‘I Know the Pain’: Ex-Refugee Takes over as UNHCR Chief
Barham Salih has known torture and the wrenching loss of exile. Four decades after his own ordeal, he has taken the helm of the UN refugee agency as it grapples with a funding shortfall and ever-rising needs. A former Iraqi president, Salih, 65, became the first former head of state to run the Unit»»»
AROBS Systems secures two digital transformation contracts for Health Ministry and National Pension House
AROBS Systems, part of the AROBS Group (BVB: AROBS), has announced the signing of two new digital transformation contracts within the central public administration, funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The initiatives focus on the digitalisation of the Health Ministry an»»»
UAE Cyber Council flags risks of AI-powered phishing
Abu Dhabi: Experts in digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are warning of a sharp, year-on-year rise in hacking incidents, driven by growing reliance on technology and rapid digital transformation. They note that AI itself is becoming a key factor behind the surge in data breaches, a»»»
Vessel collision in Thailand: Citizens of Kyrgyzstan in satisfactory condition - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic (MFA) commented on the collision of the recreational speedboat Korawich Marine 888 and a fishing vessel off the coast of Phuket. According to the ministry, 55 people were injured as a result of the accident. The Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Malaysi»»»
O Gold transforms into a lifestyle super app where gold becomes your daily currency
O Gold, the UAE’s trusted Shariah-compliant gold investment platform, has officially announced its strategic evolution into a comprehensive Super App and introduced a gold-backed Mastercard to mark a significant milestone in the fintech sector. This announcement marks a total transformation for the»»»
Bulgaria Proposes Higher Quotas for Non-EU Workers to Meet Labor Demand
Bulgaria is considering legal changes that would allow companies to hire more workers from non-EU countries, responding to growing labor shortages. A draft amendment to the Labour Migration and Labour Mobility Act, now open for public discussion, proposes increasing quotas for third-country personn»»»
Monkeys on the loose in St Louis after four-day search
Multiple monkeys are on the loose in St Louis, Missouri, sparking confusion and concern from the city's animal control officials, who said they do not know where the primates came from. The monkeys have been running free since at least Thursday, when they were first spotted roaming the streets. Res»»»
Libyan International Forum on Cooperative Enterprises and Financial Institutions to be held on 18 January in Tripoli
The Libyan Business Council announced that it will be organising the Libyan International Forum on Cooperative Enterprises and Financial Institutions on 18 January at a leading hotel in Tripoli. It will be held in cooperation with the Libya Fund for Industrial Development, the Libyan Cooperative C»»»
GERB-UDF Returns First Cabinet-Forming Mandate, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria to Get Second One Soon
Outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov returned a mandate to form a new Cabinet on behalf of GERB-UDF immediately after receiving it from President Rumen Radev on Monday. Radev said he would mandate the second-largest parliamentary group, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), to form»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.3149
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3149 dinars for one euro on Monday, which is a slight change relative to Friday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and steady relative to the beginn»»»
Vucic to travel to Abu Dhabi for Sustainability Week 2026
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will travel to Abu Dhabi for the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, the Presidency of Serbia announced on Monday. During the visit to Abu Dhabi, Vucic will meet with the event's host, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Vucic»»»
Finance Ministry launches first Tezaur treasury bonds issue of 2026 with interest rates up to 7.4%
The Romanian Finance Ministry announced on Monday the launch of the first 2026 edition of the Tezaur treasury bonds programme, offering annual interest rates of up to 7.4%. Starting Monday, 12 January, until Friday, 6 February 2026, Romanian citizens can invest in Tezaur government bonds with matur»»»
'Genius' chimpanzee Ai dies in Japan at 49
Tokyo: Ai, a "genius" chimpanzee who could recognise arabic numerals, over 100 Chinese characters and the English alphabet, has died aged 49, Japanese researchers said. Ai, which means love in Japanese, took part in studies on perception, learning and memory that advanced our understanding of prima»»»
Sharjah Charity’s ‘Joud 2026’ sets Dh150m target to support millions this Ramadan
Sharjah: Sharjah Charity International has launched its new smart application on Apple Store and Google Play and announced its Ramadan campaign, Joud 2026, with a fundraising target of Dh150 million. The launch took place in the presence of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ch»»»
Sandra Gomez appointed vice president for strategy, product and business at Dacia
Sandra Gomez has taken the role of Dacia vice president for strategy, product and business, effective 1 January 2026. Reporting directly to Dacia CEO Katrin Adt, Gomez succeeds Patrice Lévy Bencheton, who has been appointed director of the light commercial vehicles programme within Renault Group. “»»»
Vienna to host Turkic Week with participation of OTS countries - | 24.KG
