Romania’s Culture Minister Andras Istvan Demeter resigned on Monday, May 25, following the scandal caused by the publication of an audio recording in which he reportedly makes harsh remarks about “national interests.”
It refers to the 2013 intergovernmental agreement under which Russia indefinitely canceled export duties on supplies of natural gas, oil products and rough diamonds to Armenia. The letter says that Moscow may suspend the document or denounce it unilaterally if Yerevan continues its course of integration with the EU.
Jonathan Andik, the son of Mango’s founder, has temporarily stepped down as vice president of the company after being implicated in the investigation into the death of his father, billionaire Isak Andik. In a statement to employees, he said he intends to focus on defending his innocence.
The Wertheimer family, which controls Chanel, has received dividend payments that could exceed $21 billion over the past decade, cementing the family’s position as one of the wealthiest dynasties in the luxury industry amid a slowdown in the sector.
Iran’s national soccer team will move its training base for the 2026 World Cup from the United States to Mexico’s Tijuana. The decision has been approved by FIFA, said Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian soccer federation.
Tehran has once again sharpened its oil rhetoric amid a new round of conflict with Washington. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Iranian military command, said that continued U.S. strikes in the Middle East could trigger a sharp jump in global oil prices.
Negotiations between American cosmetics giant Estée Lauder and Spanish group Puig, which could have led to the creation of a luxury beauty holding company worth about $40 billion, broke down at the very last moment – after several months of almost finalized work on the deal.
The company has unveiled its first all-electric car, the Ferrari Luce. The premiere of the model marks the brand’s entry into the electric car segment amid uncertainty in an industry where the traditional “engine sound” is no longer a must.
The arrest of an archaeologist who discovered the alleged remains of the legendary d’Artagnan has turned a historical sensation into a high-profile scandal in the Netherlands. At the center of the conflict was 74-year-old Wim Deikman – a former city archaeologist of Maastricht, who devoted more than four decades to excavations. It was he who participated in the discovery of a skeleton under the church of St. Peter and Paul, which many historians hope to link to Charles de Batz de Castelmore – the real prototype of the hero of Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Three Musketeers”.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has approved one of the most controversial projects of President Donald Trump’s administration – the construction of a giant triumphal arch next to Arlington National Cemetery – despite a wave of criticism from veterans, historians and community organizations.
Italian fashion holding Benetton continues to emerge from the protracted crisis, which has become one of the worst for the company in recent decades. At the end of 2025, the group managed to significantly reduce losses and come close to financial balance.
In the Romanian ski resort of Poiana Brasov, a bear broke into a hotel, after which the staff had to ensure the safety of guests on their own until emergency services arrived.
Architech AI has developed the KodikScan service, which, according to the creators’ idea, should help users to distinguish real materials from those generated or altered by neural networks.
The US and Iran have moved closer to the biggest deal since the start of a new round of conflict in the Middle East. According to reports, the two sides have reached an “agreement in principle” to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery of the global oil market.
US holding Authentic Brands Group has announced the purchase of the Lee denim brand from Kontoor Brands, the owner of Wrangler and Helly Hansen. The value of the deal could reach $1 billion, including an initial payment of $750 million and additional payments tied to the future financial performance of the brand. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
European haute couture houses are increasing their presence in the United States, choosing American cities as venues for shows and cultural collaborations. From spectacular outings in Times Square to performances in the New York subway, Old World brands are increasingly choosing iconic urban spaces rather than traditional catwalks.
On May 21, 1904, the International Football Federation – FIFA – was founded in Paris. More than a century later, the organization has grown into the largest sports structure in the world, uniting more than 200 national associations and regulating virtually all of world soccer – from World Cups to the transfer market and commercial rights to tournaments.
The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution that sets a course for accelerated reductions in the use of fossil fuels and strengthened global action to combat the climate crisis. The document builds on the advisory opinion of the UN International Court of Justice issued in July 2025 and strengthens its political weight at the level of states.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo has said that the idea of granting Ukraine the status of an “associate member” of the European Union does not enjoy support inside the EU and does not yet have political conditions for implementation.
Conflict in the Middle East is increasing pressure on Sri Lanka’s tea industry, putting one of the country’s key export sectors and the millions of people who depend on Ceylon tea production at risk.
