British celebrities urge government to apologize for UK’s role in Palestine during Mandate era
LONDON: Dozens of British celebrities, including singer Paloma Faith and actor Juliet Stevenson, have signed an open letter urging the UK government to formally apologize for its actions in Palestine during the Mandate period between 1917 and 1948. The letter was released on May 15, Nakba Day, whic»»»
Saudi crown prince, Qatar emir discuss regional developments in phone call
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call on Friday with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to discuss ties and regional developments, the Saudi Press Agency reported. During the call, the two leaders reviewed relations Saudi-Qatari relations as well as areas of joint coop»»»
‘We are in a phase as big as the printing press’: How Jordan became Arab world’s blueprint for media literacy
LONDON: Sitting comfortably in his office in Amman, Dr. Ziad Rifai does not immediately strike you as someone whose grand mission is to fight information warfare. The dean of the Jordan Media Institute and architect of its media literacy program — one of the first and most comprehensive initiatives»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Russia discuss strategic projects in energy and transport - | 24.KG
First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk held talks on the sidelines of the International Forum Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum 2026. The parties focused on the implementation of agreem»»»
Saudi experts: Media narratives, the hidden battlefield of Feb. 28 war
RIYADH: Saudi media experts have affirmed that contemporary conflicts are no longer waged by military means alone but through “narrative wars,” pointing to the US-Israeli-Iranian war as evidence that media is not a neutral conduit but a principal actor in shaping the balance of power. The remarks c»»»
Foreign Minister Petrova Speaks By Phone with Egypt's Counterpart Badr Abdelatty
Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova spoke by phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Friday. During the conversation, which was initiated by the E»»»
Starbucks announces plan to lay off 300 employees across United States - UPI.com
Starbucks workers holds signs on a picket line when they hold an employee strike outside of a Starbucks location in lower Manhattan on November 21, in New York City. Starbucks is planning to lay off 300 employees across the country as it tries to lower costs and reorganize, the company announced Fr»»»
Israeli Strikes Wound Dozens in Lebanon as Talks in US Enter Second Day
Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon that it said targeted the Hezbollah group on Friday, wounding 37 people as the two countries' envoys started a second day of peace talks in Washington. United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza condemned the "unacceptable" toll»»»
U.S. reaffirms commitment to Baltics amid troop cuts, weapons delays - UPI.com
Concerns for the security of the Baltic states rose on May 7 when three drones pierced NATO’s airspace and crashed in Latvia..Photo by Makalu/Pixabay WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- A State Department official told Congress on Thursday that NATO remains a critical deterrent to Russian aggression, and h»»»
Achilles injury rules Jordan’s Smeeri out of World Cup
AMMAN: Jordan defender Issam Smeeri will miss the country’s first World Cup after the national football association said on Friday he had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 26-year-old sustained the injury during individual training with the national team, the association said in a post »»»
Delhi rolls out work-from-home policies to weather fuel shortage
NEW DELHI: India’s capital will roll out fuel-saving measures starting on Monday, including work-from-home days for city employees, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for greater public participation to mitigate the economic fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran. New Delhi will be the »»»
Lebanon, Israel Start Day Two of Talks Despite Violence
Lebanon and Israel opened a second day of talks in Washington on Friday, diplomats said, despite a new flare-up of violence with Israel striking its northern neighbor. Envoys from the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations, resumed talks at the State Department shortly after 9 am (1300 G»»»
‘Submerged’ reveals the hidden heritage of the Red Sea
JEDDAH: A new documentary analyzing the importance of the discovery of the 18th-century Umluj shipwreck, just off the coastline of the Red Sea, has been unveiled. “Submerged” is a 10-minute film featuring Heritage Commission experts. It follows the first fully Saudi-led marine archaeological missio»»»
UAE says nearly 3,000 Iranian missiles and drones targeted civilian sites
New Delhi: The UAE has reaffirmed its categorical rejection of what it described as Iranian claims and attempts to justify terrorist attacks targeting the country and other states in the region, during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi. Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of Sta»»»
Art Dubai returns for special 20th edition in pared back, intimate format
DUBAI; The 20th anniversary edition of Art Dubai arrived this week in a more intimate, pared-back format, yet still drew eager crowds that flowed steadily through the venue from opening hour. Collectors, curators, artists and art enthusiasts gathered in the familiar corridors of Madinat Jumeirah, w»»»
Democratic Republic of Congo declares Ebola outbreak; 65 people killed - UPI.com
A handout photo made available by the World Health Organization shows temperature screening at Mpondwe border point with the Democratic Republic of Congo, near Bwera, Uganda, in May 2019. The Democratic Republic of Congo declared an Ebola outbreak on Friday as 65 people have died from the disease i»»»
Indian PM urges 'open and safe' Hormuz at start of UAE-Europe tour
