More than a million Muslims are gathering in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage overshadowed by the Middle East war, as animosity smoulders across the region despite a fragile ceasefire.
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are among a number of high-profile names that are set to miss out on Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the World Cup, according to multiple reports on Friday.
NATO's European members scrambled Friday to get clarity from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on troop shifts by Washington, as they sought to placate President Donald Trump's ire on Iran ahead of a July summit.
- UK police prepared to probe Andrew sexual misconduct claim
- Asian equities rally on Mideast optimism, oil edges higher
Boulevard
Carlo Petrini, whose worldwide Slow Food movement has spent 40 years promoting quality traditional cooking and sustainable farming, has died at the age of 76, his organisation announced Friday.
May 22, 2026
RECENT NEWS
- Mangrove loss threatens Sierra Leone's oyster harvesters
- No way home for Eid as jihadists cut off Mali capital
- 'Hello, Goodbye': 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert bows out
- Vietnam auctions convicted tycoon's Hermes handbags for over $500k
La Liga draws to a close this weekend with several matters still to be resolved, even though Hansi Flick's Barcelona have already been crowned champions.
May 22, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Form and fitness concerns are hanging over some of football's biggest names just three weeks before the World Cup kicks off.
May 22, 2026
India's power producers have set a record for electricity generation as swathes of the world's most populous nation swelters in an intense heatwave, the ministry of power said.
May 22, 2026
Asian markets rose Friday as optimism over US-Iran talks buoyed equities, though higher oil prices kept inflation concerns in focus.
May 22, 2026
Economy
Japan's inflation slowed more than expected in April, government data showed Friday, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considers further measures to drive down costs linked to the Middle East war.
May 22, 2026
RECENT NEWS
The New York Knicks used an explosive third-quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
NATO's European members will look to sound out US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on troop cuts by Washington Friday, as they seek to smooth over President Donald Trump's ire ahead of a July summit.
Unearthing small boats from under the sand at dawn before launching them towards Britain packed with people, migrant smugglers are increasingly operating from Belgium -- to the concern of local authorities.
The season-opening Tour Down Under will next year become the first WorldTour race to hold men's and women's stages on the same course, on the same day, and over the same distance, organisers said Friday.
May 22, 2026
Nature
Forecasters say a potentially "super" El Nino is rapidly taking shape in the Pacific -- but whether it evolves into a history-making event could hinge on fickle winds and other volatile atmospheric shifts.
May 22, 2026
RECENT NEWS
French giants Paris Saint-Germain secured a 14th league title last week to continue their recent Ligue 1 domination.
Holders Bordeaux-Begles are aiming to establish themselves as one of club rugby's dynasties when they face four-time winners Leinster in the Champions Cup final on Saturday in Bilbao, Spain.
In 1970 it was the introduction of yellow and red cards. In 2018 VAR made its World Cup debut, while in Qatar in 2022 a FIFA directive to referees led to huge extensions to the amount of stoppage time played in games.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope of progress on ending the war with Iran, as he looked to Pakistani mediators to help advance efforts to strike an agreement.
May 22, 2026
- 'Dread': coral scientists fear bleaching El Nino could bring
- Samsung union to start vote on tentative wage deal
- Gibraltar monkeys eat soil in junk food detox: study
- 'Filter of fantasy': Japan trials anime therapy to treat depression
- With Fed under intense Trump pressure, new chief to be sworn in at White House
- Lebanese accuse Israel of wiping their towns off the map
- With record-low snow, Colorado preps for wildfire onslaught
- Windfall settlement, stock trades: Trump accused of 'brazen' corruption