Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Media ID: 55339516
Caption:

Two heavily armed police officers assist a hostage away from Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in central Sydney on December 16, 2014. (Reuters/Jason Reed)

Inquest: Sydney café hostage killed by police bullet

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jan 29, 2015 | World

Sydney, AP—A hostage who died during a siege in a downtown Sydney cafe was killed when she was struck by fragments of a bullet fired from a police officer’s gun as authorities stormed in to end the 16-hour standoff, a lawyer told an inquest on Thursday. Katrina...

Media ID: 55340922
Caption:

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres gestures during a news conference at the launch of the Global Humanitarian appeal for 2015 at the UN European headquarters in Geneva on December 8, 2014. (Reuters/Pierre Albouy)

UN refugee chief: The world doesn’t understand the extent of the refugee crisis

by Mina Al-Oraibi | Jan 29, 2015 | Interviews

Davos, Asharq Al-Awsat—António Guterres has one of the toughest jobs in the world today. As the UN high commissioner for refugees he has a mandate to help relieve the suffering of the world’s displaced peoples, at a time when there are more of them than there have...

Media ID: 55339031
Caption:

Bahraini voters cast ballots in the run-off parliamentary and municipal elections in Manama yesterday (AP)

Opinion: America’s Saudi Confusion

by Sawsan Al-Shaer | Jan 28, 2015 | Opinion

Before I begin this article I would like to offer my condolences first to the people of Bahrain, and then to the King and people of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab and Islamic world on the passing of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, may he rest in peace. He was like a gracious...

Media ID: 55340932
Caption:

This undated file photo shows the Riyadh skyline. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Opinion: Continuing with Reform

by Tawfiq Al-Saif | Jan 28, 2015 | Opinion

The process of reform, if it is to bear fruit and maintain momentum, must be continuous and sustained. According to writer and academic Homa Katouzian, any slowdown in the modernization processes in developing countries can, first and foremost, be put down to...

Media ID: 55340926
Caption:

Employees of Athens Stock Exchange walk under screens showing falling stocks in red on January 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek PM Tsipras promises radical change, markets tumble

by Asharq Al-Awsat | Jan 28, 2015 | World

Athens, Reuters—Leftwing Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras threw down an open challenge to international creditors on Wednesday by halting privatization plans agreed under the country’s bailout deal, prompting a third day of heavy losses on financial markets....