Latest World News

World A man walks at the site of shelling, which local officials called a Ukrainian military strike, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on January 10, 2025, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

Russia Says it Takes Control of 2 Villages in Eastern Ukraine

Russian troops have taken control of the villages of Yantarne in the Donetsk region and Kalynove in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry…

Asharq Al Awsat
World 11 January 2025, US, Malibu: A general view of houses in Malibu that were destroyed by the wildfire. Photo: Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Los Angeles Wildfires Death Toll Rises as Crews Fight Heavy Winds

The death toll from the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area rose to 16 as crews battled to cut off the spreading blazes before potentially strong winds…

Asharq Al Awsat
World Supporters of “Mujahideen-e-Khalq” during a demonstration in Paris in February 2023, calling for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization (EPA).

Iran Launches Military Drills to Counter Aerial, Missile Threats

Iran launched the “Eqtedar 1403” military drills on Saturday, conducted by the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Forces in collaboration with the Air Force. …

Asharq Al Awsat (Tehran) Asharq Al Awsat (London)
World An area is sectioned off in the aftermath of a propane-butane cylinder explosion in a restaurant in the city of Most, Czech Republic, January 12, 2025. Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic via X/Handout via REUTERS

Six Killed in Explosion at Czech Restaurant

Six people died when a propane-butane cylinder exploded at a restaurant in the northwest Czech city of Most, setting the building on fire, emergency services…

Asharq Al Awsat

Arab-Western Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh to Discuss Syria

Gulf Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Asaad Al-Shibani in Riyadh (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Arab-Western Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh to Discuss Syria

Riyadh hosted on Sunday a meeting bringing together foreign ministers from Arab and Western countries, as well as representatives of international and UN…

Abdulhadi Habtor (Riyadh)

World Iranian security forces stand guard over the Iranian national flag hanging on a wall during an anti-Israel rally in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people in Tehran, Iran, 10 January 2025. (EPA)

Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Says World Must Reinstate ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran

The world must return to a policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran to turn it into a more democratic country, US President-elect Donald Trump's incoming…

Arab World  President-elect Donald Trump listens as Steve Witkoff speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP)

Trump’s Middle East Envoy Meets Netanyahu amid Ceasefire Push

US President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday amid a push to secure a ceasefire…

King Saud University Hosts 5th Int’l Conference on Camels in Arab Culture

Culture The three-day conference will address several key topics, including camels and cultural heritage. SPA

King Saud University Hosts 5th Int’l Conference on Camels in Arab Culture

Saudi Arabia’s King Saud University, in collaboration with the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, will host the 5th International Conference on…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)

Culture  The devastation of the Palisades Fire is seen in the early morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP)

Southern California Wildfires Claim Will Rogers Ranch, Other Landmarks

Raging wildfires that continue to burn a path of destruction through Southern California claimed the Will Rogers ranch along with a number of other local…

Culture A group of tourists look at chopsticks products at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Hayy Matsuri in Jeddah Celebrates Japanese Culture

The second edition of the Japanese Hayy Matsuri cultural festival, held under the theme "Saudi Celebrates Japan," was inaugurated on Thursday in Hayy Jameel,…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Culture The competition aims to celebrate the rich heritage of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the artisans behind them. WAM

DCT Abu Dhabi Launches House of Artisans Design Competition

House of Artisans, an initiative under The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) which is dedicated to preserving the UAE's rich…

Asharq Al Awsat (Abu Dhabi)
Culture The Culinary Arts Commission logo

Culinary Arts Commission Showcases Saudi Culture at Sirha Lyon 2025

The Culinary Arts Commission is participating in the Sirha Lyon 2025 Exhibition, which will be held in Lyon, France, on January 23-27, where the Commission…

Asharq Al Awsat

Sabalenka Beats Stephens to Begin Bid for 3rd Australian Open Title

Sports Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus (L) shakes hands at the net with Sloane Stephens of USA after winning the Women's Singles first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. EPA/LUKAS COCH

