Trump to be 'about three hours late' to Davos after plane incident: Bessent
Davos, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump will be about three hours late to Davos on Wednesday after an electrical issue on Air Force One forced him to change planes, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "I believe President Trump is going to be about three hours late. I haven't seen the upda»»»
Four Formations Withdraw from the Bulgarian Socialist Party
The Central Election Commission has formally removed four political formations from the coalition “BSP-United Left”, following requests submitted by the parties themselves to end their participation in the alliance. The parties leaving the coalition are the Movement for Radical Change “Bulgarian Sp»»»
UAE Forces Accused of Committing Violations against Detainees Held in Secret Prisons in Yemen
United Arab Emirates forces are accused of running a secret prison in Yemen's Dabba area in the eastern city of Mukalla. Asharq Al-Awsat toured the facility, bearing witness to the dire conditions in which the detainees were held as they waited in despair for their fate. The walls themselves tell a»»»
Commercial Bank launches CB Multicurrency Mastercard Platinum Prepaid Card
Doha, Qatar: Commercial Bank launched CB Multi, a unique and fully digital Multicurrency Mastercard Platinum Prepaid Card, across Qatar. The new payment product will enable customers to load multiple currencies onto a single card, making it easier to manage their expenses when traveling abroad. Any»»»
China’s First Tandem High-Energy Hydrogen Ion Implanter Achieves Beam Extraction
China's first domestically developed tandem high-energy hydrogen ion implanter (POWER-750H), independently developed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), successfully achieved beam extraction recently, with key performance indicators reaching internationally advanced levels, according to»»»
Jebel Sifah unveils Phase 2 of Olive Farms by Raya amid record demand for wellness living
Muscat, Oman: Jebel Sifah by Muriya has unveiled Phase Two of Olive Farms by Raya, its newest residential community, with rapid sell-out of its first phase in record time, with 1-bedroom farmhouses starting at OMR 77,250 and 2-bedrooms options starting from OMR 123,600. The exceptional response mar»»»
IT software still main driver of employment in 2025 in Romania
IT software was still the main driver of hiring in 2025, with 9,225 jobs published and net pay of between RON 5,513 and RON 8,270, which reflects a strong competition for specialists with advanced digital skills, reveals a specialist analysis published on Tuesday.Second in the ranking of the areas »»»
FinMin Nazare: In December we took very important steps to try to support the economy
A series of measures were taken in December to support the economy, and these could take effect in the last quarter of this year, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said on Tuesday in a press conference."In December, we took very important steps through which we tried to support the economy. And we »»»
Analysis: Maintaining key interest rate at 6.5% confirms that Romanian economy is entering consolidation phase
Maintaining the key interest rate at 6.5% confirms that the Romanian economy is entering a consolidation phase, being a signal of balance from the National Bank of Romania, after the tax increases, according to an analysis carried out by a specialized platform.Practically, maintaining the current l»»»
FinMin Nazare: Budget deficit target for 2026 is towards 6%
The budget deficit target for 2026 is around 6%, announced Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare in a press conference on Tuesday."Regarding the deficit target, as we discussed in each individual rectification, it is around 6%, it is also under discussion during the budget preparation and after we cont»»»
Chief of Defense Staff: Romania preparing to deploy U.S. Merops anti-drone system
Chief of Defense Staff General Gheorghita Vlad announced on Tuesday in a press conference that Romania will soon deploy the U.S.-made Merops anti-drone system to defend its airspace, and that the teams that will operate it have already been trained."We have received a Merops anti-drone system. The »»»
Presidential adviser Burnete: Romania must reach development level of Central Europe
Romania has the largest and most significant delegation to Davos it has ever had, presidential advisor Radu Burnete said on Tuesday.The Romanian delegation participating in the World Forum in Davos is made up of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oana Toiu, the Minister of Investments and European Pr»»»
Minister Nazare: Decision to join Board of Peace to be taken by Supreme Council for Country's Defense
