Russian hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin has refused to participate in an NHL event in support of the LGBTQ community. Ovechkin’s team the Washington Capitals hosted their annual Pride Night during a game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Several players wrapped their hockey sticks with rai»»»

OVERVIEW All media report on the potential change of the voting system in Bulgaria. POLITICS An article in 24 Chasa predicts that on Wednesday, President Rumen Radev will announce his resignation as head of State before the Constitutional Court and will enter politics to run in the early parliament»»»

As 2026 begins, China stands at a decade-long inflection point. Beijing’s leadership faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that its state-directed model can withstand intensifying external pressure while delivering its domestic stability agenda. For observers of China’s grand strategy, 2026 is sha»»»

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is proposing to introduce fines for violating the requirements of the Law «On the Halal Industry in the Kyrgyz Republic.» Deputy Minister Sultan Akhmatov announced at a meeting of the Committee on Finance, Budget, Entrepreneurship, and Competition Development of»»»

ACDIMA and EIPICO are jointly anchoring Egypt’s most significant push to localise pharmaceutical raw-material production following the inauguration of the Arab API manufacturing complex in the Suez Canal Economic Zone at Ain Sokhna. The foundation stone for the $165 million facility was laid at a c»»»

A bill to amend and supplement the Social Insurance Code was presented at a meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) here on Monday. The revisions are basically intended to introduce a multi-fund model in supplementary pension insurance, Bulgarian Deputy Finance Minister Ki»»»

Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few days, a senior parliament member said on Monday, after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush protests in the worst domestic unrest since ​the 1979 revolution. In the latest sign of weakness in the authorities' control, st»»»

Dubai: Saudi authorities have officially introduced advanced smart counting systems at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, a move aimed at strengthening crowd management ahead of the sharp rise in worshippers expected during Ramadan and the upcoming Hajj season, local media reported The new technology trac»»»

The ten voluntary private pension funds (Pillar 3) recorded the highest investment return in the system’s nearly 19-year history in 2025, at 19.6%, while net assets under management rose to 7.4 billion RON (1.45 billion EUR), up 33% compared to the end of 2024, according to figures released by APAP»»»

Dubai: An Indian-origin couple and three others have been arrested in the United States for allegedly running a sex trafficking and drug distribution operation from a motel in Virginia, US prosecutors said. Tarun Sharma (55) and Kosha Sharma (52) were arrested for allegedly allowing prostitution an»»»

Serbia’s majority Russian-owned oil company NIS has restarted oil processing at its Pancevo refinery after securing a temporary waiver from US sanctions, Serbia’s energy minister said on January 18. Production of petroleum»»»

Dubai: Emirates is expanding its Dubai-Manila route with four additional weekly flights starting April 2, 2026, strengthening travel options for residents, overseas Filipino workers, and business travellers between the UAE and the Philippines. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Ba»»»

The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) 0f the government, trade unions and employers will be meeting Monday at the Council of Ministers to discuss a draft bill to amend and supplement the Social Insurance Code, submitted by the Minister of Finance, said the government press office. »»»

Anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters march after groups from competing protests confronted each other in downtown Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI | License Photo Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors are investigating anti-Immigration and C»»»

The collective wealth of the planet's billionaires soared to a record level in 2025, charity Oxfam reported Monday, warning of "highly dangerous" political consequences as the global elite gathers for the World Economic Forum. Also Read: Wealth inequality ‘out of control,’ with billionaires' fortun»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

The European Union and Mercosur concluded a free trade agreement on January 17 in Asunción, bringing to an end 25 years of on-and-off negotiations between the two blocs. Senior officials from both sides gathered in the Par»»»

3270830 KUWIAT -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the commencement of phase two of President Trump's plan to end Gaza conflict. 3270880 MANAMA -- Bahrain receives US invitation to join the Board of Peace that will oversee the implementation of Trump's plan to end Gaza conflict. 327»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Commercial Bank (P.S.Q.C.) (the “Bank”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced today its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Group reported Net Profit before Pillar Two Tax of QAR 2,384.4 million for FY 2025, down from QAR 3,032.1 million in FY 2024. Co»»»

