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Horror as mom, 30, found dead after execution-style murder at bar she owned

Courtney Drysdale, 30, was shot dead on Monday at around 11 am while she was alone in her bar, The Line, in Momence, Illinois.


Jordan offers condolences to Lebanon over Tripoli building collapse

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday held a phone call with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji to express Jordan condolences following a deadly building collapse in the Bab Al-Tabbaneh region of Tripoli.According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Safadi expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.He said Jordan, acting on the directives of His Majesty King...


Trump announces 'definitive' breakthrough in search for Nancy Guthrie and says 'answers very soon'

Police swarmed the Arizona home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie on Friday night after a second ransom note was received in the case which is gripping America.


First postage stamp to commemorate Sharjah Heritage Days

SHARJAH, 9th February, 2026 (WAM) -- Emirates Post issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark Sharjah Heritage Days. The initiative, a cultural partnership with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), coincides with the 23rd edition of the event, held from 4th to 15th February, in the Heart of Sharjah district, under the theme “The Radiance of Authenticity.” The stamp's release reflects the importance of preserving and celebrating national...


Supreme Court refers PTI memo on Imran Khan jail access to 'executive authorities'

The Supreme Court on Saturday refrained from issuing any order over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) memorandum requesting immediate jail visitation rights for party founder Imran Khan, adding that the letter had been conveyed to the 'relevant executive authorities' for appropriate consideration in accordance with law'.Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case....


Saboteurs target Italian railways to cause Winter Olympics travel chaos amid protests

Police said attacks in three separate locations had resulted in severe delays on the first full day of the Games near the northern Italian city of Bologna.


Punjab extends Basant celebrations in Lahore until 5am

The Punjab government has extended Basant festivities until 5.00am tomorrow following successful celebrations in the provincial capital of Lahore. The festival was earlier scheduled to end at midnight on Sunday.Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the extension was granted after the magnificent Basant celebrations, festivities, unity, and joy witnessed in Lahore, Punjab, and across Pakistan - which have...


Four witnesses testify in Gul Plaza blaze case

A key development emerged on Monday in the Gul Plaza deadly inferno case as four eyewitnesses recorded their statements before the Judicial Magistrate (South) Asim Aslam, shedding light on the events that led to the fire that claimed at least 80 lives.ffDuring the hearing, three salesmen and a 13-year-old student testified before the magistrate, describing how the fire broke out on January 17 and rapidly engulfed shops inside the plaza. The...


Iran Warns Will Not Give Up Enrichment Despite US War Threat

London: Iran will never surrender the right to enrich uranium, even if war "is imposed on us,” its foreign minister said Sunday, defying pressure from Washington."Iran has paid a very heavy price for its peaceful nuclear program and for uranium enrichment," Abbas Araghchi told a forum in Tehran."Why do we insist so much on enrichment and refuse to give it up even if a war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to dictate our behavior,"...


NYC mayor's mansion looks spotless as trash and mounds of snow pile up

New Yorkers are in disbelief as heaps of trash and filthy snow clutter the city's streets while the grounds of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's mansion remain spotless.


Son of Norway's crown princess arrested before his trial

Marius Borg Høiby, who is the stepson of the future King, Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested on suspicion of assault, making threats with a knife and violating a restraining order.


Minister of Investment, France Ambassador discuss boosting investment cooperation

AMMAN — Minister of Investment Tareq Abu Ghazaleh on Sunday met with French Ambassador to Jordan Franck Gellet and an accompanying delegation to discuss ways to enhance economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.During the meeting, Abu Ghazaleh highlighted the deep-rooted Jordanian-French relations, and the importance of building upon these ties to expand investment partnerships, according to the ministry of investment...


Trump threatens to stop opening of the Ontario-Michigan bridge

President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, accusing Canada of building it 'with virtually no US content' and blasting Barack Obama.


Sheikh Al-Fawzan emphasizes moderation and active community outreach by muftis

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and Head of the Presidency of Scientific Research and Ifta Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan emphasized the importance of upholding moderation and ensuring active community outreach by muftis. He made the remarks during his meeting with members of the Council of Senior Scholars who are mandated to issue religious edicts (fatwas) across various regions of the Kingdom. During...