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an "open and safe" Strait of Hormuz during a brief visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday, the start of a five-nation tour overshadowed by energy and supply-chain worries due to the regional tension in the Gulf. Modi, whose plane w»»»
Netanyahu says Israel controls 60 percent of Gaza Strip
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces now control 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, suggesting troops have expanded into more of the Palestinian territory than set out in an October ceasefire plan. His comments come as Gaza remains gripped by daily violence, and as efforts to»»»
Food as a weapon of war: MSF’s says Israeli restrictions of aid resulted in alarming malnutrition in Gaza
DUBAI: Israeli restrictions on food and humanitarian aid have resulted in alarming levels of malnutrition in Gaza, with devastating consequences for pregnant women, newborns and infants, according to a new analysis by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The medical charity said its data shows a sharp d»»»
Israel strikes Lebanon as talks in US enter second day
BEIRUT: Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon that it said targeted the militant group Hezbollah on Friday, hours before the two countries’ envoys were set to meet for a second day of peace talks in Washington. A truce in the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has been in pla»»»
GymBeam, the first “Shop of the Year” in Compari.ro competition
The competition, which has a consolidated tradition across Central and Eastern Europe, focuses on the quality of services provided by online stores as perceived directly by consumers. The final ranking is based on community votes and evaluations collected from verified purchases, providing a clear »»»
Araghchi: After US Defeat, BRICS Looks at Iran Differently
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has revealed that Tehran deliberately avoided exposing the UAE’s role in the US-Israeli aggression during recent BRICS meetings, only speaking out after Emirati representatives raised the issue first. Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ g»»»
UAE President, Indian PM oversee major agreements and MoUs
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, today witnessed the exchange of several agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at advancing cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the»»»
Thailand officially launches Thai Fruits & Food Festival 2026 across 16 Choithrams stores in the UAE
The Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, through the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and Thai Trade Center Dubai, officially inaugurated the Thai Fruits & Food Festival 2026 at Choithrams Green Community Supermarket – DIP on Friday, 15 May 2026. This event reaffirms Thail»»»
Iran’s internet blackout leaves millions isolated
DUBAI: “It’s costing me money talking to you” said Mona — not her real name — as she chuckled over a voice note she managed to send. “It’ll cost me a lot more if the boogey men find out too,” she said, referring to the Revolutionary Guards. Like millions of Iranians, Mona’s life has been upended by»»»
Israel threatens to sue NYT over report on sex abuse of Palestinian inmates
JERUSALEM: Israel on Thursday threatened to take The New York Times to court over a piece it published denouncing allegedly widespread sexual abuse against Palestinian detainees. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have ordered the “initiation of a defamation lawsuit »»»
Jumblat warns that Hezbollah can't be disarmed by force
Druze leader Walid Jumblat has said that he does not fear a new civil war in Lebanon because such a war "requires two armed sides, and currently only Hezbollah possesses weapons." "However, we are living through a period of dangerous instability, and some Lebanese leaders may actually desire a retu»»»
Louisiana vs. Callais ruling enables erasure of majority Black districts - UPI.com
The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana vs. Callais has set off a series of state-level moves that seek to immediately reshape elections. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo May 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the voting rights case Louisiana vs. Callais has added a ne»»»
Report: Lebanon, Israel to agree Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament
Israel and Lebanon are expected to agree on an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday. The report stated that the CIA has prepared a plan for disarming the group, and that deleg»»»
Experts: Statements by Central Auditing Organisation on corruption confuse investors
A fact-finding comittee to investigate CAO’s statements Economists said that the latest statements by Hisham Genena, the Head of the Central Auditing Organisation, on corruption will cause confusion among investors, especially in light of the conflict that has occurred in this respect. Genena annou»»»
On Nakba Anniversary: Islamic Jihad and Hamas Reaffirm Resistance, Reject Disarmament Calls
Marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, Islamic Jihad and Hamas Palestinian resistance groups reaffirmed their commitment to the path of resistance, condemning what the ongoing Israeli aggression, while voicing rejection to disarmament calls. In a statement, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movemen»»»
Japarov and Mirziyoyev discuss strengthening Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan alliance - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov held talks with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a working visit to Turkistan. The press service of the head of state reported. The leaders noted the high level of political dialogue and the dynamic development of relations between Kyrgyzstan a»»»
BRICS ministers fail to issue joint statement over differences on Middle East conflict
A two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS nations concluded in New Delhi on Friday without a joint statement because of "differing views among some members" on the situation in the Middle East, host India said. The differences highlighted the challenge of maintaining unity within the bl»»»