Sabalenka Beats Stephens to Begin Bid for 3rd Australian Open Title

Aryna Sabalenka began her bid to become the first woman in a quarter-century to win three consecutive Australian Open titles, eliminating 2017 US Open champion…

Asharq Al Awsat

Sports Marseille's Mason Greenwood runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Rennes and Marseille in Rennes, France, Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mathieu Pattier)

Greenwood Scores and Assists as Marseille Wins at Rennes to Close Gap on Leader PSG

Mason Greenwood scored and set up a goal for Adrien Rabiot as Marseille won at Rennes 2-1 to move four points behind Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain on…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera (C) celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and CD Leganes, in Barcelona, Spain, 11 January 2025. EPA/Alejandro Garcia

García Shines in Espanyol Goal and Valencia Hits Bottom of La Liga

Espanyol was grateful again that Joan García didn't end up at Arsenal last summer after the goalkeeper made multiple saves against Leganes to salvage a 1-1…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports 11 January 2025, Australia, Melbourne: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic hits a forehand return during a practice session at Melbourne Park ahead of the Australian Open. Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP/dpa

Djokovic Stands Alone at the Australian Open Now that Nadal and Federer Retired

And then there was one: The Big Three is down to just Novak Djokovic, who stands alone from a golden generation of men’s tennis now that Rafael Nadal has…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports  Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece serves during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)

Tsitsipas Hopes ‘Home’ Comforts of Melbourne Will Bring Out the Best in Him

Former Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes a return to his "home" Slam at Melbourne Park can spark an upturn in his fortunes after an…


Tunisia Rehab Barge Offers Hope for Vulnerable Sea Turtles

Varieties Marine specialists treat a sea turtle on a care barge in Tunisia's Kerkennah Island, the only one in the Mediterranean, on December 18, 2024. (Photo by Akim REZGUI / AFP)

Tunisia Rehab Barge Offers Hope for Vulnerable Sea Turtles

On a barge hundreds of meters off the Kerkennah Islands in southern Tunisia, a group of students watches intently as Besma, a recovering sea turtle, shuffles…

Asharq Al Awsat

Varieties Riyadh Season 2024 has achieved a historic milestone, surpassing 16 million visitors. SPA

Riyadh Season Sets New Record with Over 16 Million Visitors

Riyadh Season 2024 has achieved a historic milestone, surpassing 16 million visitors, according to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)
Varieties Conservation rangers Sharyn Broni, left, and Colin Facer weigh an albatross at Taiaroa Head, New Zealand on June 18, 2024. (Michael Hayward/New Zealand Department of Conservation via AP)

Albatross Couple Shares Egg Duty in Captivating Low-drama Reality Show

It’s a reality show about a loving couple waiting to welcome their new arrival, watched by thousands of ardent fans. But the stars of Royal Cam, now in its…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties FILE PHOTO: Jodi Lakatos unloads the last of her 15 horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center after evacuating Altadena as large animals are evacuated from several wildfires, in Burbank, California, US January 8, 2025. REUTERS/Carlin Stiehl/File Photo

Animal Rescuers Care for LA Fire Evacuees - Dogs, Donkeys, Horses

The pitbull mix arrived at Pasadena Humane covered in ash, his paw pads ulcerated from walking on fire debris, his lungs choked with smoke. A good Samaritan…

Asharq Al Awsat
Varieties This handout picture taken and released on January 11, 2025 by Indonesian Geological Agency shows Mount Ibu spewing volcanic material approximately 4,000 meters high during an eruption as observed from the Mount Ibu Volcano Observation Post in West Halmahera, North Maluku on January 11, 2025. (Handout / Indonesian Geological Agency / AFP)

Indonesia’s Mount Ibu Erupts, Spews Hot Lava and Smoke

A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers (3.1 miles) into the air, an…