UAE banking sector is entering a new phase of digital transformation as open finance begins to roll out, allowing individuals and businesses to securely share and initiate services such as payments through regulated third-party providers, all within a strict, consent-based framework. Jamal Saleh, D»»»

It's been another week of big international news, from Donald Trump's desire for Greenland to the creation of a 'Board of Peace' . At Gulf News, information and updates can come at us fast and from different angles. We have to check facts and verify sources, which sometimes slows down how speedily »»»

Pro-Hezbollah journalist Hassan Olleik said Friday he will not appear before criminal investigators, after he was summoned by the Central Criminal Investigation Department, over a video he posted on his platform, al-Mahatta, in which he criticized President Joseph Aoun. Olleik accused Aoun of purch»»»

Two Israeli drone strikes missed twice on Friday their target, a car on a road in southwest Baalbek. The strikes in Majdaloun and later in Douris only caused material casualties, media reports said. Under heavy U.S. pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Lebanon has committed to disarming »»»

Skopje, 21 January 2026 (MIA) - The second day in Davos started with a meeting with the owner of 4iG, the company granted the license to operate as Macedonia’s third mobile operator. We discussed his plans following the payment of the funds required to obtain the license. He informed me that more t»»»

The amount of cash held by the population is estimated at 200–300 billion soms. Marat Pirnazarov, Chairman of the Financial Market Regulation and Supervision Service, said today at a press conference at the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange. According to him, this is a large sum and a worrying trend amid ongoi»»»

A South African court has dismissed an appeal by the country's heritage body to stop the sale and export of various artefacts connected to anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela. The 70 personal items include a cell key from Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he was lock»»»

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived a no-confidence vote Friday following his move to force his budget through parliament, in a symbolic victory with more such challenges expected. Lecornu on Tuesday used a constitutional power to ram part of the 2026 budget through parliament without »»»

US President Donald Trump has rescinded an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to join his ‘Board of Peace’, a new global body he hopes to make central to resolving world conflicts. Trump invited dozens of heads of state to sit on the board, which he initially created to oversee the g»»»

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot has denied that his country is participating in the ‘Board of Peace’ launched by US President Donald Trump in Davos on Thursday. The controversial panel was inaugurated with a charter-signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Prevot issued»»»

Dubai Police have cautioned that posting offensive or insulting content on social media and digital platforms can lead to legal action under UAE law. The Cybercrime and eSecurity Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation said that using online platforms to insult individuals or»»»

Canada has said it will not join US President Donald Trump’s newly launched Board of Peace, a high-profile initiative aimed at mediating global conflicts, following a sharp diplomatic exchange between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos. No official re»»»

The Democratic Bulgaria coalition, part of the broader Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) alliance, has insisted that the ratification of the document on Bulgaria’s accession to US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace should not be considered by the National Assembly before a ruli»»»

A draft law «On Classifying Certain Settlements in Batken, Osh, and Talas Regions as Aiyls (Villages)» has been submitted to the Zhogorku Kenesh for consideration. The document provides for changing the administrative status of 10 settlements. Under the draft law, the following settlements are prop»»»

The Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KSE) held a year-end press conference to present its performance results for 2025, a year that marked historic records for the exchange. Total trading volume reached 219.7 billion soms, nearly double the 2024 figure (109.7 billion soms). In 2025, positive dynamics were re»»»

IKEA announces the opening of a new Plan and Order Point in Brașov, located in Magnolia Shopping Center, on Strada Crișului nr. 18. The new studio operates in the same location as the former IKEA Pick-up Point (PuP), which is now becoming an integrated part of IKEA’s Plan and Order Point retail con»»»

Romania Education Alliance (REA), a national network of private schools in Romania, announced its strategic priorities for 2026: expanding beyond Bucharest and investing more than EUR 10 million in infrastructure, digitalisation, and academic development across member institutions. REA says it is i»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received Speaker Nabih Berri at Baabda presidential palace on Friday with sources told Al-Manar that the two top officials tackled latest Israeli attacks on south Lebanon. Upon leaving the presidential palace, Speaker Berri was quoted by Lebanese National News Agency »»»

Tripoli based Ministry of Health reported yesterday that it held a virtual meeting with the Germany’s Medical Trust company. The Ministry said the meeting came within the framework of its plan to improve health facilities. Medical Trust, specializes in providing consultations, improving the quality»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has formally brought into force new regulations governing real estate ownership by non-Saudis. The Saudi Real Estate General Authority announced on Thursday that the Regulation on Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis has officially entered into effect, marking the start of its im»»»

Cloud9, part of the real estate division of Alfa Group, a developer with more than three decades of experience in delivering landmark residential projects on the Bucharest market, announces the completion of the structural works for the three buildings included in the first phase of the Cloud9 Evol»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli glider drops stun grenade near a Lebanese citizen in the southern border town of Blida: Al-Manar correspondent 23-01-2026 12:35 PM »»»

UNICEF’s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Regina De Dominicis paid a working visit to Sofia on January 22 and 23. She met with outgoing Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov and outgoing Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay Barievski. De Dominicis and Gutsanov discussed opportunities to »»»

Dubai: EFG Hermes has retained its position as the leading equity capital markets bookrunner in the Middle East and North Africa, reinforcing its role at the centre of some of the region’s most significant listings and capital raisings. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.»»»

