MALE: Five Italians have died in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, with security forces in the Indian Ocean archipelago recovering one body. The string of coral islands is a luxury holiday destination popular with divers who come to explore its pris»»»

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Eng. Karim Badawi emphasized the critical role of the petrochemical industry sector in the Egyptian economy. He noted that this sector is intricately linked to enhancing local industries and reducing the need for hard currency imports. Additionally, the s»»»

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday at her press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City that the United States has rejected 36 extradition requests from Mexico due to a lack of evidence, and therefore advocated applying the same criteria to the accusations against 10 Mexican»»»

BAGHDAD: Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government on Thursday led by businessman Ali Al-Zaidi, who took office after months of deadlock and mounting US pressure. “The Council of Representatives votes to grant confidence to the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and its ministerial pro»»»

Malé, Maldives: Five Italians have died following an accident while scuba diving in the Maldives, Italy's foreign ministry said Thursday, with security forces on the Indian Ocean archipelago recovering one body. The string of atoll islands is a luxury holiday destination with white sand beaches and»»»

Rabat, May.14 (SANA) Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, on Thursday raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic above the Syrian Embassy chancery in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, attended the event that signals the resumption of the»»»

Doha: The State of Qatar welcomed on Thursday the agreement reached by the Yemeni parties at the conclusion of negotiations held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the release of 1,600 detainees linked to the conflict in Yemen. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Qatar's full»»»

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome David Sacks, Fellow for Asia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Questions surrounding Taiwan, semiconductor sovereignty, trade diplomacy, and Middle Eastern energy security are becoming inseparable components of a broader strategic contest between »»»

United Nations, United States: The United States on Thursday pledged an additional $1.8 billion for UN humanitarian aid in 2026, after President Donald Trump slashed foreign assistance under his "America First" agenda. The additional payment brings the total US aid package for the United Nations th»»»

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned Thursday after a key party in her coalition withdrew its support for her sacking of the defence minister after Ukrainian drones repeatedly strayed into the country. Silina had blamed defence minister Andris Spruds for the incursions, saying the»»»

The UAE has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman, warning that the incident poses a serious threat to international maritime navigation and regional stability. In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack represe»»»

Tehran: Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that naval forces had allowed a number of Chinese ships to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the previous night. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israe»»»

At a time when the global economy is grappling with strong waves of price pressures caused by the Iran war and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has managed to chart a different course. Inflation continued to slow, settling at one of the lowest levels globally, supported by stable re»»»

The top Democrat on the Constitution and Limited Government subcommittee, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., speaks with Muslim rights advocates after a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. Photo by Jacques Abou-Rizk/Medill News Service WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Muslim civil rights grou»»»

ISLAMABAD (Sputnik) - Pakistan supports China's involvement in mediation efforts to resolve the conflict between the United States and Iran, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday. US President Donald Trump is on a state visit to China from May 13-15. His talks with Chi»»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s football federation chief on Thursday said no visas had yet been issued for the national team to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, state media reported. “Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA. They must give us guarantees,»»»

Meeting with students from Sofia University, who are taking the courses Political Rhetoric and Communication Skills, President Iliana Iotova said on Thursday that the EU needs reforms to return to its founders' vision of a prosperous Europe - to strengthen its production, competitiveness, and finan»»»

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova met with German Ambassador Irene Plank on Thursday, the ministry said. Topping the meeting were advancing cooperation in industry, energy, innovation, and scientific research. Minister Petrova underscored her desire, as well as that of the new Bulgarian government»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian government adopted on Thursday a decision to set up a Working Group to Monitor the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe. "The task of the Working Group will be to direct the work of state administrati»»»

Russia carried out its largest aerial attack over a two-day period since the start of its war in Ukraine, pounding the capital Kyiv and other cities with hundreds of drones, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday. Russia had launched 1,567 drones since the start of Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zele»»»

It is apposite that ‘After Nations, The Making and Unmaking of a World Order’ – written by English novelist turned historian Rana Dasgupta – should be published as Donald Trump is desperately seeking to extract America from an ill-judged and calamitous war in Iran. ‘After Nations’ is an analysis of»»»

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has warned US President Donald Trump that a standoff over Taiwan could push the two countries into “a very dangerous situation,” describing it as the single most important issue in bilateral relations. Xi made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with Trump at the Grea»»»

BEIJING: In a meeting closely watched by the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday agreed on a new vision of building a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability. The new vision will provide strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations over »»»

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), inaugurated the 20th edition of Art Dubai »»»

Meeting with the winners of the Ambassador for a Day initiative, President Iliana Iotova said that combating violence against girls and women requires not only legislative measures, but also strong public intolerance that encourages victims to overcome their fear and seek help, the President's pres»»»

