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Business The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)
Business

Foreign Investors Consolidate their Bets on Saudi Arabia as Economic Reforms Gather Pace

Saudi Arabia is no longer just an oil-price bet for global investors. It is becoming a core emerging-market play. That is the view of Emmanuel Laurina, head of…

Zeinab Ali (Riyadh)
Gulf Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Gulf

Saudi FM: We Welcome Trump's Decision to Allow More Time for Diplomacy to End the War

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah expressed on Wednesday the Kingdom's appreciation for US President Donald Trump’s granting…

World Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)
World

Israel Army Chief Says Military on ‘Highest Alert’ as Threats Over Iran War Escalate

Israel's army chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir on Wednesday said the military was at its highest alert level, as Tehran and Washington traded threats of war…

Gulf A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)
Gulf

UAE Demands that Iraq Halt Attacks Launched from its Territories

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned on Wednesday “the unprovoked terrorist drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory, including an attack targeting…

Trump Says Negotiations with Iran in Final Stages, Warns of Attacks if Deal Fails

World Vessels are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, off the port city of Khasab on Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula on May 17, 2026. (AFP)

Trump Says Negotiations with Iran in Final Stages, Warns of Attacks if Deal Fails

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were in the final stages, while warning of further attacks unless Iran agrees to a deal…

World FILED - 12 May 2026, Bavaria, Munich: A view of the construction in the Freiham development area in Munich. Photo: Malin Wunderlich/dpa
World

Germany Arrests Married Couple on China Spying Charges

German police on Wednesday arrested a married couple on charges of spying for China, accusing them of seeking information on advanced technology with military…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World Israeli soldiers are seen on a vessel bearing symbols of the Global Sumud Flotilla, with an Israeli military ship behind it, as seen from Ashdod, southern Israel, May 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Arab World

First of Hundreds of Detained Gaza Flotilla Activists Arrive in Israel

Israeli authorities have begun detaining hundreds of activists seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla at the southern port of Ashdod on Wednesday, a rights group…

Israel Takes Step Toward Snap Election as Knesset Votes to Dissolve

Knesset members at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 20 May 2026. (EPA)

Shot for Throwing Stones: Israeli Forces Killing West Bank Teens Weekly

Palestinian Sameh Shtayyeh, the father of 15-year-old Youssef Sameh Shtayyeh who was killed on April 23, by Israeli soldiers in the city of Nablus, hugs his son as they visit his grave at the cemetery in the village of Till, west of Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank on May 12, 2026. (AFP)

Authorities Deny Existence of a Second Israeli Base in Iraq

An Iraqi shepherd leads a flock of sheep at sunset in the town of Mishkhab, south of Najaf, Iraq. (AFP)

Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon Kill 19, Including Children and Women

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Deir Qanoun al-Nahr in southern Lebanon on May 19, 2026. (AFP)

Xi, Putin Highlight Their Friendship and Cooperation on Energy and Other Issues in Beijing Visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a picture during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 20, 2026. (Sputnik/Maxim Stulov/Pool via Reuters)

Editors choice

This photo provided by the Pacific Whale Foundation in May 2026, shows a humpback whale breaching off the coast of Australia. (Pacific Whale Foundation via AP)

2 Humpback Whales Set Records Swimming between Australia and Brazil

Lebanese Army troops deployed in central Beirut last week. (EPA)

Lebanon Limits Security Delegation’s Role to ‘Technical’ Talks with Israel

A health worker monitors visitors arriving at the Rodolphe Merieux Laboratory, National Biomedical Research Institute (INRB) in Goma, on May 19, 2026. (AFP)

Ebola, Hantavirus Show World’s Risk Preparedness Lagging, Says Pandemic Expert

A Riyadh Air aircraft flies over the Saudi capital, Riyadh (Public Investment Fund)

Boeing Dreamliner to Fly Riyadh Air's First Passengers in July

The Smart Makkah Operations Center is one of the operational and technical pillars supporting SDAIA’s work during Hajj (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Expands Use of AI to Serve Hajj Pilgrims

Hamas leaders, from right: Rawhi Mushtaha, Saleh al-Arouri and Ismail Haniyeh, all of whom were assassinated, Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya. Hamas media)

Blank Ballots Impede Vote for New Hamas Leader

Opinion

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Lebanon in the Lens of Structural Theory

Antoine Douaihy
Author

Putin in China... Pragmatism, Not Ideology

Emile Ameen
Author

Peace, War, and the Lost Certainty

Amr el-Shobaki
Author

Saudi Arabia: The Fruits of the Vision in Times of Chaos

Yousef Al-Dayni
Author

On the ‘State’ and the ‘Resistance’

