Headline News
- ‘Rally of hope’: Why the S&P soared back past 3,000
Unthinkable just two months ago as the world economy shut down in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. stock benchmark S&P 500 index broke through the psychologically-important 3,000 level on Tuesday, capping a 37% stock rally since its March low.
  
- S&P 500 rises on economic recovery and vaccine hopes, pulls back from highs
U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday on optimism about developing coronavirus vaccines and the revival of business activity, but the S&P 500 failed to hold above the key psychological level of 3,000 points.
 
- Instant View: S&P rises above 3,000 level for first time since March
U.S. stocks rose above the 3,000 level for the first time since March 5 on Tuesday, continuing a rally that has pushed the benchmark index up nearly 35% from its March 23 closing low on hopes for a potential coronavirus vaccine and the reopening of businesses across the country.
 
- Factbox: Biden wants a woman to be his running mate. Here are some names under consideration
The vetting process is underway to help presumptive Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden pick his running mate for the Nov. 3 election.
 
- Merck to buy Austrian vaccine maker as it jumps into COVID-19 race
Merck & Co Inc , which has largely kept to the sidelines of the race for COVID-19 treatments, said it was buying Austrian vaccine maker Themis Bioscience and would collaborate with research nonprofit IAVI to develop two separate vaccines.
 
- LATAM becomes largest airline yet driven to bankruptcy by coronavirus
LATAM Airlines Group , the continent’s largest carrier, filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, becoming the world’s largest carrier so far to seek an emergency reorganization due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
- White woman fired from job after calling cops over black man in NY Central Park
Denouncing “racism of any kind,” a global investment firm has fired a white woman after a viral video showed her calling police to say she felt threatened by an African-American man who asked her politely to leash her dog in New York’s Central Park.
 
- Biden hires voting rights director as absentee ballot battle heats up
Joe Biden hired a senior staffer to work on voter protection issues, his presidential campaign said on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump again blasted states’ efforts to expand voting by mail in light of the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
 
- Barbershops to open as COVID-19 rules ease in parts of California
Barbershops and hair salons may open with modifications in parts of California where public health officials can show it is safe, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday, as the most populous U.S. state continued to ease its coronavirus-related restrictions.
 
- Pentagon’s deputy inspector general resigns; latest in watchdog role to depart
The Defense Department’s deputy inspector general resigned on Tuesday, more than a month after President Donald Trump removed him as the Pentagon’s acting inspector general, becoming the latest official in a federal oversight role to depart.
 
