USA

Trump Slaps New Travel Ban on 12 Countries

US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban Wednesday targeting 12 countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Yemen, reviving one of the most controversial measures from his first term. Trump said the measure was spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on an man they said was in ...

Young Stars Sparkle as Thunder and Pacers Seek First NBA Titles

Powered by young star talent and deep rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers open the NBA Finals on Thursday, each trying to bring their city a first-ever crown. Oklahoma City, fancied by oddsmakers after an NBA-high 68 regular-season wins, will host game one in the best-of-seven championship series. Both teams are fast-paced ...

Raad: Weapons Issue Will Be Addressed ‘in Due Time’

The Head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, claimed on Wednesday that the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons should be approached “objectively, with the goal of safeguarding Lebanon’s national interests and ensuring the country’s readiness to confront any potential Israeli aggression.” Speaking after a meeting with Prime ...

US Expected to Block Gaza Ceasefire Vote at Security Council

The UN Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, a measure expected to fail due to a US veto. It is the 15-member body's first vote on the subject since November, when the United States -- a key Israeli ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. The ...

Rescuers say Israeli Fire Kills at Least 27 near Gaza Aid Point

Rescuers said the Israeli military killed at least 27 people on Tuesday in southern Gaza near a US-backed aid centre, with the army reporting it had fired on "suspects who advanced toward the troops". The shooting was similar to one Sunday morning in which rescuers said scores of people were killed and wounded at the same location, with ...

US to Eventually Reduce Military Bases in Syria to One: US envoy

The United States has begun reducing its military presence in Syria with a view to eventually closing all but one of its bases there, the US envoy for the country has said in an interview. Six months after the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, the United States is steadily drawing down its presence as part of Operation Inherent ...

Trump says Iran Deal Would not Allow 'any' Uranium Enrichment

US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out allowing Iran to enrich uranium under any nuclear deal between the foes -- as Tehran defended what it said was its "peaceful" pursuit of fuel for power generation. Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention in five rounds of talks since April to ink a new accord to replace the deal ...

US Stocks Retreat on Heightened Tariff Tensions

US stocks mostly slipped Monday on global trade tensions, with China rejecting Washington's accusations that it violated a pact to de-escalate tariffs, while President Donald Trump's plans to double steel levies added to strain with the EU. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4 percent to 42,109.92, while the broad-based S&P ...

Is Trump Deterring European Tourists to US? Not so Fast

President Donald Trump's hardline immigration tactics, sweeping tariffs and nationalist policies may be a turn-off for many would-be European tourists to the United States, but the data paints a more nuanced bigger picture. The number of visitors to the United States from Western Europe in March fell by 17 percent from the same month a year ...

Polish Presidential Election Rivals Neck and Neck

The centrist and nationalist candidates vying for the Polish presidency were neck and neck, an exit poll showed on Sunday, each predicting victory in a vote with major implications for Poland's pro-EU government. Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, a government ally, was narrowly ahead with 50.3 percent of votes against nationalist ...

Qatar, Egypt Say Will Intensify Efforts to Resume Gaza Truce Talks

Qatar and Egypt announced on Sunday plans to step up efforts for Gaza truce negotiations, as the Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was prepared to "immediately" hold a fresh round of talks. "Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the ...