The decision to join the Board of Peace will be made in the Supreme Council for Country's Defense (CSAT), Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare told a Tuesday's press conference."This decision is a strategic one, related to foreign policy. It is very important and will be discussed in the forum in whic»»»
Martins eyes Amir Cup encore as Al Gharafa kick off title defence against Al Kharaitiyat
Doha, Qatar: Al Gharafa will open their title defence against Al Kharaitiyat after the Round of 16 draw for the 54th Amir Cup, held yesterday, set up a series of exciting clashes scheduled from February 12 to 15. Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, club preside»»»
Qatar shooters clinch team trap silver, Pakistan’s Nadeem wins gold at Asian Shotgun Championship
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s shooters claimed the silver medal in the men’s team trap event on the penultimate day of the Asian Shotgun Championship at the Lusail Shooting Complex yesterday. The Qatari trio of Saeed Abu Sharib, Mohammed Al Rumaihi and Angelo Scalzone finished second with a total of 352 tar»»»
Al Shamal and Al Waab notch up wins in QSL Cup
Doha, Qatar: Al Shamal registered a dominant 4-1 victory over Al Kharaitiyat in their Round 10 match of the QSL Cup at the Grand Hamad Stadium yesterday. The victory fetched Al Shamal three valuable points and took their tally to 15 while Al Kharaitiyat remain on 13 points. Tamer Seyam, Mohammed Wa»»»
Varna Mayor Kotsev: Radev Could Be a Partner if His Actions Match His Words
Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev described President Rumen Radev’s resignation as a major turning point for Bulgaria’s political landscape, saying the move had been anticipated for a long time and has now become reality. Speaking on the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Kotsev said the step marks a s»»»
Aoun Stresses Keenness on Keeping Lebanon out of 'Suicidal Adventures'
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed on Tuesday that his country has "cleaned vast areas south of the Litani River of illegal weapons". Speaking to the diplomatic corps, he added that the plan to impose to state monopoly over arms and control over all of Lebanese territories "has been unpreceden»»»
Bulgaria: Man Tries to Pay Water Bill with Fake 100 Euros, Police Arrest Two
In Bulgaria's region of Montana, authorities reported another case involving counterfeit euros after a man attempted to pay his water bill with a fake 100-euro note. The incident occurred in the village of Zamfirovo, where a collector from the Berkovitsa Water and Sewerage Service received the frau»»»
SCNS detains suspects in extortion - | 24.KG
The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) detained a district police officer and a woman who conspired with him. The SCNS press center reported. It was reported that the woman T.A. and the district police officer of the Department of Internal Affairs of Oktyabrsky district, Pol»»»
No, February 2026 isn’t a 'MiracleIn' month that happens once in 823 years
A viral message is making the rounds again ahead of February 2026, claiming the month will be a once-in-a-lifetime calendar event — one that 'only happens once in 823 years.' The text is usually shared in group chats and social media captions with an urgent tone: February 2026 will have 4 Sundays, »»»
Emirates to build new cabin crew village for 12,000 staff at Dubai Investments Park
Dubai: Emirates Airline has signed an agreement to develop a new, purpose-built Cabin Crew Village at Dubai Investments Park, marking a multi-billion-dirham investment to support the airline’s expanding workforce and long-term operational plans. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & »»»
Dömötör: The EU-Mercosur Agreement was put together by Péter Magyar’s Brussels party
Csaba Dömötör, a Fidesz member of the European Parliament, sharply criticized Péter Magyar, president of the Tisza Party, in a Facebook post on Tuesday over the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. According to MEP Dömötör, Péter Magyar has accused the Hungarian government of failing to protect farmer»»»
Balázs Orbán: Sovereignty must be strengthened, not given up
Sovereignty must not be surrendered but reinforced, and this represents the Hungarian path, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political director Balázs Orbán said on Tuesday in the online program Hour of Truth. Political Director Orbán said that following the appearance of former Prime Minister Gordon »»»
Homebox unveils ‘For Every Way You Gather’ campaign: A celebration of togetherness this Ramadan
