Latest World News

Arab World A child and a woman wait next to their belongings as people displaced by the ongoing war in Sudan return to Wad Madani in the Jazira state, on February 6, 2025, after the city was retaken by the Sudanese army from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). (AFP)

Sudan Army Says Retakes Key District in Khartoum North

Sudan's military said Saturday that it had regained control of a key district in greater Khartoum as it presses its advance against the paramilitary Rapid…

Arab World In this handout photo released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa greets the UN chemical weapons watchdog chief, Fernando Arias, before a meeting in Damascus on February 8, 2025. (SANA / AFP)

Head of UN Chemical Weapons Watchdog Meets Syrian Leader

The head of the world's chemical weapons watchdog met Syria's new leader Saturday, in a first visit to Damascus since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, who was…

World In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, right, greets Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas leadership council during their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Iran’s Khamenei Meets Top Hamas Leaders in Tehran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei met with acting Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and two other leaders of the Palestinian group in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian…

World  An aerial view shows cargo vessels after transiting through the Panama Canal, in Colon, Panama, February 1, 2025. (Reuters)

China Lashes Out at US ‘Coercion’ after Panama Declines to Renew Infrastructure Agreement

China on Friday lashed out at what it called US “coercion” after Panama declined to renew a key infrastructure agreement with Beijing following Washington’s…

Hamas Frees Three Hostages, Israel Begins Releasing Palestinians

Arab World Palestinian Hamas fighters escort(L-R) Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy and Eli Sharabi on a stage before handing them over to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, on February 8, 2025, as part of the fifth hostage-prisoner exchange of a fragile ceasefire. (AFP)

Hamas Frees Three Hostages, Israel Begins Releasing Palestinians

Palestinian group Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages on Saturday, whose gaunt appearance shocked Israelis, while Israel began freeing dozens of…


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…

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…

AOC Chief Says Brisbane 2032 Venues Decision Needed by July

Sports The photograph shows Olympic Rings during a ceremony to mark one year until the start of Milano Cortina Olympics in Strehler Theatre, in Milan, on February 6, 2025, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. (AFP)

AOC Chief Says Brisbane 2032 Venues Decision Needed by July

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll has warned that a final decision on the main venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics needs to be made…


Sports The Netflix logo is shown on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, US, July 12, 2023. (Reuters)

Report: Netflix Exploring Bid for F1 Media Rights

Netflix is deliberating making a play for the US broadcast rights of Formula One, The Athletic reported Friday. Netflix already has a background in the…

Sports Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 12, 2025 Reilly Opelka of the US in action during his first round match against Belgium's Gauthier Onclin. (Reuters)

Opelka Takes Aim at Umpire after Point Penalty for Confronting Heckler

Reilly Opelka has called for chair umpire Greg Allensworth to be suspended by the ATP after he received a code violation at the Dallas Open for confronting a…

Sports (From L to R) PSG's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique, Moroccan defender #02 Achraf Hakimi, Portuguese midfielder #17 Vitinha and Portuguese defender #25 Nuno Mendes stand during a ceremony announcing their contract extension's with the French club, ahead of the French L1 football match between PSG and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on February 7, 2025. (AFP)

PSG Boss Luis Enrique Hoping to Make History after Signing Contract Extension

Luis Enrique was delighted to have been given a two-year extension with Paris St Germain as he wants to make history with the French champions. The Spaniard…

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…


Swedish Royals Announce Birth of Daughter

Varieties Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia arrive for a gala dinner hosted by Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, Monday, May 6, 2024. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

Swedish Royals Announce Birth of Daughter

It's a girl! Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia announced the birth of their fourth child, a daughter. The young princess, whose name and…


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