USA

US Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in History

The US government shutdown became the longest ever Wednesday, topping the 35-day record set during Donald Trump's first term, as his administration warned of holiday air travel chaos and threatened Americans' benefits in a bid to force a resolution. Federal agencies have been grinding to a halt since Congress failed to approve funding past ...

At Least 7 Dead After UPS Cargo Plane Crashes Near Louisville Airport

At least seven people died and several more were injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Tuesday from Louisville International Airport in Kentucky, exploding into flames as it crashed into businesses adjacent to the airport. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 departing for Hawaii ...

Former US Vice President Dick Cheney Dies at 84

Former US vice president Dick Cheney has died aged 84, US media reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from his family. Cheney was the 46th vice president, serving under Republican president George W. Bush for two terms between 2001 and 2009. The former congressman and defense secretary "died due to complications of pneumonia and cardiac ...

Sudan Army-Backed Council to Meet on US Truce Proposal

Sudan's army-backed authorities will meet on Tuesday to discuss a US proposal for a ceasefire in the war with the paramilitary, a government source told AFP, as the UN chief called for an end to the "nightmare of violence". The war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more over the past two years, has ...

Iran Khamenei Says Will Not Cooperate with US While it Backs Israel

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Tehran would only consider cooperation with the United States if it changed its policy in the region, including supporting Israel. "If they completely abandon support for the Zionist regime, withdraw their military bases from here (the region), and refrain from interfering ...

Goethe-Institut Marks 70 Years in Lebanon

The Goethe-Institut celebrated its 70th anniversary in Lebanon with a reception at Rebirth Beirut in Gemmayze on Friday, October 31, bringing together artists, cultural figures, and long-time partners to mark seven decades of cultural collaboration between Lebanon and Germany, the institute said in a statement Monday. Founded in 1955, the ...

Trump says Russia, China Have Secretly Tested Nuclear Weapons, China Denies

China denied testing nuclear weapons on Monday after US President Donald Trump alleged the country was among those to have conducted tests unknown to the public. "China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, upheld a self-defense nuclear strategy and abided by its ...

Southern Lebanon’s Olive Trees: Peace Left to Fallow

After a spiral of violence that devastated villages and farmland, the scars of war remain visible in Deir Mimas, Khiam, Houla, Blida, and Mays al-Jabal. More than 60,000 olive trees have been destroyed. “This year, we lost everything,” says Rose from Deir Mimas. “The trees are no longer pruned, the olives wither on the branches, and no one ...

U.S. Treasury Sanctions Official to Visit Lebanon Soon

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that John Herlihy, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, will begin a tour of the Middle East and Europe starting this Friday, as the administration of President Donald Trump seeks to increase pressure on Iran. According to the statement, Herlihy, the Treasury’s top sanctions official, ...

Key Dates in the Fall of Britain's Former Prince Andrew

Key dates in the life of Andrew, King Charles III's younger brother, who has been stripped of his royal titles over allegations stemming from his friendship with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein: - February 19, 1960: Born Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward at Buckingham Palace in London, the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince ...

Israel Returns Remains of 30 More Palestinians to Gaza

Israel has returned the bodies of 30 more Palestinians to Gaza as part of an ongoing exchange deal under a US-brokered ceasefire plan, a hospital told AFP on Friday. The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis told AFP that "the bodies of 30 Palestinian prisoners were received from the Israeli side as part of the exchange deal". Under the truce, ...

Trump Urges Scrapping Key Vote Threshold to End Shutdown

President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the "Nuclear Option" of scrapping the key 60-vote threshold required for the Senate to advance legislation, as Republicans face mounting pressure to end the US federal shutdown. The move would get rid of a longstanding rule that enables 41 of the 100 senators to block any bill from debate or vote -- a ...