The Latest Breaking News from Asharq Al-Awsat

New efforts are underway to resolve the Yemeni crisis as it enters its ninth year. An informed Yemeni source revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that a comprehensive peace document is being drafted. Sponsored by the United Nations, the finishing touches are being made to the draft that covers several phases. The…

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said his talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Beijing were held in a "positive and constructive atmosphere." Amirabdollahian declared Tehran's readiness to hold a joint economic commission session between the two countries, reiterating the necessity of developing financial, commercial, and investment…

A supertanker bought by the United Nations to remove oil from a ship abandoned off Yemen's coast departed China on Thursday, the UN announced, calling it a "significant" step in efforts to prevent a major spill. The UN Development Program (UNDP) had in March purchased the crude carrier Nautica to…

Riyadh has maintained its position as the 3rd Arab city in the IMD Smart City Index (SCI) 2023, which saw for the first time the Saudi cities of Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah included in the index, ranking the 4th, 5th and 7th respectively. At the global level, Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah,…

The Hamas Palestinian group denounced in a statement early on Friday the Israeli assault on Lebanon that targeted the vicinity of the southern city of Tyre. In the statement, Hamas condemned “in the strongest terms the blatant Zionist attack on Lebanon by targeting at dawn the vicinity of the city…

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has made a phone call to the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Saudi Press Agency reported. During Thursday’s phone conversation, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed several issues of common interest,…

A rapper arrested in October on capital charges in Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests needs urgent medical treatment, a rights group said Thursday, urging an international campaign for his release. The New-York based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) also said Toomaj Salehi was being deprived of his right…

Israel launched rare strikes in southern Lebanon early Friday and pressed on with bombing targets in the Gaza Strip, marking a widening escalation in the region following violence this week at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. The cross-border fighting erupted during a time of heightened religious fervor — when Jews…

Azerbaijan on Thursday said it was expelling four Iranian diplomats over "provocative actions" in the latest deterioration of relations between the neighbors, in part due to Baku's improving relations with Tehran's arch-enemy Israel. Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have grown increasingly strained in recent months, with the dispute coming to…

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Thursday that it faced growing challenges in running its operations as donors were set to contribute less money this year. Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini told The Associated Press in an interview that he plans to make a new appeal for donors after…

The United Nations on Thursday condemned multiple rockets fired into northern Israel from Lebanon and urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. "The UN interim force in Lebanon remains in contact with authorities on both sides of the blue line and we urge the parties…