Features

Features US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi, left, meet at a hotel in Vienna, July 9, 2015. (Carlos Barria/Pool Photo via AP, File)

What Do ‘Expert Level’ Talks Signal for the Progress of the Iran-US Nuclear Negotiations? 

Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program will move Wednesday to what's known as the “expert level” — a…

Features Birds fly as sunlight hits St. Peter's Basilica, following the death of Pope Francis, Vatican City, April 22, 2025. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

From 'Conclave' to 'White Smoke,' a Glossary of Terms Used in a Papal Transition

A change in popes - through death or resignation - is a complicated process, with centuries-old rituals involving the transition in leadership for both the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Pope Francis waves to the crowd during his weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in Vatican on May 18, 2016. (AFP)

What Happens Now, after the Death of Pope Francis

Here is what happens next in the Roman Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis, which was announced by the Vatican on Monday. The rituals mark the…

Features (FILES) Pope Francis waves to the crowd during the weekly general audience on March 20, 2024 at St Peter's square in The Vatican. Pope Francis had a quiet night, the Vatican said on March 12, 2025, amid hopes the 88-year-old might be able to return home soon, after almost four weeks in hospital with pneumonia. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

From Buenos Aires to Rome: Key Dates in the Life of Pope Francis

Key events in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis and died on Monday: Dec. 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires,…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of former Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine during his funeral on February 24, 2025. (AP)

Proposal of Merging Hezbollah Fighters with Lebanese Army Collides with Reality

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s proposal for Hezbollah fighters to be merged with the army has been met with skepticism and provided fodder for political…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Features Members of the ministry of defense clear landmines left behind by the Syrian army during the war, in agricultural land south of Idlib, Syria, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP)

‘I Thought I’d Died.’ How Landmines Are Continuing to Claim Lives in Post-Assad Syria

Suleiman Khalil was harvesting olives in a Syrian orchard with two friends four months ago, unaware the soil beneath them still hid deadly remnants of war. …

Features An unmanned D9 bulldozer digs up a field during a demonstration to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) quarters near Tel Aviv on March 26, 2025. (AFP)

Amid Ethical Concerns, Israel’s Unmanned Bulldozers Breaking Ground in Gaza War

At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the bulky bulldozer turning up soil at a testing site in central Israel, but as it pulled closer it became…

Features The United Nations has warned of a dire humanitarian situation for the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory - AFP

Gazans Resort to Turtle Meat in Hunt for Food

With food scarce in the besieged and war-battered Gaza Strip, some desperate families have turned to eating sea turtles as a rare source of protein. Once the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features This combination of pictures created on November 7, 2024 shows Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei (L) in Tehran on July 5, 2024, and then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 4, 2024. Atta Kenare, Charly Triballeau, AFP

What to Know about the Tensions Between Iran and the US Before their Second Round of Talks

Iran and the United States will hold talks Saturday in Rome, their second round of negotiations over Tehran´s rapidly advancing nuclear program. The talks…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features US Ambassador to the United Nations, Dorothy Shea (C), addresses a UN Security Council meeting called following a recent missile strike by Russia on a residential area in Ukraine, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 08 April 2025. (EPA)

Career Diplomat Becomes the Face of Trump’s ‘America First’ Agenda at the UN

The highest-ranking US representative now at the United Nations told Congress two years ago that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "unprovoked" and "unjustified…

Features A woman chants slogans as relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages, held captive in the Gaza Strip since the October 2023 attacks, hold placards and chant slogans during an anti-government demonstration calling for action to secure their release, outside the Israeli prime minister's residence in Jerusalem on April 17, 2025. (AFP)

Protest Letters from Former Israeli Soldiers Lay Bare Profound Rifts over Gaza War

When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying…

Features In this photo provided by the Israeli army, armed Israeli Air Force planes depart from an unknown location to attack Iran on Oct. 26, 2024. (Israeli Army via AP, File)

Report: Trump Opposed Planned Israeli Strike on Iranian Nuclear Sites

Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as next month but was waved off by President Trump in recent weeks in favor of negotiating a deal…

Features This image provided by World Press Photo and taken by Samar Abu Elouf, for The New York Times, won the World Press Photo Award of the Year and shows Mahmoud Ajjour (9), who was injured during an Israeli attack on Gaza City in March 2024, finds refuge and medical help in Doha, Qatar, 28 June 2024. (Samar Abu Elouf, for The New York Times/World Press Photo via AP)

Amputee Palestinian Boy Image Wins World Press Photo Award

A haunting portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack on Gaza City won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Israeli soldiers gather next to a military post on the border with Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israel Says It Will Keep Troops in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria Indefinitely. What Does that Mean?

