Sunday 26 May 2019 | | AW

Top Stories

Libya’s Islamic militants brag about receiving new Turkish weapons

Houthi attacks signal new chapter in drone warfare

Alessandro Arduino

Lingering economic woes cast huge uncertainties over Lebanon’s future

‘Deal of the century’ gets off to rough start

Manuel Langendorf

Iraq caught in US-Iran showdown amid concerns over ‘rogue militias’

Mamoon Alabbasi

Interview

Ahwazi writer Yousef Azizi. (Al Arab)

The Ahwazis’ struggle is also cultural

Mohamed Hemamsi

A different take. Tunisian director Nacer Khemir. (Al Arab)

Tunisian film director Nacer Khemir finds inspiration in heritage

Mokhlis al-Saghir

Economy

A Moroccan farmer checks an olive tree at a field in Meknes (AFP)

Morocco works on ‘digital transformation’ of agriculture

Old men work as street cleaners in the Moroccan city of Assilah. (Saad Guerraoui)

Despite drop in poverty, Morocco struggles with social inequalities

A mechanical engineering student from Helwan University checks a solar-powered vehicle in Cairo. (Reuters)

Unemployment down in Egypt but maintaining trend is a challenge

Tunisia’s Central Bank Governor Marouane El Abassi speaks during a news conference in Tunis, last February. (Reuters)

Bad political timing for Tunisia’s economic slump

Culture

A view of Citerne Beirut space for performing arts. (Citerne Beirut)

Citerne Beirut injects new life into performing arts

Ahwazi writer Yousef Azizi. (Al Arab)

The Ahwazis’ struggle is also cultural

Mohamed Hemamsi

Moroccan actress Lubna Azabal (L), Moroccan film director Maryam Touzani (C) and Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi pose during a photocall for the film “Adam” at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, May 20. (AFP)

Moroccan film tackles taboo of unmarried mothers

Fiachra Gibbons

Travel

Hikers in Um Bogma. (Antoine Naggar)

Um Bugma’s mysterious charm on Sinai Trail

Marc Espanol-34622

Society

People at the “Dinner on the Ground” in Istanbul’s Uskudar district. (Thomas Seibert)

Turkey’s Ramadan ‘Dinners on the Ground’ ruffle government feathers

A Jewish pilgrim lights a candle on the second day of the annual pilgrimage to El Ghriba synagogue in Djerba, May 22. (AFP)

Jews flock to Tunisia’s Djerba in another illustration of religious tolerance

News & Analysis

Syria’s position on Iran-US standoff signals change of course

For Egypt, the Africa Cup of Nations is about more than just football

Turkish involvement in Libya raises regional security concerns in Egypt

Hassan Abdel Zaher

Thoughts

Has ISIS been truly defeated?

An ‘international’ tribunal for ISIS fighters?

Why deradicalisation programmes are needed for the far right

This European country’s deradicalisation plan actually works

Opinion

Proxy conflict in Syria could escalate amid rising US-Iran tensions

UN envoy to Libya pessimistic as LNA promises quick takeover

Why deradicalisation programmes are needed for the far right

This European country’s deradicalisation plan actually works

Trump and Netanyahu share similar bluster but want no war with Iran

Gregory Aftandilian

Iran-US rivalry in the Middle East

The Mecca summits

Tehran regime cracks down on artists amid US-Iran showdown

Trump’s Middle East peace plan would be brilliant — for post-WWII Europe

Iran’s brinkmanship leading the region to the brink

Algeria’s crisis raises questions about role of the army

Why Turkish opposition’s Imamoglu could win more votes in new election

In any decisions about Iran, interests of the region should matter

Challenges of a permanent state of war in the Gulf region

Khattar Abou Diab

S-400 purchase could redefine Turkey’s geostrategic role

Arab states exercise restraint as US-Iran tensions simmer

For Palestinians, economics do not come first

Lebanon’s contested gas fields with Israel under discussion

Iran’s ‘asymmetric capabilities’ likely to determine military strategy