Latest World News

Gulf File photo of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, 2018. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Putin Thanks Saudi Crown Prince for Kingdom's Hosting of Russia-US Talks

Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, the Kremlin said. According to Reuters, the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Business Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Approves Saudi Riyal Symbol

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Approves Saudi Riyal Symbol

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud approved on Thursday the Saudi riyal symbol in a historic move that will reinforce the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Business An oil pump of IPC Petroleum France is seen during sunset outside Soudron, near Reims, France, February 6, 2023. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo

Oil Little Changed after US Crude Inventory Build

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday after rising to a near one-week high in the previous session, as an industry report showing a buildup in US crude…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World Coffins are placed on stage during the handover of deceased hostages Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, seized during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, to the Red Cross, as part of a ceasefire and hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 20, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

Hamas Hands Over Bodies of Four Gaza Hostages

Hamas handed over the bodies on Thursday of Israeli infant Kfir Bibas and his four-year-old brother Ariel, the two youngest captives taken in the October 7,…

Asharq Al Awsat

GCC Leaders, King of Jordan, Egyptian President to Hold Talks in Riyadh on Friday

Gulf The Saudi Crown Prince addresses the advisory Shura Council. SPA

GCC Leaders, King of Jordan, Egyptian President to Hold Talks in Riyadh on Friday

An official source stated that, at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the leaders of the Cooperation Council for…

Asharq Al Awsat

World Executions in Iran have surged in recent years - AFP

Iran Executed 975 People in 'Horrifying' 2024 Escalation, Rights Groups Say

Iran executed at least 975 people last year in a "horrifying escalation" of its use of capital punishment, two human rights groups said on Thursday. Norway…

Asharq Al Awsat
World The seal of the United States Department of State is seen in Washington, US, January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File photo

US State Department Orders Pause on Media Subscriptions

The US State Department said on Thursday it has ordered a pause on all of its media subscriptions as part of government-wide efforts by the Trump…

Asharq Al Awsat

Second Saudi Coffee Festival to Kick off in Rijal Almaa

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
Culture The commission is offering visitors a unique display of rare manuscripts on significant chapters of the Kingdom's cultural and intellectual heritage.  (SPA)

Saudi Libraries Commission Exhibits Rare Manuscripts at Saudi Cultural Week in Qatar

The Saudi Libraries Commission is participating in the Saudi Cultural Week events, organized in Doha by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the…

Salah Scores, Sets Up Equalizer as Liverpool Draws 2-2 at Villa to Lead Premier League by 8 Points

Sports 19 February 2025, United Kingdom, Birmingham: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is tackled by Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans (R) during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at the Villa Park. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire/dpa

Salah Scores, Sets Up Equalizer as Liverpool Draws 2-2 at Villa to Lead Premier League by 8 Points

Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up the equalizer by Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa that stretched its lead in the Premier…

Asharq Al Awsat

Sports Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, right, after scoring his sides third goal during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Mbappé Praises Real Madrid's 'Perfect Night' to Advance in Champions League Playoffs

Kylian Mbappé was celebrating a “perfect night” with Real Madrid — one that included his third Champions League hat-trick and his club securing a spot in the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - FEBRUARY 19: Lionel Messi of Inter Miami celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during a 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup first leg match between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami at Sporting Park on February 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Kansas. Kyle Rivas/Getty Images/AFP

Messi's 56th Minute Goal Gives Inter Miami 1-0 Win over Sporting KC in Champions Cup

Lionel Messi scored from the right side of the box in the 56th minute to lift Inter Miami past Sporting Kansas City 1-0 on a bitterly cold Wednesday night in…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton with team principal Frederic Vasseur and Charles Leclerc during the launch. (Reuters)

Lewis Hamilton Steps Out in Red at Unprecedented 10-Team F1 Launch 

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton appeared in Ferrari red for the first time outside of Italy as Formula One put on an unprecedented and spectacular 10…

Sports Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Atalanta v Club Brugge - Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy - February 18, 2025 Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the match. (Reuters)

Atalanta Boss Gasperini Blasts Lookman After Penalty Miss in Brugge Loss 

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his striker Ademola Lookman is "one of the worst penalty takers he has ever seen" after his miss from the spot…


Two of a Kind: Najin and Fatu, the Last Northern White Rhinos

Varieties Fatu, right, and her mother Najin are the only northern white rhinos left on the planet - AFP

Two of a Kind: Najin and Fatu, the Last Northern White Rhinos

Najin spends a lot of time by herself these days because her rebellious daughter prefers to hang out with her best friend. This might sound like a common…

Asharq Al Awsat

Varieties Six elephants died after a train hit them on the tracks and then derailed at Habarana in eastern Sri Lanka - AFP

Sri Lanka Train Derailed after Smashing into Elephants

A Sri Lankan passenger train derailed Thursday after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties Whyalla steelworks, located around 400 kilometres northwest of Adelaide. Photo taken August 26, 2023 - AFP

Australia Seeks to Turn Failing Steel Plant into 'Green' Hub

A failing Australian metals plant will be transformed into a hub for making "green iron and steel", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday as the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties A undated handout photo made available by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) on 19 February 2025 shows a person assisting a group of whales after they were stranded near Arthur River on Tasmania's west coast, Australia. EPA/DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

Australia Begins Euthanizing False Killer Whales after Mass Stranding

Dozens of false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in the Australian state of Tasmania will be euthanized after bad weather and the isolated location…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties The forum commenced with an opening speech by Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary followed by a ministerial session featuring Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA

Saudi Media Forum: Ministers, Global Influencers Join 35 Panels and 11 Workshops

The Saudi Media Forum witnessed a large participation on its first day on Wednesday, with royals, ministers, and chief executives of major media companies in…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)