Lebanon and Israel to hold new talks in Washington as ceasefire nears end
Lebanese and Israeli delegations are due to begin a third round of talks in Washington on Thursday, days before their latest ceasefire expires. Continued Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 people since the truce came into effect on April 17, according to an AFP tally based on figures provide»»»
Satheesan promises ‘new Kerala’ as Congress picks CM
V.D. Satheesan on Thursday pledged to usher in “a new Kerala” focused on young people, clean governance and economic revival after the Congress leadership formally picked him to head the next United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the state. The announcement ended days of intense speculation a»»»
China's Xi promises more trade but warns Trump over Taiwan as summit kicks off in Beijing
China's President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump that Chinese markets will be more open to US and global trade in the future as a two-day summit got under way in Beijing on Thursday but warned that persistent disagreements over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous»»»
Israeli nationalists hold parade marking their capture of East Jerusalem
JERUSALEM: Thousands of Israeli nationalists will march on Thursday through the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem’s walled Old City under heavy security, in an annual event marking Israel’s capture of the city’s east in a war nearly six decades ago. The parade, the main celebration of Jerusalem Day, has»»»
Pope Leo decries European military spending as ‘betrayal’ of diplomacy
ROME: Pope Leo on Thursday decried rising European military spending, which grew last year by the highest amount since the end of the Cold War amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, saying it was a betrayal of diplomacy.Leo, who has drawn Trump’s ire in recent weeks after criticizing the Ir»»»
Hezbollah MP says direct talks 'free concessions' to Israel
Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar reiterated Thursday his group's rejection of the direct talks, as Lebanon and Israel are to hold new peace talks in Washington starting Thursday. Ammar said direct talks amount to "free concessions" to Israel. Earlier this week, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem calle»»»
‘Unacceptable’: Delhi condemns attack on Indian-flagged ship off Oman coast
NEW DELHI: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman, calling it “unacceptable” and voicing concern over continued threats to commercial shipping in the region. In an official statement, the MEA said all Indi»»»
DP World accelerates $800m Tartous port overhaul as Syria pushes trade recovery
Dubai: DP World is accelerating plans to modernise Syria’s Port of Tartous under an $800 million investment programme aimed at rebuilding the country’s maritime and trade infrastructure as economic ties between the UAE and Syria deepen. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, met Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, Ch»»»
Fujairah reveals reason behind smoke in oil industries area
The Fujairah Government Media Office said smoke seen in the emirate’s oil industries area on Thursday was caused by a minor fire resulting from pipeline maintenance works. In a statement, the office said the incident was linked to routine maintenance operations and described the fire as accidental.»»»
Who is Charlemagne Prize winner Mario Draghi?
BusinessEuropeWho is Charlemagne Prize winner Mario Draghi?Timothy RooksThe Charlemagne Prize honors those who advance European unity. This year's winner is Italy's Mario Draghi, a former European Central Bank chief and a key architect of European stability during a time of economic crisis. https:/»»»
Media Review: May 14
OVERVIEW All media report on the three Progressive Bulgaria (PB) MPs who resigned from the National Assembly on Thursday. Two of them, Ilko Iliev and Mario Smarkov, will be appointed to the position of regional governors of Varna, on the Black Sea, and Targovishte, North Eastern Bulgaria, respectiv»»»
flydubai becomes first UAE carrier to launch this direct Dubai route
Dubai: flydubai will launch direct flights to Benghazi next month, becoming the first UAE carrier to connect Dubai with the Libyan city. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai-based airline said flights to Benghazi Benina International Airport will begin on June 17,»»»
Washington approves Nvidia sales as Trump visits Beijing
Washington has authorised 10 Chinese technology giants to purchase Nvidia’s high-end H200 artificial intelligence (AI) processors, Reuters reported on May 14. The move coincides with US President Donald Trump’s arrival in »»»
Washington approves Nvidia sales as Trump visits Beijing
Washington has authorised 10 Chinese technology giants to purchase Nvidia’s high-end H200 artificial intelligence (AI) processors, Reuters reported on May 14. The move coincides with US President Donald Trump’s arrival in »»»
Washington approves Nvidia sales as Trump visits Beijing
Washington has authorised 10 Chinese technology giants to purchase Nvidia’s high-end H200 artificial intelligence (AI) processors, Reuters reported on May 14. The move coincides with US President Donald Trump’s arrival in »»»
Serbia dissatisfied with MOL’s revised NIS offer, talks to continue
Serbia is not satisfied with a revised proposal from Hungary’s MOL Group to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic said on May 13, adding negotiations would continue. »»»
Norwegian companies mull €1bn hydrogen plant in Estonia
Norwegian-backed energy companies are planning a major green hydrogen project in southwest Estonia, with investments expected to reach €1bn, Northern Europe Energy Group and Vindr Baltics announced in separate statements. A memorandum of understanding was signed on May 8, according to Northern»»»
Serbia dissatisfied with MOL’s revised NIS offer, talks to continue
Serbia is not satisfied with a revised proposal from Hungary’s MOL Group to acquire a majority stake in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic said on May 13, adding negotiations would continue. »»»
