Headline News
- Wall Street oscillates amid COVID-19 spikes, muted data
Wall Street struggled for direction on Thursday as investors weighed a resurgence in coronavirus infections and the possibility of a new round of shutdowns against data that suggested the U.S. economy might not bounce back with quick, V-shaped recovery.
  
- Facebook takes down certain posts, ads from Trump re-election campaign
Facebook Inc said on Thursday it took down certain posts and advertisements from U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence related to their re-election campaign, due to violation of the social network’s policy against organized hate.
 
- Jean Kennedy Smith, last surviving sibling of JFK, is dead at 92
Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of slain President John F. Kennedy, who as U.S. ambassador to Ireland in the 1990s played a pivotal role in the Northern Irish peace process, died on Wednesday at age 92.
 
- Portraits of former Confederate House speakers to be removed: Pelosi
Portraits of four former House of Representatives speakers who served the Confederacy will be removed from the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.
 
- U.S. prison riot teams faulted for injuring staff during exercises
U.S. Bureau of Prisons riot teams that helped protect the White House during protests earlier this month injured employees by deploying flash bang grenades and pepper spray during exercises last year, the Justice Department’s internal watchdog has found.
 
- Lloyd’s of London to pay for ‘shameful’ Atlantic slave trade role
The Lloyd’s of London insurance market apologised on Thursday for its “shameful” role in the 18th and 19th Century Atlantic slave trade and pledged to fund opportunities for black and ethnic minority people.
 
- Explainer: London faces up to former role insuring Atlantic slave trade
London is facing up to its role in insuring the slave trade as part of a sweeping global reassessment of history and racism.
 
- U.S. Supreme Court blocks Trump bid to end ‘Dreamers’ immigrant program
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dealt President Donald Trump a major setback on his hardline immigration policies, blocking his bid to end a program that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants – often called “Dreamers” – who entered the United States illegally as children.
 
- Exclusive: Massive spying on users of Google’s Chrome shows new security weakness
A newly discovered spyware effort attacked users through 32 million downloads of extensions to Google’s market-leading Chrome web browser, researchers at Awake Security told Reuters, highlighting the tech industry’s failure to protect browsers as they are used more for email, payroll and other sensitive functions.
 
- Pelosi urges Senate to take up ‘Dreamers’ bill after top court ruling
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday urged the Senate to take up legislation previously passed by the Democratic-led House in support of so-called “Dreamers” now that the Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump’s effort to end their protections.
 
BBC News (Middle East)
- Egyptian woman arrested for baking ‘indecent’ cakes
Photos of the cakes, some topped with genitalia fashioned out of fondant icing, went viral online.
- Saudi Arabia executions: ‘Drastic’ reduction reported in 2020
The Saudi Human Rights Commission says it documented 27 last year – an 85% drop compared to 2019.
- Yemen: This doctor saw Covid hospital empty after fake death text
One doctor tells her story of battling the pandemic alone in Yemen after her colleagues fled.
- The Instagrammers who worry Iran
From “extreme” selfies to dancing to pop – the fun posts considered a crime.
- US blacklisting of Houthis ‘could tip Yemen into huge famine’
The UN’s aid chief urges the US to reverse a plan to designate the Houthis as a terrorist group.
- Why Iran’s nuclear facilities are still vulnerable to attack
Putting sites underground does not mean they’re beyond the reach of those who want them scuppered.
- Qatar Airways boss: Certificates will be new norm
The world’s airlines need another $70-$80bn of government aid to get through the pandemic, the industry says.
- Kuwait’s stateless man who set himself alight
Hamad had descended into despair, one of a Kuwaiti community denied rights for generations.
- Sheldon Adelson, the magnate who moved an embassy
Sheldon Adelson, the son of Jewish immigrants who became one of the world’s richest men, dies at 87.
- Iraqi interpreters ‘stalked by death squads’ for helping the British
Ali and Ahmed helped British forces but now they live in fear of being killed by death squads.
- 2020 and me: ‘I know the value of family more’
Despite the many challenges, Rula in Istanbul believes 2020 will benefit us in the future.
- Sudan-Israel deal fuels migrants’ fears
Israel is supported by some Sudanese communities, yet restoring relations may not be good news from them.
- Faith and fertility at Bethlehem’s Milk Grotto
Some say the place where Mary is said to have nursed Jesus holds the power to help couples conceive.
- Iran nuclear deal: What are Biden’s plans and challenges
With so much hostility – and mistrust – between Washington and Tehran, will President Biden be able to revive the nuclear deal?
- US Election 2020: What do countries around the world want from Joe Biden?
We speak to reporters in six global regions about hopes and expectations for the new US administration.
- Four protests that triggered change – and one that didn’t
The BBC looks at a selection of history’s powerful protests and why only some achieved their goals.
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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