France24 1m

'Staggering' Iran toll drives up global executions to 40-year high, Amnesty says

The number of worldwide executions jumped to their highest level since 1981 in 2025, pushed in part by a "staggering" increase in Iran's use of the death penalty, according to Amnesty International on Monday. The UK-based rights group said it had confirmed the executions of at least 2,707»»»

france24.com
France24 1m

China hosts 23rd edition of iconic Great Wall marathon

Runners from across the globe put their physical and mental stamina to the test on May 16: to conquer the Great Wall of China Marathon. The race that starts and finishes near the Huangyaguan fortress celebrated its 23rd anniversary this year. It is known for being a particularly gruelling course, b»»»

france24.com
Gulf News 2m

Green steel may save India $1 trillion in coal imports: Report

Washington: India’s shift towards green steel production could help the country avoid nearly $1 trillion in long-term coking coal import costs and strengthen its position in future export markets, according to a new study released by the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) at the University of C»»»

gulfnews.com
Arab News 8m

Elon Musk loses blockbuster OpenAI suit as jury says too late

OAKLAND, United States: A federal jury ruled Monday that billionaire Elon Musk waited too long to sue OpenAI and its co-founders, delivering a decisive victory to the ChatGPT startup and ending one of Silicon Valley’s most closely watched courtroom battles. The swift decision caps a three-week tria»»»

arabnews.com
Arab News 8m

Taiwan says China’s military actions are greatest source of regional instability

TAIPEI/BEIJING: China is the greatest source of regional unease and instability due to its ongoing military activities, Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Tuesday, as the Chinese navy announced it had sent a carrier task force into the Western Pacific for training. China, which views democratica»»»

arabnews.com
France24 14m

Spotlight - UK leadership crisis: 'Starmer is a lame duck prime minister,' says former Labour adviser

It’s been a tumultuous week for Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is facing a leadership crisis. Following a chaotic week in which nearly 90 Labour MPs called on Starmer to resign, along with a series of ministerial resignations, the prime minister is clinging on to power. Read moreWho are»»»

france24.com
France24 14m

Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius arrives in Rotterdam for disinfection

The hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius on Monday reached the Dutch port of Rotterdam for disinfection as authorities prepared quarantine arrangements for remaining crew and medical staff following an outbreak that has killed three people and triggered global monitoring. The hantavirus-hit cruise»»»

france24.com
France24 14m

Russian drones hit two ships off Ukraine's coast, including Chinese-owned vessel

Russia launched hundreds of drones and nearly two dozen missiles at Ukraine overnight, hitting ​two ships in the Black Sea near Ukraine's Odesa region and wounding more than 30 people. Ukrainian authorities said that the two civilian vessels hit included one ‌under the Marshall Islands flag an»»»

france24.com
France24 14m

Press Review - Could Ukraine's drone strikes mark a turning point in war with Russia?

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, May 18, 2026: First, Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia may mark a turning point in the war. Next, Venezuela's post-Maduro era is conflicting for locals. Also, there's more drama at the Cannes Film Festival as Canal+ hits back at filmmakers. Finally, Gen Z find new ways o»»»

france24.com
France24 14m

Perspective - 'I don't believe the war is coming to an end': Kyiv-based photographer Mark Neville

A British photographer who lives in Kyiv has told FRANCE 24 how he doesn't believe the war in Ukraine is coming to an end. Mark Neville takes his photographs to tell the real stories of the Ukrainian people as they fight for their country against the Russian invasion. Amid the latest more positive »»»

france24.com
France24 14m

French Minister visits Algeria amid diplomatic thaw

France's justice minister Gérald Darmanin is in Algeria to discuss improving cooperation and the fate of a detained French journalist. The visit is a sign of warming ties between the two countries, after a diplomatic spat triggered among other things by Paris's official backing Moroccan sovereignty»»»

france24.com
Al Majalla 15m

Jordan's renewed war on drugs comes with political undertones

At the start of May, Jordan launched several airstrikes into neighbouring southern Syria, targeting facilities it deemed key assets for drug smugglers operating along the Syrian-Jordanian border. Jordanian warplanes struck warehouses and even residential buildings believed to shelter stockpiled dru»»»

