The Latest Breaking News from Asharq Al-Awsat

Rights Groups: Iran Executes 7 Kurds, Including 'Political Prisoner'

Iran on Friday hanged a Kurdish man viewed as a political prisoner by activists, rights groups said, amplifying alarm over the soaring number of executions in the country this year. Mohayyedin Ebrahimi, 43, was hanged at dawn at Urmia prison in northwestern Iran, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 18, 2023

Washington, Europe Powers Demand Assad Be Held to Account

France, Germany, Britain and the United States marked the 12th anniversary of the Syrian uprising with a joint call to hold the Assad regime responsible for atrocities. The four countries said they would not normalize relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government nor fund reconstruction in the country "until there…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 18, 2023

Lebanon Banking Chief Maintains Innocence in European Embezzlement Probe

Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh maintained his innocence Friday following a second and final day of questioning in Beirut before European investigators in a probe into his personal wealth. Salameh, 72, is part of the Lebanese political class widely blamed for a crushing economic crisis that began in late…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

YouTube Restores Donald Trump’s Channel

Alphabet Inc-owned YouTube said on Friday it lifted restrictions on former US President Donald Trump's channel, following a more than two-year suspension after the deadly Capitol Hill riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump now has access to key vehicles for political fundraising and the ability to reach his combined 146…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

New COVID Origins Data Point to Raccoon Dogs in China Market

Genetic material collected at a Chinese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, suggesting the pandemic may have originated from animals, not a lab, international experts say. Other experts have not yet verified their analysis, which has yet…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

International Court Issues War Crimes Warrant for Putin

The International Criminal Court said on Friday it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes because of his alleged involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

Morocco to Spend $580 Mln to Attract More Tourists

Morocco plans to spend 6.1 billion dirhams ($580 mln) up to 2026 to develop its tourism sector in order to attract more visitors and bring in hard currency, the government said on Friday. The government plans to spend more money on marketing, develop more types of attractions for tourists, upgrade…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

Prince Harry Sues Tabloid for Defamation over Security Story

Lawyers for Prince Harry asked a judge Friday to rule that a tabloid newspaper libeled the British royal with an article about his quest for police protection when he and his family visit the UK. Harry is suing Mail on Sunday publisher Associated Newspapers Ltd.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

COVID-19 Pill Paxlovid Moves Closer to Full FDA Approval

Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill Paxlovid won another vote of confidence from US health advisers Thursday, clearing the way for its full regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The medication has been used by millions of Americans since the FDA granted it emergency use authorization in late 2021.

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023

Cambodia Celebrates Return of ‘Priceless’ Stolen Artifacts

Centuries-old cultural artifacts that had been illegally smuggled out from Cambodia were welcomed home Friday at a celebration led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who offered thanks for their return and appealed for further efforts to retrieve such stolen treasures. Many, if not all, of the items displayed at the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 17, 2023