Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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(FILES) – A file picture taken on January 27, 2015 shows Saudi new King Salman stands during the arrival of US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s new King Salman has tightened his hold on power on January 30, 2015, firing two sons of […]

Opinion: Restructuring the Saudi State

by Salman Al-dossary | Jan 31, 2015 | Opinion

Was it a surprise? Perhaps only those who don’t know Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz were surprised by the quality of the bold decisions that he took earlier this week in one fell swoop. However, the majority of Saudis are well aware of King Salman’s practical...

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Houthi fighters wearing army uniforms stand atop an armored vehicle, outside the house of Yemen’s former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Sana’a, Yemen, on January 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Yemen: Houthis hold own conference, look to Aden

by Arafat Madabish | Jan 31, 2015 | Middle East

Sana’a, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s Houthi movement has refused to participate in UN-brokered meetings with government and political parties over the future of the country, instead holding its own conference to discuss its next move. According to Yemeni government and...

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Members of the Ukrainian armed forces gather inside a school building in Debaltseve, Donetsk region, January 30, 2015. (Reuters/Maksim Levin)

Artillery fire kills at least 12 civilians in Donetsk

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jan 31, 2015 | World

Donetsk, Associated Press—Artillery fire killed at least 12 civilians in the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk on Friday amid fierce fighting between pro-Russia separatists and government troops as hopes for a break in hostilities were dashed when an attempt to call a...

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Relatives of ISIS captive Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh place a poster of him in front of their new gathering headquarters in Amman January 30, 2015. (Reuters/Muhammad Hamed)

Jordan awaits proof hostage is alive after swap deadline

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jan 31, 2015 | Middle East

Tokyo, Associated Press—The fates of a Japanese journalist and Jordanian military pilot were unknown Friday, a day after the latest purported deadline for a possible prisoner swap passed with no further word from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group that...

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epa04579855 A handout photograph made available by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows new Saudi King, Salman bin Abdul Aziz (R) receiving dignitaries, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 23 January 2015. Saudi King Abdullah died in the early hours of 23 January, aged 90, after ruling since 2005 though he had been defacto ruler since 1995 […]

Opinion: Stability, Continuity and Smooth Transition

by Eyad Abu Shakra | Jan 31, 2015 | Opinion

In both the US and Western Europe, there are two major political currents that are always happy to doubt and belittle any constructive step taken by traditional regimes in the Middle East: the ultra-conservative Right and the radical Left. The ultra-conservative Right...