Middle East

World News

After Meeting Israeli Officials, Trump Talks With Palestinians

8:18am May 23, 2017

by Daniel Estrin

President Trump on Tuesday visited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem. It's part of Trump's effort to get some momentum for starting an Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

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A Palestinian Point Of View On Trump's Attempt At Middle East Peace

8:10am May 23, 2017

David Greene talks to Diana Buttu, former legal adviser to Mahmoud Abbas, about why she's skeptical of President Trump's ability to help Palestinians and Israelis advance toward lasting peace.

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Beirut Has Become A Relative Refuge For Members Of The LGBT Community

6:51am May 23, 2017

by Alison Meuse

Over the past year, Lebanon has made strides in the legal battle to decriminalize homosexuality. Speaking at Beirut Pride week, members of the community say there's still a long way to acceptance.

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President Trump Makes Historic Visit To Old City Of Jerusalem

8:49pm May 22, 2017

by Daniel Estrin

President Trump visits Jerusalem's Old City on Monday, stopping at two religious sites and leaving locals to debate his impact.

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Trump Continues Criticism Of Iran On Middle East Trip

5:12pm May 22, 2017

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Vali Nasr, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, about President Trump's comments regarding Iran during his Middle East trip, and what they mean to the U.S. relationship with Iran and other countries.

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Turkish Businessman With Ties To Michael Flynn Hosts Conference At Trump Hotel

5:12pm May 22, 2017

by Jackie Northam

The Turkish businessman who paid Michael Flynn $530,000 to lobby for the Turkish government is heading up a conference held at the Trump International Hotel, a few blocks from both the White House and the FBI. The event comes at a time when all of Trump's tangled interests are being scrutinized, but that doesn't seem to bother the participants.

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Together with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, President Trump touches a lit-up globe that activated a video at the inauguration of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, Saudi A

Here's The Deal With That Glowing Orb — And Plenty Of Notes On What It Isn't

3:51pm May 22, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

It seemed an innocuous gesture: President Trump joined two other world leaders in laying their hands on a lit-up globe at an event in Saudi Arabia. Then, Twitter caught wind of it.

World News

Iran Prison Atlas' Database Keeps Track Of Iranian Political Prisoners

8:17am May 22, 2017

by Steve Inskeep

The organization, United For Iran, publishes the Iran Prison Atlas. It's a website collecting information about Iranians described as political prisoners.

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Morning News Brief: Trump Moves On To Second Stage Of Foreign Trip

7:50am May 22, 2017

The president, beset by investigations at home, visits Israel after receiving a royal welcome in Saudi Arabia. He urged Muslim leaders to "drive out the foot soldiers of evil" and combat extremism.

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Trump To Meet With Israelis And Palestinians While On Middle East Trip

7:50am May 22, 2017

Donald Trump is in Israel — the second leg of his first overseas trip as president. David Greene talks to Israeli columnist Chemi Shalev, who writes for the newspaper Haaretz, about Trump's trip.

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