How a Swiss-Moroccan entrepreneur built a ‘kingdom’ out of scattered plots in Switzerland
LONDON: As self-proclaimed King of Switzerland and, to give his full titles, Emperor of the Lauwiner Empire, Grand Master of the Order of Merit, Admiral of the Empire Fleet and Field Marshal of the Empire Legion — to say nothing of his recent election to the municipal council of the Swiss city of B»»»
Judge declares a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial after jury deadlocks
NEW YORK: Jurors deadlocked in Harvey Weinstein ‘s rape retrial Friday, forcing another mistrial in a #MeToo-era case that has gone to trial three times so far. While the former Hollywood mogul has been convicted of other sex crimes on two US coasts and remains behind bars, the mistrial leaves the »»»
The pathetic demise of Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer may still be British prime minister when this article is published, but it is certain that he will not lead the Labour Party at the next general election, due to be held in June 2029. Starmer became prime minister after steering Labour to a decisive election victory in July 2024. With »»»
Iran's top diplomat says lack of trust impeding talks with US
Iran 's foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in negotiations to end the war with the U.S., saying Friday that Tehran would be open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help ease tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory messages have "m»»»
Bayern veteran Neuer signs one-year contract extension
MUNICH: Bayern Munich veteran Manuel Neuer announced Friday that he has extended his contract at the German champions by one year until 2027. The 40-year-old goalkeeper’s deal was set to expire in the summer but he will stay on in Munich for what will be a 16th year at the Bavarian giants. “It was »»»
Moscow court orders Euroclear to pay compensation to Russia’s central bank over seized assets
MOSCOW: A court in Moscow ruled in favor of the Russian Central Bank in its lawsuit against Euroclear, the Brussels-based clearing house that holds the bulk of Russian assets frozen by the European Union, Russian media reported Friday. The lawsuit sought to recover 18.2 trillion rubles ($249.7 bill»»»
CIA director's visit to Havana fuels questions over Cuba's future - UPI.com
1 of 2 | CIA Director John Ratcliffe (L) meets with high-level Cuban officials Thursday in Havana to discuss economic and security issues. Photo via CIA/UPI | License Photo May 15 (UPI) -- CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Havana this week opened a new political chapter inside and outside Cuba»»»
Team Qatar swimmers conclude GCC Games campaign with 26 medals
Team Qatar’s swimming team won eight medals today — including two gold, three silver, and three bronze — on the final day of the swimming competitions at the 4th GCC Games currently taking place in Doha. The Games continue until May 22, with around 1,400 male and female athletes from GCC countries »»»
US charges Iraqi national accused of plotting Europe terror attacks
NEW YORK: An Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in Europe in retaliation for the US war in Iran, including firebombing a bank in Amsterdam and stabbing Jewish men in London, has been arrested and charged with supporting Iran-backed terrorist organizations. According to a »»»
Trump administration prepares to seek indictment against Cuba's Raul Castro
MIAMI: The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday, as President Donald Trump threatens possible military action against the communist-run island. One of the people to»»»
Texas high court rules against Gov. Greg Abbott on removal of Rep. Gene Wu - UPI.com
Texas Governor Greg Abbott tried to remove state Rep. Gene Wu from office, but the state Supreme Court ruled against him. File Photo by Francis Chung/UPI | License Photo May 15 (UPI) -- The Texas Supreme Court refused to remove state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, from office, despite the efforts of Gov.»»»
