Veteran midfielder Xhaka to lead Switzerland at World Cup
Lausanne: Veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka will take part in his seventh successive major international tournament after he was named in Switzerland's World Cup squad on Wednesday. The 33-year-old national team captain is one of five players contracted to English Premier League clubs in coach Murat »»»
Thermal power plant to be built in Chon-Alai district under PPP project - | 24.KG
A private partner has been selected for the public-private partnership (PPP) project «Construction of a Thermal Power Plant With Digital Infrastructure in Chon-Alai District of Osh region.» The press service of the National Investment Agency reported. The project provides for the construction of a »»»
Shaiyrbek Tashiev remanded in pretrial detention until July 16, 2026 - | 24.KG
By a ruling of the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek dated May 15, 2026, a motion filed by a senior investigator of the Investigation Department for Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic was granted, the Pervomaisky »»»
National Assembly Approves at First Reading Three Bills Amending Criminal Procedure Code
The National Assembly on Wednesday approved at first reading three bills amending and supplementing the Criminal Procedure Code. Two of the bills were submitted by the caretaker cabinet of Andrey Gurov, and the third by Yordan Ivanov of Democratic Bulgaria and a group of MPs. The first bill submitt»»»
French presidential candidate Philippe targeted in embezzlement probe
PARIS: French investigators are probing allegations of embezzlement involving high-profile presidential candidate Edouard Philippe over the allocation of a digital hub contract in the northern port city of Le Havre where he is mayor, prosecutors have said. The 55-year-old centrist, an ex-prime mini»»»
Gaza flotilla activists detained in Israel after interception, rights group says
JERUSALEM: Activists who were aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli naval forces are being detained at an Israeli port before being taken to prison, an Israeli rights group and the flotilla’s organizers said on Wednesday. The flotilla was making a renewed attempt to deliv»»»
Pakistanis among hundreds of detained Gaza flotilla activists arriving in Israel
ASHDOD: Israeli authorities have begun detaining hundreds of activists seized from a Gaza-bound flotilla at the southern port of Ashdod on Wednesday, a rights group said, after Israeli forces intercepted their vessels at sea. The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Turkiye last week in the latest a»»»
China training Russian troops for Ukraine combat: German newspaper
BERLIN: European intelligence agencies believe the Chinese military has trained hundreds of Russian soldiers for fighting in Ukraine, according to Germany’s Die Welt newspaper which cited secret documents it had seen. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly hosted covert training for »»»
Samsung, union resume negotiations with minister mediating
Seoul: Samsung Electronics and its workers' union resumed talks Wednesday with South Korea's labour minister mediating, after earlier talks aimed at averting a strike collapsed. Workers at the world's top memory chipmaker had been due to begin a strike on Thursday after talks over bonuses failed, r»»»
FIFA’s 2026 World Cup faces a question it can no longer avoid
In 2018, on the day the 2026 FIFA World Cup was awarded to the US, Canada, and Mexico, I vowed that under no circumstances would I work at it in any capacity, from commentator to host, journalist to presenter. The reason was simple: five years of non-stop lawfare against the sport’s global governin»»»
Croatian president rejects Israeli ambassador over government policies
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has refused to approve Israel’s new ambassador to Zagreb, citing disagreements with the Israeli government’s actions. The presidential office announced the decision on Monday. “The proposed Ambassador of the State of Israel has not received, nor will he receive, t»»»
EU special envoy for Ukrainians calls for fighting-age men to be stripped of right to stay
Brussels should strip fighting-age Ukrainian men of “temporary protection” status, Ylva Johansson, the bloc’s special envoy for Ukrainians in the EU, has said. A total of 4.33 million Ukrainians were living under temporary protection status in the EU as of March 31, 2026, according to the bloc’s st»»»
Alternative for Germany (AfD) party top target for political violence
Almost two out of three violent attacks against politicians in Germany in 2025 targeted members of Alternative for Germany (AfD), government data shows. An MP from the right-wing party blamed the development on what he called a years-long defamation campaign. AfD politicians were targets in a total»»»
EU agreement clears path to ease trade tensions with United States
Brussels, May 20 (SANA) The European Parliament and European Union member states reached an agreement on Wednesday paving the way for implementation of a trade deal concluded with the United States last year, in a move aimed at easing escalating trade tensions between the two sides. According to Ag»»»
More die of suspected Ebola as WHO warns that numbers will rise further
More die of suspected Ebola as WHO warns that numbers will rise further Just nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleHafsa Khalil AFP via Getty ImagesAuthorities say 51 cases of Ebola have been confirmed in DR Congo The World Health Organization (WHO) says there have now been 600 suspected cases of E»»»
WHO Says Ebola Risk High Regionally, Low Worldwide
The World Health Organization on Wednesday said the risk of the Democratic Republic of Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak was currently high at the national and regional levels but low worldwide. WHO experts said that while investigations into its origins were ongoing, given the scale of the situation i»»»
CBSE re-evaluation portal glitches leave Class 12 students in lurch
Dubai: Class 12 students of India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have been dealt another blow, this time by technical glitches on the re-evaluation portal, just as hundreds of students, including Indian expats in the UAE, were attempting to dispute their results and seek a fresh revi»»»