Granite Financial Holding, a digitally enabled asset management company, has received a fintech licence from the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), paving the way for the immediate launch of its proprietary mobile application, the Granite Money Market Account (Granite MMA). The launch follows an»»»

There Is Such a People (TISP) Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov told Bulgarian National TV here on Sunday evening that the appearance of new people and new parties in elections should not be a problem for anyone. He noted that political life is not static, which he considers a positive thing, and added »»»

Sharjah Charity International has launched early field preparations for its Ramadan food basket project as part of its annual Ramadan campaign, Jood, aiming to support vulnerable families ahead of the holy month. The initiative seeks to ensure that essential food supplies reach underprivileged hous»»»

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov stated that Bulgarian Posts are handling the exchange of leva to euro flawlessly so far, particularly in remote areas without bank branches. Speaking to bTV’s here on Sunday, he noted that postal security has been reinforced and»»»

Israeli settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village in the West Bank, setting fire to a series of structures, according to security camera footage obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday, in an overnight onslaught that has become a common phenomenon in the occupied territory. In the video, t»»»

Uganda's incumbent President Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term in office, official results showed Saturday, allowing the former guerrilla to extend his four-decade rule of the East African country. His main opponent, Bobi Wine, remains in hiding after security forces raided his home. Ugandan Presi»»»

Thousands of people marched through Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Saturday to protest against US plans to annex the self-governing Danish territory. A similar rally was held in Copenhagen. The protests came in response to recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who has declared that Washing»»»

Interviewed by Bulgarian National Radio on Sunday, Nataliya Kiselova MP of BSP-United Left said that uncertainties surrounding snap parliamentary elections concern not only the rules governing them, but also the participants and the timing. She noted that media speculation has increasingly focused »»»

Melbourne: Venus Williams made history as the oldest woman to ever play the Australian Open on Sunday but the 45-year-old fell at the first hurdle after an epic battle with an opponent more than 20 years her junior. The American seven-time Grand Slam champion was handed a wildcard for Melbourne, fi»»»

Belgrade: Serbia's sole refinery, majority owned by Russian companies, resumed its work on Sunday due to a temporary reprieve from sanctions targeting Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Serbia's energy minister said. Washington's sanctions on the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS), part of its crackdown»»»

In a significant move aimed at revitalizing the nation’s economic landscape, the Egyptian government has launched an all-encompassing tax facilitation package designed to support small businesses, startups, and freelancers. This initiative, unveiled during a press conference by Minister of Finance »»»

Doha, Qatar: Starting February 1, 2026, foreign vehicles entering Qatar through Abu Samra will be able to obtain vehicle insurance electronically before entering the country, speeding up the border entry process. The Qatar Unified Insurance Bureau launched an electronic system, MSAR, that will allo»»»

On Jan. 18, 1871, William of Prussia was declared the first German emperor. 1 of 5 | On January 18, 1919, a post-World War I peace conference began that resulted in the creation of the international peacekeeping organization the League of Nations. File Photo courtesy United Nations Jan. 18 (UPI) --»»»

Dubai: Schools across the UAE have moved to tighten controls on student health and safety, urging parents not to send any medication with their children during the school day, except in strictly regulated medical cases. Administrations at a number of government and private schools following the Min»»»

London: Britain's so-called Brexit wars dominated parliament for years. Now the Labour government is bracing for new battles as it eyes legislation to move closer to the European Union. Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately set about repairing and rebuilding relations with the 27-member bloc afte»»»

Britain's so-called Brexit wars dominated parliament for years. Now the Labor government is bracing for new battles as it eyes legislation to move closer to the European Union. Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately set about repairing and rebuilding relations with the 27-member bloc after winning»»»

Dubai: Dubai has taken a decisive step towards a greener, more efficient public transport network with the arrival of 250 new buses including the UAE’s largest-ever fleet of electric buses, giving a major boost to daily commuting and reinforcing the city’s long-term sustainability goals. Dubai’s Ro»»»

Dubai: Finding a parking space in a fast-growing city like Dubai can be a daily challenge, and Parkin says its updated system is designed to make that experience fairer and more manageable for everyone. The company explained that its parking reservations now fall into two main categories. The first»»»