Iran’s Supreme Leader warns any US attack would spark ‘regional war’

Asharq Al Awsat Iran's supreme leader warned Sunday that any attack by the United States would spark a "regional war" in the Middle East, further escalating tensions as President Donald Trump has threatened to militarily strike the country over its crackdown on recent nationwide protests. The comments from the 86-year-old Ali Khamenei are the most-direct threat he’s made so far as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and associated American...


Moment British NATO troops prepare for 'total war' with Russia in eastern European trenches

Camera teams were embedded with Nato soldiers on Estonia's eastern border, the alliance's most exposed flank, for a new documentary airing on Channel 4 tonight.


Inside the secret police forum which reveals what officers really think of the British public

On an anonymous corner of Reddit, rank-and-file police officers have been lifting the lid on life behind the thin blue line.


The tragedy of the doctor who discovered washing hands saved lives

In the 1800s, giving birth in a hospital could be deadly. Women who came in healthy often died within days from a terrible infection known as "childbed fever." Ignaz Semmelweis, a young doctor from Hungary, refused to accept that these deaths were simply fate. He searched for answers, collected data, and questioned every routine. What he found would change medicine forever. His simple idea of washing one's hands before touching patients could have saved thousands. But instead of praise, he was met with anger, disbelief, and isolation. In this gallery, we uncover the heartbreaking story of the man who discovered the cure, but could not save himself. Click to know more.


Atomic facts about the Manhattan Project

The latter years of World War II were marked by an international race in search of a super weapon that would instantly destroy the opposing side. And while Germany produced a variety of weapons that were advanced technological innovations, the US cracked the secret of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project. The research project took place between 1942 and 1945, culminating in the only use of atomic weapons in warfare, which resulted in the defeat of Japan. The research was led by a number of leading scientists, many of them refugees from war-torn Europe, as well as the American military. Want to discover more about the controversial project? Then read through this informative gallery.


Makkah Quran Museum displays rare 'Blue Quran' manuscript

Riyadh: The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is displaying a rare folio from the famed “Al-Muṣḥaf Al-Azraq” (Blue Quran), featuring verses from Surah Al-Baqarah, from the end of verse 37 to the beginning of verse 42, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.The exhibit highlights the richness of Islamic Quranic heritage and its ancient artistic legacy.The Blue Quran is regarded as one of the rarest and most luxurious...


Jeddah and Taif awarded World Region of Gastronomy 2027 title

RIYADH — The International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts, and Tourism (IGCAT) announced that the Saudi cities of Jeddah and Taif have been awarded the title of World Region of Gastronomy 2027. This is after their meeting of the institute’s criteria that support sustainable regional development through gastronomy across the economic, cultural, social, and environmental domains.The recognition highlights the role of cuisine in preserving...


Eid Al Etihad embodies spirit of unity, solidarity, human fraternity: Muslim Council of Elders

ABU DHABI, 2nd December, 2025 (WAM) -- His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to his brothers the Rulersof the Emirates, and to the Emirati people on the occasion of the 54th Eid Al Etihad.He affirmed that this dayserves as a powerful reminder of the spirit of unity and...


Microplastics infiltrate fish across remote Pacific

Plastic fragments have been detected in fish from some of the most isolated waters of the Pacific, underlining how far synthetic pollution has spread through the world’s oceans. An extensive scientific assessment of fish caught around Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu found that about one in three specimens contained microplastics, small fragments produced as larger plastic items break down.The findings challenge assumptions that distance from...


Rehearing in DHA water supply case

The Sindh High Court's Constitutional Bench on Monday decided to rehear a petition challenging the non-supply of clean water in DHA areas and sought fresh arguments from the parties.Petitioner Sameera Mohammadi contended that a regular bench of the SHC had already completed arguments in the matter and that the Constitutional Bench should now deliver its verdict.However, counsel for the cantonment authorities argued that following the 27th...


Economic, Social Council: 10,475 charitable endowments worth over JD1 billion

Amman, Feb. 9 (Petra) -- Jordan has hosted more than 10,475 charitable endowments (waqf), with a total estimated value exceeding JD1 billion, according to a study conducted by the Economic and Social Council. The study underscored the untapped potential of waqf to contribute to sustainable development across the Kingdom. Titled "The Role of Charitable Endowment in Contributing to Sustainable Development in the Kingdom – Opportunities and...