Xi and Putin meet in Beijing, reaffirm strategic ties
Dubai: Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, shaking hands with the Russian leader outside the Great Hall of the People ahead of bilateral talks. Xi and Putin highlighted their countries’ strategic partnership and expanding energy cooperation during talk»»»
Egypt Inks $3bn LNG Deal with Shell and TotalEnergies in 2025
Egypt has signed agreements valued at approximately $3 billion with energy giants Shell and TotalEnergies. These deals will secure 60 shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the year 2025, multiple market insiders disclosed to S&P Global Commodity Insights. While Shell has chosen not to commen»»»
Romanians’ savings habits focus on financial security rather than wealth building – study
New market research has found that 4 out of 10 Romanians say they currently have savings or active investments, and saving behavior is driven primarily by the need for financial security rather than the desire to grow wealth. The study “Saving and Investment Attitudes in Romania,” commissioned by T»»»
Shot for Throwing Stones: Israeli Forces Killing West Bank Teens Weekly
Youssef Shtayyeh came home from school on an April afternoon, dropped his bag in the hallway and headed straight back out to join his friends. Minutes later, he was dead -- shot by an Israeli soldier, just 100 meters (yards) from his home. He was 15. His is not an isolated case. Since Israel launch»»»
Israel Takes Step Toward Snap Election as Knesset Votes to Dissolve
Israel moved closer on Wednesday to a snap election after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with opinion polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose the first national vote since the 2023 Hamas attacks. Lawmakers voted almost unanimously for an early ballot in a p»»»
Germany Arrests Married Couple on China Spying Charges
German police on Wednesday arrested a married couple on charges of spying for China, accusing them of seeking information on advanced technology with military uses. The couple, German nationals partially named as Xuejun C. and Hua S., were arrested in the southern city of Munich, said the federal p»»»
Did ‘Dhurandhar’ reveal India's military secrets? Delhi High Court steps in
Dubai: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to examine allegations that the blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge disclosed sensitive operational details linked to India’s armed forces and intelligence agencies. The court w»»»
Pakistan minister in Tehran amid US-Iran impasse
Pakistan's interior minister headed to Iran on Wednesday for the second time this week amid an impasse between Tehran and Washington over a proposal to end the war, Iranian state media reported. "Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran to meet officials from the Islamic republic," Iran's official IRNA new»»»
Putin and Xi deepen anti-West axis
Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing late on May 19 to address a range of supposedly highly sensitive bilateral matters with his Chinese counterpart, later convening with Xi Jinping for talks in the Great Hall of the People, reports from Chinese state media on May 20 state. Accordi»»»
Justice Minister Has Proposed Dismissal of Daniela Miteva as Registry Agency Executive Director
Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov Wednesday said that he had proposed the dismissal of Daniela Miteva as Executive Director of the Registry Agency following a review and analysis of the agency’s work. He spoke during a news briefing after a Council of Ministers meeting. "I came across shocking and »»»
Israeli vote to dissolve parliament may bring elections forward
JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament on Wednesday voted 110-0 in favor of a preliminary reading of a government-backed bill to dissolve the Knesset, potentially bringing forward by a few weeks the next national election, which surveys predict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lose. When is the ballo»»»
Pakistan Minister in Tehran amid US-Iran Impasse
Pakistan's Interior Minister headed to Iran on Wednesday for the second time this week amid an impasse between Tehran and Washington over a proposal to end the war, Iranian state media reported. "Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran to meet officials from the Islamic republic," Iran's official IRNA new»»»
South Korean labour minister to mediate talks as Samsung faces strike threat
South Korea's labour minister will personally mediate talks between Samsung Electronics and its South Korean union, the ministry announced Thursday after the union threatened a strike following the collapse of talks on bonus payouts. South Korea's labour minister is set to mediate talks betw»»»
Six Russians Jailed in Armenia on Flimsy Espionage Allegations – Report
Armenia continues to hold six Russian citizens on espionage-related charges linked to alleged filming activities for Azerbaijan, despite what their supporters describe as weak evidence and the absence of any classified material, RT reports. The individuals—Artem Makhmutov, Daniil Semenyuk, Viktor T»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.4000
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.4000 dinars for one euro on Wednesday, which is a slight change relative to Tuesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.1 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative »»»
Citizens and Insurance Companies Demand Resignation of Financial Supervision Commission's Leadership
Citizens and insurance policyholders protested on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Financial Supervision Commission's (FSC) leadership team in front of the Council of Ministers building. The demonstration was organized by the DallBogg: Life and Health Insurance Company and its clients. Police»»»
Media Review: May 20
POLITICS Incumbents and opposition clashed over proposed revisions to the National Assembly rules of procedure on Tuesday as the majority were accused of trying to restrict the rights of the other MPs, 24chasa.bg reports. The proposals were published on Monday afternoon and enraged GERB, Democratic»»»
