BELGRADE - The Hungarian oil company MOL and Russia's Gazprom have agreed the fundamental provisions of a future agreement on MOL's purchase of the Russian stake in the Serbian oil firm NIS, which will be submitted to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for approval, Serbian Minister of »»»

Dubai: When Lays Laraya was 14, flying became the thing she feared the most. Her family was travelling on a small aircraft that crashed. Everyone survived, but the trauma stayed. Turbulence triggered panic. Take-offs were unbearable. For years, flying meant sleeping pills and anxiety. “It was far f»»»

Bulgaria is bracing for the peak of this season’s flu, which health authorities expect to occur at the end of January. Currently, officials say there is no need to declare a nationwide epidemic, according to Health Minister Silvi Kirilov “The epidemic is likely to reach its highest point by month’s»»»

Over the past decade, the religiously and ethnically mixed Syrian Democratic Forces had been the most effective force in the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria. The Kurdish-led force is now set to merge into the Syrian army after suffering major setbacks over the past weeks. The SDF su»»»

Dubai Police have launched a series of awareness sessions to familiarise employees with the objectives of the Emirati Genome Programme, a national initiative aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes for UAE citizens. Organised by the General Department of Forensic Evidence and Criminology in cooperat»»»

Abu Dhabi: A woman who spent nearly two decades working for the same employer has been awarded more than Dh61,000 in compensation after an Abu Dhabi labour court ruled that she was dismissed without notice. The Abu Dhabi Labour Court of First Instance found that the employee, whose service began in»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, has issued Law No. (1) of 2026 concerning the regulation and operation of autonomous vehicles in the emirate. The law aims to enhance road safety and reduce human error through a set of »»»

DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani has held bilateral meetings with several senior international officials during the first day of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026). »»»

In Bulgaria, the Consumer Protection Commission (CPCo) has clarified that traders who refuse to return change in euros can face fines ranging from 600 to 7,000 leva (approximately €307–€3,585). Alexander Kolyachev, the acting chairman of the CPCo, made the announcement during a press briefing at th»»»

MADRID: At least 21 people were confirmed dead and more than 70 others injured after two high-speed trains collided near the city of Cordoba in southern Spain on Sunday, authorities said. Thirty of the injured were in serious condition and hospitalized, Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente said »»»

Donald Trump's threat on Saturday to impose tariffs on eight European countries unless they support his plan to buy Greenland came as a shock. The US president said he would introduce a 10% levy on imports into the US on 1 February, rising to 25% from the summer if no deal is done. It is unclear wh»»»

The lawyers of the owners of a Swiss bar where a deadly fire broke out on New Year's Eve killing 40 people and injuring 116 have broken their silence to criticise "lies" about their clients. Jessica and Jacques Moretti were "devastated", the lawyers told local media, but denied being aware of any d»»»

The European Union's executive arm, Russia and Thailand on Monday were the latest to be asked to join US President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace that will supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, as a top Israeli official said the initiative is “bad for Israel” and should be scrapped, T»»»

At a time when Egypt–Korea relations are gaining renewed momentum, development cooperation has emerged as a central pillar of this growing partnership. Against this backdrop, Dr Sooyoung Park, Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Egypt Office, spoke to Daily News E»»»

The International Monetary Fund has revised its growth forecasts for Egypt upwards to reach 5.4% in the fiscal year (FY) 2026/27, citing a positive shift in economic indicators. In its January 2026 World Economic Outlook Update, the IMF raised Egypt’s GDP growth projection for the FY 2025/26 to 4.7»»»

New batches of UAE humanitarian aid convoys entered the Gaza Strip last week as part of Operation “Gallant Knight 3”, reflecting ongoing efforts to meet urgent humanitarian needs and support the Palestinian people amid the current circumstances. Last week saw the entry of the 279th UAE humanitarian»»»

A total 79 migrants reached the southern island of Gavdos in a small vessel from northern Africa on Sunday and two of them have been arrested on suspicion of belonging to a migrant smuggling gang, authorities said Monday. The coast guard said the two men were from South Somalia, aged 23 and 19, and»»»

The key aspect of Russia’s Lancet loitering UAV is that it’s ideally suited for modern warfare, Egyptian security expert Colonel Hatem Saber explains to Sputnik. Here are the main points: War economy: The drone is designed to excel in situations in which it has to meet a dense air defense network, »»»

According to preliminary estimates, Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 1,976.4 trillion soms at year-end 2025. Compared with 2024, GDP grew by 11.1 percent, the National Statistical Committee reported. GDP growth accelerated toward the end of the year: after 11 months of 2025, growth»»»

DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Trade HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada HE Anita Anand signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Committee for Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the State of Qatar and t»»»

China's economy expanded at a 5% annual pace in 2025, buoyed by strong exports despite U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. However, growth slowed to a 4.5% rate in the last quarter of the year, the government said Monday. That was the slowest quarterly growth since late 2022, when China was begi»»»

WASHINGTON, United States — The IMF upgraded its 2026 global growth forecast Monday, citing a boost from tech investments but warning that a reevaluation of AI productivity gains or renewed trade tensions could bring disruptions.World economic growth is projected to hold steady at 3.3 per cent this»»»

KHARTOUM — The hustle and bustle of buyers and sellers has returned to Khartoum's central market, but "it's nothing like before", fruit vendor Hashim Mohamed told AFP, streets away from where war first broke out nearly three years ago.On April 15, 2023, central Khartoum awoke to battles between the»»»

HONG KONG — Gold and silver hit record highs on Monday while equity markets fell after Donald Trump revived trade war fears by threatening several European nations with tariffs over their opposition to the United States buying Greenland.The US president has fanned already-rising geopolitical tensio»»»