Hazem Saghieh
Author

China and Today’s World

Dr. Nassif Hitti
Author

The Smoldering Embers Beneath the Ashes of Negotiations

Mishary Dhayidi
Author

Iran Refuses Defeat While the US Hesitates

Sam Menassa
Author

Iran’s Dream and Cuba’s Darkness

Ghassan Charbel
Author

On How Lebanon’s Cause is Bigger than Negotiations

Hazem Saghieh
Author

Lebanese-Israeli Negotiations: Between Hope and Reality

Eyad Abu Shakra
Author

The Nakba Anniversary 

Samir Atallah
Author

Gulf

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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)

Saudi FM: We Welcome Trump's Decision to Allow More Time for Diplomacy to End the War

UAE Demands that Iraq Halt Attacks Launched from its Territories

A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)

UN Security Council Condemns Attack on UAE Nuclear Plant

The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

Saudi Arabia Expands Use of AI to Serve Hajj Pilgrims

The Smart Makkah Operations Center is one of the operational and technical pillars supporting SDAIA’s work during Hajj (SPA)

Iraq Vows No Leniency with Parties Harming Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi. (INA)

Bahrain Suspends Entry of Foreign Travelers Arriving from Three Countries Amid Ebola Fears

A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)

Arab World

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AP file photo shows Jordanian soldiers

Jordan Says Shot Down Drone in its Airspace

Asharq Al Awsat

First of Hundreds of Detained Gaza Flotilla Activists Arrive in Israel

Israeli soldiers are seen on a vessel bearing symbols of the Global Sumud Flotilla, with an Israeli military ship behind it, as seen from Ashdod, southern Israel, May 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Authorities Deny Existence of a Second Israeli Base in Iraq

An Iraqi shepherd leads a flock of sheep at sunset in the town of Mishkhab, south of Najaf, Iraq. (AFP)

Hezbollah Rejects Lebanon-Israel Talks While Backing Negotiations Between Iran and the US

Displaced people return to Beirut’s southern suburbs carrying the party’s flag and a picture of its Secretary-General (AP)

Iraq’s ‘Heist of the Century’ Returns to Spotlight with $5 Billion Figure

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announces the recovery of funds linked to the “Heist of the Century” scandal. (AFP)

Lebanon Limits Security Delegation’s Role to ‘Technical’ Talks with Israel

Lebanese Army troops deployed in central Beirut last week. (EPA)

World

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Israel's Iron Dome defense system intercepts rockets over its airspace, Nov. 5, 2023. (Getty Images)

Israel Army Chief Says Military on ‘Highest Alert’ as Threats Over Iran War Escalate

Rubio Offers Cubans ‘New Path’ in Special Video Address

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 5, 2026. (AFP)

WHO Says Ebola Risk High Regionally, Low Worldwide

A visitor walks at the entrance of a hospital in Rwampara on May 19, 2026. (AFP)

Germany Arrests Married Couple on China Spying Charges

FILED - 12 May 2026, Bavaria, Munich: A view of the construction in the Freiham development area in Munich. Photo: Malin Wunderlich/dpa

Israel Takes Step Toward Snap Election as Knesset Votes to Dissolve

Knesset members at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, 20 May 2026. (EPA)

Pakistan Minister in Tehran amid US-Iran Impasse

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2026. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

Business

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The King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign Investors Consolidate their Bets on Saudi Arabia as Economic Reforms Gather Pace

Zeinab Ali (Riyadh)

Standard Chartered CEO Seeks to Reassure Staff over AI-linked Job Cuts

FILED - 11 January 2012, China, Hong Kong: FILE PHOTO - A general view of the facade of Standard Chartered Bank branch in Hong Kong. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

Ukraine Ally Britain Eases Sanctions on Russian Oil as Fuel Prices Surge Over Iran Conflict

A seized suspected Russian oil taker by the French navy is photographed in the Mediterranean Sea in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France, on Jan. 26, 2026. (AP)

QatarEnergy Buys Stakes in Uruguay Offshore Blocks from Shell Subsidiary

3D-printed oil pump jacks and the QatarEnergy logo appear in this illustration taken March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Dollar Steady Near Six-Week Highs on Rate-Hike Bets, War Uncertainty

A man counts US dollar currency notes at a foreign exchange office in Hyderabad on May 16, 2026. (AFP)

China Says It Will Buy 200 Boeing Jets, Seek Extension of US Trade Truce

Signage is displayed above The Boeing Company booth at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week at the Tampa Convention Center on May 19, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images/AFP)

Culture

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Saudi Heritage Commission Discovers Abbasid-Era Gold Jewelry in Qassim

