Lebanon-Israel talks: diplomacy under bombs
On 15 May, as Israeli strikes and Hezbollah drone attacks continued in Lebanon, Washington announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by 45 days, reflecting a grim reality: diplomacy is seemingly moving, but the war on the ground hasn't stopped. Israel has continued to c»»»
‘The aim is to erase our identity’: How south Lebanon’s cultural heritage is going up in smoke
The Israeli Army is accused of destroying important cultural and religious sites as part of its widespread demolition campaign in southern Lebanon. The NGO Green Southerners has been documenting the destruction of churches, mosques and archaeological sites and denounces what they say is a calculate»»»
Republicans mull dropping $1 billion security money request for the White House and Trump’s ballroom
WASHINGTON: Republican senators are considering whether to drop a proposal for $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and President Donald Trump’s ballroom after it has failed to win enough party support on Capitol Hill. Pressured by the White House, Republicans have tried to add »»»
James Murdoch buys New York magazine, Vox.com - UPI.com
James Murdoch and his wife Kathryn Hufschmid at Murdoch's father's wedding in 2016. Murdoch and his company Lupa Systems purchased New York magazine and Vox.com. File Photo by Arrizabalaga Facundo/EPA May 20 (UPI) -- James Murdoch, the youngest son of Media giant Rupert Murdoch, is buying New York »»»
Why Afghanistan dreams of opening up Wakhan Corridor, the mountain valley that connects three worlds
By now the world is all too familiar with the Hormuz Strait and the economic distress that the strangulation of a small-but-vital territorial zone can cause to markets the world over. Perhaps now then is a good time to take a look at the Wakhan Corridor, the narrow, protruding strip of land in nort»»»
QIA, COFIDES launch €300m Ispania growth fund to back Spanish SMEs, green transition and digital Innovation
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Spanish state-owned financial institution COFIDES have signed an agreement to launch a €300 million ($327 million) joint investment fund aimed at supporting strategic projects across Spain, with a focus on green transition, digital transformation and technologic»»»
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer secures trade deal with 6 Persian Gulf countries - UPI.com
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new trade deal for the United Kingdom with six Persian Gulf countries. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo May 20 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday announced a trade agreement with six Persian Gulf countries that he»»»
Ad Hoc Committee Approves Provisions of National Assembly Rules of Organization and Procedure
Sitting on Wednesday, the competent parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee approved further provisions of new draft Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly moved by Progressive Bulgaria. According to the approved version, the National Assembly Chair may move a change in the agenda, unl»»»
Egypt’s education reform now a ‘tangible reality’, minister Abdellatif says
“Education reform in Egypt is no longer just a future vision or a postponed ambition, but has become a tangible reality led by strong political will and supported by a clear national strategy,” Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdellatif said on Wednesday. Speaking at the “Secu»»»
Trump tightens grip on Republican Party after Thomas Massie primary defeat
US President Donald Trump tightened his grip on the Republican Party on Tuesday after Kentucky voters ousted Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the few conservatives willing to openly challenge him. The defeat, projected by NBC and CNN, followed setbacks for other Republican dissenters, including In»»»
Israeli Lawmakers Advance Bill to Dissolve Parliament
Israeli lawmakers voted on Wednesday to advance a bill submitted by the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which would dissolve parliament and pave the way for early elections. In a preliminary reading, 110 out of 120 lawmakers voted in favor and none against, while the rest did »»»
US military jets and drones tracked near Cuba as tensions continue
US military jets and drones tracked near Cuba as tensions continue 21 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleThomas SpencerandAdam Durbin,BBC Verify Getty Images The US military has been publicly broadcasting the location of military surveillance flights near Cuba on plane-tracking websites,»»»
QIA, COFIDES launch joint investment fund to support Spain's green, digital transition
Doha Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and COFIDES, Spain's state-owned financial institution, announced an agreement to establish a joint EUR 300 million investment fund to invest in strategic projects across Spain, with a particular focus on financing the green transition, digital transformation a»»»
Cabinet approves draft law to regulate social professions in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired on Wednesday morning the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali A»»»
Opposition Warns of Democracy Backsliding amid Proposed Changes to Parliament's Rules of Procedure, Progressive Bulgaria Denies
For third consecutive day, opposition political forces and Progressive Bulgaria (PB) clashed over the amendments to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure proposed by the ruling coalition. On Wednesday, opposition parliamentary groups warned of democratic backsliding, while PB denied accusation»»»
Cabinet extends best wishes to Amir on Eid Al Adha, approves draft law regulating social work professions
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani chaired the regular Cabinet meeting at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HEIbrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi»»»
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»»»
Dubai maps out new vision for future-ready media industry
