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.»»»
Qatar inward FDI reaches $45.5bn as overseas investment surges
JEDDAH: Qatar’s inward foreign direct investment rose 2 percent to 165.4 billion Qatari riyals ($45.5 billion) in 2025, while outward investment climbed 8.1 percent to 210 billion riyals. Preliminary data released by the National Planning Council in collaboration with the Qatar Central Bank showed »»»
Man Detained After False Bomb Threats in Pleven Traced via Emergency LineOpinions
A man from the Bulgarian town of Svilengrad has been detained after authorities say he made a series of false bomb threats targeting buildings in the city of Pleven, according to BTA, citing the Pleven Interior Ministry. Police reports indicate that the alert was received through Bulgaria’s emergen»»»
Air Travel Between Europe and Israel Restored as Routes ReopenOpinions
Wizz Air announced that it will resume flights to and from Tel Aviv starting May 28, restoring connections between Israel and a number of European destinations after a suspension linked to regional security concerns. The airline, which says it remains the largest carrier by market share in Bulgaria»»»
Venus will reach its closest point to Sun on Friday: Qatar Calendar House
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Calendar House announced that Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system, will reach its closest point to the sun (perihelion) on Friday, Dhul-Qi'dah 28, 1447 AH, corresponding to May 15, 2026. Venus will be approximately 107 million kilometers from the sun, compared wit»»»
Lebanese delegates head to Washington talks armed with dossier of Israeli violations
BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel will open the third round of preliminary negotiations on Thursday in Washington under US sponsorship. Weeks of political and diplomatic maneuvering by Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, channeled through American interlocutors, have failed to firmly lock in a stable truce. »»»
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:/»»»
Saudi food exports reach $4bn in 2025: industry minister
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources confirmed the readiness of the food industries sector for the Hajj season, noting that Hajj represents a strategic opportunity to introduce millions of visitors to Saudi products. During a tour of production lines at factories in Jed»»»
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»»»
Large-Scale Israeli Incursions at Al-Aqsa Amid Warnings of Status Quo Shift
Large groups of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday under tight protection by Israeli occupation forces, as tensions surged ahead of the anniversary of Al-Quds’ occupation and warnings mounted over efforts to alter the status quo at the holy site. The Islamic Waqf Departmen»»»
British PM battles to stay in power amid rebellion
London: Pressure mounted on Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday when his former deputy Angela Rayner emerged as a potential challenger in a frenzied battle for the leadership. Starmer, who led his Labour party to victory in 2024 elections ending 14 years of Conservative rule, is fighting»»»
Uber expands into travel with hotel bookings and new app features
Mobility and delivery platform Uber announced a new set of products and features at its annual GO–GET product event, including hotel bookings and new travel tools. The company said the updates reflect its continued platform strategy to bring more of everyday life into one simple user experience and»»»
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,»»»
“Online Sales” via Facebook; profitable and in the comfort of your home
BY: Eman Rashid Electronic Commerce (E-commerce) is a flourishing business nowadays. In Egypt, the concept of ‘online sales’ spread over the last few years through advertising websites and ‘groups’ on social media networks such as Facebook. On some groups, personal products such as clothes, shoes, »»»
Even the most difficult dialogue is better than armed confrontation – Japarov - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met with participants of the 21st meeting of the Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). According to his press service, in his speech, the head of state outlined the main challenges facing SCO countries today. They include »»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.3942
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3942 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, 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»»»
Iran’s Foreign Minister Declares at BRICS That Tehran Will Never Bow to US Pressure
NEW DELHI – Iran will never surrender to the “will and whims” of a declining US imperial power, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Thursday, as he addressed a two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers hosted by India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. “It is a fragile reali»»»
Türkiye Raises End-2026 Inflation Target to 24%
Türkiye's central bank raised its end-2026 interim inflation target to 24% from 16% Governor Fatih Karahan said on Thursday, forecasting that the inflationary effects related to the Iran war would remain pronounced in the short term. Presenting the central bank's quarterly inflation report in Istan»»»
Palestinian Fatah Party to Elect Leaders for First Time in Decade
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement is due on Thursday to elect a new central committee for the first time in 10 years, as it faces existential challenges in the wake of the Gaza war. During the three-day general conference, the movement will vote on the central committee, its high»»»
FSB Busts Two Ukrainian Spies for Spilling Russian Military Secrets
Two residents of Crimea have been detained for passing information about military facilities and personal data of members of the peninsula’s territorial defense forces to Ukraine, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday. "The FSB has disrupted the unlawful activities of two Russian»»»
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 »»»
Xi warns Trump of collision if Taiwan mishandled
Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Donald Trump that a failure to manage the status of Taiwan could lead the two superpowers into a direct military confrontation, according to Reuters. Speaking during a high-stakes summit, Xi described the island's status as the most sensitive and critical pill»»»
Xi warns Trump of collision if Taiwan mishandled
Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Donald Trump that a failure to manage the status of Taiwan could lead the two superpowers into a direct military confrontation, according to Reuters. Speaking during a high-stakes summit, Xi described the island's status as the most sensitive and critical pill»»»
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 »»»
Xi warns Trump of collision if Taiwan mishandled
Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Donald Trump that a failure to manage the status of Taiwan could lead the two superpowers into a direct military confrontation, according to Reuters. Speaking during a high-stakes summit, Xi described the island's status as the most sensitive and critical pill»»»
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. »»»
Romania’s industrial output shrinks by 2.8% q/q in Q1
Romania’s industrial output contracted by 2.8% q/q in seasonally and workday-adjusted terms and by 1.9% y/y in the first quarter of 2026, according to data published by the statistics office INS. The manufacturing sector p»»»
Romania’s economy contracts by 1.7% y/y in first quarter
Romania’s economy contracted by 1.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 (chart), according to flash estimates published by the statistics office INS, as fiscal consolidation measures and weaker domestic demand continued to weigh on activity. »»»
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»»»
Inside the UAE–India leadership programme building tomorrow’s changemakers
Following immersive learning journeys to India, 60 Emirati professionals and university students have returned to the UAE to build on their experiences through the development of capstone projects. Guided by Zayed Education Foundation’s mission to nurture purpose driven leaders, the UAE–India Leade»»»
British carrier deploys north for NATO exercise amid increase in Russian overflights
HMS Prince of Wales is carrying helicopters set to play a key role as NATO forces conduct submarine detection training in the Norwegian Sea next week. Dynamic Mongoose is NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in Europe, and it is no coincidence that it takes place near the Arctic Circle. S»»»
Banque Misr, Awqaf Minister offer 6-month interest-free installments for udhiyah sukuk
Faris knight Banque Misr has signed a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Awqaf on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Cabinet headquarters, in the presence of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly. The signing was attended by Minister of Awqaf Osama Al-Azhari, CEO of Banque Misr Hesham Okasha, and He»»»
Parliament Passes on First Reading Consumer Protection Act Amendments against Rising Prices
Parliament passed at first reading amendments to the Consumer Protection Act submitted by Progressive Bulgaria (PB) MP Yavor Gechev and a group of MPs against high prices of goods and services on Thursday. The amendments were supported by 121 PB MPs and 15 MPs from the Movement for Rights and Freed»»»
[Interview] Tycoon media owners, attacks on journalists, self-censorship and ‘influencers’: why Europe’s press freedom is in retreat
While physical attacks remain the most visible form of violence against journalists, other threats have become increasingly pervasive: economic pressure is intensifying, political interference is growing, and press freedom is steadily eroding. The annual report of the Reporters Without Borders show»»»
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»»»
Russia places special emphasis on security cooperation with Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, met with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov during the meeting of Security Council Secretaries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is taking place today, May 14, in Bishkek. During the talks, Sergei Sho»»»
U.S., N.K. appear unprepared for summit, but possibility cannot be ruled out: Seoul official - UPI.com
This photo, taken June 30, 2019, shows U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meeting at the House of Freedom in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom. File Photo by Yonhap Preparations for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong»»»
Saudi consumer inflation stays subdued in April at 1.7%: GASTAT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate remained relatively stable in April, with consumer prices rising 1.7 percent year on year. Data released by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics showed the Consumer Price Index edged up 0.2 percent month on month in April, reflecting moderate increase»»»
Kohli senses end after roaring back to form with IPL century
New Delhi: Virat Kohli said his love of cricket keeps him going but admitted his career "is going to finish one day" after ending a mini slump in form with a match-winning IPL century. Regarded as one of the most accomplished batsmen of his generation, the 37-year-old Kohli is a hero to hundreds of»»»
Lavrov, Jaishankar Praise Prospects of Bilateral Energy Cooperation
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, have praised the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the energy and space sectors, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The talks between the two ministers took place Wednesday i»»»
Mubadala Dome to host UAE Open Muay Thai Championship
ABU DHABI: The UAE Open Muay Thai Championship returns to Mubadala Dome at Al-Jazira Club on Friday, May 15, bringing together 599 male and female athletes from 75 clubs for three days of competition across 86 weight categories. Organized by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, the champion»»»
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»»»
Tina Fordham at Future of Governance 2026: Boards waiting for a return to “normal” risk preparing organizations for a world that no longer exists
At the opening of the 5th edition of the Future of Governance International Conference 2026, organized in Bucharest by Envisia – Boards of Elite, geopolitical strategist Tina Fordham delivered a stark warning to business leaders and board members: today’s instability is not a temporary cycle of tur»»»
Luxury waterfront retreat to boost Ras Al Khaimah’s events and tourism appeal
Dubai: A new luxury hospitality destination is set to strengthen Ras Al Khaimah’s growing reputation as a leading hub for tourism, weddings and corporate events, with the upcoming opening of Rotana Ras Al Khaimah – The Mangroves. Nestled within the emirate’s serene mangrove landscape, Rotana Ras Al»»»
Middle East live: Ship reported seized off UAE coast and bound for Iranian waters
A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized and is heading towards Iranian territorial waters, a UK maritime agency said Thursday, without naming the vessel. Lebanon and Israel are to hold new peace talks later in Washington as their latest ceasefire nears its end»»»
Parliament approves introduction of disability quotas in state bodies - | 24.KG
A special employment quota for persons with disabilities will be introduced in state and municipal institutions in Kyrgyzstan. Members of Parliament have approved amendments to the Law «On State Civil and Municipal Service» in the second reading. The initiative was proposed by deputies of the Zhogo»»»
Xi tells Trump Taiwan issue could spark conflict at Beijing summit - UPI.com
Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects an honor guard with U.S. President Donald Trump during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Thursday. Trump is in China for a two-day visit, his first since 2017, to discuss trade, technology and security issues. Pool Photo b»»»