Month: September 2018

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the United States and Israel of waging a “media war” to discourage Iranians, as the country faces economic hardship following the reimposition of nuclear sanctions by the United States. …

It’s no secret that LGBT Russians have fled their homeland in recent years amid what rights advocates call rising homophobia in the country. But a small number of sexual minorities have sought refuge in Russia — with mixed results. …

India’s top court has struck down a colonial-era law that makes homosexual acts punishable by up to 10 years in prison.   The court gave its ruling Thursday on a petition filed by five people who challenged the law, saying they are living in fear of being harassed and prosecuted by police.    In 2009, …

Read more “India’s Top Court Legalizes Gay Sex”

Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee chain, will realize its chairman’s dream Friday when it opens an upmarket roastery and cafe in Milan, but the test will be to convince coffee-obsessed Italians to pay more for their daily espresso. The store will be the Seattle-based giant’s first foray into the Italian market, the world’s fourth-largest consumer …

Read more “Starbucks’ Dream Realized: Roastery, Café in Milan”

Ayanna Pressley’s victory Tuesday over 10-term House member Michael Capuano in Massachusetts’ 7th District Democratic primary virtually assured that for the first time, an African-American woman will represent her state in Congress. Pressley’s performance against Capuano was reminiscent of Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s New York primary win in June over veteran House member Joseph Crowley, …

Read more “Historic Surge in Women Running in US Midterms “

Britain will brief the UN Security Council on September 6 on the arrest warrants it issued for two alleged Russian operatives charged with carrying out a nerve agent attack on British soil. …

U.S. and Pakistani officials expressed optimism about the possibility of improved relations after a meeting between top U.S. officials and Pakistan’s new prime minister. …

Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for the demolition of a Bedouin village in the West Bank, rejecting a final appeal in a case that has drawn heavy international criticism and become a rallying cry for the Palestinians. In its decision, the court rejected an appeal to block the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. …

Read more “Israel’s Top Court says West Bank Village Can be Demolished”

Myanmar’s government looks as if it’s under siege from an international community concerned about the condition of its nascent democracy, with widespread calls for a genocide tribunal to hold its military to account for the brutal treatment of its Muslim Rohingya minority. But experts say not to expect any change of course from the country’s …

Read more “Criticism Doesn’t Have Suu Kyi or Myanmar on the Ropes”

An appeals court has upheld the 30-day jail sentence handed down to opposition activist Aleksei Navalny for what Russian authorities say were violations of the law on public gatherings and protests. …

British prosecutors have accused two Russian men of poisoning former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a deadly nerve agent in March on behalf of the Russian state. In a statement to Britain’s Parliament after the charges were announced on September 5, Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of “obfuscation and lies” in trying …

Read more “Russia’s ‘Obfuscation And Lies’: May Accuses Kremlin After Novichok Charges”

Attempts to end the 17-year-old U.S.-led war in Afghanistan are gaining traction, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insists.   “Right now we have more indications that reconciliation is no longer just a shimmer out there, no longer just a mirage. It now has some framework,” Mattis told reporters on his plane en route to India. …

Read more “Mattis: Afghan Peace Process Gaining Steam”

An ancient Persian artifact has been handed back to Iran after a U.S. court ordered its return. …

Qatar amended its residency laws on Tuesday to allow foreign workers to leave the country without exit permits from their employers, a provision which labour rights groups have long said should be abolished. Doha is keen to show it is tackling allegations of worker exploitation as it prepares to host the 2022 soccer World Cup, …

Read more “Qatar Lifts Controversial Exit Visa System for Workers”

An attack that killed one American soldier in eastern Afghanistan this week was carried out by a member of the Afghan national police, a U.S. official says. …

Twitter’s CEO says the company is not biased against Republicans or Democrats and is working on ways to ensure that debate is healthier on its platform. In prepared testimony released ahead of a House hearing Wednesday, Jack Dorsey says he wants to be clear about one thing: “Twitter does not use political ideology to make …

Read more “Twitter CEO Says Company Isn’t Biased, Wants Healthy Debate”

A look at the best news photos from around the world. …