Where We Are Going Today: Jollibee
Greeting you with an image of a jolly anthropomorphic bee donning a chef’s hat, Jollibee is giving even the business of bees in Saudi Arabia some juicy and crunchy chicken to munch on. The branding of Jollibee — which was founded by Filipino Chinese entrepreneur Tony Tan Caktiong — is said to have »»»
A new Ebola outbreak is confirmed in a remote Congo province
KINSHASA, CONGO: Africa’s top public health body on Friday confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s remote Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. Neighboring Uganda later confirmed one death in an Ebola case it said was imported from Congo. The deaths and suspected»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
Israel says targeted head of Hamas armed wing in Gaza strike
Israel said on Friday that it carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Ezzedine Al-Haddad, who it described as chief of the armed wing of Palestinian movement Hamas. Since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the Israeli military and intelligence services have waged an extensive campaign targeti»»»
Israeli forces kill 15-year-old Palestinian boy in West Bank
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority said on Friday that Israeli forces shot dead a 15-year-old Palestinian boy in the occupied West Bank, while the military said he had been throwing stones at Israeli cars on a road. The authority’s Health Ministry said it had been informed of the killing of Fahd Z»»»
Hezbollah attacks Israeli barracks as strikes hit Tyre, kill 3 paramedics in Harouf
An Israeli strike hit a building in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Friday after an evacuation warning, state media reported, despite an extension in the truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel's military had called on residents of several buildings in Tyre to immediately evacuate ahead of»»»
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»»»
Lebanon, Israel ceasefire extended by 45 days
Lebanon and Israel on Friday extended a ceasefire for 45 days, despite a new flareup in violence, the U.S. State Department said after mediating talks. "The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. He sa»»»
Lebanon, Israel ceasefire extended by 45 days: US
Lebanon and Israel on Friday extended a ceasefire for 45 days, despite a new flareup in violence, the US State Department said after mediating talks. "The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. He said»»»
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.»»»
Sustainability shifts from vision to execution across GCC projects
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC have placed sustainability at the center of long-term development agendas, with the focus now shifting from ambition to execution and from policy to implementation on the ground. Despite strong delivery performance, environmental benchmarks still point to a ga»»»
What Went Wrong With Trump China Visit?
US President Donald Trump’s visit to China was “mostly performative,” with both sides sending political messages to global and domestic audiences, veteran geopolitical analyst and former US Marine Brian Berletic told Sputnik. “Both the US and China have assumed entrenched positions primarily becaus»»»
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’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»»»
Nuno wants VAR 'consistency' as West Ham fight to avoid relegation
London: West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo wants VAR decisions to show more consistency after his relegation-haunted side were denied a crucial equaliser against Arsenal. Nuno's team thought they had rescued a valuable 1-1 draw with the Premier League leaders last weekend when Callum Wilson netted i»»»
WHO reports 10 hantavirus cases, 3 deaths, tied to cruise ship - UPI.com
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus briefs the press on the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship during a joint press conference with the Spanish prime minister at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday. Photo by Chema Moya/EPA»»»
Namibia's food security improves despite climate shocks: WFP
Windhoek: Food security in Namibia has improved compared to last year, though climate-related shocks continue to strain vulnerable communities, the World Food Program (WFP) said in its April 2026 country brief. According to the brief, about 456,000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity»»»
Hezbollah Drone Threat Underscores How Unmanned Warfare Transforms Modern Combat: WSJ - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Drone Threat Underscores How Unmanned Warfare Transforms Modern Combat: WSJ 15-05-2026 19:38 PM A screenshot from video footage s»»»
History tilts odds in favor of Zamalek for CAF Cup
JOHANNESBRUG: History favors Egyptian club Zamalek when they seek to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Algerian visitors USM Alger on Saturday in the CAF Confederation Cup final second leg. In 22 previous editions of the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, three teams have built solitary-goa»»»
‘We are in a phase as big as the printing press’: How Jordan became Arab world’s blueprint for media literacy
LONDON: Sitting comfortably in his office in Amman, Dr. Ziad Rifai does not immediately strike you as someone whose grand mission is to fight information warfare. The dean of the Jordan Media Institute and architect of its media literacy program — one of the first and most comprehensive initiatives»»»
‘Happiest Day of Our Lives’: Gazans Hold Mass Wedding Among Ruins
Wearing traditional Palestinian dresses, the white fabric intricately embroidered in a rainbow of colors, dozens of smiling brides clutched red bouquets as they walked with their grooms past the tents and ruined buildings of Gaza City. To the tune of popular songs played from loudspeakers in a city»»»
Two-Day Forum Dedicated to April Uprising Brings Together 20 Scholars in Razlog
A two-day national scientific conference, titled “The April Uprising and the National Liberation Struggles of Bulgarians in Macedonia”, was held in Razlog. The academic forum, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outbreak of the April Uprising, was organized by the Macedonian Scientific Instit»»»
Delhi rolls out work-from-home policies to weather fuel shortage
NEW DELHI: India’s capital will roll out fuel-saving measures starting on Monday, including work-from-home days for city employees, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for greater public participation to mitigate the economic fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran. New Delhi will be the »»»
Lebanon, Israel Start Day Two of Talks Despite Violence
Lebanon and Israel opened a second day of talks in Washington on Friday, diplomats said, despite a new flare-up of violence with Israel striking its northern neighbor. Envoys from the two countries, which have no diplomatic relations, resumed talks at the State Department shortly after 9 am (1300 G»»»
UAE says nearly 3,000 Iranian missiles and drones targeted civilian sites
