Breaking World News

UN Chief Urges Drastic Emissions Cuts as COP31 Wrestles with Fossil Fuels

World UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference on the fifth day of the COP31 annual UN climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, 13 November 2026. (EPA)

UN Chief Urges Drastic Emissions Cuts as COP31 Wrestles with Fossil Fuels

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an "immediate and drastic reduction" in greenhouse gas emissions, as divisions over fossil fuels…

World 13 November 2026, Ireland, Dublin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the EU summit at the Convention Centre in Dublin. (dpa)

Europe’s Security Cannot Be Part of Ukraine Peace Talks, EU Leaders Say

EU leaders said on Friday that Europe's security structure should not be a subject for Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations, but they did not answer the question…

World  09 November 2026, France, Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaks during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. (dpa)

France Criticizes ‘Demagogic’ Move by Israel to Ban Hard-Left Leader Melenchon

France has ‌criticized as "demagogic" a decision by Israel to ban French hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchonand another leading figure in…

World Congolese workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walk outside the Ebola Treatment Center at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of Congo, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)

UN Hails Progress in Ebola Response, Cites Insecurity as Biggest Challenge

UN health officials on Friday hailed progress in the Ebola response six months after the outbreak first prompted global concerns, but cautioned that the…

World Workers install signage for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2026 summit on the wall of a building in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on November 12, 2026. (AFP)

Five Facts About APEC with Trump, Putin and Xi Set to Attend

Attention will focus next week ‌on a summit of US, Chinese and Russian leaders set for the 21-member gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation …


World In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov listens to his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

Lavrov: European Troops in Ukraine Would be Legitimate Targets for Russia

Any European troop contingents deployed to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for Russia’s armed forces, Foreign Minister ⁠Sergei Lavrov said in remarks…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognizing Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on December 26, 2025. (AFP)

Somalia’s Al-Shabaab Vows to Fight Any Israeli Use of Somaliland

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab vowed Saturday to fight any attempt by Israel "to claim or use parts of Somaliland" following its…

World A handout photo made available by the Defense Ministry of Thailand shows Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha (L) and Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit exchanging ceasefire agreement documents during a General Border Committee Meeting in Ban Pak Kard, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, 27 December 2025. (EPA/Defense Ministry of Thailand/Handout)

China Welcomes Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire, Plans Talks

China on Saturday welcomed a joint ceasefire statement signed by Cambodia and Thailand and said its foreign minister would meet his counterparts from both…

World  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides (not pictured) after a trilateral meeting in Jerusalem on December 22, 2025. (AFP)

Netanyahu to Meet Trump in US on Monday for Talks on Iran, Gaza, Hezbollah, Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, an Israeli official told AFP, in what is seen as a…

World An anti-Israeli billboard carrying a sentence in Persian reading "We are ready, are you ready?" hangs at Palestine Square in Tehran, Iran, 24 December 2025. (EPA)

Iran’s President Says His Country Is in a Full-Scale War with the West

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday his country is in a full-scale war with the US, Israel and Europe ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin…

World  People visit a street decorated with lights ahead of the Christmas festival in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, on December 22, 2025. (AFP)

6.6-Magnitude Earthquake Hits off Taiwan

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan's northeastern coast on Saturday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, but there were no immediate reports of…

World Lieutenant General Thomas Suessli, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Swiss Army, attends a news conference on the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bern, Switzerland, March 16, 2020. Picture taken March 16, 2020. (Reuters)

Army Chief Says Switzerland Can’t Defend Itself from Full-Scale Attack

Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said…

World A dinghy transporting dozens of refugees and migrants is pulled towards Greece's Lesbos island after being rescued by a war ship during their sea crossing between Türkiye and Greece on February 29, 2020. Aris Messinis, AFP/File picture

Another 131 Migrants Rescued off Southern Crete

The Greek coast guard Saturday rescued 131 would-be migrants off Crete, bringing the number of people brought out of the sea in the area over the past five…

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World A handout photo made available by the Defense Ministry of Thailand shows Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha (L) and Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit attending a General Border Committee Meeting in Ban Pak Kard, Chanthaburi Province, Thailand, 27 December 2025. (EPA/Defense Ministry of Thailand/Handout)

Thailand and Cambodia Sign New Ceasefire Agreement to End Border Fighting

Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement to end weeks of armed combat along their border over competing claims to territory. It took…

World Firefighters work at the site of a private home that went up in flames after it was hit by a Russian drone during a night of attacks on Kyiv, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, November 29, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Russia Attacks Kyiv with Missiles and Drones, Wounding 11 ahead of Ukraine-US Meeting