en.majalla.com
Novinite 19m

Progressive Bulgaria Halts Road Payments Amid Audit of Major Highway Projects

Bulgaria’s Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov has announced that all payments linked to construction projects using the old indexation methodology will be suspended, marking a significant shift in infrastructure financing policy. Speaking to Nova TV, Shishkov said the decision follows the »»»

novinite.com
Novinite 19m

Finance Minister Plans Major State Spending Cuts and Ends Automatic Salary Hikes

Bulgaria’s Finance Ministry has formally launched the budget procedure for 2026, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev outlining a broad package of austerity and restructuring measures that he said would put an end to what he described as years of “financial acrobatics” and un»»»

novinite.com
24 News Agency 19m

 Tariff benefits granted to Mailuu-Suu Electric Bulb Plant - | 24.KG

Tariff benefits have been granted to Mailuu-Suu Electric Bulb Plant, the company reported. According to the enterprise, a tariff exemption from import customs duties has been introduced for certain types of LED modules classified under EAEU Foreign Economic Activity Commodity Nomenclature code 8539»»»

24.kg
Novinite 19m

Bulgaria: Nearly 48 kg of Cocaine Seized at Kapitan Andreevo Border CheckpointOpinions

Nearly 48 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value exceeding 4.4 million euros have been seized in a coordinated operation by Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (SANS), customs officials, and the prosecutor’s office near the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint. The operation was launc»»»

novinite.com
Novinite 19m

Man Arrested After Setting Fire to Five Cars and Roller in Varna RegionOpinions

A 35-year-old man has been detained after allegedly setting fire to multiple vehicles and construction equipment in the town of Beloslav in Varna Region during the early hours of the morning. According to initial information, the fire destroyed or damaged five cars along with a road roller. Authori»»»

novinite.com
24 News Agency 19m

Two-time Russian wrestling champion Malik Shavaev wins gold for Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG

Freestyle wrestler from Kyrgyzstan Malik Shavaev won the Ali Aliyev Memorial International Tournament held in Kaspiysk, Russia, from May 15 to 18. The Wrestling Federation of Kyrgyzstan reported. Competing in the 86-kilogram weight category, he secured five victories and claimed the gold medal. Mal»»»

24.kg
24 News Agency 19m

Karakol's history museum to be completely reconstructed for 159 million soms - | 24.KG

The history museum in Karakol will be completely reconstructed, the Ministry of Construction reported. The project is being implemented using the republican budget, with a total cost of 159 million soms. The work is being carried out by the state-owned enterprise Kyrgyzkurulush. ​​Dismantling work »»»

24.kg
Novinite 19m

Standard & Poor’s Sees Stronger Growth Ahead for Bulgaria, Raises OutlookOpinions

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings has improved Bulgaria’s credit outlook from “stable” to “positive,” while confirming the country’s long-term and short-term foreign and local currency ratings at “BBB+/A-2,” according to information released by the Finance Ministry. The agency said the revised o»»»

novinite.com
Novinite 19m

President Yotova Visits Bulgarian-Funded Industrial Plant Near BakuOpinions

President Iliana Yotova visited an industrial facility near Baku that was fully financed by Bulgarian investment, as part of a broader visit to Azerbaijan focused on economic cooperation and urban development initiatives. The plant is located in the Sumgait industrial free economic zone, around 25 »»»

novinite.com
Novinite 19m

Bulgarian Authorities Weigh Potential Purchase of Lukoil RefineryOpinions

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev has stated that any decision on a potential state buyback of the Lukoil Neftokhim refinery must be preceded by a detailed assessment of its value, risks, and long-term benefits for the country. Responding to a question about how such an acquisi»»»

novinite.com
Warsaw Business Journal 25m

Poland still among Europe’s most complex markets for business

Poland ranks as the sixth most complex country in Europe and 19th globally for doing business, according to TMF Group’s 2026 Global Business Complexity Index. The report, which covers 81 jurisdictions representing more than 90% of the global economy, compares 292 indicators across accounting and ta»»»