Djokovic targets record 25th Grand Slam but poor build‑up clouds Paris bid
BENGALURU: Novak Djokovic heads to the French Open with the singular goal of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title, but his chances of making history have dimmed thanks to a disrupted 2026 campaign that has left the Serb searching for sharpness. Djokovic has played sparingly since losing to Carlo»»»
Jordanian armed forces shoot down drone after airspace breach
AMMAN: The Jordanian armed forces on Wednesday intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone after it entered Jordanian airspace, state news agency Petra reported. The drone was brought down in the Balila area of Jerash Governorate during the early morning hours, Petra said, quoting a military st»»»
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development partners with Egypt to develop mining sector
RIYADH: Egypt’s mining sector is set to benefit from a new agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development aimed at supporting its development and growth. The memorandum of understanding aims to strengthen frameworks for joint cooperation, contributing to the North African count»»»
US-Israeli goal before bombing Iran: How Trump and Netanyahu’s Ahmadinejad gamble failed
Dubai: Days after Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader and decapitated much of Tehran’s military leadership, Washington and Tel Aviv were already looking beyond the battlefield — toward a dramatic and deeply controversial plan for a post-war Iran. According to a detailed report by The New Y»»»
Number of Schools in Bulgaria Declines by 10 in 2025, Y/Y
A total of 2,319 schools were operating in Bulgaria as of December 31, 2025, with 125 of them being primary schools, 1,103 basic schools, 67 integrated schools, 115 upper secondary schools, 499 secondary schools, 21 art schools, 24 sports schools, and 357 vocational gymnasiums. The overall number o»»»
Qatar Airways Group delivers robust financial performance despite global economic instability
DOHA: Qatar Airways Group announced a post-tax profit of QR7.08bn ($1.94bn) for financial year 2025/26. The results demonstrate a robust performance against a final month impacted by significant geopolitical events, reaffirming its position as one of global aviation’s most resilient groups. Through»»»
China-Russia-US relations: Zero-sum is gone for good
These days all the world is closely following the high-level international meetings in China. US President Donald Trump just completed his first state visit to China since his trip in November 2017. On May 19, another top foreign guest will arrive on a two-day state visit: Russia’s President Vladim»»»
Residents of Lithuania’s capital told to shelter as drone alarm underlines NATO’s eastern jitters
VILNIUS: Residents of Vilnius were told to take shelter and Lithuania’s president and prime minister were taken to safe locations on Wednesday because of an alarm over drone activity near the border with Belarus, underlining jitters on NATO’s eastern fringe over incursions related to Russia’s war w»»»
Congresswoman Ilan Omar’s role in ‘Somali fraud’ scandal should be probed, nonprofit founder tells Arab News
CHICAGO: Aimee Bock, the founder of a Minnesota nonprofit convicted in a multimillion-dollar fraud involving dozens of Somali suspects, has told Arab News that federal investigators should investigate Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s role. The Minnesota Democrat’s 5th District has the largest concentrati»»»
Lithuanians briefly head to bunkers over drone alert
Vilnius: A drone alert sent by Lithuania's defence ministry to residents of the capital city Vilnius on Wednesday briefly brought transport to a standstill and caused people to flee to underground shelters. Alerts of this kind have been increasingly common in recent months in the Baltic states as a»»»
Return to War to Feature ‘Many More Surprises’: Iran FM to US
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has “many more surprises” in store for the United States should Washington seek potential resumption of unprovoked aggression against the Islamic Republic. The top diplomat made the remarks in a post on X on Tuesday, saying Iran would unleash those surprise»»»
Iran Threatens War 'Beyond the Region' if US Attacks
Iran threatened on Wednesday to spread war beyond the Middle East if the United States attacks again, after President Donald Trump said he had come within an hour of restarting the military campaign. Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have largely»»»
QatarEnergy acquires stakes in offshore exploration areas off the coast of Uruguay
DOHA: QatarEnergy has signed agreements with BG International Limited, a company affiliated with Shell, to acquire participating interests in three offshore exploration areas off the coast of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. In a statement, QatarEnergy said that under the agreements it acquired an»»»
Heads of China and Russia sign Declaration on Establishment of Multipolar World - | 24.KG
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a Declaration in Beijing on the Establishment of a Multipolar World and a new type of international relations. The Russian leader is in China on an official two-day visit at the invitation of Xi Jinping. The trip is timed to c»»»
Fire Destroys Barn, Kills Three Calves at Farm Near Medkovets
A fire burned down three calves, two tons of wheat and a storage building with an area of 900 square meters at a cow farm near the village of Slivovik in Medkovets Municipality (Northwestern Bulgaria), the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. No people were injured in th»»»
Sofia University and Constitutional Court Host Conference Marking 35th Anniversary of Court's Establishment
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski in association with the Constitutional Court (CC) of Bulgaria is hosting an international academic conference on Wednesday, part of a series of special events with which the court is marking the 35th anniversary of its establishment. CC President Pavlina Panova»»»