Czech inflation confirmed at 2.5% in April
Czech consumer prices rose by 2.5% year-on-year (y/y) and by 0.5% month-on-month in April, the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) reported, confirming its preliminary estimate released earlier this month. Inflation accelerate»»»
Starmer Faces Possible Leadership Challenge, Vows to Fight On
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced the increasing prospect of a leadership challenge on Thursday, with his health minister reported to be ready to resign and his former deputy calling on him to "reflect" on his position. Starmer, who has repeatedly said he would fight to keep his job, has so»»»
UN says can feed a million more Afghan children if wars stop
KABUL: The United Nations could feed a million additional children at risk of malnutrition in Afghanistan if the country’s conflict with Pakistan and the Iran war had not inflated prices and transport costs, a senior official told AFP.Afghanistan saw a record rise in malnutrition cases in 2025, fol»»»
Saudi SIC strengthens its bet on alternative investments with $425m
RIYADH: The Saudi Industrial Development Fund Investment Co., or SIC, is expanding its presence in alternative financing instruments and venture capital investments, with CEO Fahad Al-Naeem expecting total investments to reach approximately SR1.6 billion ($425 million) by the end of this year. In a»»»
Somalia is in a Deadly Drought again. Most Humanitarian Aid Isn't there this Time
Most of Abdi Ahmed Farah’s hundreds of goats have died. It has not rained steadily in this part of Somalia for three years, something the 70-year-old never thought possible. He is in debt from buying water. The reservoir outside his tent is nearly empty. His family is down to one meal a day: rice w»»»
Weather partly cloudy on Thursday
Tunis, May 14 (TAP)- The weather on Thursday is partly cloudy, growing intensely cloudy in the late afternoon in the south and western highlands with stormy rain. Rain will move to central eastern regions, the National Institute of Meteorology...»»»
100 Days After His Assassination, Public Pressure Mounts to Reveal Killers of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
Legal moves and public pressure inside Libya, particularly from supporters of the former regime, have intensified in recent weeks, demanding that authorities disclose the circumstances surrounding the killing of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. Saif al-Islam, son of Libya’s late leader Moammar Gaddafi, was k»»»
NATO member’s government collapses after Ukrainian drone incident
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has announced her resignation amid a government crisis caused by an incident involving Ukrainian kamikaze drones hitting an oil depot near the Russian border.Silina announced the decision at a press briefing on Thursday. Just hours earlier, Interior Minister Riha»»»
SEC Technologies and MATE-FIN are showcasing the Falcon 4G stand-off chemical detector at BSDA 2026
Participation in BSDA 2026 highlights the growing need for CBRN technologies capable of providing rapid, reliable, and actionable intelligence in complex security scenarios. In an operational environment where chemical threats, industrial accidents, and hybrid risks require rapid assessment, the ab»»»
UAE denies Netanyahu secretly visited country during Iran war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quietly visited the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-U.S. war with Iran, his office said Wednesday. The UAE later denied any secret visit had occurred. Netanyahu met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a gathering that "resulted»»»
Vessel off UAE coast 'taken', now bound for Iran waters
A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized and is heading toward Iranian territorial waters, the British military said Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said it received reports that the vessel was taken by unauthorized personnel while»»»
BRICS FMs meet in India as Iran war, oil prices and divisions test bloc's unity
Foreign ministers from the BRICS nations began a two-day meeting in New Delhi on Thursday as the expanding bloc faces divisions over the war in Iran, rising energy prices and growing global economic uncertainty. The meeting brings together diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Afric»»»
Bulgaria Must Prioritize Price Stability and Deep EU Market IntegrationOpinions
Iliya Lingorski, a member of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank, has called for deeper European integration of capital and savings markets, arguing that stronger coordination across the EU is essential for competitiveness in the global economy, BGNES reported. He said Europe shoul»»»
BRICS foreign ministers meet in India as Iran war test the bloc’s unity
NEW DELHI: Foreign ministers from the BRICS nations began a two-day meeting in New Delhi on Thursday as the expanding bloc faces divisions over the war in Iran, rising energy prices and growing global economic uncertainty. The meeting brings together diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China and »»»
Cuba has run out of diesel and oil, energy minister says
Cuba has run out of diesel and oil, energy minister says 4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleHarry Sekulich AFP via Getty ImagesA man cooks with firewood during a blackout in Havana Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, the country's Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy has »»»
Latin America's democracies face silent erosion from within, UN warns
Latin America and the Caribbean's political systems are experiencing a gradual institutional decay that rarely manifests as outright democratic collapse but instead hollows out governance from within, the United Nations Development Programme warned in a major new report on democracy across the»»»
Vessel off UAE coast ‘taken’, now bound for Iran waters: UK maritime agency
