Today in Kuwait's history
KUWAIT, Jan 15 (KUNA) -- 1961 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah signed a concession agreement with Kuwait Shell for oil investment to handle offshore oil operations for 45 years. 1980 -- Kuwait News Agency began broadcasting English-language news for 12 hours a day. 1991 -- UN Securi»»»
Judge denies Amazon’s effort to block Saks Global bankruptcy - UPI.com
A bankruptcy judge in Texas on Wednesday night okayed a $400 loan to help keep Saks Fifth Avenue parent Saks Global in business despite opposition from Amazon and other creditors. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A U.S. bankruptcy judge denied Amazon.com Inc.'s eff»»»
Song banned from Swedish charts for being AI creation
A song which has been streamed millions of times in Sweden has been banned from that country's music charts because it was created by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Called I know, You're Not Mine, it is currently top of the Spotify playlist of Sweden's most popular songs. But the supposed singer is »»»
UK to list 65-year-olds as reservists amid Russia threat claims – Telegraph
The UK government is preparing to expand the call-up age for reservists to ready the army for a potential war with Russia, The Telegraph reported on Thursday, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the plan would raise the maximum age at which retired soldiers can be recalled from 55 to 65. Ve»»»
Judge: Offshore Empire Wind can resume building, despite Trump order - UPI.com
A judge has ruled that the Empire Wind project off the coast of New York can continue its build despite a stop-work order by the Trump administration. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled Thursday that a large offshore wind project, blocked by President»»»
Micro-apartments and aparthotels face changes with new government bill
A draft government bill could fundamentally reshape Poland’s condohotel, aparthotel, and micro-apartment markets by giving municipalities decisive control over whether individual units in collective accommodation buildings can be separated and sold as private property. Under the proposal published »»»
US lawmakers fail in Senate to curb Trump’s war powers
US Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote on Wednesday to defeat a War Powers Resolution that would have prohibited President Donald Trump from using military force “within or against” Venezuela. The decisive vote came after two Republican senators reversed their positions following dir»»»
Council of Ministers to Oversee Storage of Ballot Scanners, Legal Affairs Committee Decides at Second Reading
The Council of Ministers will oversee the storage of ballot scanners, the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs decided on Thursday at second reading as it began debating a consolidated bill amending the Election Code. Under the adopted texts, the Central Election Commission (»»»
European Commission Approves Bulgaria’s National Defence Plan under SAFE Instrument
The European Commission (EC) has approved the national defence plans of eight EU Member States, marking an important milestone in Europe’s efforts to strengthen its security, the EC said in a press release on Thursday. The EC submitted a proposal to the Council to approve financial assistance for B»»»
Education Department investigating 15 K-12 schools over trans athletes - UPI.com
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks with protesters against transgender athletes competing in women's sports outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 15 (UPI) -- The Department of Education opened investigations into 15 K-12 sc»»»
European countries begin sending troops to Greenland - UPI.com
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen, left, and Greenland Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt speak to the media following a meeting with members of the Senate Arctic Caucus in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Several NATO countries have announced sending troops to G»»»
Two arrested in Athens over mobile phone banking scam
Police in Athens have arrested two men accused of hacking mobile phones to access banking data and make fraudulent purchases worth thousands of euros. The suspects were charged with forgery as well as disobedience, while authorities warned the case may be only the “tip of the iceberg.” Investigator»»»
Parliamentary Committee Rejects Bill Introducing 100% Machine Voting
Members of the parliamentary committee on constitutional and legal affairs are debating at second reading a consolidated bill amending the Election Code, which incorporates bills adopted at first reading submitted by Vazrazhdane, There Is Such a People, BSP–United Left, and Continue the Change–Demo»»»
British Columbia ends drug decriminalisation pilot programme
The Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) said it will not be extending its controversial drug decriminalisation project, allowing it to expire at the end of January. The programme began in 2023 as a three-year pilot agenda. It was a landmark policy meant to help tackle the province's deadly o»»»
Parliament Debates Ending Ad-Hoc Committee Investigating Soros-Linked Activities in Bulgaria
On Thursday, MPs debated a bill on the early termination of the parliamentary ad-hoc Committee to establish facts and circumstances regarding the activities of George Soros and Alexander Soros and their Foundations on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, financing Bulgarian natural and legal »»»
Elon Musk's xAI to stop allowing Grok to undress images of real people - UPI.com
Elon Musk's xAI announced it will no longer allow users to generate images undressing real people after the outcry of several governments and victims. Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Elon Musk's xAI announced it will stop allowing Grok to undress real people in its image editing feature »»»
US Extends License for Sale of Lukoil Assets Abroad, Including Bulgaria