Trump says no change in Taiwan policy as China visit wraps
LivePoliticsUnited States of AmericaTrump says no change in Taiwan policy as China visit wrapsLouis Oelofse | Wesley Rahn | Roshni Majumdar | Kate Hairsine with AFP, AP, Reuters, dpaUS President Donald Trump is headed home to Washington after spending two days with China's Xi Jinping in Beijing. Bo»»»
Syria appoints new ambassador to Canada
Damascus, May 15 (SANA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Syria said on Friday that Abdulkader Husrieh has been appointed as the new Syrian ambassador to Canada, in line with established diplomatic procedures. The Foreign Ministry’s Information and Communications Administration sai»»»
Syria’s recovery could be a ‘success story’ if the world acts, Security Council told
NEW YORK CITY: Syria remains at a “critical, yet promising” juncture, the UN warned on Friday, as senior officials told the Security Council that progress on efforts related to accountability, recovery and the return of refugees risk being undermined by insecurity and economic hardship, coupled wit»»»
Trial date set for man who stabbed Jewish men in north London
LONDON: A 45-year-old man accused of stabbing two Jewish men in north London and another man in the capital last month will stand trial next March, a judge said Friday. Essa Suleiman, a UK national born in Somalia, allegedly targeted Shloime Rand, 34, and Norman Shine, 76, during the April 29 knife»»»
Israel targets top Hamas militant leader in Gaza strike
JERUSALEM: Israel said on Friday it had carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the most senior Hamas military leader in the Gaza Strip.Israel believes he is one of the masterminds of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel, and has identified h»»»
Justice Department to seek death penalty for man charged with killing 2 Israeli Embassy staffers
WASHINGTON: The Justice Department will seek the death penalty for the man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum, prosecutors said in a court filing Friday. Elias Rodriguez faces federal hate crime and murder charges in the killin»»»
How much money does Rutte want NATO to give Ukraine?
Read more NATO chief wants to triple money flows to corruption-plagued Ukraine – Politico NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wants NATO members to cough up 0.25% of their GDP for Ukraine. This figure seems minuscule, but how much hard-earned taxpayer money does it add up to? Rutte floated the idea a»»»
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»»»
Consumer Watchdog Filing Class-action Lawsuit against Electricity Supplier over Unfair Terms
The Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) has decided to file a class-action lawsuit against one of the electricity supply companies in Bulgaria after finding unlawful clauses in the company's general terms and conditions, and unfair practices in the handling of complaints over electricity bills»»»
Trump Says Did Not Discuss Tariffs During Summit with Xi
US President Donald Trump said Friday he did not bring up the issue of tariffs during a landmark summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Returning to Washington after making what he called "fantastic trade deals" with Beijing, Trump said on tariffs: "We didn't discuss those... It wasn't brought»»»
Ministers adopt new interpretation of migrants’ rights in European legal system
PARIS: European ministers adopted a new interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights on Friday that could facilitate some migrant deportations, including to third country “return hubs,” but which critics say will weaken human rights protections. The declaration comes amid complaints f»»»
Xi to pay state visit to U.S. in autumn this year
Beijing, China: Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States in autumn this year at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi said on Friday.»»»
Why thousands of families are choosing Dubai to call home
Dubai: The emirate has recorded strong growth in family residency permits and Golden Residency applications in recent years, as authorities continue expanding digital services aimed at enhancing family stability and quality of life. Marking the International Day of Families on May 15, the General D»»»
VD Satheesan gets emotional during visit to late mentor G Karthikeyan’s home
Dubai: Ahead of his elevation to Kerala’s top post, chief minister-designate VD Satheesan visited the home of his late mentor and became visibly emotional, breaking down in tears. Satheesan, who is set to be sworn in as Chief Minister on May 18 following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s l»»»
Iranian filmmaker Farhadi condemns Middle East war, protest massacres
CANNES: Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi condemned Friday both the killing of civilians in US and Israeli attacks on his country and the “massacring” of protesters by the Islamic republic. Farhadi, who traveled from Tehran last week, trod a fine line when asked for his thoughts about e»»»
UAE students score near-perfect CBSE results despite most exams being cancelled - here's how they did it
Dubai: India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released Class 12 results on Wednesday for millions of students, including those in UAE-based CBSE schools, under circumstances unlike any previous year. Regional tensions stemming from the US-Israel-Iran conflict forced the cancellation of»»»
America’s missile arsenal explained: From Minuteman III to Dark Eagle
The US boasts impressive military capabilities that solidify the country’s position among the world’s military powers. This also applies to missile technology – the US maintains its status as a major global missile power, and long competed with the Soviet Union in the missile and space race. The US»»»