Russia attacked Ukraine's capital with missiles and drones early Saturday morning, wounding at least 11 people a day before talks between Ukraine and the US,…

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World Trump is trying to broker an agreement between the warring sides to end Europe's worst conflict since World War II. Jim WATSON, Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / AFP/File

Russia Pummels Kyiv Ahead of Zelensky’s US Visit

Russia pummeled Ukraine's capital with drones and missiles on Saturday as President Volodymyr Zelensky was headed to the US to meet with President Donald Trump…

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World This picture taken on November 7, 2024 shows a general view of the city of Hargeisa, capital and largest city of the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland. (Photo by LUIS TATO / AFP)

Somalia, African Nations Denounce Israeli Recognition of Somaliland

Somalia and the African Union reacted angrily Friday after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the northern region of Somaliland as an…

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World US President Donald Trump takes questions from journalists after announcing the US Navy's new Golden Fleet initiative, unveiling a new class of warships, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 22, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

Trump Says Does Not Back Recognizing Somaliland after Ally Israel

President Donald Trump said he opposed US recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post published Friday, after Israeli Prime Minister and…

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World Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi weeps over the coffin of Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, during the funeral of senior military officials killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran on June 28. AFP/Archive

Midnight Hammer in 2025: Trump Ends Half Measures on Iran

With Donald Trump back in the Oval Office in early 2025, it took less than a year for his revamped “maximum pressure” campaign to set the pace for Iran. …

Adil Al-Salmi (London)
World A woman looks at sunset on Christmas Day, at a southern coastal suburb in Athens, Greece, December 25, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Nearly 400 Would-be Migrants Rescued Off Greek Island

The Greek coastguard on Friday rescued nearly 400 would-be migrants from a fishing boat and another vessel off southern Crete, ANA news agency reported. In…

World FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem, December 22, 2025.  ABIR SULTAN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Israel Becomes 1st Country to Recognize Somaliland as 'Sovereign State'

Israel on Friday formally recognized Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region's…

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World This photo taken on November 28, 2025 shows the view from the lobby of a high-rise building in Tokyo. (AFP)

14 Injured in Japan After Stabbing, Liquid Spray Attack, Official Says

Fourteen people were injured in a stabbing attack in a factory in central Japan during which an unspecified liquid was also sprayed, an emergency services…

World File photo: Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace in Istanbul March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Turkish Authorities Say they Have arrested Suspected ISIS Member Planning New Year's Attacks

Turkish authorities said Friday that they have apprehended a suspected member of the extremist ISIS group who was planning attacks on New Year's celebrations. …

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World The Taipei 101 building is seen among residential and commercial buildings in Taipei on December 18, 2025. (AFP)

China Sanctions US Defense Firms, Individuals Over Arms Sales to Taiwan

China's foreign ministry announced sanctions on Friday targeting 10 individuals and ​20 US defense firms, including Boeing's St. Louis branch, over arms sales…

World St Nikolas ship X1 oil tanker involved in US-Iran dispute in the Gulf of Oman which state media says was seized is seen in the Tokyo bay, Japan, October 4, 2020, in this handout picture. Daisuke Nimura/Handout via REUTERS

Iran Says Foreign Tanker Carrying Smuggled Fuel Seized in Gulf

Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker near the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Gulf, saying it was carrying 4 million liters of smuggled fuel, state media…

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World Members of a Thai Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspect the site of a rocket attack during clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers in Kantharalak district of Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Cambodia Says Thailand Escalated Strikes During Border Talks

Cambodia accused Thailand on Friday of intensifying its bombardment of disputed border areas, even as officials from the two countries attend a multi-day…

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World (FILES) US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Ukraine's Zelensky Says to Meet Trump in 'Near Future'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he would soon meet US leader Donald Trump, as part of efforts to end the Russian invasion. "We…

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World Jailed former Malaysian leader Najib Razak moved closer to serving the rest of his sentence at home after an appeal court ruled he could use a royal decree supporting his claim. Mohd RASFAN / AFP

Malaysia Ex-PM Najib Convicted of Abuse of Power In 1MDB Trial

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abusing his power in the 1MDB graft scandal, which saw billions plundered from the now…

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World In a visit to munitions factories accompanied by top officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim ordered the factories to prepare for a busy year ahead. STR / KCNA VIA KNS/AFP

North Korea's Kim Orders Factories to Make More Missiles in 2026

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to step up production of missiles and construct more factories to meet his military's growing need for…

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