Shanghai Daily
- Abe lifts Tokyo state of emergency as cases fall, mulls fresh stimulus
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted the state of emergency for Tokyo and four remaining areas yesterday after the number of novel coronavirus infections fell across the country, but warned that it
- US limits travel from Brazil over virus fears
The White House on Sunday said it was restricting travel from Brazil to the United States, two days after the South American nation became the world’s No.
- Johnson’s aide stance fuels party mutiny
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced mutiny in his party and fury across the country yesterday for refusing to sack his closest aide Dominic Cummings who is accused of flouting the lockdown measures by
- Trump plays golf to launch US summer season
US President Donald Trump kicked off the start of the American summer season on Saturday with his first golf outing in two months, underlining his push for a return to normal life across the country.
- Surging virus deaths ravage Latin America
A SURGING coronavirus is ravaging parts of Latin America, setting records for cases and deaths over the weekend in some countries.
- 2 passengers survive Pakistan jet crash
One of the two people to survive a plane crash in Pakistan that killed 97 people on board has described jumping from the burning wreckage of the aircraft after it hurtled into a residential neighborho
- Eid celebrations muted amid lockdown
Muslims began marking a somber Eid al-Fitr yesterday, many under coronavirus lockdown, but lax restrictions offer respite to worshippers in some countries despite infection fears.
- NYT one-line obits mark grim death-toll milestone
As the United States approached 100,000 coronavirus deaths, The New York Times yesterday marked the grim milestone with a stark memorial on its front page — one-line obituaries for 1,000 victims.
- Dozens killed as ‘end of the world’ cyclone hits India and Bangladesh
The most powerful cyclone to strike eastern India and Bangladesh in over a decade killed at least 82 people, officials said, as rescue teams scoured devastated coastal villages, hampered by torn-down power
- US veteran, son sought over ex-Nissan boss escape
Japanese prosecutors said yesterday they would seek the extradition of a former US special forces soldier and his son accused of helping fugitive former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn flee Japan.
- Emergency may soon be lifted for Tokyo
Japan may lift the state of emergency in Tokyo as early as next week if novel coronavirus infections remain low, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday, raising hopes that the world’s third-largest economy
- Global infections pass 5m as deaths soar in Latam
GLOBAL infections from the novel coronavirus passed 5 million yesterday as the pandemic played out unevenly across the planet, with Europe tentatively emerging from its shell and deaths still rising in
BBC News (Middle East)
- Coronavirus: Egypt doctors accuse government over medics’ deaths
A union says the health ministry bears “full responsibility” for doctors’ deaths from Covid-19.
- Trafficked Nigerian women rescued from Lebanon
The 50 return home a month after a woman working as a maid in Beirut was found for sale on Facebook.
- Coronavirus: Iran reopens Shia Muslim shrines after two-month closure
Worshippers will be allowed to access open courtyards and must follow social distancing rules.
- Family of exiled top Saudi officer Saad al-Jabri ‘targeted’
Saad al-Jabri fled to Canada but officials are going after his children back home, the BBC is told.
- Netanyahu trial: Israeli prime minister faces Jerusalem court
The country is gripped by the spectacle of a serving leader being tried for the first time.
- Iran oil tanker reaches Venezuela amid US tension
Five tankers are being escorted by the Venezuelan military as the country struggles with shortages.
- In pictures: Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr amid coronavirus
After a Ramadan marked by lockdowns and social distancing, Muslims begin celebrating the festival.
- Coronavirus in the Maldives: The couple trapped on never-ending honeymoon
A Dubai-based couple are still stuck at a deserted resort, more than two months after their wedding.
- Saudi Arabia: Just how deep are its troubles?
It has been rocked by coronavirus, an oil price collapse and the fallout from a high-profile murder.
- Coronavirus: Israel turns surveillance tools on itself
Counter-terror technology is being applied in the fight against Covid-19, raising privacy concerns.
- Hisham Selim, famed Egyptian actor, praised over transgender son
When a famed Egyptian actor revealed his daughter had transitioned, the reaction was unconventional.
- Coronavirus stokes Middle East boiling points
Tensions on the streets were already high – now the disease has fuelled them, says Jeremy Bowen.
- Coronavirus: Yemen medics braced for ‘unspeakable’ crisis
“You can see the fear in their faces,” says medic as health workers in Yemen brace for Covid surge.
- In pictures: How embassy hostage drama unfolded
Images from 40 years ago, when six gunmen took over the Iranian embassy in Kensington.
- Palestinians working in Israel face coronavirus dilemma
Many are returning to jobs in Israel and its settlements, where there has been a large outbreak.
- Ramadan: Muslims fast under coronavirus lockdowns
Normally a time when people gather to break their fasts and pray, many are marking Ramadan alone.
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A large number of Iranian university students meet with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei at the 16th night of the fasting month of Ramadan on May 22, 2019. Photo: khamenei.ir 
Tehran, May 23, IRNA – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi pointed to the ‘psycho-propaganda’ scenario launched against Iran, and said that this scenario is pre-maturely defeated and will definitely go nowhere.
Tehran, May 23, IRNA – German Foreign Ministry political director Jens Ploetner accompanied with German Ambassador to Tehran Michael Klor Berchtold held talks with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for political affairs Abbas Araqchi on bilateral ties and Iran nuclear deal.
Islamabad, May 23, IRNA – Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the victory in general election.
Persian yellow deer, which is on the verge of extinction, is seen on a series of photos in Dasht Naz protected area in northern Iran on May 23, 2019. IRNA/Ehsan Fazli Osanloo