The Israeli defense minister says his country's troops will stay in “security zones” in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely, after Israel…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Boys sit by during the funeral of 18-year-old Palestinian Malik Hattab who was killed the previous day after succumbing to injuries sustained during an Israeli raid on the Jalazun camp for Palestinian refugees north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, at the camp on April 15, 2025. (AFP) 

Israeli Raids Displaced Tens of Thousands in the West Bank. Now Few Places to Shelter Remain 

For weeks, the family had been on the move. Israeli troops had forced them from home during a military operation that has displaced tens of thousands of…

Features Soldiers arrive in an area recaptured by the Sudanese army south of Khartoum, March 27. (AP)

Sudan War Enters Third Year as Civilians Remain Under Fire

Sudan’s civil war entered its third year on Monday, with the conflict growing increasingly brutal by the hour. Images of atrocities, summary executions, and…

Ahmed Younes (Kampala)
Features Gemayel maintained good relations with Saudi leaders from the era of King Faisal to that of King Salman. (Courtesy of Amine Gemayel)

Amine Gemayel to Asharq Al-Awsat: At Saddam’s Request, I Tried to Prevent the American War on Iraq 

Lebanese former President Amine Gemayel’s term (1982–1988) was difficult and turbulent. The Lebanese people were divided, and regional and international…

Ghassan Charbel (Beirut)
Features Relations between Gemayel and Khaddam were highly tense (Getty)

Gemayel to Asharq Al-Awsat: Khaddam was Assad’s Stick to Apply Pressure

Late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad was a masterful negotiator, fiercely protective of his image and reputation. He was known for exhausting his guests with…

Ghassan Charbel (Beirut )
Features Analysts say talks to end the war in Ukraine 'could resemble a new Yalta'. TASS/AFP

Trump Carves Up World and International Order with It

By casting doubt on the world order, Donald Trump risks dragging the globe back into an era where great powers impose their imperial will on the weak, analysts…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Hafez al-Assad and Amine Gemayel during a Non-Aligned Movement summit in India. (Getty Images)

Amine Gemayel to Asharq Al-Awsat: Assad Viewed Lebanon the Same Way Saddam Viewed Kuwait

Former Lebanese President Amine Gemayel said that the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad viewed Lebanon the same way the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein…

Ghassan Charbel (Beirut)
Features A general view of Muscat, ahead of the awaited negotiations between US and Iran, in Oman, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Europeans Sidelined in US-Iran Nuclear Talks despite Holding Key Card

Washington's decision not to coordinate with European nations about its negotiations with Iran on Saturday will reduce its leverage and make US and Israeli…

Features An electronic board shows Shanghai and Shenzhen stock indices as people walk on a pedestrian bridge at the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, China April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura  REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT

Trump's Week of Tariff Turmoil Rings Recession Alarm

A week of turbulence unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs showed little sign of easing on Friday, with financial markets again whipsawing and…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: The container ship CMA CGM Osiris arrives at the Port of Oakland on April 09, 2025 in Oakland, California.  Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

Where Things Stand in the US-China Trade War

US President Donald Trump has ramped up his trade war against China, further raising import tariffs on Beijing to 125 percent despite pausing them for other…

Asharq Al Awsat
Features Thursday's Israeli strike on the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood northeast of Gaza city largely levelled the Dar al-Arqam school which Gaza's civil defense agency said served as a shelter for Palestinians displaced by the war. - AFP

Gaza Rescuer Risks Life to Save Victim of Israel Strike

Arriving in the deadly aftermath of an Israeli strike in northern Gaza last week, rescuer Nooh Al-Shaghnobi risked his life to aid the wounded despite warnings…

Asharq Al Awsat
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