The Latest Breaking News from Asharq AlAwsat

The 1989 Taif Accord that ended the Lebanese civil war (1975-90) transformed the position of prime minister into an effective partner in power. The position was consolidated with the arrival of Rafik Hariri to the post in late 1992. The businessman managed to invest his extensive Arab and international relations…

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that the Russian attack on Ukraine was a “great threat to the world order,” warning at the same time against the US-Chinese tension over Taiwan. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Balakrishnan stressed that the continuation of the Russian attack on Ukraine constituted a…

The death of a Syrian young man under torture inside a state security prison in southern Lebanon sparked confusion at the security, judicial and political levels, and brought back to the fore the file of torture in pretrial detention centers. Lebanese sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the arrested Syrian, Bashar…

The US newly-appointed Ambassador in Sudan, John Godfrey, began his work with meetings that sparked controversy between Sudanese parties. The opposition saw a sign of support in Godfrey's meetings with the families of the victims, the resistance committee, and the main opposition alliance Freedom and Change. Meanwhile, military supporters considered…

Lebanese officials maintained silence over the negotiations to demarcate the maritime borders with Israel, led by US mediator Amos Hochstein, amid recent indications on promising developments, especially with the direct intervention of President Joe Biden to advance the talks. A Lebanese source following the mediation asserted that the atmosphere surrounding…

Saudi Arabia’s new plan for regulating tourism visas, which includes 13 items, aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to develop the tourism sector and the objectives of Kingdom Vision 2030, according to experts. Single-entry visas are valid for three months and multiple-entry visas last for one year. The single-entry option allows…

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co.

US State Department Special Envoy to Syria Nicholas Granger is urging Kurdish parties to return to intra-Kurdish talks and resolve outstanding contentious issues between them. Granger held meetings with leaders of the opposition Kurdish National Council and officials of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. In a meeting…

A recent survey commissioned by Zurich International Life (Zurich), part of Zurich Insurance Group, revealed that only 4 out of 10 parents in Saudi Arabia have a savings plan dedicated to educating their children. According to the survey, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, 32 % of…

The value of the Saudi mineral wealth, estimated several years ago at about SR5 trillion, has doubled with the increase in the price of minerals, especially gold, copper, and zinc, CEO of Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) Ahmed al-Shamrani has announced. The numbers boost the value of the Saudi economy, especially…

“We are dead, but we move between four walls.” With this expression, a prisoner described his condition with thousands of others that are held in Lebanese prisons. Inmates are no longer dreaming of returning to freedom, nor living with their children and families under one roof. They are in a…