wbj.pl
Warsaw Business Journal 25m

Warsaw sends ministers to Pentagon

Poland's Defence Ministry dispatched two deputy ministers — Cezary Tomczyk and Paweł Zalewski — to Washington on Monday for emergency consultations at the Pentagon. They carry a message from Prime Minister Donald Tusk that Poland is ready to host a larger American military presence, in direct respo»»»

wbj.pl
Warsaw Business Journal 25m

Poland signs Abrams engine deal

Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz oversaw the signing on Monday of an agreement between state-owned Military Aviation Works No. 1 in Dęblin and US engineering giant Honeywell. Under the deal, Dęblin will host an Authorised Service Centre for the AGT1500 engines that po»»»

wbj.pl
Arab News 44m

Lebanon death toll reaches 3,000 in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah

BEIRUT: The death toll in the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon surpassed 3,000, Lebanon’s health ministry said Monday. The ministry said the toll is now 3,020 killed in the Israeli strikes, including 292 women and 211 children. Fighting began on Ma»»»

arabnews.com
Gulf News 49m

Libyan ex-prison boss faces ICC war crimes hearing

A former boss of a notorious Libyan prison faces three days of hearings at the International Criminal Court from Tuesday, accused of war crimes including murder, rape and torture. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, is suspected of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committ»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 49m

Delhi Police arrest man, recover stolen mobile phones and bike

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough against rising street crime and mobile snatching incidents, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the South District Police apprehended a mobile phone snatcher on Tuesday. It recovered six stolen and snatched mobile phones from his possession, an»»»

gulfnews.com
Arab News 56m

Hormuz tanker traffic edges higher after wartime low

LONDON: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was slightly higher last week, returning to levels in line with the average recorded since the start of the Middle East conflict after hitting a wartime low. A total of 55 commodities vessels crossed the strategic waterway between May 11 and 17, accordin»»»

arabnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Billie Jean King, 82, earns a college degree 65 years after starting at Cal State LA

LOS ANGELES: Billie Jean King raised her right arm in triumph. Not for another victory on the tennis court. This time, she was celebrating earning a college degree 65 years after she first took classes. The 82-year-old sports and equality icon received her bachelor's of art in history from Cal Stat»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Three killed in San Diego mosque shooting, both suspects dead

A shooting Monday at a mosque complex in southern California killed three people, with two suspected teenage gunmen later found dead in a car from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds, police said. Police said emergency response teams found the victims outside the sprawling Islamic Center of San »»»

gulfnews.com
24 News Agency 1h

President Sadyr Japarov speaks at 13th session of World Urban Forum in Baku - | 24.KG

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov spoke at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 18. The presidential press service reported. The head of state is participating in the forum at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Around 20 heads of state»»»

24.kg
UPI 1h

Maduro ally Alex Saab appears in U.S. court on laundering charge - UPI.com

People look at a mural depicting Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday, a day after he was extradited to the United States. On Monday, Saab made his initial appearance in a Miami courtroom. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA May 18 (UPI) -- Alex Saab, a billionaire »»»

upi.com
Arab News 1h

Putin visits China to reaffirm Russia ties as Xi also seeks stable US relations after Trump summit

BEIJING: Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping less than a week after US President Donald Trump wrapped up his own trip to Beijing. Putin is scheduled to be in China on Tuesday and Wednesday in a visit likely to be closely watched as Beijing s»»»

arabnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Extreme heat, dust forecast for pilgrims during 2026 Hajj season

Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) has forecast hot to extremely hot weather, accompanied by dusty winds, in Mecca and the holy sites during the 2026 Hajj season, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 47°C. The NCM said strong surface winds could stir up dust and sand, pa»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Saudi Arabia completes major road and infrastructure upgrades in Mecca and the holy sites for the 2026 Hajj season to improve traffic flow and ease congestion for pilgrims

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has completed large-scale road and infrastructure upgrades in Mecca and the holy sites for the 2026 Hajj season as part of efforts to improve mobility and reduce congestion for pilgrims. The ministry said the works included the implementation of»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

US approves $4.2 billion in helicopter sales to South Korea

The United States said Monday it had approved the sale of more than $4 billion in military helicopters to South Korea, which has vowed to buy more US weapons as it defends against the North. The State Department said it had given its approval for South Korea to spend $3 billion on 24 "Romeo" Seahaw»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

