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80 Years Ago World War II in Europe Was Over. Celebrating V-E Day Is Now Tinged with Some Dread 

World European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (Frist row - 3rd R) holds a European Union flag during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, as part of a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France on May 7, 2025. (AFP)

80 Years Ago World War II in Europe Was Over. Celebrating V-E Day Is Now Tinged with Some Dread 

Even if the end of World War II in Europe spawned one of the most joyous days the continent ever lived, Thursday’s 80th anniversary of V-E Day is haunted as…

World Two Iranians walk past an anti-US mural on the wall of the former American embassy in Tehran (EPA). 

Red Sea Truce Signals Possible Deal Between Washington, Tehran

Before US President Donald Trump announced that the Houthis had pledged to halt attacks on ships in the Red Sea, religious and political institutions in Tehran…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
World People gather under Pope's balcony in St. Peter's Square where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect successor of late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP)

Cardinals Return to the Sistine Chapel to Vote on a New Pope After the First Ballot Fails 

Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to resume voting for a new pope after the first conclave ballot failed to find a winner, sending billowing…

World Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a welcoming ceremony before their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. (Reuters/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool)

Putin Says Russia Stands with China against 'Neo-Nazism'

Russian President Vladimir Putinthanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for joining celebrations to mark 80 years since the "sacred" victory over Adolf Hitler in…

World In this photo provided by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), a Chinese Coast Guard ship patrols the area as Philippine inter-agency members visit Sandy Cay 2 at the South China Sea on Sunday April 27, 2025. (National Task Force West Philippine Sea via AP)

Philippines, China Trade Accusations on South China Sea Confrontation

The Philippines and China gave conflicting versions on Thursday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest…

Asharq Al Awsat

World Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to heads of municipalities in the constituent entities of Russia at the All-Russian Municipal Forum in the Russia National Center in Moscow, Russia, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Stanislav Krasilnikov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Putin Says He Is Open to Direct Peace Talks with Ukraine 

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the early days of the war, and his Ukrainian…

World 20 April 2025, Ukraine, Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, wearing a traditional embroidered shirt known as a vyshyvanka, addresses the nation in front of St. Sophia Cathedral on Easter Sunday. (Ukraine Presidency/dpa)

Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Sending Delegation to London Talks on Settling War

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Kyiv was sending a delegation to talks in London on Wednesday with Western countries on finding a…

World US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends the 2025 Easter Egg Roll with his family on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA 21 April 2025. (EPA)

Trump Stands behind Hegseth after Attack Plans Shared in Second Signal Chat, White House Says

President Donald Trump stands behind US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Monday, after reports that he shared…

World Israeli Security Agency director Ronen Bar attends a memorial ceremony of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year -. GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Pool via REUTERS/File

Israeli Spy Chief Hands Court Scathing Rebuke of Netanyahu Bid to Sack Him

The head of Israel's domestic intelligence service said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid to sack him followed his refusal to fulfil…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Cars drive in front of Moscow's Kremlin along Tverskaya street in Moscow, Russia, 21 March 2025. (EPA)

Kremlin Says US Position Ruling Out NATO Membership for Ukraine Gives Satisfaction

The Kremlin said on Monday that the position of US President Donald Trump's administration on ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine gave Moscow satisfaction,…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Pope Francis speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at The Vatican, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. (AP)

Global Tributes Pour in to Honor Pope Francis after His Death

Church bells tolled in mourning. Well-wishers flocked into pews. Tributes to Pope Francis poured in from around the world on Monday after the Vatican announced…

World Students, faculty and members of the Harvard University community rally, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo)

Trump Threatens to Cut another $1 Billion in Harvard Funding

US President Donald Trump is threatening to cut another $1 billion in funding for Harvard University, this time targeting health research, the Wall Street…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attends a press conference following a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Reuters)

Iran's Top Diplomat to Visit China on Tuesday

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will visit China on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, ahead of a third round of…

World US Marines Lieutenant General James Glynn, commander of the US Marines Pacific, speaks during the opening ceremony of the Philippines-US joint military exercise called "Balikatan" or "Shoulder to Shoulder" at Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in Quezon city, Philippines Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP)

Philippines, US Launch Joint Combat Drills in ‘Full Battle Test’

More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a "full battle test" between the two defense treaty allies…

World In this handout photograph taken on April 21, 2025, and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) walks as he receives US Vice President JD Vance (L) and his wife, Usha Vance (2L), along with their children, before their meeting in New Delhi. (Photo by PIB / AFP)