Washington has prolonged the validity of a US license allowing negotiations for the sale of foreign assets owned by the Russian oil major Lukoil, extending it until February 28. The previous authorization was due to expire on January 17. The measure follows sanctions imposed in October last year by»»»
Municipalities to Set Up Sites for Household Construction Waste under Amendments Passed at First Reading
On Thursday, Parliament approved at first reading amendments to the Waste Management Act tabled by the Council of Ministers. A total of 115 MPs voted in favour, 95 against, and nine abstained. The amendments envisage expanding the responsibilities of local authorities related to the management of c»»»
Parliament of Kyrgyzstan supports tougher penalties for drunk driving - | 24.KG
Members of Parliament of Kyrgyzstan approved in the first reading of the draft law «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts Concerning Road Safety» at a meeting today. The amendments were initiated by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Oktyabr Urmambetov, t»»»
Revolut amps up fight against impersonation scams with new call identification feature
Revolut, the global fintech with more than 65 million customers worldwide, is today announcing the launch of a new in-app feature designed to protect users from one of the most insidious types of fraud: impersonation scams. The new feature detects when a customer opening the Revolut app is on the p»»»
'I begged them': Guinean mother deported from Belarus without her baby
Conakry: It's been nine months since Mariam Soumah, a 23-year-old Guinean woman, says she last saw her baby girl Sabina. The mother is in Guinea, while her daughter is -- against her will -- in an orphanage in Belarus. Several months ago, Belarus forcibly deported the young migrant mother to her we»»»
Sharjah to add large-scale solar power under new BEEAH–Masdar deal
Dubai: Sharjah is moving to scale up solar power capacity. A new joint development agreement between BEEAH and Masdar outlines a pipeline of utility-scale solar projects across the emirate, adding momentum to the UAE’s clean energy buildout. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bala»»»
Schneider Electric inaugurates new energy-efficient headquarters at Globalworth Campus
Schneider Electric Romania has inaugurated its new headquarters at the Globalworth Campus in Bucharest. Covering an area of approximately 2,300 square metres, the new office reflects the principles that define Schneider Electric globally: efficiency, digitalisation, environmental responsibility, an»»»
xAI restricts Grok chatbot after sexualised AI images spark global concern
Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has imposed limits on its Grok chatbot’s image editing capabilities after hyper-realistic sexualised images – including depictions of minors – circulated online. The restrictions apply to all users, including paid subscribers, and block image generation in juris»»»
Russia’s falling power demand highlights growing stagnation
It’s a classic proxy for economic growth: Russia’s demand for power in 2025 turned negative for the first time in four years underscoring a self-inflicted economic slowdown that threatens to turn into a recession this year. »»»
The gods departed; the crowds arrived
Mount Olympus is no longer the mountain of the gods but of visitors. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, crowding has spread from roadside tavernas to high elevations, with tents filling the Plateau of the Muses and bottlenecks forming on the trail to the summit, raising safety risks. In an attempt to pre»»»
Parliament Caps Interest on Student Loans at 3%
The National Assembly on Thursday adopted at first and second readings in a single sitting amendments to the Student and Doctoral-Candidate Loans Act to cap interest on such loans at three percentage points. The bill was submitted by MP Gabriel Valkov of BSP – United Left and a group of MPs. It pro»»»
OUTLOOK 2026 South Africa
ED – this is bne IntelliNews's annual OUTLOOK report for Egypt. We are making forward-looking assessments for major Global Emerging Markets in Emerging Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, drawing on insightful reporting from our bureaus around the world. »»»
OUTLOOK 2026 South Africa
ED – this is bne IntelliNews's annual OUTLOOK report for Egypt. We are making forward-looking assessments for major Global Emerging Markets in Emerging Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, drawing on insightful reporting from our bureaus around the world. »»»
Election Law Changes Should Boost Turnout and Trust, Socialist MP Kiselova Says
In a television interview, BSP-United Left MP Nataliya Kiselova said here on Thursday that changes to election legislation should aim to increase voter turnout and public trust. Kiselova noted that one of the reasons Bulgaria is facing an acute political crisis is the lack of trust in the National »»»
Lawmakers to Debate Cut in Student Loan Interest
Lawmakers will debate at first reading amendments to the Student and Doctoral-Candidate Loans Act to cut interest on student loans at the National Assembly on Thursday. The bill was submitted by MP Gabriel Valkov of BSP – United Left and a group of MPs. It provides for a reduction in the interest r»»»
Awqaf Ministry launches second edition of employee football championship
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs yesterday conducted the draw for the second edition of its internal football championship for departmental employees, with the participation of 20 teams divided into four groups. The tournament is part of the ministry’s community initiatives ai»»»
US Senate rejects bill restricting Trump from further military action in Venezuela
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (KUNA) - The US Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a draft resolution that sought to restrict President Donald Trump's administration from undertaking any further military action in Venezuela without prior approval from Congress.US Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking»»»