Dubai: Dubai has unveiled an ambitious vision to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading media hubs, as the Dubai Media Council convened top executives, creatives and investors at the Dubai Media Retreat to chart the future of the industry. The retreat, held on Tuesday, brought togeth»»»
Global advisory firm Kreab opens first Middle East office in Riyadh
RIYADH: Swedish strategic communications consultancy Kreab Worldwide has opened its first regional office in the Middle East in Riyadh, betting on Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation and growing demand for corporate advisory services. The new office, launched under the name “Kreab Saudi Arabia,”»»»
Xi, Putin Highlight Their Friendship and Cooperation on Energy and Other Issues in Beijing Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing. Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only day»»»
Democratic Bulgaria Declaration: If There Is No Debate, Oversight of Those in Power in Parliament, Democracy Has No Substance
On Wednesday, in a declaration read out from the parliamentary rostrum, on behalf of Democratic Bulgaria (DB), the parliamentary group’s Floor Leader Nadejda Yordanova said "Parliament is not merely a place where the majority simply counts its votes, it is the place where those in power must be hel»»»
Bulgarian Parliament Rules Reform Sparks Clash Over Democratic Oversight and Opposition Powers
The parliamentary debate over proposed changes to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure has exposed a deep political divide in Bulgaria, with the ruling “Progressive Bulgaria” defending the reforms as efficiency-driven, while opposition forces warn they could weaken democratic oversight and li»»»
Hormuz Strait hijacking and Barakah Nuclear Plant attack threaten global economy and International order, warns Anwar Gargash
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, warned that the targeting of the peaceful Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant represents a dangerous indication of the scale of the threat facing both regional security and the wider international order. In a post on X platform, Gargash s»»»
Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Discusses Strategic Relations with Greek Ambassador
At a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and Greek Ambassador to Bulgaria Alexios Marios Liberopoulos discussed the strategic relations between the two countries and their shared strive to additionally upgrade those relations, the ministry announced on its »»»
Dispatches from ground zero of the woke reich
I’ve been back in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada, for a few days now. The big wall-to-wall news story has been about a moron who was speeding around on a jet ski in the harbor off the downtown coast where pods of whales have been swimming around – and ended up using a grey whale as a jump ramp. T»»»
National Network for Children Opposes Proposal to Abolish Demographic Policy, Children and Family Committee
The National Network for Children (NNC) sent on Wednesday a position statement to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Adoption of the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the 52nd National Assembly, expressing concern over a proposal to abolish the standing parliamentary Committee on Demographic Policy, »»»
Unbounded creativity: the trend that goes beyond 2026
From Buenos Aires to Busan, Lagos to Lahore, new cultural powerhouses are reshaping how “global” looks and who gets to define it, says VML Intelligence’s The Future 100 for 2026. According to Brand Finance’s “Global Soft Power Index 2025,” China has climbed to second in the ranking, overtaking the »»»
Lebanon Limits Security Delegation’s Role to ‘Technical’ Talks with Israel
Hezbollah threatened on Tuesday to attack any armed force that coordinates with Israel if such a force were ever created. The warning came ahead of a planned security meeting between Lebanese and Israeli military representatives in Washington on May 29, even though Lebanese officials insist that no»»»
U.S. cuts Europe troops; NATO says defense posture remains strong - UPI.com
The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it was withdrawing some 5,000 troops from Europe. File Photo by Sgt. Stephen P. Perez/U.S. Army/UPI | License Photo May 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. military announced it is withdrawing thousands of troops from Europe and delaying the deployment of thousands »»»
Parliament to Debate at First Reading Amendments to Criminal Procedure Code
The National Assembly is expected on Wednesday to debate at first reading three bills amending and supplementing the Criminal Procedure Code, according to Parliament’s draft agenda. The amendments were approved by the ad hoc legal affairs committee earlier in May. Two of the bills were submitted by»»»
Trump-backed Gallrein ousts Massie as six states hold primaries - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., conceded defeat Tuesday night to challenger Ed Gallrein, a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo May 19 (UPI) -- Former Navy SEAL-turned-farmer Ed Gallrein defeated Donald Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie in Ke»»»
China’s Xi welcomes Putin in Beijing: LIVE UPDATES
Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting an official welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, opening a packed day of talks and events aimed at further deepening ties between the two countries. Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night for a two-da»»»
US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another victory for Trump
HEBRON, Kentucky: Kentucky US Rep. Thomas Massie lost his Republican House primary Tuesday in another test of President Donald Trump’s power over his party after he handpicked challenger and ultimate winner Ed Gallrein to oust the incumbent. The result showed the president’s persisting influence ov»»»
Dubai Real Estate Price Index records 9.81% growth in 2025
DUBAI: Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, part of Digital Dubai, announced the results of the Commercial and Residential Real Estate Price Index for the fourth quarter of 2025, highlighting continued strong growth across Dubai’s property market. Data showed strong performance in the residenti»»»
