AW

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin visit Al-Turaif historical district in Riyadh, October 15. (Saudi Press Agency via DPA)

Saudi-Russian agreements signed during Putin's visit to Riyadh

Tunisia

Breaking with the past. Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied embraces the Tunisian flag during a news conference after exit polls projected him as the winner.

Tunisia's projected president has clear mandate but no preset programme

Tunisia

Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied reacts after exit poll results were announced in a second round runoff of the presidential election in Tunis, October 13. (Reuters)

Exit polls predict landslide presidential victory for Tunisia's Kais Saied

Stephen Quillen

East|West

File picture of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attending a rally in Ambo, Ethiopia, April 2018. (AFP)

A Nobel Peace Prize brings hope in tension-plagued region

Maghreb

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (C) and Morocco Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani, to his right, pose with the new Moroccan cabinet, October 9. (AP)

Morocco reshuffle halves number of ministers but key posts unchanged

Turkey

Soldiers and military vehicles at a Turkish staging area in the Turkish town of Akcakale along the border with the Syrian town of Tal Abyad. (DPA)

Turkey threatened with ‘sanctions from hell’ after foray in Syria

Latest Issue

Issue: 226 | Sat, October 12, 2019

Top Stories

Saied, Karoui square off before presidential vote

Turkey threatened with ‘sanctions from hell’ after foray in Syria

A Nobel Peace Prize brings hope in tension-plagued region

Morocco reshuffle halves number of ministers but key posts unchanged

Cairo mulls options after Nile dam talks fail

Iraq protests wind down but causes for renewed flare-up remain

Mamoon Alabbasi

Opinion

The rise of populism

Haitham El-Zobaidi

As they rock Syrian boat, Erdogan and Trump ignore consequences

Patronage system, a source of Iraq’s many woes

In the Middle East, Egypt-Israel ties stand out

Geoffrey Aronson

Does Europe have a policy on Algeria?

China curtailing Iran business as US tightens sanctions

Russia deepens private military footprint in Libya, Africa

Editorial

corruption

Iraqi security forces use a water cannon to disperse protesters during an anti-government demonstration against the provision of jobs and the alleged government corruption, in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, October 1. (dpa)

Corruption ravages Levant’s hearts and minds

Trump

US President Donald Trump. (AFP)

Trump’s Iraq war tweets are too little, too late

Tunisia

People queue outside a polling station during the second round of the presidential election, in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, October 13. (AP)

Tunisia’s voter turnout high in decisive presidential vote

Stephen Quillen

East|West

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. (AP)

EU condemns Turkey's Syria offensive

Tunisia

Tunisian media mogul Nabil Karoui speaks to journalists after casting his ballot at a polling station during the second round of the presidential election, in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP)

Tunisia's Nabil Karoui concedes election defeat to Kais Saied

Turkey

Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speak to the press in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. (AFP)

Trump: Turkey faces 'big sanctions' over Syria actions

Saudi Arabia

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Summit of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan October 11, 2019. (DPA)

Russians expect oil, Iran to top agenda Putin in Saudi Arabia

Turkey

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Convention Center in Luxembourg, Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. (AP)

France calls for EU arms embargo on Turkey

Economy

Saudi Arabian women taking a souvenir picture at the corniche in Jeddah, February 12, 2018. (DPA)

Saudi Arabia to launch new logistics zone in Jeddah

Iraq

Power of the image. Iraqi demonstrators use mobile phones during an anti-government protest in Baghdad, October 1. (Reuters)

Iraq under fire for attacks on media

Economy

Costly project. A map of Iran locating Jask.(AFP)

Iran works to reroute oil exports away from Strait of Hormuz

Interview

A shift from romanticism. Raja Shehadeh, a Palestinian author, lawyer and human rights campaigner. (Courtesy of Raja Shehadeh)

Why Raja Shehadeh sees hope for Palestinians despite current ‘disenchantment’

East|West

A turning point. French Police officers attend a ceremony to honour three police officers and an administrative worker killed by a suspected radicalised attacker, at the Police Prefecture in Paris, October 8.(Reuters)

Deadly stabbings of French police officers point again to complacency in face of Salafist extremism

East|West

An opportunity to act. US President Donald Trump (R) and Iraqi President Barham Salih hold a meeting in New York, September 24. (AFP)

As Iraqis protest Iranian encroachment, US may have better opportunity at engaging Baghdad

Emily Przyborowski

Culture

Cultural rebirth. Saudi female musician Lojain Sami (R) plays piano with Zaki Elnonoi, on violin, at a local musical themed cafe Lojain Alkhursani in Khobar, July 2.(Reuters)

New opportunities are opening for young Saudi musical talents

Omar Ali al-Badawi

Society

Fewer risks. A “Lady Go” taxi drives in Baghdad.(Oumayma Omar)

‘Lady Go’ taxi safely steers Baghdad’s women through cultural barriers

Travel

A group of Arab hikers carry their national flags in Saudi Arabia.(Al Arab)

Hiking grows in popularity in Saudi Arabia

Omar Ali al-Badawi

Culture

Melodies of life. Safwan Bahlawan plays the oud. (Al Arab)

With music, Syrian artist Safwan Bahlawan mimics the pulse of life

Society

Palestinian feminist fashion items are on display at a shop in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The slogan reads in Arabic "a woman's voice shakes mountains". (AFP)

Muslim feminists looking for a third way

Culture

Untold story. “Memory and Loss” by Ali Raza Garmiany.(Gulan)

‘Road Through Kurdistan’ stops in London

Karen Dabrowska