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»»»

Also In This Package UAE President lands in New Delhi, received by PM Modi UAE President visits India: Facts and figures to know»»»

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»»»

DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar 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 gaining growing momentum by virtue of the consequential partnerships and considerabl»»»

The nationalist party Vazrazhdane has reiterated its support for US President Donald Trump’s claim over Greenland and challenged the Bulgarian government to clarify its official position on the escalating dispute between the United States and Denmark. In a statement released on Monday, Vazrazhdane »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has confirmed in a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store that his demand for control of Greenland stems from the Norwegian Nobel Committee's refusal to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, PBS journalist Nick Schifrin said on Monday, citing the»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Denmark has decided not to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, a move reported amid heightened diplomatic tensions concerning Greenland, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing the forum "We can confirm that the Danish government will not be represented in Davos this we»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union is seeking to "engage, not escalate" with the United States when it comes to Washington's desire to control Greenland in order to avoid new US trade tariffs, European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said on Monday. The Financial Times newspaper reported on Sunda»»»

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo on Sunday declared a state of emergency to strengthen the powers of the authorities against criminal gangs after they briefly took control of three prisons in the country and killed eight police officers. The attacks were in retaliation for a decision by the au»»»

Authorities in Bulgaria are advising both citizens and traders to ensure they have sufficient euro banknotes and coins ahead of the end of the dual currency period, stressing that all necessary conditions for exchanging levs into euros have been put in place. The warning came from Vladimir Ivanov, »»»

Thirteen school pupils have died in South Africa after the minibus they were travelling in collided with a lorry south of the city of Johannesburg. The incident happened on Monday morning at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) in Vanderbijlpark, the local education authority said. Eleven students d»»»

Kabul: A deadly explosion hit a central Kabul hotel on Monday, city police and the Afghan government said, and an AFP journalist saw firefighters near the scene. "An explosion occurred in a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street in Shahr-e-Naw, the fourth district of Kabul city, causing casualties," Kabul poli»»»

Doha, Qatar: 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 stre»»»

Doha: Qatar's main stock market index ended Monday’s trading session higher, supported by broad-based gains across several sectors. The benchmark index of the Qatar Stock Exchange rose by 79.71 points, or 0.72%, to close at 11,204.69 points. During the session, more than 128.3 million shares were t»»»

‎Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister ‎Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba met yesterday with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, within the framework of strengthening ‎‎bilateral relations between Libya and Italy, and coordinating joint eff»»»

Dubai: Bangladeshi nationals living in the UAE and applying for US business or tourist visas will face a new financial requirement from January 21, 2026, under an expanded US visa bond programme. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.As per a latest tweet from the US Embassy»»»

The UN warned on Monday that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is worsening and that gains made to tackle malnutrition ​and health would go into reverse due to funding cuts. "The context is very concerning... We are expecting things to be much worse in 2026," Julien Harneis, UN Resident and Human»»»

Dubai: Highlighting the depth, diversity and history of Turkish gastronomy, the Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Dubai hosted second event of his new culinary initiative titled “7 Regions, 7 Cuisines”, aimed at presenting the country’s rich regional food heritage to audiences across »»»

Dubai’s network of EV Green Charger stations has expanded to more than 1,860 points across the emirate, reflecting the city’s accelerating shift towards sustainable mobility, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executi»»»

With the United States bearing down on Greenland and telling its European allies to stop complaining, the prospects of the US disengaging from NATO now practically becomes a “central pillar of the America First strategic doctrine,” London-based foreign affairs analyst Adriel Kasonta tells Sputnik. »»»

Ankara, Jan. 19 (SANA) Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) said Monday that the ceasefire agreement and the full integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the institutions of the Syrian state constitute an important foundation for strengthening Syria’s unity. In a statement ca»»»

Nearly 3,000 high-level participants from business, government and beyond plus untold numbers of activists, journalists and outside observers are converging in the Swiss town of Davos for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. Here's a look at the latest edition of the elite affair in the Alpin»»»

Tokyo: Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who admires Margaret Thatcher, became Japan's first woman prime minister in October, though she has shown little appetite for framing her leadership around gender. Instead, it is her hardline stance on China, flair for showmanship and workaholic reputat»»»