Sunday 19 Jan 2020 | | AW

Top Stories

Hezbollah’s support for Iran exposes its vulnerabilities at home and abroad

Demonstrations continue despite attempts to derail protests after Soleimani’s killing

Azhar Al-Rubaie

Protests go on in Algiers even as president pledges reform

Lebanon protests turn violent as ‘one-sided’ government preps cabinet

Iran sends hardline message, defends adventurism abroad

Interview

Imperial vision and Ikhwan links drive Turkey’s Erdogan

Economy

Welcome trend. A tourist tries on a Tunisian “chechia” (traditional fez) in a shop at a bazaar in the Medina (old town) of Tunis, last June. (AFP)

Tunisia’s tourism sector shows signs of recovery

The platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea which started production today is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal city of Dor. (AFP)

Conflict expands in Eastern Mediterranean over gas riches

Geoffrey Aronson

$2 trillion valuation. Saudi officials watch the stock market screen displaying Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, in Riyadh. (AP)

Saudi Aramco triggers greenshoe purchasing option

Looking ahead. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Group CEO, speaks during the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. (Reuters)

Government, business leaders discuss ‘sustainable development’ in Abu Dhabi

Culture

Poignant window into Syrian culture. Cover of “Sophia: Or the Beginning of All Tales.”

‘Sophia: Or the Beginning of All Tales’ by Rafik Schami

Koma Waidi volunteers in Aswan. (Courtesy of Koma Waidi)

First Nubian language dictionary published by volunteers

Travel

Celebrating identity. Algerian Berber women prepare couscous as they mark the Yennayer New Year in the village of Ait el-Kecem, south of Tizi-Ouzou, east of Algiers. (AFP)

Celebration of Amazigh new year reflects Algeria’s diversity but also stark contradictions

Society

Twin woes. An Iraqi child peddler sells water bottles to people driving down a street in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. (AFP)

Poverty, resentment of corruption among engines of continuing protests in Iraq

Protesters’ haven. Tahrir Beach on the banks of the Tigris in Baghdad. (Oumayma Omar)

Tahrir Beach, a safe haven for protesters from Baghdad’s turmoil

News & Analysis

Putin boldly pursues complex objectives in Syria

Regional and world leaders honour Sultan Qaboos and his diplomatic legacy

Mohammed Alkhereiji

Decrease of outflow from North Africa cuts illegal migration to EU

The Associated Press

UAE’s first nuclear reactor to start operations ‘within months’

UK adds entire Hezbollah movement to terror blacklist

UN predicts ‘difficult year’ for refugees in East Jerusalem after funding shortage

International momentum over Libya intensifies as do questions about Turkey’s role

Iran threatens EU troops in Middle East after E3 nations pressure Tehran on nuclear accord

Could Russia move to counterbalance the US in Iraq?

For decades Iranians have risen up, only to be repressed

European fears over refugees foreshadow Merkel’s visit to Turkey

Books

Poignant window into Syrian culture. Cover of “Sophia: Or the Beginning of All Tales.”

‘Sophia: Or the Beginning of All Tales’ by Rafik Schami

Imperial vision and Ikhwan links drive Turkey’s Erdogan

Koma Waidi volunteers in Aswan. (Courtesy of Koma Waidi)

First Nubian language dictionary published by volunteers