World

EU Sanctions Syrian Militia Groups over Deadly March Violence
EU Sanctions Syrian Militia Groups over Deadly March Violence

The European Union sanctioned on Wednesday three Syrian militia groups and two of their leaders for serious human-rights abuses over their alleged involvement in deadly ethnic violence in March. More than 1,700 people were killed in attacks mostly targeting the Alawite community, which is associated with the clan of ousted ruler Bashar ...

Iran says May Allow US Inspectors from Nuclear Watchdog if Deal Reached
Iran says May Allow US Inspectors from Nuclear Watchdog if Deal Reached

Iran on Wednesday said it may consider allowing US inspectors with the United Nations nuclear watchdog to inspect its facilities if a deal is reached with the United States. Iran has long been accused by Western powers of seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a claim Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for ...

Palestinians in Gaza 'Deserve More than Survival,' says UN envoy
Palestinians in Gaza 'Deserve More than Survival,' says UN envoy

Palestinians living in Gaza "deserve more than survival," the United Nations envoy for the Middle East told the Security Council on Wednesday, as Israel's war there enters its 600th day. Israel stepped up its military offensive in Gaza, ignited by an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, earlier this month, while ...

Kremlin Rebuffs Zelensky's call for Three-way Meeting with Trump, Putin
Kremlin Rebuffs Zelensky's call for Three-way Meeting with Trump, Putin

The Kremlin on Wednesday rebuffed a call by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a three-way summit with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as Kyiv seeks to force Moscow to halt its more than three-year-long invasion. Moscow said any meeting involving Russian President Putin and Zelensky would only happen after "concrete agreements" ...

Merz Announces Germany and Ukraine to Jointly Produce Long-Range Weapons
Merz Announces Germany and Ukraine to Jointly Produce Long-Range Weapons

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets well inside Russian territory. Both countries' defense ministers later signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of long-range weapons systems, ...

Iraq's Jewish Community Saves a Long-Forgotten Shrine
VideosIraq's Jewish Community Saves a Long-Forgotten Shrine

In a vibrant Baghdad district, Iraqi laborers work tirelessly to repair a centuries-old shrine of a revered rabbi in an effort to revive Iraq's Jewish heritage that has long faded. Just a few months ago, the tomb of Rabbi Isaac Gaon was in disarray, filled with piles of garbage. Today, layers of marble tiles cover the once-small grave.

Brigitte, Macron and the Republican Fantasy: Analyzing a Viral Moment
AnalysisBrigitte, Macron and the Republican Fantasy: Analyzing a Viral Moment

Certain gestures exceed their expected boundaries and unsettle the scene in which they occur. Brigitte Macron’s gesture, filmed as she stepped off a plane in Hanoi on May 25, is a striking example. This fleeting moment—interpreted alternately as a slap or a simple sign of complicity—ignited a torrent of interpretations. Beyond ...

OPEC+ Meets as Oil Output Hike Looms
OPEC+ Meets as Oil Output Hike Looms

Ministers of the OPEC+ oil alliance, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, hold talks Wednesday to discuss their production levels as another hike looms despite falling prices. The 22-nation group began a series of cuts in 2022 to prop up crude prices, but Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members surprised markets recently by sharply raising output ...

Japan Urges Universities to Accept Students Hit by US Block
Japan Urges Universities to Accept Students Hit by US Block

The Japanese government has asked local universities to consider accepting international students enrolled at US universities as President Donald Trump seeks to force Harvard to submit to unprecedented oversight. The Trump administration moved last week to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students, but on Friday a judge suspended the order ...

Pineapple Is the New Potato: Imported Fruits Back in Syria
VideosPineapple Is the New Potato: Imported Fruits Back in Syria

After decades of poverty and isolation under the Assad regime, exotic fruits like pineapples, kiwis and mangoes are available again in Syria's bustling markets, making mouths water and eyes twinkle. Fruits that were once designated luxury items, meaning they were accessible only to Syria's wealthiest, are now as common as potatoes or onions, ...