Peace processes and grand declarations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were once expected of American presidents. Yet nearly three years after the Trump administration abruptly ended U.S. financial assistance to Palestinians, the Biden administration currently has more modest aims. With the paths to political progress currently closed, it is focusing on humanitarian goals. In its first […]
Facing the pandemic, world leaders seek to bind, unify their citizens
Once upon a time, it would have raised no eyebrows. When Prince Philip, the Queen of England’s husband, died last week, the airwaves were filled for 36 hours with news coverage and admiring tributes. But Britons switched off in droves. One hundred thousand of them even complained to the BBC. Not because they didn’t like […]
Iran to enrich uranium by 60% yet wants relief on sanctions
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Iran will begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity after an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, a negotiator said Tuesday, pushing its program to higher levels than ever before, though it still remains short of weapons-grade. The announcement marks a significant escalation after the sabotage that damaged centrifuges, suspected of […]
French political space slides rightward as Macron, Le Pen swap planks
As next year’s presidential elections in France approach, the two front-runners are trying on each other’s clothes. Marine Le Pen, traditionally a candidate of the extreme right, is seeking more moderate voters by steering her party, the National Rally, toward the middle ground of French politics. More surprisingly, perhaps, President Emmanuel Macron is veering sharply […]
Central America forms alliance to bring US border under control
Washington The Biden administration has struck an agreement with Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala to temporarily surge security forces to their borders in an effort to reduce the tide of migration to the United States border. The agreement comes as the U.S. saw a record number of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border in March, […]
Afghan tests for Biden: Avoid failure, make his own peace with Taliban
Just weeks away from an inherited May 1 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden is scrambling to avoid an American failure there, with plans to convene multilateral peace talks in Turkey meant to jump-start last-ditch diplomacy. The president is torn between the desires to quickly end America’s longest-ever war, and also […]
Iran says Natanz nuclear facility was sabotaged. Was it Israel?
Dubai, United Arab Emriates Iran on Sunday described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic facility an act of “nuclear terrorism,” raising regional tensions as world powers and Tehran continue to negotiate over its tattered nuclear deal. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion fell immediately on Israel, where its media nearly uniformly […]
On Clubhouse, people in the Middle East debate taboo topics – for now
Beirut They are boisterous, argumentative, and at times downright hilarious. Hundreds of thousands of people in the Arab world are turning to Clubhouse, the fast-growing audio chat app, to mock and vent against longtime rulers, debate sensitive issues from abortion to sexual harassment, or argue where to find the best and cheapest shawarma sandwich during […]
Eliseevsky grocery store closes its doors on 120 years of history
An iconic Moscow landmark is closing its doors this weekend, and local residents are indulging in some Soviet nostalgia. Although the Eliseevsky grocery store was internationally famous for its lavish baroque decoration – think gold leaf, marble columns, and crystal chandeliers – locals loved the shop during Soviet times because in a land of perpetual […]
Myanmar: As protests continue, a glimmer of greater unity
Since Myanmar’s military coup on Feb. 1, nationwide protests have erupted against the junta, prompting a brutal crackdown. More than 600 people have been killed in the crackdown and nearly 3,000 detained, including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials. For the first time, experts say, military cruelty has been laid bare […]