Yayladağı, Turkish–Syrian border, Asharq Al-Awsat—It wasn’t so much what Nabil said that was disturbing, but his appearance. Twenty-one years old, smiling and baby faced, he hardly looked like a man who could kill so easily and without remorse. But just a few days earlier, that is what he had done.
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The presidential election campaigns of Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Hamdeen Sabahi got under way in earnest this weekend as the Egyptian Higher Presidential Election Commission is set to announce the official election timetable Sunday evening. Sabahi supporters held a number of ra
Beirut, AP—Two Spanish journalists were freed after being held captive for six months in Syria by a rogue Al-Qaeda group, the newspaper for which one of the men worked said Sunday. El Mundo said reporter Javier Espinosa and photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova made contact Saturday evening from Turk
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi women’s rights activist Maha Al-Muneef was honored by US President Barack Obama with the International Women of Courage Award on Friday. Obama, who was on a brief state visit to Saudi Arabia, handed the accolade to Muneef, founder of the National Family Safety Program,
Istanbul, Asharq Al-Awsat—Turkey is heading to the polls on Sunday for local elections that most analysts believe will decide the fate of embattled Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is seeking to roundly defeat the ruling Justice and Dev
Kiev, Bloomberg—Former world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko dropped his bid for Ukraine’s presidency to support the frontrunner, billionaire Petro Poroshenko, setting up a clash with ex-Premier Yulia Tymoshenko. “Democratic forces should have one candidate” amid “the Russia
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—British Airways’ Middle East regional commercial manager highlighted the importance of the Middle East to the British flag carrier, saying that British Airways (BA) has increased the number of flights it operates from the region to London’s Heathrow airport by 40 percent over
Linguists are well aware that language is far more important and profound than being a mere instrument of expression. It is a complete system for thinking, a complex network of signifiers and signified, a system teeming with meanings and symbols. Therefore, in order to know someone’s educational lev
Damascus, AP—Syrian government forces captured Saturday two villages near the border with Lebanon after clashes with opposition fighters, cutting a major supply route for weapons and fighters into Syria, state TV said. The report said the villages of Flita and Ras Maara fell into the hands of govern
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—US President Barack Obama used his one-day visit to Saudi Arabia to emphasize the “strong ties” between the two nations and to discuss key bilateral issues with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. Other senior Saudi officials attending the talks, wh
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Footage showing Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of late Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, apologizing to the people of Libya for “disturbing the security and stability” of the country was broadcast on state TV on Friday. “I apologise to the Libyan people, and I apologise
Kabul, AP— Taliban militants attacked the main Afghan election commission’s headquarters Saturday in Kabul, firing on the compound with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns from a house outside its perimeter wall, according to police. Dozens of employees and other people who had be
Brussels, Bloomberg—NATO Friday picked former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg as its next civilian leader, as the Western military alliance confronts a more assertive Russia and winds down the war in Afghanistan. Stoltenberg, 55, will become the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 1
London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Novelist and screenwriter Khaled Khalifa is one of the few Syrian writers who can be said to have truly broken the wall of silence. His oeuvre breaks down deep-seated taboos in Syrian and Arab societies. Khalifa came to the limelight with the publication of his third novel, I
Saudi Arabia enjoys a continuous state of stability and security, and the ruling Al Saud family can ensure a smooth transition of power through an open mechanism, the Allegiance Council. This was the strong message sent by King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz when he issued a historic royal order appointing
Dubai, Reuters—Turkey defended its decision to block YouTube after a leaked recording of a meeting where top officials discussed a possible military incursion into Syria appeared on the site. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu Friday equated the leak to an “attack on Turkey’s borders”
US President Barack Obama visited Riyadh yesterday. This was no ordinary visit, given the recent tensions in bilateral relations. Saudi–US relations have not reached the desired levels during the Obama era. While it is true that there is more in the complex joint ties and interests that unite the US
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—Former Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s announcement on Wednesday that he will compete in the forthcoming presidential elections was met with widespread public support, with most analysts expecting him to secure a landslide victory. Sisi is only the second Egyp
Moscow, AP—Russia’s foreign ministry on Friday alleged that ethnic minorities in Ukraine are living in fear after the ouster of the country’s president and the coming to power of interim authorities that include right-wing nationalists. The statement by the ministry was in line with Russ
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—US President Barack Obama is visiting Saudi Arabia on Friday following a tour of European capitals earlier this week, in order to reassure the Washington’s Arab allies of its commitment to the region. Obama is set to meet with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riya