BRUSSELS - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Thursday evening discussions held in Brussels earlier in the day as part of the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue had been difficult and that he had insisted on urgent establishment of a Communit»»»

US dollar Global gold prices fell on Thursday, as precious metals saw a broad decline driven by subsiding geopolitical risks and a diminishing appetite for safe-haven assets. This downturn follows a shift in US President Donald Trump’s stance, as he moved away from previous threats of new tariffs a»»»

Tunis, January 23, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisian export opportunities to the Indian market will be highlighted in a webinar to be held on January 30, 2026, by the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX).Tunisian companies interested in exploring the Indian market...»»»

Tunis, January 23, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisia will host an innovative ideathon on gender inclusion in the energy sector from February 11 to 14, 2026, with applications open until January 30.Organized by the FAST project (Feminism in Action for Structural...»»»

Iran’s top prosecutor on Friday called US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters there “completely false.” Meanwhile, the overall death toll from a bloody crackdown on nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 5,002, activists said. Activist»»»

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued Federal Decree No. 11 of 2026 appointing Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili as Secretary-General of Erth Zayed Philanthropies. The decree takes effect from the date of its issuance and will be published in the official gazett»»»

Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority met at its Tripoli headquarters yesterday with a delegation from the European Union Delegation in Tripoli. The meeting was attended by the Acting Head of the Civil Aviation Authority, several specialists from the Authority, and representatives from the Ministry of F»»»

Dubai: A Dubai civil court has declined to hear a lawsuit filed by an Arab man against his former wife over a disputed property purchase, ruling that the case falls under the jurisdiction of the personal status court because it stems from a marital relationship. The man sought to recover Dh790,000 »»»

Commenting on Bulgaria’s joining of the US-led Board of Peace, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov Friday told reporters that Bulgaria should maintain close relations with US President Donald Trump's administration, "but not under the current Cabinet, which does not enjoy the trust of the Bulgar»»»

The BBC has been given access to detention facilities on former United Arab Emirates military bases in Yemen, confirming long-standing allegations of a network of secret prisons run by the UAE and forces allied to it in Yemen's decade-long civil war. One former detainee told the BBC he had been bea»»»

Contraband cigarettes worth 721,440 soms were seized in Manas, the State Tax Service of Kyrgyzstan reported. At least 6,012 packs of cigarettes were found during a raid at the central market. They were missing excise stamps and the necessary accompanying documents. The agency is preparing materials»»»

The purchase of housing by foreigners does not affect real estate prices in Kyrgyzstan. Aman Kebekov, Chief Specialist at the State Agency for Land Resources, said on Birinchi Radio. According to him, concerns have been voiced in society that transactions involving foreigners are driving up housing»»»

Doha, Qatar: Strong northwesterly winds are expected to affect most parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, January 25 and 26, 2026. The Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) warned that winds will range from fresh to strong, with dusty conditions likely across several areas. The winds, advancing f»»»

Dubai: A touching moment unfolded during a public rally addressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, when a young boy holding up a hand-drawn sketch of the Prime Minister caught his eye from the crowd. As he spoke to supporters, the Prime Minister paused mid-speech»»»

Images and videos lay bare the scale of destruction caused by flooding on Wednesday across the Athens basin, from Agios Dimitrios and Ano Glyfada to Vari, Keratsini, Perama, Salamina, Alimos and western Attica. Despite preparations ahead of the expected weather wave, residents expressed anger while»»»

Dubai: The Indian rupee slipped to an all-time low on Friday, pushing the exchange rate close to 25 to the UAE dirham and sharpening the impact on millions of residents who send money home, hold rupee-linked savings or plan near-term travel to India. (Check live forex rates here) Sign up for our da»»»

The Haskovo District Court announced that a Turkish national has pleaded guilty and received a two-year suspended sentence for smuggling two trucks of cigarettes through the Kapitan Andreevo border control checkpoint. This followed an agreement between the defence of the 56-year-old defendant, Y. K»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian armed forces must leave Donbas, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, adding that this is an important requirement of the Russian side. "Russia's position is well known: Ukraine and its armed forces must leave Donbass. They must be withdrawn. This is a very im»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Sever took control of the settlement of Siminovka in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Over the course of a week, as a result of active offensive actions by units of Battlegroup Sever in the Kharkov direction, control was estab»»»

The death toll in a fire which engulfed a shopping centre in Pakistan has climbed to 67, police have confirmed. Police say 77 people are currently reported as missing by their families following the fire at Gul Plaza, in Pakistan's largest city Karachi, on Saturday evening. But the scale of the dam»»»

The Romanian retail and logistics sectors enter 2026 in a phase of significant recalibration. As consumer behaviour becomes more deliberate and operational costs remain a primary concern, industry leaders are shifting their focus from aggressive footprint expansion to digital agility and strategic »»»

As part of the 50th Midwinter Waterfowl Census campaign in Bulgaria, 2,514 birds of a total of 20 species of waterfowl were observed in the Eastern Rhodopes. Last year, the census registered 4,514 birds of 27 species in that area, show data of the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation. The Foundation, whos»»»

The 50th Midwinter Waterfowl Census in Bulgaria, which took place from January 15 to 18 throughout the country, registered an increase in the waterfowl species wintering in the country. A total of 326,982 birds of 99 species were observed, compared to 249,958 individuals of 90 species in January 20»»»

MALMO - Serbian football champions Red Star Belgrade beat Swedish side Malmo 1-0 away in a UEFA Europa League Match Day 7 game on Thursday evening, clinching a berth in the competition's knockout stage. Vasilije Kostov scored the winner for Red Star in the 16th minute after a Marko Arnautovic assis»»»