Culture
Cartoon by Amjad Rasmi. (Courtesy of Asharq Al-Awsat)
Cartoon by Amjad Rasmi. (Courtesy of Asharq Al-Awsat)
News of October 3, 2026
Politics
Trump ramps up pressure on US Republicans to end US clock switching
The US president published a lawmaker's cell phone number as he called for the passage of a bill making DST permanent.
News
Coalition spokesman: Houthi claims of targeting Riyadh are misleading
Coalition spokesman: Houthi claims of targeting Riyadh are misleading
News
Funeral held at Gaza church for mother and daughter killed in Gaza strike
Funeral prayers were held at Gaza City’s Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church for a Palestinian mother and daughter.
Business
HR Ministry: 135,600 absconding workers transferred to new establishments
The total number of beneficiaries of the 'Integration into the Labor Market' initiative, launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, reached 135,596 by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
News
Israel had FlyDubai crew details before attempted hijacking: Israeli media
Israel had FlyDubai crew details before attempted hijacking: Israeli media
News
Israel targets top Hamas leader in deadly Gaza strike on anniversary
Israel said on Saturday that it attempted to kill Hamas's top leader in the Gaza Strip in an airstrike on an apartment that local officials said killed five people, four of them women. The pre-dawn strike came on the anniversary according to the Jewish calendar of the October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest-ever day for Israel which retaliated with a devastating offensive in Gaza.
News
Egypt to host Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia leaders as Ethiopia conflict fuels regional tensions
Egypt to host Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia leaders as Ethiopia conflict fuels regional tensions
News
Iraq says it transported two million barrels of crude through Strait of Hormuz
Iraq says it transported two million barrels of crude through Strait of Hormuz Iraq's Oil Tankers Company transported two million barrels of Iraqi crude aboard a very large crude carrier (VLCC) through the Strait of Hormuz, its director general said in a statement, describing it as the company's first such operation in decades.
Politics
France’s Le Pen says has ‘complete confidence’ in Bardella
Marine Le Pen expressed complete confidence in her ally Jordan Bardella, who faced allegations of antisemitic remarks from 2013. Bardella, expected to become prime minister if Le Pen attains presidency, has rejected these claims.
News
Jewish Green activists defy pro-Israel rally at party conference
Jewish pro-Palestine activists held a counter-protest outside the Brighton Centre as pro-Israel groups staged a demonstration against the Green Party.
News
Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Aramco facility in Riyadh with missiles, drones
Oct 3 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Saturday they had targeted an Aramco facility in the Saudi capital Riyadh with ballistic missiles and drones, saying the attack was in retaliation for Saudi attacks on Yemen's Sanaa and other provinces. A large plume of smoke and fire was seen rising in the vicinity of an Aramco facility in Riyadh earlier on Saturday, a witness told Reuters.There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities of an attack on an Aramco facility. Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
News
Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco site in Riyadh
Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco site in Riyadh Yemen's Houthis claimed an attack against an Aramco site in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Saturday, the group's media said. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said they targeted the site with ballistic missiles and drones. Earlier in the day, an AFP journalist reported smoke and flames rising from a facility belonging to the oil giant south of Riyadh. Saudi Aramco's (the national oil company) Al-Khurais central oil processing facility,…
Culture
Remains of Bulgaria’s Czar Samuel return ‘home’ after 1,000 years
The emperor is a symbol of Bulgarian national identity whose repatriation stoked tensions with Greece.
News
Netanyahu invites ‘true hero’ Indian FlyDubai captain to Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended an invitation to Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a flydubai flight, acknowledging his heroism after preventing a potential disaster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also invited to the ceremony.
News
Israeli forces help settlers seize West Bank olive groves: witnesses
Israeli soldiers supported settlers in seizing Palestinian olive groves in the West Bank, coinciding with the start of the olive harvest season. The incident is part of ongoing violence in the area.
Politics
'The entire land is ours': Ben Gvir escalates calls for annexation of occupied West Bank
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir claimed that the entire occupied West Bank “belongs to Israel” and has vowed to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and pursue the displacement of Palestinians if he becomes defence minister, Israeli media have reported.
Sports
Tuchel hails ‘complete’ England after Croatia demolition
Thomas Tuchel praised England’s dominant performance in their 7-0 victory against Croatia, highlighting the contributions of Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, who each scored twice. Jude Bellingham’s exceptional play, including a goal and three assists, further fueled the victory.
Politics
Netanyahu invites 'true hero' Indian flydubai captain to Israel
Netanyahu said he wanted Machchhar and the Indian PM to light a flame at a national ceremony for Israel's Independence Day next May
News
Cyprus ferry tragedy toll hits 19 with 9 still missing
The death toll from the Cyprus ferry tragedy has risen to 19 following the recovery of another body, leaving nine people still unaccounted for.
News
India, Pakistan summon top diplomats over border incident
Pakistan's foreign ministry said earlier on Saturday that personnel from India's Border Security Force had used "unprovoked lethal force" against two unarmed Pakistani civilians
Politics
Is the CJP changing India’s political landscape?
Youth-led movement demands resignation of chief election commissioner.
News
US prison chief who oversaw botched execution resigns
Tennessee's prison chief, Frank Strada, has resigned following a botched execution that left inmate Christa Pike in critical condition after two lethal injections. Governor Bill Lee announced the resignation while halting further executions for the year pending a review, amid concerns over Pike's treatment during the process, which resulted in her surviving a procedure that had never before failed.