Starbucks Korea CEO sacked over 'Tank Day' campaign that evokes 1980 massacre

Starbucks Korea's chief executive has been dismissed following backlash over the launch of a line of reusable drinkware, the company said Tuesday. The furore centred on the company's use of the words "Tank Day" to promote a series of coffee cups known as "Tank tumblers", which were launched on May »»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

UAE weather alert: Dust storms, 40km/h winds and rough seas this week

The UAE is expected to see generally fair weather this week, with fluctuating temperatures and active winds of up to 40 km/h causing blowing dust and rough sea conditions, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). The NCM said the country is being affected by an extension of a weak sur»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 2h

From Dh40 to CEO: The remarkable UAE journey of Ali Al Najjar

Dubai: Born in Abu Dhabi, forced to leave the UAE as a child, and returning years later on a bus from Jordan with almost nothing in his pocket, Ali Al Najjar transformed hardship into one of the UAE’s most inspiring corporate success stories. Speaking to Gulf News, Jordanian expatriates Al Najjar s»»»

gulfnews.com
Arab News 2h

Libyan ex-prison boss faces ICC war crimes hearing

THE HAGUE: A former boss of a notorious Libyan prison faces three days of hearings at the International Criminal Court from Tuesday, accused of war crimes including murder, rape and torture. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, is suspected of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes allege»»»

arabnews.com
Gulf News 3h

India, Norway seal 12 agreements to deepen green strategic partnership during PM Modi's visit

Oslo: India and Norway on Monday marked a significant upgrade in bilateral ties with the signing of 12 agreements and initiatives during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the Nordic country, signalling a broad expansion of cooperation across climate, technology, maritime, and scienti»»»

gulfnews.com
UPI 3h

Speaker Emerita Pelosi endorses candidate to succeed her in U.S. House - UPI.com

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Monday endorsed former San Francisco City Manager Connie Chan in the race to take her seat in Congress. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo May 18 (UPI) -- House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed San Francisco City Supe»»»

upi.com
Gulf News 3h

Gunmen open fire in Egypt’s Assiut Province, leving10 dead and wounded in chaotic street shooting

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on pedestrians in the Egyptian town of Abnoub in Assiut province late on Monday, leaving 10 people dead and wounded in what witnesses described as a chaotic attack. The shooting took place near Al Central Street, where residents said armed men travelling in a black J»»»

gulfnews.com
Middle East Observer 3h

Egypt to Launch Major IPO Initiative in 2025

Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, has unveiled an ambitious plan to propel the nation’s economic landscape by listing 11 state-owned enterprises on the stock market by 2025. This strategic movement is a part of Egypt’s expansive Initial Public Offering (IPO) program, designed to optimize st»»»

meobserver.org
Arab News 3h

Russia downs drone headed for Moscow, mayor says

TOKYO: Russia ​has downed a drone headed for ‌Moscow, ‌city ​Mayor ‌Sergei ⁠Sobyanin ​said on ⁠the Telegram messaging app ⁠on ‌Tuesday. Emergency ‌services ​have ‌been deployed ‌to the area ‌where the drone has ⁠fallen, the ⁠post added.»»»

arabnews.com
Arab News 3h

Jobs and salaries worldwide are hit by Iran war

GENEVA: The Middle East war is undermining wages and working conditions worldwide, according to a new report. The conflict could cost millions of jobs and force earnings down in 2026 and 2027, with a particular risk for migrant workers who send home remittances, the UN’s International Labour Organi»»»

arabnews.com
Gulf News 3h

US crude futures fall, Brent down nearly 3%

Oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trade, extending losses after recent volatility tied to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz began to ease and tanker traffic showed tentative signs of recovery. Market data at 9:27 a.m. Tokyo time showed: WTI crude at $102.5, down $1.87 (-1.79%) Brent crud»»»

gulfnews.com
UPI 4h

Biden-era rules against ‘forever toxins’ in water removed by EPA, Trump administration - UPI.com

Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is shown in April at a subcommittee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. On Monday, Zeldin announced the EPA will roll back some protections on chemicals called "forever toxins" in drinking water. Photo by Annabelle Gordon»»»

upi.com