Latest World News

World Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers remarks during a press conference with the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, following a meeting in the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 07 February 2025. (EPA)

Trump Administration Backs Big Arms Sales to Israel, Defying Congress

US President Donald Trump's administration announced on Friday that it had approved military sales to Israel worth some $7.4 billion, despite a Democratic…

World  Flowers and a sign are placed outside the headquarters of the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

Judge Blocks Trump from Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave, Giving Them 30-Day Deadline

A federal judge on Friday dealt President Donald Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk their first big setback in their dismantling of the US Agency for…

Business People walk in a commercial suburb of Japan’s capital, Tokyo. (AFP)

IMF Says Too Early for Precise Analysis on Trump Tariff Impact

It is too early for any precise analysis of the consequences of higher US tariffs against other countries, Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of…

World Polish transmission system operator PSE (Polskie Sieci Energetyczne) substation, part of the route of the LitPol, the interconnection between Poland and Lithuania is seen at Elk Bis substation near Elk, Poland, February 6, 2025. (Reuters)

Baltics Begin Decoupling from Russian Power Grid

The Baltic states on Saturday began cutting ties with Russia's power grid in order to integrate with Europe's system, a years-long process that gained urgency…

Hamas to Free 3 More Israeli Hostages for Dozens of Palestinian Prisoners under Gaza Ceasefire

Arab World Palestinian Hamas members stand guard as people gather before the release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, February 8, 2025. (Reuters)

Hamas to Free 3 More Israeli Hostages for Dozens of Palestinian Prisoners under Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas-led fighters are set to free three more hostages, all Israeli civilian men, on Saturday, and Israel will release dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part…


World A Palestinian flag is waved as the image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected, with a message that reads "Arrest war criminal Netanyahu", on the Hay-Adams Hotel, near the White House, on the day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump in Washington, US, February 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Trump Signs Order to Cut Funding for South Africa over Land Policy, ICJ Case

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut US financial assistance to South Africa, the White House said on Friday, citing disapproval of its land…

Arab World Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, looks on during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Türkiye, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP)

Syria Says Leader Invited to Visit Germany

Syria's new interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has been invited to visit Germany, his office said on Friday following a phone call with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. …

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Showcases Holy Kaaba Kiswah

Culture The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Showcases Holy Kaaba Kiswah

The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in AlBidaya (the beginning) section of the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport…


Culture Saudi Ministry of Culture to Participate in LEAP 2025 Conference

Saudi Ministry of Culture to Participate in LEAP 2025 Conference

The Ministry of Culture will participate as a strategic partner in the LEAP 2025 conference, which will be held from February 9 to 12 at the Riyadh Exhibition…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Saudi Visual Arts Commission Launches ‘Zawaya Wa Afkar’ Initiative in Paris

Saudi Visual Arts Commission Launches ‘Zawaya Wa Afkar’ Initiative in Paris

The Visual Arts Commission (VAC) has announced the launch of the first international edition of the Dialogues in Contemporary Art “Zawaya Wa Afkar” initiative,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The agreement aims to foster knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism, and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields. SPA

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Public Library, RCU to Enhance Cultural Cooperation

King Abdulaziz Public Library and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cultural and…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Builders work on the final stages of the reconstruction of the historic Great Mosque of al-Nuri, whose "Al-Hadba" leaning minaret which dates back to the 12th century was destroyed by ISIS group fighters, in Mosul's old city in northern Iraq on February 3, 2025. (AFP)

Iraq’s Famed ‘Hunchback’ of Mosul Rebuilt Brick by Brick 

The leaning minaret of Mosul in northern Iraq has been restored using its original brickwork, years after it was reduced to rubble under ISIS rule. The Al…

Gonzalez Perfect Fit For 'Weak' Man City, Says Guardiola

Sports Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola greets supporters after losing the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City in London, Britain, 02 February 2025. (EPA)

Gonzalez Perfect Fit For 'Weak' Man City, Says Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said the signing of Nico Gonzalez can help the struggling English champions compensate for the loss of Ballon d'Or winner…


Sports Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim reacts during the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace in Manchester, Britain, 02 February 2025. (EPA)

Amorim Reveals the Reasons Why Things Didn’t Work Out with Rashford at Man United

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim let Marcus Rashford leave the club because he couldn't convince the forward to follow his methods. "I couldn’t put…

Sports Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Quarter Final - Valencia v FC Barcelona - Estadio de Mestalla, Valencia, Spain - February 6, 2025 FC Barcelona's Ferran Torres celebrates scoring their second goal with Lamine Yamal REUTERS/Pablo Morano

Barcelona Routs Valencia Again to Reach Copa del Rey Semifinals

Ferran Torres scored a hat trick in the first half hour to lead Barcelona to another rout of Valencia and a spot in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores the second goal from the penalty spot during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool Routs Tottenham 4-0 to Set Up English League Cup Final Against Newcastle

Liverpool will play Newcastle in the English League Cup final after routing Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday. A rampant performance overturned Spurs’ 1-0 lead from…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports This handout picture released by Monterrey Rayados football club shows new signing Spanish football player Sergio Ramos posing for a picture wearing the team Jersey in Madrid on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Handout / Monterrey Rayados Football Club / AFP)

Spanish Defender Sergio Ramos to Resume Career in Mexico

Eight months after his last competitive match, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos will resume his illustrious career on another continent. Ramos, who will turn 39…

Asharq Al Awsat

Trump Slams Paper Straws, Vows 'Back to Plastic'

Varieties A file photo taken on August 12, 2018 shows plastic straws, in a studio, in Paris. (AFP)

Trump Slams Paper Straws, Vows 'Back to Plastic'

President Donald Trump on Friday raged against eco-friendly paper straws promoted by his predecessor Joe Biden, and pledged that the United States would return…


Varieties  The "Sarandi" stream, dyed red due to unknown contaminants allege residents, flows into the Río de la Plata on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP)

River Near Buenos Aires Turns Red, Sparking Fears of Toxic Leak

A stream winding through a populous area on the outskirts of Buenos Aires has turned crimson red in recent hours, sparking fears of industrial chemical dumping…

Varieties People examine their property in the almost evacuated village of Oia on Santorini island, Greece, 05 February 2025. EPA/ORESTIS PANAGIOTOU

Greek PM Says State on Alert over Santorini Quakes, Urges Calm

Greek authorities are monitoring increased seismic activity on the island of Santorini, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday, urging the public to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties In this photo provided by Cory Kerewaro, a red-belly black snake slithers from a mulch pile before being caught as 102 of the reptiles are captured at a suburban Sydney yard, on Jan. 31, 2025. (Cory Kerewaro via AP)

More than 100 Venomous Snakes Removed from Sydney Backyard

A man described feeling “the shudders” as more than 100 venomous red-bellied black snakes were removed from a pile of mulch in his Sydney backyard. David Stein…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties The robusta coffee fruits are seen in Sao Gabriel da Palha, Espirito Santo state, Brazil May 2, 2018. Picture taken May 2, 2018. REUTERS/Jose Roberto Gomes/File Photo

Study: Coffee May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk If You Don't Add Sugar

Coffee may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes - but only if you don't add sugar. A study looked at the coffee consumption of almost 290,000 people, among…

Asharq Al Awsat