Beirut: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Transport, has provided a grant to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Republic of Lebanon in support of Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, including navigation equipment and technical systems. HE Sheikh Saud bin Abd»»»

BEIRUT: Israel’s defense minister on Thursday accused Barcelona’s superstar Lamine Yamal of inciting hate against Israeli soldiers after he waved a Palestinian flag while his club celebrated winning the La Liga title. “Lamine Yamal chose to incite against Israel and foment hatred while our soldiers»»»

A request will be submitted to the National Assembly to extend by one week the deadline for discussing draft bills aimed at curbing rising prices, ensuring pricing transparency, and combating unfair trade practices, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry Alexander Po»»»

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova met with Marie Dumoulin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry’s press office said on Thursday. The two sides discussed the upcoming finalization of the new roadmap for the Bulgarian-French strategic partnership, which is expected to give fresh impetus t»»»

H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, will participate in the Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OTS, to be held in Turkistan, Kazakhstan on 15 May 2026, within the scope of the Informal Summit of the OTS.»»»

Oslo: The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Norway discussed opportunities for strategic projects and strengthening bilateral partnerships, as well as investment, economic, and trade opportunities in both countries. This came during a visit by a Qatari delegation led by HE Minister of State for For»»»

LONDON: More than 6,000 ha of land near the Palestinian town of Yabad in the northern West Bank has been designated for seizure under an Israeli military order, according to the Wafa news agency. The area is owned by the residents of Zabda village in the Jenin governorate. This week, a seizure orde»»»

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Lebanon will demand Israel cease fire at face-to-face talks that began in Washington on Thursday, a senior Lebanese official said, as Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continued ​to trade blows despite a US-backed truce declared last month. A State Department official co»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Thursday held talks on the sidelines of the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, a Sputnik correspondent reported. "It is good that we use the opportunity of any international forum where we pa»»»

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in April secretly carried out a series of air strikes against Iran during the US-Israeli war against Tehran, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported this week. Analysts say these raids – which neither country has confirmed – would have been clandestine»»»

Doha, Qatar: HE Director of the Department of American Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Jassim bin Mohammed Al Asmakh affirmed that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of Qatar and Canada on the establishment of a strategic dialogue between the Qat»»»

LONDON: Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday while thousands of Jewish nationalists paraded through the streets of the walled city in occupied East Jerusalem. He raised an Israeli flag inside the compound and p»»»

Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, participated today in an inspection tour of the Medical Professions Factory affiliated with the ACDIMA Group, as well as a press conference held on the sidelines of his visit. The event was attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime »»»

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, May 14, 2026: First, US President Donald Trump's visit to China features on most French front pages. Next, the British papers study the Labour Party's candidates as Prime Minister Keir Starmer refuses to resign. Also, the Guardian reports on a secret UN mission in Gaza. Mea»»»

An international operation aimed at combating a criminal group selling dietary supplements advertised as medicines that cure serious illnesses is underway, Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO) announced on Thursday. The operation is led and supervised by the SCPO. The group has generated profits am»»»

Branch organizations are calling for a cap on retail markups in stores. This transpired from a statement of Dimitar Zorov, co-chairman of the National Union of Cattle Breeders, following a meeting initiated by Prime Minister Rumen Radev in connection with government measures to curb rising prices, »»»

Passengers unaffected by an illness outbreak on a British cruise ship have been allowed off the ship in the French port city of Bordeaux, while authorities confirmed the cause of the outbreak is norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that spreads easily. French authorities had initially ordered over 1,700 »»»

Lebanon will demand Israel cease fire at face-to-face talks that began in Washington on Thursday, a senior Lebanese official said, as Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel continued to trade blows despite a US-backed truce declared last month. A State Department official confirmed that a meeting of Leba»»»

Britain’s political turmoil deepened on Thursday as Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned from the government, a move widely seen as the opening shot in a potential leadership bid against embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In his resignation letter to Starmer, which Streeting posted on X, he »»»

In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure after his Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned today and is expected to launch a leadership bid. Former Deputy leader Angela Raynor might also announce a bid for the leadership today after she announced that she has been cleared i»»»

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing renewed pressure as journalists have received reports that his Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, is set to resign today and launch a bid for the party leadership. Former deputy leader Angela Raynor could also announce a bid for leadership, after annou»»»

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, today visited Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World, to review operations, meet the teams keeping regional trade flowing and see firstha»»»

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the government has no intention of intervening directly in the market by imposing prices, but stressed that the state has a responsibility to ensure effective regulations and oversight mechanisms amid rising consumer costs and declining purchasing power. Sp»»»

The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, is among the delegation of CEOs that met with US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday. The maker of AI chips is hoping the meeting between the two world leaders will lead to a lifting of restrictions on sales to China. Also in th»»»