Latest World News

World In this video grab taken and released on February 13, 2025 an aerial footage shows the scene after an explosion at a department store in Taichung. (Photo by Yufu Liao / AFP)

Gas Explosion at Taiwan Food Court Kills at Least 4

A gas explosion at a department store in central Taiwan on Thursday killed at least four people and left 26 others injured, fire authorities said. The blast…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his Sudanese counterpart Ali Yusuf al-Sharif shake hands during press conference in Moscow, on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov / POOL / AFP)

Sudan, Russia Agree on Port Sudan Naval Base

Sudan and Russia have reached a final agreement on the establishment of a Russian naval base in Port Sudan on the Red Sea, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yusuf…

Raed Jaber (Moscow)
Arab World Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the Oct.7, 2023 attacks, block Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv during a protest calling for the release of all hostages, on February 13, 2025. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Hamas Sources to Asharq Al-Awsat: Hostage Release Tied to Israeli Compliance

Hamas sources in Gaza told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that mediators have offered guarantees to ensure Israel’s commitment to a ceasefire and to start real…

Asharq Al Awsat (Gaza)
Arab World Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)

Israel Extends Occupation of Southern Lebanon

The Israeli Army is seeking an extension to a Feb. 18 deadline to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, Israel's public broadcaster said on Wednesday,…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)

Trump Says he Would Probably Meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia

Gulf President Donald Trump speaks as Tulsi Gabbard is sworn in as the Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump Says he Would Probably Meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia

US President Donald has said that he would “probably” meet in person with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the near term, suggesting that could happen in Saudi…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)

World (FILES) In this file photo taken on August 26, 2018, North Korean Pak Young Hee (R), 85, cries with her South Korean sister Park Yoo-hee (L), 83, as they bid farewell at the last meeting of a three-day family reunion event at North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort. (Photo by KOREA POOL / KOREA POOL / AFP)

North Korea Dismantling Facility Near Border for Separated Families

North Korea is dismantling a facility at its Mount Kumgang resort used for hosting meetings between families separated after the Korean War, South Korea said…

Asharq Al Awsat
Arab World Palestinians travel from the southern Gaza Strip towards the north following the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Netzarim Corridor, central Gaza Strip, 12 February 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Sisi, King Abdullah Agree that Gaza Should Be Rebuilt Without Displacing Palestinians

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II said that Gaza should be rebuilt without displacing Palestinians, Egypt's presidency…

Asharq Al Awsat

Saudi Culture Ministry, ICESCO to Collaborate on Several Projects

Culture Saudi Culture Ministry, ICESCO to Collaborate on Several Projects

Saudi Culture Ministry, ICESCO to Collaborate on Several Projects

The Saudi Ministry of Culture signed in Jeddah an executive program with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)

Culture The conference is being hosted by the Kingdom in cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)

Saudi Arabia Opens Conference of Ministers of Culture in Islamic World

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan on Wednesday opened the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World at the Ritz…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture A view of the Al-Hadba Minaret in the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, which was rebuilt after it was blown up by ISIS militants, in Mosul, Iraq, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily/File Photo

Mosul’s Renowned Minaret Restored from Ravages of ISIS

Mosul’s Grand al-Nuri Mosque, known for its eight-century-old leaning minaret, destroyed by ISIS militants in 2017, has been renovated in a boost for Iraq's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Culture Through its dedicated pavilion, KSGAAL will highlight its leading role in supporting the Arabic language

King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language to Showcase Linguistic Projects at LEAP 2025

The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) will present a selection of its pioneering technological and linguistic projects at the fourth…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Culture The display of the Kaaba cladding is part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's initiative to showcase Islamic arts and deepen understanding of its rich history and cultural legacy. (SPA)

Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 Showcases Holy Kaaba Kiswah

The second edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 in AlBidaya (the beginning) section of the Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport…

Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Sports Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - First Leg - AS Monaco v Benfica - Stade Louis II, Monaco - February 12, 2025 AS Monaco's Al-Musrati is shown a red card by referee Maurizio Mariani as Denis Zakaria reacts REUTERS/Manon Cruz

Monaco's Musrati Gets Shown a Quick Red Card in Loss to Benfica

Monaco midfielder Al Musrati got a harsh-looking red card from referee Maurizio Mariani early in the second half of a Champions League playoff first leg…

Asharq Al Awsat

Sports Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2025 Jessica Pegula of the US in action during her third round match against Serbia's Olga Danilovic REUTERS/Edgar Su

Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina Advance to Doha Open Quarterfinals

Sixth-seed Jessica Pegula advanced on Wednesday to the quarterfinals of the Doha Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Daria Kasatkina, The Associated Press…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; A detail view as the Philadelphia Eagles lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images/File Photos- Reuters

Nevada Sportsbooks Earn Record $22 million Super Bowl Win

The Philadelphia Eagles were not the only big Super Bowl winners as their rout of the Kansas City Chiefs led to record winnings for sportsbooks in the US's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Nov 22, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and guard Buddy Hield (7) during first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images/File Photo -Reuters

Brandon Ingram Gets $120 Million Extension from Raptors Shortly after Being Acquired

Brandon Ingram has a $120 million extension from the Raptors before ever playing a game for Toronto. The recently acquired forward agreed to the deal…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports PSV Eindhoven's Dutch coach Peter Bosz reacts during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off 1st leg football match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Allianz stadium in Turin, on February 11, 2025. (AFP)

PSV Lament Unnecessary Defeat in Champions League Clash at Juventus 

PSV Eindhoven felt they should have taken more from Tuesday's Champions League away clash against Juventus where they conceded a late goal to go down 2-1 in…


Facing Egg Shortage, Americans Bring Chickens Home to Roost

Varieties Hens for sale roam in their cage at Wabash Feed & Garden store in Houston, Texas, on February 10, 2025. AFP

Facing Egg Shortage, Americans Bring Chickens Home to Roost

A Houston poultry supply company is selling chickens like there is no tomorrow, as sky-high prices for eggs prompt some Americans to produce their own at home…

Asharq Al Awsat

Varieties In this photo provided by Zoos Victoria on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, elephants explore their new home at Werribee Open Range Zoo after a program in Australia to move a herd of Asian elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo. (Jo Howell/Zoos Victoria via AP)

Elephants Trumpet, Flap their Ears after their Complex Move Across Australian City

Elephants trumpeted, touched trunks and flapped their oversized ears upon reuniting with their herd after a complex, five-day move from an urban Australian zoo…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties Residents and visitors of Santorini are forming queues with their cars towards the port of Athinios, as they leave the island due to the increased seismic activity of the last few days, Santorini island, Greece, 03 February 2025.  EPA/CHRISTOS YANTSIS

Emergency Declared on 2nd Greek Island as String of Quakes Persists

Authorities declared a state of emergency on a second Greek island Wednesday as a series of earthquakes continued to rattle the south-eastern Aegean Sea region…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties In this photo taken Nov. 17, 2011, the US and Danish flags fly at the Novozymes new enzyme plant under construction near Blair, Neb. (AP)

‘We’ll Bring Hygge to Hollywood’: Danes Petition to Buy California as Trump Seeks Greenland 

A lighthearted Danish petition to buy the state of California and “bring hygge to Hollywood” comes in response to President Donald Trump's talk about taking…

Varieties This photo illustration shows the Gulf of Mexico branded as Gulf of America displayed on the Google Maps application on a tablet on February 11, 2025, in Bogota, Colombia. (AFP)

Apple Changes Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America on Maps 

Apple renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on its maps Tuesday after an order by President Donald Trump was made official by the US Geographic…