberation of the Arab media, the abolishment of censorship and demands for ministries of information to promote freedoms almost without limits or restrictions, like those enjoyed in North America and Europe. But the people making these demands forget that the
Tokyo, Reuters—US President Barack Obama assured ally Japan on Thursday that Washington was committed to its defense, including of tiny isles at the heart of a row with China, but denied he had drawn any new “red line” and urged peaceful dialogue over the islands. His comments drew a swi
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Egypt is considering raising electricity prices for some users as part of wide-ranging subsidy reforms, following an announcement on Monday that it will be doubling natural gas prices for some business and households from next month. Ministry of Electricity and Energy spokesma
We have grown accustomed to the deterrence theory formulated as the Cold War began. The concept covers “nuclear deterrence” down to the last detail. Nuclear deterrence—or, more accurately, the “balance of terror” and mutually assured destruction theory—constituted a key element of the Co
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi filmmaking has been in the spotlight recently after the success of the highly acclaimed Wadjda, which picked up a number of prizes on the international film festival circuit. The film’s Saudi director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, is now directing a new Hollywood film about the l
Casablanca, Asharq Al-Awsat—Morocco’s Ninth National Agriculture Conference began on Wednesday in the city of Meknes as the European Union’s agriculture commissioner arrived in the country to meet with the Moroccan agriculture minister over potential changes to a joint trade agreement on Moroccan ag
Despite the pre-war strength—on paper—of the Syrian armed forces, the fighting in Syria has stretched the limits of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s military resources. Now in its fourth year, Assad’s fight against the forces of the Syrian revolution depends increasingly on support from Iran and i
Islamabad, AP—Pakistan’s powerful army has asked a government regulator to shut down a leading private news channel over what the military calls “false” reports that the country’s intelligence service shot one of its top anchors. Press freedom advocates on Wednesday decried t
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The US has temporarily lifted an arms embargo on Cairo to deliver 10 attack helicopters to the Egyptian government amid reports that two police officers were killed on Wednesday as the security situation in the country continues to deteriorate. Washington froze some forms of