Culture The Saudi Heritage Commission logo

Saudi Heritage Commission Discovers Abbasid-Era Gold Jewelry in Qassim

Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission announced the discovery of a collection of Abbasid-era gold jewelry at the archaeological site of Diriyyah in Qassim Region…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. (SPA)
Culture

Jeddah’s House of Islamic Arts Marks International Museum Day 2026

The House of Islamic Arts in Jeddah marked International Museum Day 2026 with a special exhibition offering visitors a cultural journey into the past. The…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture A number of private museum owners in Jazan stressed that these museums are no longer limited to preserving and displaying heritage collections - SPA
Culture

Private Museums in Jazan Offer a Window into the Region's Cultural Past

Private museums in Jazan Region are reintroducing local memory through a contemporary cultural vision by preserving collections and artifacts documenting…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture This artifact is part of the collection at the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture - SPA
Culture

Rare Inscribed Marble Column Chronicles Grand Mosque Minaret's Construction

The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah showcases a rare marble column bearing an inscription documenting the construction of one of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Royal Commission for AlUla continues its efforts to protect and promote human heritage on a global scale, reinforcing AlUla’s position as a leading cultural destination. (SPA)
Culture

Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, the World’s Largest Living Museum, Marks Int'l Museum Day

Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is marking International Museum Day, observed annually on May 18, as part of its continued efforts to reinforce…

Sports

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Djokovic Trying to Hold Back Time at French Open

Sports Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Spain’s Pedro Martinez during their men's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2026. (AFP)

Djokovic Trying to Hold Back Time at French Open

Novak Djokovic arrives at Roland Garros this year facing a familiar opponent, but one that cannot be outmaneuvered even by the record 24-time Grand Slam…

Sports Philippines' Alexandra Eala serves a ball to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP)
Sports

Eala and Tjen Bring a Southeast Asian ‘Sense of Pride’ to Roland Garros

Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen have taken different routes to the women's top 40, but both began their journeys from a region that is rarely on the tennis map…

Sports Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane raises celebrates and raises the Bundesliga trophy after winning the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Cologne in Munich, southern Germany, on May 16, 2026. (AFP)
Sports

How Are the World Cup Favorites Shaping Up?

With the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America now barely three weeks away, AFP Sport runs the rule over the leading contenders at the first-ever 48…

Sports Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)
Sports

Celebrations Erupt in North London After Arsenal Seal Premier League Title

Thousands of Arsenal supporters ‌flocked to the streets of North London on Tuesday as the club clinched their first Premier League title in 22 years,…

Sports UEFA Hands Lifetime Ban to Czech Coach who Secretly Filmed Female Players
Sports

UEFA Hands Lifetime Ban to Czech Coach who Secretly Filmed Female Players

UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women's soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday. …

Asharq Al Awsat

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Amjad Rasmi
Amjad Rasmi
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Varieties

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Help Wanted: Australian Conservation Group Seeks New Koala Rescue Dog

Varieties This handout photo from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) taken on November 10, 2023, shows Bear, a koala detection dog who recently retired, during a training session at an unknown location. (Photo by Handout / International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) / AFP)

Help Wanted: Australian Conservation Group Seeks New Koala Rescue Dog

An Australian animal welfare group is seeking a heroic dog with an appetite for adventure for a full-time position as a koala rescuer. The successful pooch…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties This photo provided by the Pacific Whale Foundation in May 2026, shows a humpback whale breaching off the coast of Australia. (Pacific Whale Foundation via AP)
Varieties

2 Humpback Whales Set Records Swimming between Australia and Brazil

Scientists have spotted two humpback whales that made separate, record-breaking crossings between Australia and Brazil. The whales were identified by their…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties FILE - Charley, an ageing four-ton African elephant, is trained to enter a transport container, on Aug. 9, 2024 at the Pretoria, South Africa's, National Zoological Gardens. (AP Photo, File)
Varieties

Animal Welfare Groups: 3 South African Zoo Elephants Are Depressed, Sue to Move Them

The mental well-being of three elephants in a zoo in South Africa is the subject of an unusual court case, with animal welfare groups saying they are depressed…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties A customer leaves a Starbucks coffee shop in Seoul on May 19, 2026. (AFP)
Varieties

Starbucks Korea Fires CEO Over Controversial 'Tank Day' Promotion

Starbucks Korea's chief executive has been sacked over a campaign perceived as referring to a bloody historical incident, according to BBC. The promotion,…

Varieties Dominique Verdier poses for a photo with Carlota, a former laboratory rat she adopted, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP)
Varieties

Laboratory Rats Become Festival Stars in Argentina

A group of people watched three albino rats leap from small baskets into a big cage on Sunday as other rodents hid in makeshift tunnels or searched for…

Asharq Al Awsat (Buenos Aires)

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Amjad Rasmi
Amjad Rasmi
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