Russia reduces jet fuel flow to Berlin airport
Wolfgang BernertBerlin flights depend on fuel from the Schwedt refinery. But Russia has cut Kazakh oil flows to the refinery, forcing Germany to seek new supply routes via Poland. https://p.dw.com/p/5DdBeAdvertisementThe fuel supply for Berlin's airport is closely tied to the PCK Refinery in Schwed»»»
Andy Burnham campaign to challenge Keir Starmer gathers momentum - UPI.com
The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, arrives at Downing Street in London for a meeting with regional mayors on March 31. Burnham announced Thursday his intention to quit and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the party and the position of prime minister of »»»
Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits northern Japan
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Friday, the country's weather agency said, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake hit at 8:22 pm (1122 GMT) in Pacific waters off northern Miyagi prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological»»»
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 »»»
US Overseas Biolabs Probe Aims to Rein in ‘Deep State’ Bureaucracy
The announced investigation into secret US overseas biolabs by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) could end up being more of an internal compliance review than a sweeping exposé, experts told Sputnik. "This is less about legal prosecution and more about the administration as»»»
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 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»»»
Kohli open to 2027 World Cup if he can still 'add value'
New Delhi: India batting great Virat Kohli said in a podcast released on Friday he would consider playing in the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup if he can still "add value" to the team. The 37-year-old Kohli, regarded as one of the most accomplished batsmen of his generation, is a hero to hundreds of mi»»»
MPs Extend Deadline for Proposals Between First and Second Readings of Amendments to Judicial System Act, Price Control Legislation
Bulgarian lawmakers on Friday extended the deadline for written proposals between the first and second readings of amendments to the Judicial System Act, which were approved on Thursday. Parliament approved a two-week extension to the original seven-day deadline, making the total period for submitt»»»
Islamic countries prepare to observe Dhu Al Hijjah crescent on May 17
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on Muslims across the Kingdom to observe the crescent moon marking the beginning of Dhu Al Hijjah on the evening of Sunday, May 17, corresponding to the 29th of Dhu Al Qa’dah in the Umm Al Qura calendar. In a statement, the court urged anyone capable o»»»
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 »»»
Babar Azam to boost Pakistan in second Bangladesh Test
Sylhet, Bangladesh: Pakistan will be strengthened by the return of star batsman Babar Azam for the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Friday. A knee injury ruled Babar, 31, out of the first Test, won by Bangladesh by 104 runs to give the ho»»»
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»»»
Ministers Adopt New Interpretation of Migrants’ Rights in European Legal System
European ministers adopted a new interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights on Friday that could facilitate some migrant deportations, including to third country "return hubs", but which critics say will weaken human rights protections. The declaration comes amid complaints from mem»»»
India Supreme Court refuses actor Darshan bail, orders fast-track trial
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant bail to Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa in the high-profile Renukaswamy murder case, while directing Karnataka authorities to fast-track the trial and complete the examination of key witnesses within a year. The ruling deals a major setback to the acto»»»
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,»»»
KOSPI crashes over 6 pct on foreign sell-offs after achieving 8,000-point milestone - UPI.com
Workers at Hana Bank in central Seoul celebrate the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index breaching the landmark 8,000 points on Friday. It later plunged, closing down more than six percent. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks plummeted more than 6 percent Friday, after briefly topping the hi»»»
Kyrgyzstan’s GDP reaches 602.7 billion soms since start of 2026 - | 24.KG
According to preliminary estimates, the gross domestic product for January—April 2026 amounted to 602,786.1 billion soms. Compared to January—April 2025, it increased by 12.4 percent, the National Statistical Committee reported. The service sector accounted for over 50.3 percent of total GDP, commo»»»
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»»»
National Ombudsman Backs Mediation for Small Consumer Disputes
It is necessary to introduce mediation for small consumer disputes, and not to have them brought directly to court, said Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva at the sixth national scientific conference on mediation in various public areas. The forum was hosted by the Varna University of Economics»»»
Dubai Basketball to return home after 66-day relocation for ABA League semifinals
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball will finally return home to Coca-Cola Arena for the 2025-26 ABA League semifinals after spending 66 days away, marking an emotional homecoming for the team and fans. The semifinal series against Buducnost VOLI will begin on Wednesday, May 20, as the team return with a title »»»