Latest World News

Business European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) addresses a joint press briefing as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens, after their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 28, 2025. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

India and EU to Finalize Free Trade Agreement by Year-end

India will finalize a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday after…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai shows a picture on his mobile phone of Uyghur refugees upon their arrival at a airport in China,  during a press conference on the deportation of Uyghur refugees detained in Thailand to China, at the Justice Ministry in Bangkok, Thailand, 27 February 2025. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

US Embassy Issues Security Alert in Thailand after Uyghurs' Deportation to China

The United States embassy in Bangkok on Friday issued a security alert for its citizens in Thailand, a day after the secretive deportation of 40 Uyghurs to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World A medic from the UNICEF carries a cooler box containing polio vaccine arrives at a camp for displaced people in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on February 23, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

US Aid Cuts Force UNICEF to Scale Back Lebanon Nutrition Programs

US aid cuts have forced the UN children's agency UNICEF to suspend or scale back many programs in Lebanon, with more than half of children under the age of two…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World Sudanese Army Commander General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan during a conference in Port Sudan (AFP)

Burhan’s Aide Announces Imminent Appointment of New Sudanese Prime Minister

Ibrahim Jaber, a member of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council and assistant to the army’s commander-in-chief, announced that a new prime minister will be…

Asharq Al Awsat (Port Sudan)

Hamas Urges Pressure on Israel to Start Next Phase of Gaza Ceasefire

Arab World A Palestinian walks past graffiti and the rubble of buildings, ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

Hamas Urges Pressure on Israel to Start Next Phase of Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas on Friday urged the international community to pressure Israel to enter the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire "without delay," a day before the first…

Asharq Al Awsat

Arab World Leaders of the Coordination Framework during a periodic meeting in Baghdad (X)

Iraq’s Ruling Coalition to Discuss US Warnings

Iraq’s ruling coalition is set to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the implications of a recent phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and…

Hamza Mustafa (Baghdad)
World Candles for Pope Francis are seen at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 where Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis, 2 Weeks Into Hospital Stay, Continues Slow Recovery

Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for two weeks battling double pneumonia, has spent another peaceful night and is now resting, the Vatican said on…

Asharq Al Awsat

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches Community Campaign to Promote Sustainable Reading

Culture Held under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the initiative falls in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Community’. WAM

Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Launches Community Campaign to Promote Sustainable Reading

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC) has launched the first phase of its community campaign to promote sustainable reading, covering the first half of…

Asharq Al Awsat ( Abu Dhabi)

Culture Under the slogan "Our Nights Have Returned," the ministry will decorate roads and public spaces with lights and installations

Culture Ministry Announces 'Ramadan Season' Across Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Culture will host "Ramadan Season 1446 AH" in cities nationwide. The initiative features cultural and community events highlighting…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture Examples of Benin bronzes which, together with collections such as the Parthenon sculptures, are the subject of talks of their return to countries of origin, are displayed at the British Museum in London, Britain, January 25, 2023. (Reuters) 

Nigeria’s Museum Agrees with Royal Ruler on Custody of Benin Bronzes 

Nigeria's national museum commission will be responsible for retrieving and keeping priceless Benin Bronzes, taking on the task with the assent of the royal…

Culture AlUla Ramadan preparations - Photo by SPA

AlUla Prepares to Welcome Visitors in Ramadan with Unique Experiences

AlUla Governorate is set to welcome visitors during Ramadan with unique experiences that blend the spiritual essence of the month with the captivating beauty…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture The events provided an opportunity to explore three centuries of Saudi history and culture. (SPA)

More than 80,000 Visitors Attend Founding Day Events at Ithra

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran concluded its Founding Day celebrations, attracting more than 80,000 visitors over three days,…

Austrian Skier Huetter Wins World Cup Downhill, World Champion Johnson Finishes 3rd

Sports Cornelia Huetter of Austria in action during the Women's Downhill at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, 28 February 2025. EPA/Stian Lysberg Solum

Austrian Skier Huetter Wins World Cup Downhill, World Champion Johnson Finishes 3rd

Cornelia Huetter won the first women’s World Cup downhill since the Alpine skiing world championships on Friday to give new life to the battle for the…

Asharq Al Awsat

Sports FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group B - Iraq v Palestine - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - October 10, 2024 Palestine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

Iraq Decline to Play Palestine World Cup Qualifier in Jerusalem or Jordan

Iraq want their World Cup qualifier against Palestine next month moved from the Jordanian capital of Amman, having also knocked back a Palestinian proposal to…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Fenerbahce's Portoguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during the Turkish Super lig football match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahceat at the Ali Samiyen Sport Complext stadium in Istanbul, on February 24, 2025. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)

Jose Mourinho Banned for Four Matches and Fined after Turkish Referees Comment

Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was given a four-match ban and fined by the Turkish Football Federation following his comments about Turkish referees after a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports By 2030, the Diriyah project is expected to host over 100,000 residents and attract 50 million visitors annually - SPA

Diriyah Company, Saudi Tennis Federation Sign MoU on Tennis Development

Diriyah Company and the Saudi Tennis Federation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering the growth of tennis in Diriyah, strengthening…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Formula One F1 - Pre-Season testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 27, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton during testing. (Reuters)

Hamilton Goes Fastest for Ferrari as Rain in Bahrain Hits F1 Testing 

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in his new Ferrari on the morning of the second day of Formula 1 preseason testing as rain in the desert affected Thursday's session…


Balls and Parades to Fete Jane Austen's 250th Birthday

Varieties Visitors view items on display during a tour of the Jane Austen Center in Bath, Somerset on February 14, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)

Balls and Parades to Fete Jane Austen's 250th Birthday

Ballgowns are being stitched, bonnets brushed and tea rooms prepped as the United Kingdom prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of beloved literary icon…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)

Varieties The elephant Ely bathes with sand at the San Juan de Aragon Zoo in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico's Supreme Court Orders Zoo to Improve Conditions for Ely the Elephant

Mexico’s Supreme Court has ordered a zoo to improve the health of an African elephant named Ely, the first time the country’s highest court has made such a…

Varieties US President Donald Trump holds a letter from Britain's King Charles as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 27, 2025. (Reuters)

King Charles Invites Trump for Unprecedented Second UK State Visit

Donald Trump accepted an invitation from King Charles on Thursday to visit Britain, making the US President the first elected political leader in modern times…

Varieties US singer Katy Perry attends the Baby2Baby gala at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California, November 9, 2024. (AFP)

Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez among Blue Origin’s Planned All-Female Crew to Space

Pop star Katy Perry and journalists Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez, who is also billionaire Jeff Bezos' fiancée, are set to blast off into space on a Blue…

Varieties A fragment of the organic glass that was found inside the skull of the deceased individual, who was killed in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, at the archaeological site of Herculaneum in Italy, is pictured in this handout image released on February 27, 2025. (Pier Paolo Petrone/Handout via Reuters)

Mount Vesuvius Eruption Turned a Man’s Brain into Glass. Here’s How It Happened

It was a surprising discovery when scientists examining the remains of a man who died in bed in the ancient city of Herculaneum after Italy's Mount Vesuvius…