UAE President and Indian PM discuss strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and review regional developments
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE»»»
Media Review: May 15
OVERVIEW No single issue dominates Bulgarian media on Friday, but the amendments to the Competition Protection Act and Consumer Protection Act, initiated by the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party, aimed at curbing rising prices and tackling "unfair trade practices", debated by the National Assembly,»»»
Israel Army Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Tyre Area of South Lebanon
Israel's military said Friday it was striking Hezbollah targets in the Tyre area of south Lebanon, as the two countries entered the second day of US-brokered talks in Washington. "The military has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon," the army said »»»
US President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised not to send military aid to Iran
US President Donald Trump has said Chinese President Xi Jinping promised him that China will not send military aid to Iran. The leaders held talks in Beijing on Thursday, marking the first visit by a US president to China since 2017. US officials sought to persuade China to help pressure Iran into »»»
Japanese PM Takaichi to visit S. Korea's Andong next week for talks with Lee - UPI.com
President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands at an ancient temple in Nara Prefecture on Jan. 14, 2026, in this file photo. File Pool Photo by Yonhap Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit South Korea's central city of Andong next week for a two-day t»»»
Trump walks the gardens of China’s most secretive compound
US President Donald Trump spent the final morning of his Beijing visit inside one of China’s most secretive and heavily guarded compounds, walking through imperial-era gardens with President Xi Jinping in a carefully choreographed display of diplomatic symbolism. The two leaders strolled through Zh»»»
Trump touts ‘fantastic’ trade deals as China visit ends - UPI.com
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) departed from Beijing on Friday after a two-day summit. In this photo from Thursday, he shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo by Chinese Foreign Ministry/UPI | License Photo May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. President Don»»»
Egypt eyes more Indian investments and trade exchange
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to attracting further Indian investments and boosting bilateral trade. The minister’s remarks came during talks with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on »»»
The fog around the Strait — and the lessons for business
‘What’s the latest on the Strait?’, a friend asked as I was about to roll in a par during a round of football golf with our kids (it’s great fun, give it a try). ‘Errrm, it’s complicated… and there’s, errm, hope that they…do the, errm…”, I replied with the confidence of a school pupil who was about»»»
Hezbollah arms to be addressed internally after ceasefire and withdrawal, official says
A third round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon kicked off in Washington Thursday, days before the expiration of a truce that reduced but did not stop the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Lebanese officials are hoping that the two-day negotiations will yie»»»
China: No Need to Continue War on Iran; Solution Must Serve All Parties
In a major diplomatic push for regional stability, China has reaffirmed its stance that the ongoing conflict with Iran is unnecessary and must be resolved through a solution that serves the interests of all parties involved. Through its Foreign Ministry, Beijing asserted that the hostilities should»»»
Inside Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale
VENICE: The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia invites you to come and cry. Saudi-Palestinian artist’s Dana Awartani’s new installation “May your tears never dry, you who weep over stones” — curated by Art Jameel’s director, Antonia »»»
Palestinians mark anniversary of 1948 mass expulsion, say today's catastrophe worse
Blink and you might miss the few stone walls that are all that's left of the village that Yusuf Abu Hamam's family was forced to flee when he was an infant in 1948. The village, al-Joura, was demolished by the Israeli military at the time. It has since vanished under neighborhoods of the southern I»»»
Palestinian Authority Says Teen Killed by Israeli Forces in West Bank
The Palestinian Authority said Friday that a 15-year-old was killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli army said he had been throwing stones at Israeli cars on a road. The authority's health ministry said it had been informed of the killing of Fahd Zidan Oweis. He was "s»»»
Energy, Iran dominate final Trump-Xi Beijing summit
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded their diplomatic mission in the Chinese capital with a working lunch and tea on May 15, the South China Morning Post reports. The final day of the trip followed a formal greeting ceremony and discussions at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, where bot»»»
Energy, Iran dominate final Trump-Xi Beijing summit
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded their diplomatic mission in the Chinese capital with a working lunch and tea on May 15, the South China Morning Post reports. The final day of the trip followed a formal greeting ceremony and discussions at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, where bot»»»
Energy, Iran dominate final Trump-Xi Beijing summit
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping concluded their diplomatic mission in the Chinese capital with a working lunch and tea on May 15, the South China Morning Post reports. The final day of the trip followed a formal greeting ceremony and discussions at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, where bot»»»