News
Pakistan and Afghanistan used to be allies but they're edging towards all-out war
For years, Pakistan supported the Taliban in Afghanistan. But now Pakistan is bombing its neighbor. How the former allies became adversaries and why negotiations keep failing.
News
Al Jazeera speaks to Palestinian schoolboy from viral photograph
A photo went viral of a Palestinian boy hiding from Israeli forces on his way home from class in the occupied West Bank.
News
Egyptian journalists stage sit-in over detention of six reporters
The sit-in follows the detention of six reporters by Egyptian authorities from an independent fact-checking platform.
News
Tennessee prison chief quits over aborted execution
Prison commissioner Frank Strada insisted his team followed protocol, even after two doses of anesthetic failed to kill convicted murderer Christa Pike. He is set to leave his post this month.
Lifestyle
'True display of courage': Shah Rukh, Salman Khan laud flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar
The Indian pilot's extraordinary courage in averting a major aviation disaster on September 30 has won him praise from leaders and celebrities
Business
Iranian rial at new low, as cenbank sells dollars to support currency
Iranian rial at new low, as cenbank sells dollars to support currency Iran's rial continued its decline on Saturday, as the central bank announced an injection of up to $2 billion to support the currency while the economy faces US sanctions and a naval blockade. The US dollar was sold at around 2.688 million rials, up from 2.632 million on Friday, according to free-market tracking website bon-bast.com, while alanchand.com reported 2.695 million rials per dollar. State television said state ba…
Business
GCC finance ministers review strengthening economic cooperation
Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan headed Saudi Arabia's delegation attending the 126th Meeting of the Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in Bahrain on Thursday.
Politics
India detains protesters demanding election chief resignation
The demonstrations have been backed by opposition parties, including the Gen Z-led CJP, which says voter-roll changes favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party
Sports
England trounce Croatia 7-0 in Nations League as Kane goal run continues
Harry Kane scores in sixth successive away game for England as Bukayo Saka also scores twice in Nations League thumping.
Sports
Ronaldo-less Portugal host Haaland’s Norway in Nations League
Nations League title holders Portugal hosts Erling Haaland's Norway, days after Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from the camp.
Politics
Hundreds protest in Israel against Netanyahu’s push for judicial changes
Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated at dozens of locations across northern and central Israel on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its push for changes to the judici…
News
Algeria sent fighter jets to Niger to thwart ‘coup attempt’, president says
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune says Algiers deployed warplanes to Niamey in late August following an attack by mutineers.
News
Flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf to resume on Sunday, Iraqi state news agency says
Flights between Iran and Iraq's Najaf to resume on Sunday, Iraqi state news agency says Iraq's Najaf International Airport will resume flights to and from Iran from Sunday, with three evening flights scheduled, Iraq's state news agency cited the airport as saying on Saturday. Iraq said on Friday a US waiver would allow Iranian airlines to operate up to 40 daily flights to and from Najaf, excluding Mahan Air.
Sports
Fernandes hails Portugal’s ‘greatest symbol’ Ronaldo, calls for unity
Bruno Fernandes praised Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal’s greatest football icon despite his recent squad exit after being benched. He calls for unity amid mixed results in their Nations League performance.
Sports
Brazil trump India 4-0 at rare friendly match in Kolkata
Critics blamed the pricing of tickets for the low attendance despite Brazil's top stars including Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and Marquinhos in the line-up
News
Paris police chief says student protest movement out of control, urges peaceful action
Paris police chief says student protest movement out of control, urges peaceful action
News
Police deployed in Cairo amid anger over journalists’ detention
Egyptian police were heavily deployed and closed off roads leading to the Journalists’ syndicate in downtown Cairo to prevent protests.
Business
Saudi Arabia tops global date exports for the 4th year in a row
Saudi Arabia has retained its position as the world's top exporter of dates by value for the fourth consecutive year, with 2025 exports reaching SR1.938 billion, according to data from the International Trade Centre.
News
Hundreds protest Israeli attacks on Palestine, Lebanon in Stockholm
Hundreds of people gathered at Odenplan Square in Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israeli attacks on Palestine and Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The demonstrators, responding to calls from several civ…
Sports
Ruiz quits Spain squad to attend arrival of his first baby
Fabian Ruiz left the Spanish squad to be present for the birth of his first child, missing the Nations League match against the Czech Republic.
News
Tennessee prisons official resigns after Christa Pike’s failed US execution
The state's governor said Frank Strada would step down as an independent review examines what went wrong.
News
Gaza’s Christians mourn after Israel kills mother and daughter
Maysaa Khader Abu Daoud and her daughter Marie were killed by an Israeli strike on their apartment in Gaza’s Rimal neighbourhood.
News
In Tabuk, humanity and compassion came before politics
In Tabuk, humanity and compassion came before politics
Sports
‘Verbal attack’: Israeli reporters interrupt Ireland news conference
Israeli journalists asked coach Hallgrimsson about the Flydubai attack and alleged racist abuse by Ireland's players.
News
Storms, flooding cause chaos on Greek holiday island of Crete
Severe storms and flooding on the Greek island of Crete led to evacuations and trapped vehicles, causing significant disruptions. The town of Ierapetra was notably affected, with several cars and trees swept into the sea.