Doha, Qatar: This Ramadan, Homebox unveiled its flagship seasonal campaign, For Every Way You Gather, through an exclusive, event attended by leading influencers, VIP guests, and members of the media. Thoughtfully curated to reflect the many rhythms of Ramadan life, the experience brought to life a»»»
Human rights-based health interventions key to combating addiction
Doha, Qatar: Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Office in Qatar Dr. Rayana Ahmed Bou Haka, emphasised the critical role of human rights in addressing drug addiction and promoting public health. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Fourth National Human Rights Forum which o»»»
Halligan steps aside after judge bars her from claiming U.S. attorney role - UPI.com
Lindsey Halligan, former attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump, has left the office of U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. File Photo by Al Drago/EPA Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Lindsey Halligan has stepped aside from the U.S. attorney role, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday night»»»
Ministry of Culture to participate in Cairo International Book Fair
Doha: The Ministry of Culture (MoC) has announced its participation in the 57th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) 2026, scheduled to take place from January 21 (today) to February 3 at Egypt International Exhibition Center. The fair is considered one of the most prestigious and la»»»
‘Holistic approach key to combating drug-related risks’
Doha, Qatar: Chief of the UNODC Regional Centre for Combating Cybercrime in Doha Mustafa Ünal Erten, has underscored the growing challenges posed by drug-related risks, particularly in times of social and economic crises, and the crucial role of technology and social support systems in addressing t»»»
Arabic Book Award to honour third edition winners on Jan 27
Doha, Qatar: The Arabic Book Award announced during a press conference held at the Qatar Press Centre on Monday that the awards ceremony for the winners of its third edition will be held on January 27. The event will be held under the patronage of, and in cooperation with, the Qatar National Commis»»»
Syrian Military, SDF Announce New Truce After Guards Leave Camp Housing ISIS Families
Guards from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) abandoned a camp Tuesday in northeast Syria housing thousands of people linked to the ISIS group, and the Syrian military said that allowed detainees to escape. Hours later, the Syrian government and the SDF announced a new four-day truce a»»»
Udaipur car crash: Four teens dead, six injured
A car crash in Udaipur, India, saw the death of four teens and six others badly wounded on Saturday, reported The Times of India. At least one of the vehicles was travelling at 120km/h when they collided on the old Ahmedabad bypass. The impact left both cars in terrible shape; several riders were t»»»
Storms force closure of schools, disrupt public services
Schools in much of the country are closed due to storms that have already started to affect several areas Wednesday, while civil service departments will also see disruptions as employees have been advised to work remotely. Primary and secondary schools will be shut in the entire Greater Athens are»»»
Gaza Committee Faces Israeli Hurdles as it Seeks Pressure from Mediators
The committee tasked with administering the Gaza Strip has begun work in Cairo, but its planned entry into the enclave has been blocked by Israel, a move mediators are seeking to head off as part of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that began in mid-January and has drawn objections »»»
Schools shut as ‘dangerous’ storm nears
Attica has been placed on red alert as authorities warned of “a lot of water in a very short time,” prompting the preventive closure of in-person schools and a shift to remote learning, regional officials said. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection activated a Red Code from Tuesday through T»»»
Bulgarian Economists Slam Government Plan to Regulate Basic Goods Prices as 'Madness'
Bulgarian experts have strongly criticized the recent legislative proposal to impose controls on prices of basic goods and services, calling it economically unfeasible. Economist and financial analyst Preslav Raykov described the measure as “complete economic madness,” adding that many competent pr»»»
Qatar attends GCC panel meeting on Heads of International Relations Department
Riyadh: The State of Qatar participated in the first meeting of the committee of heads of international cooperation and international relations departments in the ministries of justice of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which is being held at the GCC General Secretariat headquarters i»»»
Respiratory Virus Claims Lives in Gaza amid Limited Capacity for Testing
