Search focused on the Middle East

just now (114+ words) [A mural of Mahsa Amini painted by Chilean-American artist Rodrigo Pradel in collaboration with Yasi Farazad, his Iranian-American friend, is pictured in Washington, United States in this undated handout picture. (photo credit: Yasi Farazad/Handout via REUTERS)]A Tehran court ordered the US to pay $22b. in damages for allegedly supporting Iran's 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini's death, issuing another political ruling amid strained ties. Iran's Judiciary sues US for $22b. damages caused by 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini's death A Tehran court ordered the US to pay $22b. in damages for allegedly supporting Iran's 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini's death, issuing another political ruling amid strained ties....

19+ min ago (418+ words) ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a string of personal attacks against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and the Somali immigrant community, calling the congresswoman "garbage" and declaring, "I don't want Somalis in the U.S." The remarks, made during a White House press briefing, came amid heightened tensions following a National Guard shooting in Minnesota and broader deportation initiatives. Addressing questions about an Afghan national suspected in the shooting of two National Guard members last week, Trump pivoted to criticize Somali refugees." "Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren't people that work" These are people that do nothing but complain," he said, dismissing Omar's critiques of his constitutional overreach as hypocritical given her Somali heritage. "She comes from a country that's practically no country, all crime, no government" and she tells us how to run America?...

25+ min ago (79+ words) [FILE PHOTO: Smoke rises from the site of an explosion in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2020 (photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)]The four individuals allegedly assassinated were customs department officers and journalists who pointed to Hezbollah's connection with the deadly explosion, Adraee commented. Hezbollah killed Lebanese figures threatening to expose 2020 Beirut port blast plans, IDF reveals The four individuals allegedly assassinated were customs department officers and journalists who pointed to Hezbollah's connection with the deadly explosion, Adraee commented....

49+ min ago (577+ words) Pope Leo XIV led a silent prayer at the site of the Beirut port explosion and demanded justice for its victims, as he wrapped up his three-day visit to Lebanon. He also met some relatives of the 218 people who were killed by the massive blast on 4 August 2020, which devastated a large part of the capital. Later, the Pope said he was "deeply moved" by his visit to the port and shared "the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, of an entire country". No-one has yet been held accountable for the disaster, which happened when a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been stored unsafely at a port warehouse for almost six years. It is widely believed that officials and politicians were aware of the combustible chemical's existence and the danger it posed…...

1+ hour, 4+ min ago (42+ words) Real time news brief - IDF reveals: Hezbollah assassinated Lebanese officials to hide role in Beirut blast - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site IDF reveals: Hezbollah assassinated Lebanese officials to hide role in Beirut blast...

1+ hour, 4+ min ago (213+ words) The IDF has exposed that Hezbollah's Unit 121 assassinated four Lebanese public figures who posed a threat to the terror organization by attempting to reveal that the August 2020 Beirut port explosion was caused by ammonium nitrate stored for Hezbollah's use. The individuals killed were senior customs officials and journalists who pointed to Hezbollah's connection to the blast. Joseph Skaff, who served as head of the Beirut Port Customs Department, was thrown from a great height to his death by members of the unit in 2017, after he demanded the removal of Hezbollah's ammonium nitrate from the port - the material that later caused the devastating explosion. Waneer Abu Rajili, head of the Anti-Smuggling Unit in the Customs Authority, was stabbed to death by unit operatives in December 2020, after providing information linking Hezbollah to the port explosion. Lokman Slim, a political activist and journalist…...

1+ hour, 9+ min ago (926+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 788 The historic gift has little precedent, with few single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion, much less multiple billions. Announced on GivingTuesday, the Dells, who are Jewish, believe it's the largest single private commitment made to US children. Its structure is also unusual. Essentially, it builds on the "Trump Accounts" program, where the US Department of the Treasury will deposit $1,000 into investment accounts set up by the Treasury for American children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. The Dells' gift will use the "Trump Accounts" infrastructure to give $250 to each qualified child under 10. "We believe that if every child can see a future worth saving for, this program will build something far greater than an account. It will build hope and opportunity and prosperity for generations to come," said Michael Dell, the founder and CEO…...

1+ hour, 11+ min ago (510+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 788 NEW YORK " New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Monday that will establish New York's first state-sponsored Holocaust memorial. The memorial will be built at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, the state capital. The legislation says the monument will be called the New York State Holocaust Memorial, and will aim to commemorate the victims of the genocide and to "educate the public about the history of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, racism, and all manifestations of intolerance." The project will be overseen by the Office of General Services, a state agency that provides support services to the New York government, including for architecture and construction. The agency will seek input from organizations involved in Holocaust remembrance for the memorial's design and programming. The project will begin immediately, the legislation said. The budget…...

1+ hour, 11+ min ago (338+ words) ALBAWABA- Saudi Arabia's Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has approved the kingdom's 2026 national budget, projecting revenues of SR1.147 trillion ($306 billion) and expenditures of SR1.313 trillion ($350 billion), resulting in a SR166 billion ($44 billion) deficit'about 3.3% of GDP." Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan described the shortfall as "a deficit by design," emphasizing that the government intends to maintain strong investment in non-oil sectors such as industry, tourism, logistics, and technology to accelerate the Vision 2030 transformation while preserving debt sustainability and sufficient reserve levels." The budget forecasts GDP growth of 4.6%, driven by a 5% expansion in the non-oil economy. It allocates SR260 billion ($69 billion) to health and social development and SR201 billion ($54 billion) to education, underscoring a continued commitment to human-capital development. Oil revenues are projected at SR758 billion ($202 billion)." At the same time, non-oil income, supported by taxes, fees, and expanding private-sector activity, is expected to make…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (34+ words) Real time news brief - Irish Ambassador to Israel attacks, Sa'ar responds accordingly - Israel National News flashes around the clock are waiting for you on the site Irish Ambassador to Israel attacks, Sa'ar responds accordingly...