DUBAI: A ship off the UAE coast near the Strait of Hormuz has been taken by unknown people and is now headed toward Iranian waters, a UK maritime agency said on Thursday. The vessel was “taken by unauthorized personnel whilst at anchor” 38 nautical miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Fujairah, and “»»»
Rubio says Cuba leaders must go as US dangles $100 million
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that crisis-hit Cuba’s leadership must change as Washington renewed an offer on Wednesday of $100 million in aid if the communist-run island agrees to cooperate. Cuba has been suffering severe economic tumult led by an energy shortage that plunged »»»
Dubai South launches new aviation maintenance complex at MBRAH
Dubai: Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub has launched a new Light Industrial and Maintenance Complex at Dubai South, adding more space for aviation, aerospace and aerologistics businesses as demand for sector-focused infrastructure grows. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balance»»»
Expertise France and the NOC’s Petroleum Training and Rehabilitation Institute in Sebha sign a training MoU
A training cooperation agreement was signed yesterday between the National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) Petroleum Training and Rehabilitation Institute – Sabha and Expertise France, funded by the European Union. The agreement, the NOC reported, stipulates the implementation of advanced specialized train»»»
Yermak consulted fortune-teller on key Ukraine government personnel appointments
In one of the more sensational details emerging from the unfolding corruption investigation into Ukraine’s elite, it emerged that former head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, consulted a fortune teller called Veronica Feng Shui before making all important decisions. »»»
Iraqi Parliament Set to Vote on Al-Zaidi's Government
Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to vote on Thursday on the cabinet lineup proposed by Prime Minister-designate Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, amid ongoing political disputes over key ministries and newly proposed posts. Parliament’s media office said the agenda for session No. 24 includes a single item: a vote»»»
Libya holds a strategic location that positions it to be a major gateway to African markets – MENA Exhibitions CEO
Libya’s Benghazi-based private sector company, MENA Exhibitions and Conferences and MENA Food, participated in TUTTOFOOD Milano (11-14 May), one of the largest international exhibitions specializing in the food and beverage industry, held in Milan. The event saw wide participation from companies, i»»»
Defence spending surge creates strategic opportunity for Romania – EY report
In a geopolitical environment marked by rising security risks and the acceleration of European rearmament efforts, Romania is at a strategic inflection point where defence-related decisions could have a significant impact on both national security and long-term economic development. These are among»»»
UAE residents can now get war risk cover for homes, cars and cargo
Dubai: Comprehensive insurance solutions provider, Orient Insurance, has expanded its war risk protection portfolio in the UAE, adding cover for cargo, personal vehicles and residential units at a time when businesses and residents are seeking wider protection against geopolitical and operational r»»»
Ministry of Economy and Libya Industry Union discuss ‘‘practical solutions’’ to problems facing local manufacturing
As part of efforts to support local production, Minister of Economy and Trade, Suhail Abu Shiha, met with a delegation from the Libyan Industry Union (LIU), representing most regions of Libya, in the presence of the Union’s Executive Director, Ali Nuseer. The meeting, the LIU reported, focused on d»»»
B9 Summit/Nawrocki:The security of Europe - inseparable from strength of transatlantic bond
Republic of Poland President Karol Nawrocki pleaded at the Bucharest 9 (B9) Summit on Wednesday for a strong allied presence in Europe as well as for "credible" investment in defence.He warmly welcomed the Nordic partners to the summit, mentioning that their engagement "fundamentally" strengthens t»»»
Lebanon, Israel to hold new talks in US as ceasefire nears end
Lebanon and Israel are to hold new peace talks in Washington starting Thursday, as their latest ceasefire -- considered to still be in place despite hundreds of deaths in Israeli strikes -- nears its end. The two countries last met on April 23 at the White House, where US President Donald Trump ann»»»
BR Analysis | Romanian businesses face productivity gap over low AI adoption
Romania currently occupies the bottom tier of the European Union’s digital transformation, with only 5.2% of enterprises utilising artificial intelligence technologies as of 2025. While the broader European market has reached a 54% business adoption rate in 2026, local firms struggle to move past t»»»
Bulgaria Says Fuel Supplies Are Safe Despite Hormuz Crisis, Burgas Refinery Has 90-Day ReservesOpinions
Bulgaria has sufficient fuel reserves and faces no immediate threat of shortages despite tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, according to Rumen Spetsov, special manager of Lukoil in Bulgaria. Speaking to “24 Chasa,” he said the country’s oil supply chain is not directly tied to the Gulf chokepoin»»»
Oil edges up as investors focus on Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing
BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Thursday, with markets focusing on the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to see if it will yield any positive result on the Iran war, which has significantly disrupted global oil supply. Aside from trade mat»»»
Recipes for Success: Chef Timo Gloeckner, culinary director of SLS The Red Sea, offers advice
JEDDAH: Timo Gloeckner says he knew early on that he wanted to turn cooking into his career. Growing up in Germany, “food was always an important part of my family life,” he tells Arab News. “Some of my earliest memories are of being in the kitchen, watching and helping my grandmother. What started»»»