Latest World News

Arab World 03 January 2025, Syria, Damascus: Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa stands during a meeting at the presidential palace in Damascus. (dpa)

Syria’s National Dialogue Conference Is in Flux Amid Pressure for Political Transition 

An official with the committee preparing a national dialogue conference in Syria to help chart the country's future said Friday that it has not been decided…

World French President Emmanuel Macron waits for the arrival of guests for a second meeting on Ukraine and European security at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)

Macron’s Message to Trump: ‘You Can’t Be Weak in the Face of Putin’ 

French President Emmanuel Macron said he intends to tell Donald Trump that it's in the joint interest of Americans and Europeans not to “be weak” in the face…

World A Ukrainian serviceman of the 24 Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo fires a mortar towards Russian positions, at an undisclosed location in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, 17 February 2023. (EPA)

Russia Says Took Two More East Ukrainian Villages 

Russia on Friday said it captured two more east Ukrainian villages in the Donetsk region, edging closer to the central Dnipropetrovsk region. Moscow has…

World A media station outside Gemelli University Hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalized for pneumonia treatment, in Rome, Italy, 21 February 2025. EPA/FABIO CIMAGLIA

Vatican: Pope, in Hospital for a Week with Pneumonia, Had a Good Night

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital with double pneumonia for a week, has had a good night, got up this morning and had breakfast, the Vatican said on…

Asharq Al Awsat

Hamas Names 6 Hostages it Will Release on Saturday

Arab World FILE PHOTO: People walk past the rubble of destroyed buildings, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo

Hamas Names 6 Hostages it Will Release on Saturday

The armed wing of militant group Hamas said on Friday it will release Israeli hostages Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed…

Asharq Al Awsat

World US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards an aircraft to depart to the US, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 19, 2025. (Reuters)

Trump, Putin Meeting Depends on Progress Toward Ending Ukraine War, Says Rubio 

A possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin "will largely depend on whether we can make any progress on ending…

Arab World A Red Cross representative signs a document as coffins containing the bodies of four people are displayed on a stage before being handed over by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli Military Says Body Released by Hamas is Not of a Hostage

The Israeli military said on Friday that one of the bodies released by Hamas did not belong to any of the hostages held in Gaza, accusing Hamas of violating an…

Asharq Al Awsat

Hidden for Centuries, Chinese Treasures Finally See the Light of Day 

Culture A conservator restores a cultural relic at the cultural protection and restoration department of the Palace Museum at the Forbidden City, during an organized media tour, in Beijing, China February 21, 2025. (Reuters)

Hidden for Centuries, Chinese Treasures Finally See the Light of Day 

Depicting Taoist figures in a misty landscape, a Qing dynasty lacquer panel inlaid with jade and agate is among thousands of artifacts pulled out of museum…


Culture Coffee farming in Rijal Almaa is a long-standing tradition passed down through generations, with some coffee trees in the governorate exceeding 200 years of age. - SPA

Second Saudi Coffee Festival to Kick off in Rijal Almaa

Under the patronage of Aseer Region Governor and Chairman of the Aseer Development Authority Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, the second edition of the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has concluded its participation in the 75th Berlin International Film Festival

Saudi CDF Says it Engaged with Filmmakers, Potential Partners at Berlin Film Festival

The Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has concluded its participation in the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, which was held from February 13 to 19…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture These handout pictures released by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities on February 19, 2025 show the entrance to the tomb of King Thutmose II in Luxor in southern Egypt. (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities / AFP)

Egypt Unveils First Ancient Royal Tomb since Tutankhamun

Egypt's antiquities authority says it has found the ancient tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial to be located since the famed discovery of…

Culture The festival officially concludes on February 22 - SPA

AlUla Arts Festival Unveils Distinguished Programs in Final Week

The fourth edition of the AlUla Arts Festival is nearing its conclusion, with a vibrant program of artistic events set for its final weekend, offering visitors…

Asharq Al Awsat

Champions League Draw Serves up a Madrid Derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG 

Sports Former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber shows the ticket of Atletico Madrid during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, quarter-final and semi-final draws, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, 21 February 2025. (EPA)

Champions League Draw Serves up a Madrid Derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG 

A Madrid derby. A German classic. A rare meeting between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League got more heavyweight clashes when the draw…


Sports Renato Veiga (C) of Juventus FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs 2nd leg soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Juventus FC in Eindhoven, Netherlands, 19 February 2025. (EPA)

Juventus Defender Veiga Sidelined Due to Leg Injury 

Juventus defender Renato Veiga is set for a spell on the sidelines after the on-loan Chelsea player suffered a leg injury during Wednesday's 3-1 Champions…

Sports Football - Europa League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - AS Roma v FC Porto - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 20, 2025 AS Roma's Paulo Dybala scores their first goal past FC Porto's Diogo Costa. (Reuters)

Dybala Double Sends Roma to Europa League Last 16, Fenerbahce, Alkmaar and Real Sociedad Advance 

Paulo Dybala struck twice in four minutes as Roma beat Porto 3-2 to reach the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday. Dybala returned from a knee injury…

Sports Carlos Alcaraz of Spain speaks during a press conference after losing the men's singles quarter-final match against Jiri Lehecka of Czech Republic at the ATP Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, 20 February 2025. (EPA)

Alcaraz Rues Error That Turned the Match in Shock Loss to Lehecka 

World number three Carlos Alcaraz was left ruing a mistake that let Jiri Lehecka off the hook in the third set and allowed the Czech to fight back and claim a…

Sports FILED - 10 December 2024, North Rhine-Westphalia, Leverkusen: Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer leaves the pitch after the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan at BayArena. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

Inter Milan Goalie Yann Sommer Injures Thumb Ahead of Key Serie A and Champions League Games

Inter Milan goalkeeper Yann Sommer has a broken right thumb ahead of key games in Serie A and the Champions League. Inter said the Swiss ‘keeper’s injury was…

Asharq Al Awsat

Riyadh’s Diplomacy Takes Center Stage at Saudi Media Forum

Varieties Participants are seen at a panel discussion at the Saudi Media Forum. (Saudi Media Forum)

Riyadh’s Diplomacy Takes Center Stage at Saudi Media Forum

The second day of the Saudi Media Forum in its fourth edition, held in Riyadh, featured discussions and workshops with the participation of local and…

Omar al-Badwi (Riyadh)

Varieties This photo taken on February 18, 2025 shows pedestrians crossing the street in the snow in central Sapporo, Hokkaido prefecture. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)

Japan Cabinet Approves 'Emergency' Urban Bear Shootings

Japan's cabinet approved a bill Friday allowing hunters to shoot bears in populated areas at their own discretion after human encounters with the wild animals…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties People walk along the main shopping street in the popular tourist destination of Asakusa in central Tokyo on February 21, 2025. (AFP)

Just 17% of Japan Citizens Hold Passport, Data Shows 

Only around one in six Japanese citizens hold valid passports, fresh data has shown, with the number of residents travelling abroad slowly recovering but still…

Varieties FILE - A silhouetted cat sits on a fence of a condominium complex at dusk, June 18, 2017, in La Habra, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)

US Study: People Can Spread Bird Flu to their Cats

A study published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that people can transmit bird flu to their domestic cats, with…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties This photograph shows the Rhone Glacier and its glacial lake, formed by the melting of the glacier, above Gletsch, in the Swiss Alps on September 30, 2024. (AFP)

Climate Change Is Shrinking Glaciers Faster Than Ever, with 7 Trillion Tons Lost Since 2000 

Climate change is accelerating the melting of the world's mountain glaciers, according to a massive new study that found them shrinking more than twice as fast…