Headline News
- Prince Harry seeks ‘more peaceful life’ as reluctantly ends royal role
Britain’s Prince Harry has spoken of his sadness at being forced to give up his royal duties in a deal with Queen Elizabeth and senior Windsors, saying there was no other option if he and his wife Meghan were to seek an independent future.
  
- Prince Harry meets African leaders in London
Britain’s Prince Harry attended a summit for leaders of 21 African countries in London hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, a day after he spoke of his sadness that he would shortly be giving up royal duties.
 
- Iran says it will quit global nuclear treaty if case goes to U.N.
Iran said on Monday it could quit the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European countries refer it to the U.N. Security Council over a nuclear agreement, a move that would overturn diplomacy in its confrontation with the West.
 
- China repeats call on Canada to release Huawei’s Meng as extradition trial set to kick off
China on Monday repeated its call for Canada to release Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, ahead of her expected arrival in a Vancouver courtroom for the start of a trial to decide whether she can be extradited to the United States.
 
- Trump rejects impeachment charges as an affront to U.S. Constitution
President Donald Trump on Monday rejected the Democratic-led House of Representatives’ impeachment charges, describing the allegations that he had abused his power and obstructed Congress as affronts to the U.S. Constitution that must be rejected.
 
- Key arguments in Trump’s defense as impeachment trial to begin in U.S. Senate
The White House unveiled its detailed legal defense as the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate gears up to begin President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Tuesday.
 
- Ukraine presses for return of Iran plane black boxes
Ukraine on Monday urged Iran to return the black boxes from a Ukrainian passenger plane shot down by the Iranian military with the loss of all 176 people on board.
 
- Armed U.S. gun rights activists rally against proposed Virginia gun laws
Thousands of armed gun-rights activists filled the streets around Virginia’s capitol building on Monday to protest a package of gun-control legislation making its way through the newly Democratic-controlled state legislature.
 
- Key events in Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s extradition case
Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, will appear in a Vancouver, Canada, courtroom on Monday for the first day of her extradition trial, a process expected to take months – possibly years – to decide whether she can be extradited from Canada to the United States.
 
- Trump urges Senate to reject impeachment as affront to U.S. Constitution
President Donald Trump’s lawyers argued on Monday that the impeachment case against him is a product of a rigged process by Democrats and “must be rejected” in the Senate trial that gets under way in earnest on Tuesday.
 
Shanghai Daily
- Royal couple gives up privileges
Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will give up their royal titles and public funding as part of a settlement with the Queen to start a new life away from the British monarchy.
- Abe pledges closer security ties with US
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged yesterday to bolster his country’s role under its security pact with the US in “outer space and cyberspace,” as the allies marked the 60th anniversary of a treaty
- Germany to unite major players on Libyan war
Germany is bringing together the key players in Libya’s long-running civil war in a bid to curb foreign military meddling, solidify a ceasefire and help relaunch a political process to determine the North
- US starts screening Chinese passengers at 3 airports
The US began screening passengers arriving from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of a mysterious virus, officials said, after an outbreak that has stricken dozens and claimed a second life.
- Democrats set stage for impeachment trial
In a dramatic procession across the US Capitol, House Democrats carried the formal articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate on Wednesday, setting the stage for only the third
- Russia’s new PM Mishustin vows changes
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new prime minister promised “real changes” yesterday as he was approved by lawmakers after the Kremlin announced sweeping reform plans.
- Evacuations as volcano rocks the Philippines
filipino authorities blocked roads to a popular tourist area near the capital yesterday as the Taal volcano belched plumes of ash and caused earthquakes.
- Indian chefs bake 6.5km cake
It was a record-baking effort. Hundreds of bakers and chefs in southern India came together on Wednesday to create what they said is the world’s longest cake — about 6.5 kilometers.
- Over the moon: 20,000 looking for love
Applications to become Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa’s girlfriend have topped 20,000, streaming service AbemaTV said yesterday, ahead of its documentary on his search for a “life partner” to take
- Japan season so hot, even the fake snow is melting
Record low snowfall in Japan has forced many ski resorts to shut their doors and is threatening a World Cup ski jumping competition, with organizers forced to truck in extra powder.
- US airliner dumps fuel on kids
An airliner with engine trouble bound for Shanghai dumped jet fuel that fell as a smelly mist on dozens of schoolchildren while the plane made an emergency return to Los Angeles International Airport,
- Sex, drugs and privacy issues on the Internet
Popular dating apps like Grindr and OkCupid share personal data about users, including their location and sexuality, with about 100 other businesses, a Norwegian consumer group said on Tuesday, as it filed
BBC News (Middle East)
- Yemen war: Death toll in attack on military base rises to 111
Yemen’s president condemns the “cowardly” attack in Marib province, blaming it on Houthi rebels.
- Lebanon protests: Anti-government protesters clash with police
Nearly 400 were injured in the worst violence since anti-government protests broke out in October.
- Iran plane crash: Khamenei defends armed forces in rare address
Ayatollah Khamenei praises the Revolutionary Guard amid anger over the downing of a passenger jet.
- Iran clubs respond to reported match ban
Iran’s four teams in the AFC Champions League say they will refuse to play if they cannot host home games, says the Mehr news agency.
- Syria war: Society leaders hold secret peace summit in Berlin
Leading figures met this week to overcome the sectarian divides that are tearing their country apart.
- Nile River dam row: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan make draft deal
The initial accord eases tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over control of vital water supplies.
- Why Iran plane disaster protests mark most serious test yet
Unique factors make the latest anti-government protests different from those in the past.
- Iran protests: Who are the opposition in the country?
There have been anti-government protests in Iran, but how strong is opposition inside the country?
- The rescue worker who refuses to leave a bombed-out town
Few now remain in Saraqeb, a town in Syria’s last opposition-held province, Idlib. Laith al-Abdullah is one.
- Iran plane downing: How media responded to public anger
Sentiments normally seen in social media made their way into tightly controlled state outlets.
- Egypt-Ethiopia row: The trouble over a giant Nile dam
At the heart of the dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt is who has control over Africa’s longest river.
- Hevrin Khalaf: Death of a peacemaker
A BBC Arabic investigation has evidence that the Syrian-Kurdish political leader, Hevrin Khalaf, was executed by a faction of the Syrian National Army, which denies the allegation.
- Iran plane crash: Why this could be a watershed moment
Anger at the government’s response could lead to further unrest ahead of elections, an expert says.
- Who was Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman?
The funeral has taken place of the Arab world’s longest-serving ruler, who died on Friday.
- Iran tensions: Khamenei’s ‘defiant message’ at Friday prayers
Iran’s supreme leader hit out at his “enemies” following recent turmoil in the region.
- What’s behind the fight for Libya?
The oil-rich North African country has been beset by a civil war for nearly a decade.
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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