New Delhi: The UAE has reaffirmed its categorical rejection of what it described as Iranian claims and attempts to justify terrorist attacks targeting the country and other states in the region, during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in New Delhi. Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of Sta»»»
CIA chief delivers Trump’s message to Havana
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has paid a rare visit to Havana to deliver a message from US President Donald Trump to the Cuban leadership amid a US-imposed fuel blockade of the island. According to Reuters, it was the first time a CIA chief has visited Cuba since the Communist Revolution in the 1950s»»»
Art Dubai returns for special 20th edition in pared back, intimate format
DUBAI; The 20th anniversary edition of Art Dubai arrived this week in a more intimate, pared-back format, yet still drew eager crowds that flowed steadily through the venue from opening hour. Collectors, curators, artists and art enthusiasts gathered in the familiar corridors of Madinat Jumeirah, w»»»
Democratic Republic of Congo declares Ebola outbreak; 65 people killed - UPI.com
A handout photo made available by the World Health Organization shows temperature screening at Mpondwe border point with the Democratic Republic of Congo, near Bwera, Uganda, in May 2019. The Democratic Republic of Congo declared an Ebola outbreak on Friday as 65 people have died from the disease i»»»
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»»»
'Out of shape' Lukaku named in Belgium World Cup squad
Brussels, Belgium: Belgium coach Rudi Garcia named Romelu Lukaku in his World Cup squad on Friday despite saying Belgium's all-time record goalscorer was "out of shape". Lukaku, who has scored 89 goals in 124 international appearances, has struggled for form and fitness at Serie A club Napoli this »»»
US-China summit exposes Trump's limits on Iran war, Taiwan
ConflictsChinaUS-China summit exposes Trump's limits on Iran war, TaiwanAndrew Zi-Qi Fang Washington DC | Darko JanjevicDonald Trump hopes to have China help him end the war in Iran, but this goal seemed far from guaranteed as he wrapped up his two-day visit to Beijing. Xi Jinping, in turn, took th»»»
Six killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon as talks in US enter second day
Six people were killed Friday in strikes on south Lebanon, hours before Lebanese and Israeli envoys were set to meet for a second day of talks in Washington. Israel's military called on residents of five villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks, despite a truce»»»
U.S. Central Command chief: Iran's military 'severely degraded' - UPI.com
U.S. Central Command's Adm. Brad Cooper contradicted recent reports that internal intelligence assessments given to senior U.S. officials showed that Iran retained most of its prewar missile capacity. File Photo by Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- The war in Iran has "s»»»
Iran allowing more ships through Strait of Hormuz: state TV
TEHRAN: The naval forces of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are allowing more ships to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, state television said Friday, after Tehran blocked the waterway following US-Israeli strikes. Since the outbreak of war on February 28, Iran has largely blocked shipping t»»»
Six killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon as talks in US enter second day
Six people were killed Friday in strikes on south Lebanon, hours before Lebanese and Israeli envoys were set to meet for a second day of talks in Washington. Israel's military called on residents of five villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks, despite a truce»»»
Pope Leo warns Europe’s military buildup undermines diplomacy
Pope Leo XIV has condemned rising European military spending, warning that rearmament betrays diplomacy and fuels tensions in a world already being “maimed by wars.” Global military spending approached a record $3 trillion in 2025 despite lower US outlays, according to a SIPRI report released last »»»
Iran’s internet blackout leaves millions isolated
DUBAI: “It’s costing me money talking to you” said Mona — not her real name — as she chuckled over a voice note she managed to send. “It’ll cost me a lot more if the boogey men find out too,” she said, referring to the Revolutionary Guards. Like millions of Iranians, Mona’s life has been upended by»»»
airBaltic quarterly losses widen to €70.1mn despite passenger growth
Latvia’s national carrier airBaltic posted losses of €70.1mn in the first quarter of 2026, more than double the figure recorded during the same period last year, despite rising revenues andd passenger numbers, BNS, a pan-Baltic news agency, reported on May 14. The carrier welcomed a new CEO, Erno H»»»
Africa CDC confirms Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo
Kinshasa: Health authorities confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday. Hundreds of suspected cases have been reported in Ituri Province, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Preliminary te»»»
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»»»
Report: Lebanon, Israel to agree Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament
Israel and Lebanon are expected to agree on an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday. The report stated that the CIA has prepared a plan for disarming the group, and that deleg»»»
On Nakba Anniversary: Islamic Jihad and Hamas Reaffirm Resistance, Reject Disarmament Calls
Marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, Islamic Jihad and Hamas Palestinian resistance groups reaffirmed their commitment to the path of resistance, condemning what the ongoing Israeli aggression, while voicing rejection to disarmament calls. In a statement, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movemen»»»
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»»»
Sudden swerving, speeding and fatigue behind 3,997 UAE crashes
Dubai: Nearly 4,000 accidents were recorded on UAE federal roads over a four-year period due to four forms of negative driving behaviour, according to a parliamentary report that warned human conduct remains one of the biggest obstacles to traffic flow and road safety despite the country’s world-cl»»»
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,»»»
Israel Army Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Tyre Area of South Lebanon
Israel's military said Friday it was striking Hezbollah targets in the Tyre area of south Lebanon, as the two countries entered the second day of US-brokered talks in Washington. "The military has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre in southern Lebanon," the army said »»»
Civilians caught in war of drones in eastern DR Congo
GOMA: In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a conflict that drags on despite peace talks has taken a dangerous new turn, with civilians now struck from the air by drones, far from the front line. The region has been plagued by violence for more than 30 years but fighting intensified in early»»»
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»»»