Widespread menace

That the dog-bite menace is widespread - with cases being reported from urban centres to small towns alike - goes without saying. That it is turning into a national scare is no overstatement. Just over a week after Pakistan reported its first rabies case of 2026, in Sanghar district of Sindh, five people from a village located in Hazro Tehsil of Attock in Punjab went through a life-threatening rabid dog attack that highlights the need for an...


Japan's Takaichi secures landslide victory in snap election

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party won a historic victory in Japan’s parliament election on Sunday.Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 316 of the 465 seats in the powerful lower house, well above the 233 needed for a majority, according to results collated by public broadcaster NHK.It is the first time a single party has won a two-thirds lower house majority since Japan's parliament was established in its current...


Trump says Iran wants deal, US 'armada' larger than in Venezuela raid

Asharq Al Awsat President Donald Trump said Thursday he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal to avoid military action, adding that the US "armada" near Iran was bigger than the one he dispatched to topple Venezuela's leader. "We have a large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading toward Iran right now, even larger than what we had in Venezuela," the Republican president told reporters in the Oval Office. "Hopefully we'll make a...


Accomplices blamed for suspect's death

A suspected dacoit was killed in an encounter in the Satghara area, while his three accomplices escaped, Okara police said.The police stated that four men opened fire on a team during checking.According to a spokesperson, the deceased was killed by gunfire from his accomplices during the shootout.The slain man was identified as Ajmal alias Adnan, who was wanted in 54 cases of crimes including snatching on roads, dacoity, and burglary. He was...


US, Russia agree to reestablish military dialogue after Ukraine talks

Asharq Al Awsat The US and Russia agreed Thursday to reestablish high-level military dialogue for the first time in more than four years in another sign of warming relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to office and sought to end the war in Ukraine.High-level military communication was suspended in late 2021, as tension between Moscow and Washington rose ahead of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in...


A brief history of banned numbers

When we think of something being banned, we usually imagine books, movies, or songs. But throughout history, even numbers have been outlawed, and sometimes, feared. From ancient Greece to modern-day China, certain numbers have caused confusion, anger, or even panic. For many people in power, numbers were never just math, but ideas, secrets, or even threats. Yet without these dangerous digits, much of our science and technology might not exist today. In this gallery, we explore the strange story of numbers that were forbidden and fought over, and what that says about our history. Curious? Click to know more.


Independence referendum is Scotland's choice, says Jeremy Corbyn

If the people of Scotland want to hold an independence referendum, "that is their choice", Jeremy Corbyn has said. During a speech at the Your Party Scotland conference in Dundee, the co-leader said that a referendum "should not be determined by the UK Government".


Freight train derails, tracks blocked for 10 hours

Ten bogies of a Punjab-bound freight train, carrying containers, derailed near Deparja railway crossing in Padedan, Naushahro Feroze district on Monday, disrupting train movement on both up and down country tracks for nearly 10 hours. Five of the bogies overturned during the incident.Railway authorities expressed hope that one track would be restored by 9pm on Monday to resume train operations. No casualties were reported. However, thousands of...


The making of a doctor in Kuwait and the toll it takes

By Jenna DawoudThere is a version of medical school that lives in brochures; structured, purposeful and noble. Then there is the version students experience: Packed lecture halls, anxiety-inducing exams and a quiet, unspoken understanding that survival here requires more than intelligence. In Kuwait, the journey to becoming a doctor spans seven years. Four years of foundational sciences. Three years of clinical training. The path appears linear...


Iqlim Fahl: Strategic, agricultural hub in Mamluk-era Jordan

AMMAN — The Iqlim Fahl was one of the many districts that constituted the extensive Mamlakat Dimashq in Bilad Al Sham during the Mamluk period (1250/1263 – 1517 CE).The great size of this Mamlakah (“kingdom”) reflected the enduring importance of Damascus in middle Islamic times, and in Jordan encompassed all of the territory north of the dominant Wadi Mujib, noted an Australian scholar.Under Mamluk administration, northern Jordan was subdivided...


SC declines immediate Imran counsel meeting

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by the counsel for Imran Khan to allow him to meet the jailed former prime minister on urgent basis as it referred various appeals related to the PTI founder to different benches.A division bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan took up 13 different cases including appeals filed by the Punjab government against Imran Khan's bail as well as an...


Is communism destined to fail?

