Sunday 15 Dec 2019 | | AW

Top Stories

Qatari emir’s absence from Arab Gulf summit casts doubt on an end to ongoing GCC row

Mohammed Alkhereiji

Political impasse, foreign pressure give new political lease on life for Hariri

Panic sweeps Tripoli over reports of LNA offensive

Ankara clashes with EU as it flexes muscles in Mediterranean

Algeria’s new president reaches out to protesters but huge uncertainties remain

Economy

Team of Safina Egypt Company. (Twitter)

E-commerce platform launched in Egypt

Officials from the state-owned Saudi oil company Aramco and the stock market celebrate during the debut of Aramco on the Riyadh stock exchange, December 11. (SPA)

Saudi Aramco makes history with shares trading

Participants attend the annual conference of Saudi and UAE banks in Riyadh, November 24. (Reuters)

UAE strengthens economic partnership with Saudi Arabia, Egypt

First step. A stand of ABC Mobile Banking in Tunis. (Al Arab)

Bank ABC begins first-ever digital operations in Tunisia

Culture

Director of the National Theatre of Tunisia Fadhel Jaibi. (Al Arab)

Fadhel Jaibi’s artistic vision at the helm of Tunisia’s National Theatre

Mohamed Naceur Mouelhi

A scene from the play representing the prison of Mornaguia, “Without Chains” by Afef Andari. (JTC)

Tunisian detainees impress with ‘revolutionary’ theatre performance

French director Bertrand Tavernier (R) is presented with the Etoile d’Or by US actor Harvey Keitel during the Marrakech International Film Festival, December 1. (AFP)

Curtain down on Marrakech International Film Festival

Travel

A Palestinian farmer checks the palm tree fruit to make sure it is disease-free. (Culture & Arts Association, Palestine)

Date palm heritage in Arab World celebrated by UNESCO

Society

Food area at the Christmas market at CAFC club. Credit: Saad Guerraoui

Christmas markets finding fertile ground in Morocco

An Iraqi protester paints on a concrete barrier on al-Rasheed Street in Baghdad, December 5. (AFP)

The fearless women at the fore of Iraq’s protests

Rana Husseini receiving the Arab Woman of the Year 2019 Award. (London Arabia Association)

Jordanian journalist’s award puts ‘honour killings’ in spotlight

News & Analysis

UN experts point out extremist threat in Libya

Edith M. Lederer

Israeli parliament sets March election; third vote in a year

Niger attack shows jihadist threat more lethal than ever

Iran blamed for abductions, targeted killings of Iraqi activists

Arab leaders stress need for unity, reform at strategy forum

Shadow of Muslim brotherhood hovers over Malaysia summit

Ahmed Fouad Anwar

Latest round of Syria peace talks goes nowhere

Turkey’s relocating of Syrian refugees under way

Simon Speakman Cordall

Gargash: Absence of Qatari emir from GCC summit reflected ‘misjudgement of the situation’

Erdogan’s statements over Libya, gas seen by Egypt as ‘crossing red lines’

Tebboune to be confronted by daunting challenges as Algeria’s new president

Former Sudanese president convicted of corruption

US imposes new sanctions on Iran airline over Yemen interference

Turkey’s expanded push in Libya sparks concerns in Tunisia

EU condemns the Turkish-Libyan ‘illegal drilling,’ readies sanctions

Knives are out in ‘war’ between Erdogan and AKP rivals