The Latest Breaking News from Asharq Al-Awsat

Libya Revives Cannon Salute to Break Ramadan Fast

The blast of a cannon booms across Tripoli, but it doesn't signal another round of fighting in the Libyan capital -- rather, the revival of a long-lost Ramadan tradition. Officers in berets rolled out a red carpet on the iconic Martyrs' Square on Thursday for the 600-year-old weapon, setting of…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Muslims Pray at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa at Start of Ramadan

Tens of thousands of worshippers attended Friday prayers at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the first in the holy month of Ramadan, AFP correspondents said, amid heightened tensions in the region. Authorities said the prayers at Islam's third holiest site passed peacefully despite concerns over a recent surge in violence in…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Israeli Attorney General Warns Netanyahu Defied Conflict of Interest Rule

Israel's attorney general on Friday warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he has violated the Supreme Court's conflict of interest ruling, which barred him from direct involvement in his government's divisive plans for a judicial overhaul. Netanyahu’s far-right government has barreled ahead with plans to weaken the Supreme Court and…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Russia Says Use of Depleted Uranium Shells in Ukraine Would Harm Population, Land for Decades

Russia's defense ministry said on Friday that the use of depleted uranium shells in Ukraine would harm Ukrainian troops, the wider population and negatively affect the country's agriculture sector for decades or even centuries. Russia has reacted furiously to plans outlined by Britain earlier this week to send shells containing…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Saudi Arabia Allocates Sand, Landfill Site for Mining Activities

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said on Thursday it will allocate the sand and landfill site in the Khulais Governorate, west of the Kingdom, which extends over an area of 39.6 square kilometers, for a mining complex. The ministry is working to develop the areas adjacent to…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Turkish Forces Shell SDF Positions in Northeast Hasakah

Turkish forces shelled an SDF position in Sarmasakh village in Al-Malkiya countryside north east Hasakah, causing material damages, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said. Tuesday’s shelling comes in light of the alarming calm that has prevailed for weeks in SDF-held areas in northern and eastern Syria. On February…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Moody's Changes Saudi PIF's Outlook to Positive

Moody's has changed its outlook on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) from "stable" to "positive" and affirmed its long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings at A1. According to the performance evaluation, the rating reflects PIF's standalone creditworthiness as expressed by a BCA of A1.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

UK Demonstrators Protest Israeli Leader’s Visit to London

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Benjamin Netanyahu at his official residence in London on Friday as protesters shouting “Shame!” in Hebrew demonstrated against the Israeli leader’s right-wing policies and his plans to overhaul the country’s judiciary. Netanyahu had to pass by hundreds of protesters waving Israeli flags and waving…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

US Says Tunisia President Weakened Democratic Controls

Tunisian President Kais Saied has caused "enormous concern" about where Tunisia is headed with moves that have weakened democratic checks and balances, US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf said on Thursday. Leaf told Reuters that after years of efforts to build democracy, "what we've seen in the last year…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023

Russia’s Medvedev: We Don’t Want Direct Conflict with NATO

Russian ex-President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Russia was not planning to enter into a direct conflict with NATO and was interested in resolving the Ukraine crisis through talks, the Interfax news agency reported. However, he warned that any Ukrainian attempt to take the Crimean peninsula - which Moscow…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 24, 2023