Vance and Modi Meet in New Delhi to Discuss Trade Deal and Avoid US Tariffs

US Vice President JD Vance held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as New Delhi looks to avoid American tariffs, negotiate a bilateral…

World Pope Francis smiles during an exclusive interview with Reuters, at the Vatican, July 2, 2022. (Reuters)

Pope Francis, First Latin American Pontiff Who Ministered with a Charming, Humble Style, Dies at 88

Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with…

World US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on before a luncheon with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Cabinet Room of the White House, in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2025. (AFP)

Report: Pentagon Chief Hegseth Shared Sensitive Yemen War Plans in Second Signal Chat

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details of a March attack on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a message group that included his wife, brother and…

World US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters)

US Denies Plan to Reduce Its Diplomatic Footprint in Africa

The United States would drastically reduce its diplomatic footprint in Africa and scrap State Department offices dealing with climate change, democracy and…

Asharq Al Awsat
World People walk past residential buildings heavily damaged by air attacks in Kostyantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, on April 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.(Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP)

Russian Attacks During Easter Ceasefire Declared Killed 3 in Ukraine’s Kherson Region

Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by President Vladimir Putin over the weekend killed three people in Ukraine's…

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World Trump and Netanyahu at the White House on January 27, 2020 (dpa)

Concern in Israel Over US-Iranian Talks in Rome

Israel has expressed concern that the Trump administration would relieve sanctions against Tehran as the second round of Iran-US talks wrap up in Rome with an…

Asharq Al Awsat (Tel Aviv)
World French Ecologist party deputy Francois Ruffin was among lawmakers who had their visas cancelled by Israel. JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP

Israel Cancels Visas for French Lawmakers

Israel's government cancelled visas for 27 French left-wing lawmakers and local officials two days before they were to start a visit to Israel and the…

Asharq Al Awsat
World From left, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin meets with US Vice President JD Vance, his daughter Mirabel, his wife Usha, and their sons Ewan and Vivek at the Vatican, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP, Handout)

Pope Francis, Trump Critic, Meets US VP Vance on Easter Morning

Pope Francis held a private meeting at the Vatican on Sunday morning with US Vice President JD Vance, the Vatican said in a statement. Vance, a Catholic who…

World Pope Francis stands on the main balcony of St Peter's basilica during the Urbi et Orbi message and blessing to the city and the world as part of Easter celebrations, at St Peter's square in the Vatican on April 20, 2025. (AFP)

Pope Francis Makes Brief Easter Appearance, Calls for Gaza Ceasefire

Pope Francis reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in an Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide as the pontiff, still recovering from…

World  In this photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, a ruined city center in Kostyantynivka, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP)

Blasts Reported in Russian-Controlled Donetsk amid Easter Ceasefire

Several blasts ripped through Russian-controlled Donetsk in eastern Ukraine on Sunday amid an Easter ceasefire declared by the Kremlin, Russian news agency…

World Ukrainian soldiers sit at the back of a pickup truck, in the Donetsk region, on April 20, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)

Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Breaking One-Day Easter Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other on Sunday for breaking a one-day Easter ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin, with both sides accusing the other…

World A couple looks at Independence Square in Kyiv during a warm spring day on April 19, 2025 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)

Putin Declares Unilateral Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday, after Washington said it could abandon peace talks…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Vice President JD Vance during the visit to the botanical garden of Trastevere, in Rome, Italy, 19 April 2025.  EPA/ANGELO CARCONI

Vatican Holds 'Cordial' Talks with Vance after Criticisms of Trump Policies

US Vice President JD Vance went to the Vatican on Saturday to meet senior Catholic Church officials who have been sharply critical of his administration's…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attends a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (not pictured) in Rome, April 19, 2025. Abbas Araqchi via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS

US Says Nuclear Talks with Iran Made ‘Very Good Progress’ as the Next Round Is Set

Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program again next week, after the sides described their talks Saturday as …

Asharq Al Awsat
World View of the Monte Faito cable car departure station in Castellammare di Stabia near Naples, southern Italy, Friday, April 18, 2025, with the cabin from which nine passengers were rescued when the traction cable broke Thursday, killing four people in another cabin that fell further up the mountain. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta)

3 Tourists among 4 Killed after Italian Cable Car Crashes into Ravine South of Naples

Three tourists, including a British couple, were among four people who were killed when a mountain cable car plunged into a ravine south of Naples, officials…

Asharq Al Awsat