Communism emerged as a result of poverty, inequality, and class divisions. Its ideas began with visions of shared property and equal opportunities for all, and many countries tried to build a perfect society during the 20th century. But each society faced the same troubling patterns of economic problems, political repression, and human suffering. Why did these systems collapse, even though their goals sounded fair and inspiring? In this gallery, we explore why communist systems repeatedly broke down and how they may never succeed in the real world. Interested? Click to learn more.


Two Brits are kicked out of India for 'putting up "Free Palestine" stickers'

State police on Monday said Lewis Gabriel D and Anushi Emma Christine (pictured, according to Indian press) were deported for breaching tourist visa conditions.


Labour MP Tulip Siddiq sentenced to four years in jail by a court in Bangladesh over 'land plot'

The Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate was jailed for allegedly trying to acquire plots of land for her family in an residential area of Dhaka called the Purbachal New Town Project.


Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

Asharq Al Awsat Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas...


Trump refuses to rule out sending US troops to Venezuela

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro has begged for peace in recent days, but Trump insists on eliminating 'narco terrorists' and halting the flow of cocaine and other drugs into the US.


Where in the world are US troops stationed?

The United States military currently stations American personnel in approximately 80 countries. In fact, the Department of Defense manages over 4,790 military sites worldwide. But which countries host the most active duty troops? In this gallery, we list the top 12 nations other than the US where American military personnel are garrisoned, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center, together with examples of primary US bases in each country. Click through and find out where in the world US military members are stationed in the greatest numbers.


Why did Europeans colonize and not get colonized?

Ever since Spain and Portugal initiated colonialism during the 15th century’s Age of Discovery, nations across the Americas, Africa, and Asia have been heavily colonized by European powers. Indeed, around half of today’s independent nations were European colonies at some point. At its peak in 1914, there were 101 European colonies across nearly every continent, with only a handful retaining independence. But why did these colonized nations never return the favor? Why were Europeans the sole group to spread their control across the globe? Click on to find out.


Two more Capital blast suspects arrested

Law enforcing agencies (LEAs) have arrested two more people allegedly involved in the November 11 suicide bombing outside the premises of district courts in Islamabad that left 12 people dead and dozens injured.According to security sources, one of the suspects helped in bringing the suicide jacket used in the attack from Peshawar to Islamabad.The arrested facilitator had hidden the jacket inside a sack of jaggery to smuggle it into Islamabad....


The most brutal despots and dictators in history

Throughout history, there have been numerous tyrants, dictators, and despots who have held positions of immense power over nations of people. Instead of treating this privilege with respect, these individuals chose to establish authoritarian regimes that dismiss political diversity, disregard human rights, and neglect the importance of upholding the law. This gallery explores those who have left a lasting legacy of oppressive rule and brought suffering to their countries. To learn more, click through the gallery.


Iran and a few questions of the imperial inclination

Many things have changed in Iran over its modern history, but one thing has not changed: its imperial consciousness and inclination. The country’s name changed in 1935, and what had been “Persia” became “Iran,” and it then became an “Islamic Republic” in 1979.Throughout, the balance of the state’s ideology would also shift, with nationalism emphasized at the expense of religion at times, most emphatically under Reza Shah Pahlavi, who overthrew...


Beirut's 'Mother of Cats' who rescues felines

Asharq Al Awsat Diana Abadi is known in the southern suburbs of Beirut as the “Mother of Cats.” For the past 12 years, she has turned her home and shop into a refuge for abandoned felines who now number between 50 and 70, and she often sleeps beside the cats as she cares for them full time. Abadi began by taking in a single kitten. Word spread, and residents started bringing her injured and unwanted animals, especially during periods of crisis....


Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner, 78, faces life in prison after 'sham' trial

The 78-year-old founder of the now-shut Apple Daily Newspaper has been locked up since 2020, prompting a backlash over the 'erosion of political freedoms' in the former British colony.


Major search for man missing off Gold Coast after his boat was found empty at sea

A major search has been launched after a Gold Coast boater failed to return home on Thursday night.


Prince William arrives in Saudi Arabia for first official visit

LONDON — Britain’s Prince William arrived in Riyadh on Monday for his first official visit to Saudi Arabia. Deputy Emir of Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman received him at King Khalid International Airport. Those who received the Prince of Wales also included Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan, and British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Stephen Charles Hitchen. Prince William will meet Saudi Crown...