Latest World News

Arab World Lebanese soldiers stand next to a vehicle hit by an Israeli strike in Abu al-Aswad, southern Lebanon. (AFP)

Israeli Escalation Raises Tensions as Lebanon Prepares to Hold Municipal Elections in South

Lebanon fears that Israeli military escalation could undermine municipal elections scheduled for Saturday in the southern provinces of Nabatieh and South…

Nazeer Rida (Beirut)
World Pope Leo XIV blesses the crowd at the end of his first weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in The Vatican on May 21, 2025. (AFP)

Pope Leo Appeals for Israel to Allow Humanitarian Aid in Gaza 

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and…

Arab World Israeli Merkava tanks maneuver towards the southern Gaza Strip border near Khan Younis, seen from southern Israel, 20 May 2025. (EPA)

Two of the Last Functioning Hospitals in Northern Gaza Are Encircled by Israeli Forces, Staff Say 

Two of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals have been encircled by Israeli troops, preventing anyone from leaving or entering the facilities, hospital…

Arab World Lebanese army soldiers inspect a crater following an Israeli drone strike that targeted a car in Abu al-Aswad in southern Lebanon on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)

Israeli Strike Kills Man in South Lebanon

The Lebanese health ministry said an Israeli strike killed a man in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the latest attack despite a ceasefire between Israel and…

Asharq Al Awsat (Beirut)

At Least 45 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza

Arab World Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

At Least 45 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza

Hospitals in Gaza say Israeli strikes overnight and into Wednesday killed at least 45 people, including several women and a week-old infant. Israel called…

Asharq Al Awsat

World Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a documents signing ceremony in Moscow, Russia January 17, 2025. (Reuters)

Iran Parliament Approves Strategic Pact with Russia 

Iran's parliament approved a 20-year strategic partnership on Wednesday between Moscow and Tehran, state media reported. The agreement represents a deepening…

World In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters extinguish a fire following Russia's air raid in the village of Bilopillya in the Sumy region, Ukraine, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) 

Russian Missile Attack Kills Ukrainian Servicemen in Training 

A Russian missile attack on a Ukrainian military shooting range killed six servicemen and wounded at least 10 more during training on Tuesday, Ukraine's…

Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins International Booker Prize with Short Story Collection

Culture Banu Mushtaq, author of shortlisted novel 'Heart Lamp' poses for photographers after her novel was announced as winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize at the Tate Modern, in London, Britain, 20 May 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins International Booker Prize with Short Story Collection

Indian author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi won the International Booker Prize for fiction Tuesday for “Heart Lamp,” a collection of 12 short…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)

Culture The agreement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s cultural ambitions under Vision 2030. SPA

Saudi Museums Commission, Philharmonie de Paris Seek to Deepen Cooperation in Music, Museums

The Saudi Museums Commission has signed an executive program with the Cité de la Musique – Philharmonie de Paris to boost cooperation in the fields of museums…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a press conference at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, China April 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Spain's PM Wants Israel Out of International Cultural Events over Gaza War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Monday for Israel's exclusion from international cultural events such as the Eurovision song contest over its…

Culture The initiative supports passing down knowledge to future generations and is in line with The Year of Handicrafts 2025 - SPA

Artisans House Boosts Jazan's Heritage Crafts

The Artisans House in Jazan Region has revitalized traditional handicrafts nearing obsolescence due to modern technological advancements, preserving the region…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Photo by SPA

Saudi National Museum Concludes International Museum Day Events

The National Museum of Saudi Arabia concluded its International Museum Day 2025 events yesterday, with wide participation from cultural enthusiasts. The…

Asharq Al Awsat

Swiatek’s Clay Empire on Shaky Ground Ahead of Paris 

Sports Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy after winning the women's final of the French Open tennis tournament against Italy's Jasmine Paolini at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, June 8, 2024. (AP)

Swiatek’s Clay Empire on Shaky Ground Ahead of Paris 

Iga Swiatek arrives at Roland Garros this month under a cloud of uncertainty, with the Pole enduring one of the toughest stretches of her career just before…


Sports Novak Djokovic of Serbia signs autographs at the Geneva Open tennis tournament, in Geneva, Switzerland, 20 May 2025. (EPA)

Djokovic to Carry on Without a Coach After Parting Ways with Murray 

Novak Djokovic said he would carry on without a coach for now after parting ways with Andy Murray last week, as the Serbian prepares for his latest bid to win…

Sports Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - May 11, 2025 Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior during the warmup before the match. (Reuters) 

Vinícius Won't Get Involved as Valencia Makes Legal Threats Over Racism Claim in Netflix Documentary 

Vinícius Júnior isn't expected to get involved as Valencia threatens legal action over what it described as "falsehoods" in a Netflix documentary about the…

Sports Rodrigo Mora. (AFP)

Teenager Rodrigo Mora Called up for Portugal’s Nations League Semifinal Against Germany 

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has called up 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora for the semifinals of the Nations League. The 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was also…

Sports Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v AFC Bournemouth - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 20, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Man City's Guardiola Demands Slimmer Squad for Next Season

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has told the club he wants to work with a tighter squad next season as it troubles his "soul" to leave so many players in…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)

Saudi Arabia, China to Cooperate on Parks, Reforestation and Anti-Desertification

Varieties A view of the Saudi-Chinese Forum for Product Exports and Agricultural Sustainability. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, China to Cooperate on Parks, Reforestation and Anti-Desertification

A recent Saudi delegation’s visit to China marked a significant step toward deepening environmental cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on…

Ghazi al-Harthi (Riyadh)

Varieties This still image from video provided by the Durango Police Department shows Irwin the pet kangaroo is seen on the loose Monday, March 19, 2025, in Durango, Colo. (Durango Police Department via AP)

Loose Pet Kangaroo Keeps Police Hopping — Again — in Colorado 

Chasing a loose kangaroo is getting to be part of the job for police in a southwestern Colorado city. Irwin, the pet kangaroo, wasn't difficult to nab when…

Varieties This photograph taken on May 16, 2025 shows Ali Baloch, a mahout, feeding a medicated meal to Malika, an elephant who is diagnosed with tuberculosis, at the Safari Park in Karachi. (Photo by Rizwan TABASSUM / AFP)

Jumbo Task: 400 Pills a Day for Elephants with TB in Pakistan

A team of doctors and vets in Pakistan has developed a novel treatment for a pair of elephants suffering from tuberculosis that involves feeding them at least…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties This image obtained December 2, 2015 from NASA shows the Sun’s light reflected off a body of water as the International Space Station orbits Earth. (NASA/AFP)

Mystery Space Object Sends ‘Inexplicable’ Signal to Earth  

A mysterious object in space has been sending an “unexpected” pulsing signal to Earth that is “unlike anything ever seen before.” The object, which is…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Varieties Knife Crime Awareness Week runs from 19 to 25 May and is an annual campaign by the Ben Kinsella Trust. (University of Bristol)

School Shirts Art Exhibition Highlights Problem of Knife Crime in Bristol

An art exhibition showcasing school shirts emblazoned with anti-knife crime messages will go on display as part of Knife Crime Awareness Week, a BBC report…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)