KSrelief chief participates in Global Partnerships Conference in London
LONDON: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, chief of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, participated in the Global Partnerships Conference in London, which was hosted by the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development. Al-Rabeeah discussed KSrelief’s humanitarian projects and emergency res»»»
COMMENT: What to expect from the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum
The fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) will take place on June 16–18, 2026 just as the government floated the Uzbekistan National Investment Fund (UzNIF) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) that will bring the investment story to the global investment community. Uzbekistan is boomi»»»
Trump endorses Paxton over Cornyn in Texas Senate primary race - UPI.com
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2024 at National Harbor, Md. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton for U.S. Senate on Tuesday over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo May 19 (UPI) -- President»»»
Kuwait Greenlights Infrastructure Expansion with $51bn Investment
Kuwait, a key member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has embarked on a bold journey to transform its infrastructure landscape with the approval of 35 major projects. Valued at an ambitious 15.6 billion Kuwaiti dinars (approximately $51 billion), these ventures aim t»»»
New gas link from Greece to Macedonia and Serbia next year, Bozhinovska tells MIA in Athens
Athens, 15 May 2026 (MIA) - We agreed that we must cooperate, because this is about energy and about ensuring the stability of supply for our citizens. That is why this cooperation must continue and be further strengthened, Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska told MIA»»»
2-day NTSB hearing on UPS plane crash in Louisville begins - UPI.com
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board and FBI agents walk the runway looking for evidence from the UPS Flight 2976 MD-11 that crashed in November at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky. The NTSB hearing began Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C. File Pho»»»
Ruling PB Claims to Push Parliamentary Rules Changes to Ensure Substantive Debate, Opposition Accuses Them of Curbing Their Rights
Progressive Bulgaria’s (PB) proposed amendments to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure are aimed at ensuring substantive parliamentary debate without abuse of time and parliamentary procedures, Dimitar Zdravkov said on Tuesday. Zdravkov, who chairs the ad hoc committee drafting the rules of »»»
El-Sisi Reviews Inflation, Reserves and Exchange-Rate Stability Amid Regional Pressures
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Tuesday with Hassan Abdalla to review developments in Egypt’s economic performance, inflation trends, foreign currency reserves, and the impact of ongoing regional geopolitical tensions on the country’s financial stability and external balance. According to Pre»»»
Why world attention is turning eastward as global leaders visit China
After US President Donald Trump’s state visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive on May 19 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Given the flurry of visits by foreign leaders to Beijing this year, it is clear that Beijing has become the place to go to for resolving major pr»»»
Cairo Fertilizer Conference to Spotlight Food Security, Energy Costs and Supply Chain Risks
Cairo will host the 32nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Arab Fertilizer Association from 16 to 18 June 2026, bringing together senior executives, policymakers, technology providers and industry experts at a time when fertilizer markets are becoming increasingly central to glo»»»
Opposition Parties in Bulgaria Blast “Communist-Style” Overhaul of Parliamentary Rules
Opposition parties in Bulgaria have sharply criticized proposed amendments to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure, accusing the ruling “Progressive Bulgaria” (PB) majority of weakening parliamentary oversight and concentrating power in a way they describe as authoritarian and “communist-styl»»»
Deputy Prime Minister Donev Says Purpose of Social Dialogue Is to Achieve Solutions in Interest of Society
“The purpose of social dialogue is to achieve common solutions in the interest of society,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev said on Tuesday at the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation. The meeting is focused on draft amendments »»»
Continue the Change Accuses Progressive Bulgaria of Curbing Opposition Rights
Continue the Change (CC) on Tuesday accused Progressive Bulgaria (PB) of seeking to restrict opposition rights through proposed amendments to the National Assembly’s rules of procedure, saying not even GERB leader Boyko Borissov or MRF Chair Delyan Peevski had gone that far. “On the first day of th»»»
D33 and the business of scaling with confidence
Across decades of global disruption, the need for future-ready, resilient business leaders has only intensified. In moments like these, the responsibility of leaders is to prioritise stability, preparedness and long term value creation, even when short term pressures dominate. The UAE is a country »»»
Vazrazhdane Says Progressive Bulgaria Seeks to Curb Parliamentary Oversight
Progressive Bulgaria has tabled changes to Parliament’s rules that would curb oversight of ministers and restrict MPs’ debate, Vazrazhdane said in a press release on Tuesday. Vazrazhdane said the proposed amendments to the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly violate the pri»»»
Dubai South, Majid Al Futtaim to build Dh62 billion mixed-use community
Dubai: Dubai South has signed an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim to develop a mixed-use master-planned community valued at Dh62 billion within the Dubai South district, marking one of the largest new urban developments announced in the emirate. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf New»»»