World

Matcha: The Japanese Tea Taking Over the World
Q&AMatcha: The Japanese Tea Taking Over the World

Matcha is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand for the powdered green tea. Here's what you need to know about the drink beloved of weekend treat-seekers and "wellness" influencers: What is matcha?  The word matcha means "ground tea" in Japanese and comes in the ...

The UN Charter: A Founding Document Under Siege
HighlightThe UN Charter: A Founding Document Under Siege

Eighty years ago Thursday, 50 countries came together in the ashes of World War II to sign the United Nations' founding charter in order "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted this week the Charter "is a promise of peace, dignity and cooperation among nations." But critics say the ...

Eastern Christians: The Last Keepers of a Legacy
EditorialEastern Christians: The Last Keepers of a Legacy

A suicide bombing, this time inside a Damascus church during Sunday Mass. Twenty-five dead. The blast silenced prayer, shattered lives and shook a community already on the brink. Eastern Christianity is dying, not in the chaos of an open warfare, but through a long, silent agony, met with the world’s indifference. In a secularized Europe where ...

China Hosts Iranian, Russian Defense Ministers Against Backdrop of 'Momentous Change'
China Hosts Iranian, Russian Defense Ministers Against Backdrop of 'Momentous Change'

China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending. Beijing has long sought to present the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a ...

US Hits Back at Accounts Iran Moved Uranium
US Hits Back at Accounts Iran Moved Uranium

President Donald Trump's administration hit back Wednesday at accounts Iran may have moved enriched uranium before US bombing, as a row grew on how much the strikes set back Tehran's nuclear program. Trump, seeking credit for ordering military action and then quickly announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, has lashed out angrily ...

Witkoff: 'Big Announcements' to Come on More Countries Joining Abraham Accords
Witkoff: 'Big Announcements' to Come on More Countries Joining Abraham Accords

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, stated on CNBC Wednesday that more countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Iran about its nuclear program. “We anticipate major announcements on additional countries joining the Abraham Accords,” Witkoff said, though he did not ...

Iran Partially Reopens Airspace after Ceasefire with Israel
Iran Partially Reopens Airspace after Ceasefire with Israel

Iran on Wednesday reopened the airspace over the country's east, state media reported, following a ceasefire with Israel that ended 12 days of fighting. Iran had closed its skies since June 13 after Israel launched a major bombing campaign that prompted Iran to retaliate with waves of missile strikes. A ceasefire between the two came into effect ...

Zelensky, Europe Rights Body Sign Accord for Ukraine War Tribunal
Zelensky, Europe Rights Body Sign Accord for Ukraine War Tribunal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday signed an accord with pan-European rights body the Council of Europe for establishing a special tribunal to try top officials responsible for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The court would prosecute the "crime of aggression" in the invasion, which Russia launched in February 2022, and could, in ...

Trading Peace for Firepower? Europe’s Rush to Rearm
ExplainerTrading Peace for Firepower? Europe’s Rush to Rearm

At the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in The Hague, under mounting pressure from both the Russian threat and the United States’ demands, the Alliance crossed a historic threshold: member states committed to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. But behind the bold figure lies a fractured Europe, torn between rearmament ...

Israeli Commandos Operated in Iran During 12-Day War
Israeli Commandos Operated in Iran During 12-Day War

The head of Israel's military said Wednesday that Israeli commandos had operated secretly inside Iran during the countries' 12-day war. "We achieved full control over Iranian airspace and in every location where we chose to operate," chief of staff Eyal Zamir said in a televised address. "This was made possible thanks to, ...

Iran and the IAEA: How Far Will Tehran Push Its Standoff?
ExplainerIran and the IAEA: How Far Will Tehran Push Its Standoff?

On Wednesday, June 25, Iran’s parliament approved a motion to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). According to Iranian state television, 221 lawmakers voted in favor, with only one abstention and none opposed. The decision comes amid growing tensions between Tehran and Western powers. It follows an IAEA ...

Iran Hangs Three More Accused of Spying for Israel
Iran Hangs Three More Accused of Spying for Israel

Iran on Wednesday hanged three men convicted of spying for Israel after what activists decried as an unfair trial, bringing to six the number of people executed on such charges since the start of the war between the Islamic republic and Israel. The hangings have also amplified fears for the life of Swedish-Iranian dual national Ahmadreza Djalali ...