Sunday 14 Jul 2019 | | AW

Top Stories

Pre-electoral controversies expose Tunisia’s paradoxes, uncertainties

Socotrans protest al-Islah’s ‘disruptive activities’

Special correspondent

Iran’s nuclear breaches ratchet up risks in showdown with Washington

Germany snubs US request to send ground troops to Syria

US sanctions on Hezbollah to carry long-term impact in Lebanon, Middle East

Interview

Middle East and Africa regional manager at Techstars Ahmad Sufian Bayram. (Courtesy of Ahmad Sufian Bayram)

Refugee entrepreneurs creating financial value across the world

Khadija Hamouchi

Economy

A sign of Maroc Telecom near a shop in Casablanca. (Saad Guerraoui)

Rabat to sell 8% stake in Maroc Telecom to offset fiscal deficit

Middle East and Africa regional manager at Techstars Ahmad Sufian Bayram. (Courtesy of Ahmad Sufian Bayram)

Refugee entrepreneurs creating financial value across the world

Khadija Hamouchi

A view of the production facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter. (Reuters)

Foreign investors drawn to Saudi Aramco IPO offer

Iraqi President Barham Salih (L) and Jordanian King Abdullah II shake hands during a welcoming ceremony in Amman, last May. (Reuters)

Iraq, Jordan seek to further boost economic ties

Manuel Langendorf

Culture

A journey through history. An old Islamic artefact on display at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. (Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation)

Sharjah Museum, impressive showcase of Islamic art

N.P. Krishna Kumar

A passion for books. Owner of Dar Shahriar Publishing House and Bookshop in Basra Safa Diab. (Al Arab)

Iraqi publishing industry faces challenges in fast-moving landscape

Khulud al-Fallah

Panellists take part in the “African Creativity in Africa and in the Diaspora” symposium in Asilah. (Saad Guerraoui)

Asilah Arts Festival explores secrets of ‘African creativity’

The screening of Yousry Nasrallah’s “Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces.” (Manarat)

Manarat festival takes movies to the beach

Travel

Artists perform near the cave of Althiburos. (Sailing Stones)

Tunisia’s Althiburos cave, an artists’ sanctuary in lush landscape

Society

A woman goes through clothes at the Emergency Room boutique in Mar Mikhael in Beirut. (Emergency Room)

Lebanese fashion designer with an eye on sustainable alternatives

Foreign students attend class at the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages in Tunis, Tunisia. (Khaoula ben Amara)

Tunisia’s Bourguiba school gears up for summer session

Stephen Quillen

A vendor reads a newspaper as he sells melons and watermelons in a market in Riyadh. (Reuters)

Distribution of print newspapers halted in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport prior to the annual haj in the holy city of Mecca, July 7. (AFP)

Thousands of pilgrims start arriving in Saudi Arabia for haj

News & Analysis

Asilah Arts Festival explores secrets of ‘African creativity’

Heavy losses in Libya’s Islamist ranks trigger concern among supporters

Iraq, Jordan seek to further boost economic ties

Manuel Langendorf

New Zealand Muslims see silver lining after tragedy

Nader Aboul Foutouh

Iraq’s US envoy in troubled waters over call to normalise ties with Israel

Israel, Iran exchange threats of war and destruction

Iran in tanker row with UK as pressure on Europe fails to produce results

Fear of Islamist resurgence, corruption cast shadow on Egypt’s next municipal polls

Hassan Abdel Zaher

ISIS weakened but resurgence likely

Security reshuffle consolidates Assad’s posture as Syria’s strongman

Thoughts

Sudan after agreement between the military and the protest movement

Can Sudan move beyond ‘Arab spring’ failures?

Europe must challenge Iran’s assertion of impunity

Europe unable to help as bedlam spreads in Sahel