WCM-Q medical students visit Oman as part of Service Learning Programme
Doha, Qatar: The Division of Student Affairs at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently organised a visit to the Sultanate of Oman for first-year medical students as part of the college’s Medical Service Learning Programme (MSLP). The weeklong MSLP trip offers first-year medical students a un»»»
Japan, Philippines agree military resupply deal
The Philippines and Japan on Thursday signed an agreement allowing for the resupply of fuel and ammunition to each other's forces, the latest in a series of pacts aimed at countering China's regional assertiveness. Tokyo and Manila have significantly deepened military ties in recent years, with bot»»»
Rift at top of the Taliban: BBC reveals clash of wills behind internet shutdown
It was a piece of audio obtained by the BBC that revealed what worries the Taliban's leader most. Not an external danger, but one from within Afghanistan, which the Taliban seized control of as the previous government collapsed and the US withdrew in 2021. He warned of "insiders in the government" »»»
Elon Musk's Grok barred from undressing images after global backlash
San Francisco: Elon Musk's platform X on Wednesday announced measures to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from undressing images of real people, following global backlash over its generation of sexualized photos of women and children. The announcement comes after California's attorney general launched a»»»
JD Vance Blocks Venezuela War Powers Bill With Decisive Senate Vote — Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote in the US Senate to defeat a resolution banning American troops from taking part in operations against Venezuela 51-50, according to a C-SPAN broadcast. Republican senators voted to dismiss a war powers resolution that sou»»»
China’s investment in Kyrgyzstan’s economy reaches $2.1 bln at year-end 2025 - | 24.KG
China has become the largest investor in Kyrgyzstan’s industrial sector. Data from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) say. The bank reports that at year-end 2025, the volume of accumulated Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kyrgyzstan’s economy reached $2.1 billion. Investment activity fro»»»
Vice President Vance casts tie-breaking vote to quash war powers resolution - UPI.com
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks to reporters alongside Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., at the U.S. Capitol on January 07, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Republicans in the Senate on Wednesday voted against his Venezuelan war powers resolution. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Vice Presiden»»»
Long-awaited EU-Mercosur trade pact set for signing
The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur are set to sign an agreement Saturday, more than 25 years in the making, to create one of the world's largest free trade areas. Agreed in Brussels last week despite opposition from European farmers who fear for their bottom line, the pact is final»»»
X announces measures to prevent Grok from undressing images
Elon Musk's platform X on Wednesday announced measures to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from undressing images of real people, following global backlash over its generation of sexualized images of women and children. X said it will "geoblock the ability" of all Grok and X users to create images of pe»»»
Grok blocks sexualised AI deepfakes on X after scrutiny
Elon Musk's AI model Grok has announced that users will no longer be able to edit photos of real people to show them in revealing clothing, after widespread concern over sexualised AI deepfakes in countries including the UK and US. "We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok acc»»»
My UAE road trip: Why I chose to take frequent breaks on a long drive
Dubai: Long drives have a way of lulling even the most enthusiastic drivers into a false sense of ease. When the road stretches straight as a ramrod and the scenery barely changes, all that’s left to do is grip the steering wheel and stare into a horizon that never seems to end. Add late-night hour»»»
Trump administration freezes visa processing for 75 nations - UPI.com
President Donald Trump on Wednesday had his administration stop all processing of visa applications by people from 75 nations that he says likely will need public assistance. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has paused all visa-processing services f»»»
House to vote on government funding bill with deadline looming - UPI.com
The U.S. House is set to vote on a funding bill on Wednesday in hopes of avoiding another government shutdown as the end-of-month deadline draws near. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. House is set to vote on a funding bill on Wednesday in hopes of avoiding another »»»
World’s sinking river deltas put over 236mn people at risk
Some of the world’s most densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, exposing more than 236mn people to growing flood risk, according to a major international study published on January 14. »»»
World’s sinking river deltas put over 236mn people at risk
Some of the world’s most densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, exposing more than 236mn people to growing flood risk, according to a major international study published on January 14. »»»
World’s sinking river deltas put over 236mn people at risk
Some of the world’s most densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, exposing more than 236mn people to growing flood risk, according to a major international study published on January 14. »»»
World’s sinking river deltas put over 236mn people at risk
Some of the world’s most densely populated river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, exposing more than 236mn people to growing flood risk, according to a major international study published on January 14. »»»