Paris, France: The Louvre Museum said Monday it was shutting for the day, for the third time in a month, due to a strike by staff. "The museum is not opening today," said a spokesperson for the most-visited museum in the world. Trade unions are pressing for more recruitment, pay and better maintena»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has revealed its 2026 recipients: the historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Afghan girls’ education advocate Zarqa Yaftali. This marks the first time honourees come from the Caucasus and Afghanistan, respectively. The announceme»»»

Dubai: Commuters across the Dubai and Sharjah are facing a difficult Monday evening as a string of traffic accidents and heavy congestion have brought key arterial roads to almost a virtual standstill. The gridlock, which intensified during the post-work rush today, has caused significant tailbacks»»»

DOHA: Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has intensified its efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These efforts come in line with the National Health Strategy 2024–2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030, which place individual and family health at t»»»

DOHA: Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Scouts and Guides Association (QSGA), HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, has issued a decision restructuring the Board of Directors as part of regulating its operation and strengtheni»»»

MELBOURNE - Serbia's top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic is through to the second round of the Australian Open after a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round victory over Spaniard Pedro Martinez on Monday. Djokovic, who is placed fourth in the ATP rankings, defeated world number 71 Martinez after two hours »»»

Skopje, 19 January 2026 (MIA) — As part of an extensive investigation of high-level corruption, backed by National Security Agency intelligence reports, prosecutors have found EUR 350,000 stashed in the parental home of an Appellate Court justice. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office in a pr»»»

Dubai: Zurich Insurance Group said on Monday it had raised its offer to acquire British specialty insurer Beazley to 1,280 pence per share in cash, valuing the company at about £7.67 billion ($10.28 billion), as it seeks to create a global specialty insurance platform. Sign up for our daily busines»»»

Melbourne: Novak Djokovic embarked on his latest quest to win a record 25th Grand Slam by easing to an ominous straight-sets victory Monday at the Australian Open. The Serb dismissed Spain's Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and meets Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in the second rou»»»

The leaders of Iran’s executive, legislative, and judicial authorities, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Ayatollah Gholam-Hussein Mohseni Ejei, have issued a joint message to the Iranian people, praising their “awareness and vigilance in thwarting enemy plots targeting Iran»»»

The decisions taken by Lebanese authorities regarding arms monopolization “were taken to be implemented and nothing will change the president’s stances,” ministerial sources close to President Joseph Aoun said, in response to Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem’s latest remarks. “Qassem wanted to ob»»»

Yemeni politicians have met in Saudi Arabia's capital in their first public gathering since a southern separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates was disbanded following weeks of clashes. The meeting in Riyadh discussed the future of southern Yemen ahead of a Saudi-sponsored conference, th»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s taxis saw a record number of lost items in 2025, with forgetful riders leaving behind more than 104,000 belongings across the city, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). From passengers’ wallets and cash to smartphones, laptops, passports, and jewellery, the Lost and »»»

BELGRADE- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Monday extended condolences to Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, King Felipe VI and the people of Spain over Sunday's deadly railway accident in southern Spain that killed dozens of people. "I have received with deep sorrow the news of the tragic railway acci»»»

Damascus, Jan.18 (SANA) Arab and international leaders have welcomed a ceasefire agreement and the full integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syrian state institutions, describing it as a key step toward strengthening Syria’s unity, stability and state sovereignty. The agreement, s»»»

South Africa has sent a team to help with rescue efforts after a local politician was swept away by floodwaters while visiting neighbouring Mozambique. Andile Mngwevu, a councillor in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, and four others were in Mozambique's Gaza province when their ca»»»

Dubai: As Indian Oscar winner AR Rahman gets dragged into a fresh controversy this week, it feels right to re-visit one of my earlier interviews with him, that was held in Dubai, far from the noise of social media outrage. We’re revisiting this interview because before his words began getting picke»»»

Skopje, 19 January 2026 (MIA) — President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova offered her best wishes to believers on the Orthodox Christian holiday of Epiphany, asking the faithful to unite and contribute to a happy present and a blessed and prosperous future. In her public letter to the Macedonian Orthod»»»

MINSK (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump sent Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko an appeal proposing that Belarus become a founder of the Gaza Board of Peace, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ruslan Varankov said on Monday. "The Belarusian side has received a personal message from US»»»

Cairo, Jan. 19 (SANA) Egypt’s Foreign Ministry on Monday welcomed a ceasefire deal in Syria and the full integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into state institutions, calling it a step toward preserving Syria’s unity and stability. In a statement, the ministry said Egypt reaffirmed its»»»

Dubai: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said Monday it has appointed Gloria Guevara as its new President and CEO, returning to a role she previously held between 2017 and 2021. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.WTTC, which represents the global private sector ac»»»

The head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, dismissed on Monday opposition calls for political upheaval and warned against attempts to block key reforms, saying the ruling party is prepared to move forward even without opposition participation. Speaking at the Conference o»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has affirmed that the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) is a global pioneering platform that is continuing to gain momentum by virtue of the consequential partnerships and considerable investments it achie»»»

London: Tens of millions of dollars are on the line as Prince Harry returned to court Monday for the third and final chapter in his legal quest to tame the British tabloids. Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, is the most prominent litigant in a case full of high-profile plaintiffs who accuse »»»

In recent years we have become accustomed to a great deal, yet world politics continues to set new records. Or perhaps sink to new depths, depending on your taste. One week in January provided a full set of examples: the kidnapping of Venezuela’s presidential couple by US special forces; the tighte»»»

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced that the UAE has been ranked first globally in the Edelman Trust Index 2026, published by the New York-based Edelman firm. Also Read: UAE tops world in 22 compet»»»