Gaza resident Yusra al-Hajjar, 32, went through harrowing moments after she was shocked by a sharp rise in the temperature of her five-month-old infant, Nidal, prompting her to rush him to a clinic at the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City as his condition worsened. Initial medical examinations »»»
Legal Affairs Committee Debates Election Code Amendments at Second Reading during Session Lasting Over 13 Hours
Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs debated at second reading the draft amendments to the Election Code during a session that lasted more than thirteen hours, starting on January 20 and finishing in the early hours of January 21. Lawmakers rejected a proposal by BSP - United»»»
EU Has Two Tools to Counter US Pressure, But Lacks Unity and Guts – French Politician
The EU is reportedly weighing its so-called “bazooka” option—the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI)—after Washington slapped tariffs over Greenland, with France leading the initiative. But are they really ready to take on the US? "The EU could adopt this coming Thursday the exclusion of US firms from E»»»
What’s behind the sudden surge in Dubai gold prices
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai surged on Wednesday, pushing retail rates to fresh highs and underlining how global political and financial stress is feeding directly into local markets. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 24-karat variety climbed to Dh582.25 per gram, up »»»
Saudi Finance Minister at Davos: Fiscal Discipline Drove Our Credit Upgrades
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Tuesday strict fiscal discipline lay behind the Kingdom’s string of credit rating upgrades, arguing that Saudi Arabia has built a buffer against oil price shocks after restructuring its economy to lift the non-oil sector’s share to 56%. Speaking to »»»
Photos leaked to BBC show faces of hundreds killed in Iran's brutal protest crackdown
Warning: this story contains graphic content which some readers might find distressing Hundreds of photos revealing the faces of those killed during Iran's violent crackdown on anti-government protests have been leaked to BBC Verify. The pictures, which are too graphic to show without blurring, rev»»»
Qatar to continue supporting UNRWA materially, morally and politically: MoFA Spokesperson
Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Dr. Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari has said that Qatar will continue supporting UNRWA materially, morally, and politically. “We call on our international partners and the international community as a wh»»»
‘Qatar a cornerstone of Boeing’s Middle East defence strategy’
Doha, Qatar: Boeing views its partnership with Qatar as one of its most strategically important relationships worldwide, with cooperation extending well beyond aircraft platforms to long-term sustainment, technology development and workforce investment. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of»»»
Naval commanders conference at DIMDEX explores maritime security challenges
Doha, Qatar: As part of the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) convened yesterday, bringing together senior naval commanders, defence officials, strategic experts and academics to addre»»»
Silvercorp acquires 70% interest in Tulkubash, Kyzyltash gold projects - | 24.KG
Canadian company Silvercorp Metals Inc. reported that it has signed a Share Purchase Agreement with Chaarat Gold Holdings Limited and a Cooperation Agreement with the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. As reported, pursuant to these agreements, the company will a»»»
Türkiye’s Erdogan Says Discusses Syria, Gaza with Trump in 'Very Good' Call
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed developments in Syria and Gaza in a call with US President Donald Trump, his office said on Wednesday, as Syria's Türkiye-backed government announced a ceasefire with US-allied Kurdish forces after days of clashes. Syria's government this week seize»»»
Cryptodollars for debauchery: Webcam scheme dismantled in Bishkek - | 24.KG
A cross-border network of webcam studios operating in both Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan has been shut down in Bishkek. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported. According to the state committee, four citizens of Kyrgyzstan, members of an organized group, were detained along with polic»»»
Board of Peace charts a path forward, collective efforts needed to ensure lasting stability: PM
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani affirmed that peacebuilding is a continuous process rather than a single agreement, stressing that the proposed Board of Peace offers a clear path forward as outlined by President Tru»»»