From January 12 to 15, Vienna, the capital of Austria, will host Turkic Week, bringing together member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), international organizations, the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the Turkic diaspora. The event’s organizers announced. The program will»»»
Health minister urges flu vaccinations as hospitals struggle
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has urged citizens to get vaccinated against seasonal flu, warning that hospitals are under growing pressure from unvaccinated patients. “In hospital emergency departments, there is now tremendous pressure from unvaccinated people with flu,” Georgiadis wrote in a p»»»
Media Review: January 12
POLITICS bTV: GERB leader Boyko Borissov said the outgoing coalition government achieved historic results, including Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and the eurozone and the absorption of nearly BGN 5 billion in EU funds. Speaking on Facebook, he described the cabinet as “good but very quiet” and »»»
Iran: Million-man Marches to Protest Foreign-linked Riots
Iran’s capital witnesses on Monday million-man marches protesting recent foreign-backed riots and demonstrating support for the Islamic establishment. Entitled “National Solidarity and Promotion of Peace and Friendship,” the rallies already took place in several provinces including the capital, Teh»»»
How a Gazan child’s desperate phone call inspired a must-see movie
The little girl’s desperate pleas stopped Kaouther Ben Hania in her tracks. Ben Hania, the Tunisian filmmaker behind the Oscar-nominated features “The Man Who Sold His Skin” and “Four Daughters,” was at the airport scrolling through social media in February 2024 when she came across a snippet of 6-»»»
Rama, Balluku Visit Tropoja Wind Park, Highlight Albania’s Shift Toward Renewable Energy
The Tropoja wind park, with an expected capacity of 600 megawatts and developed by U.S.-based company CWP, is emerging as one of Albania’s most significant energy transition projects, signaling the country’s clear shift toward a sustainable and secure energy future. Prime Minister Edi Rama, togethe»»»
‘Genius’ chimpanzee Ai, who could identify Arabic numerals, dies in Japan at 49
TOKYO Ai, a “genius” chimpanzee who could recognise more than 100 Chinese characters and the English alphabet, has died aged 49, Japanese researchers said. Ai, which means love in Japanese, took part in studies on perception, learning and memory that advanced our understanding of primate intelligen»»»
Jailed Venezuelan politician's son says Trump shouldn't be 'fooled' by pledge of prisoner releases
The son of a jailed Venezuelan opposition leader has warned Donald Trump to "not be fooled" by the country's government, amid accusations it has not kept its promise to release a significant number of political prisoners. Ramón Guanipa, the son of Juan Pablo Guanipa, said he believed the US preside»»»
Barq Group, Elroy Air Seal $200m Cargo Drone JV
UAE-based Barq Group and US aerospace firm Elroy Air have signed a $200 million joint venture agreement to manufacture and service autonomous cargo aircraft in the United Arab Emirates, marking a major step in the region’s advanced air mobility ambitions. The partnership will establish a state-of-t»»»
Elsewedy Electric Wins $60.8mn Kuwait Power Contract
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedinCopy URL Elsewedy Electric has secured a new infrastructure contract in Kuwait through its subsidiary, Egypt Cables Company, reinforcing its growing footprint in Gulf power projects. The company signed a KWD 18.7 million (around USD 60.8 million) agreement with Kuwait»»»
EGX Starts 2026 with Selective Gains, Not a Market-Wide Rally
Egypt’s equity market ended the first full trading week of 2026 on a mixed note, reflecting a cautious but constructive start to the year as investors selectively rotated into large-cap and Shariah-compliant stocks, while profit-taking weighed on small- and mid-cap shares. By the close of trading o»»»
Precious Metals Post Exceptional Gains in 2025
Analysis by Mining Journal shows that 2025 marked a strong upswing for global commodity markets, with prices of 14 major metals and minerals rising over the year. The rally was broad-based, reflecting tight supply conditions, resilient demand, and heightened investor interest in both precious and i»»»
SCZONE Revenues Jump 55% as Investment Momentum Accelerates
The Suez Canal Economic Zone reported a sharp rise in revenues during the first five months of the current fiscal year, underscoring accelerated growth and a strong inflow of new investments into Egypt’s flagship industrial and logistics hub. According to official figures reviewed during a board me»»»
Iran mourns deaths blamed on US and Israel
Iran has declared three days of mourning to honor the victims of the deadly nationwide riots, which it called a “battle” against the US and Israel, the semi-official Iranian Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday. The worst protests in recent years shook Iran starting in late December, sparked by th»»»
Truck plows through Iran protest in Los Angeles (VIDEOS)
A truck drove into an anti-Iranian government protest in Los Angeles, reportedly injuring several people. The incident occurred in Westwood, where a crowd had gathered to show solidarity with the protests in Iran, which erupted last month over soaring inflation and escalated into riots. Videos from»»»
Iranian parliamentary speaker threatens US with preemptive strikes
Iran will conduct preemptive strikes on US and Israeli targets if it detects an imminent attack, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said. The warning comes after US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the protests in Ira»»»
NATO members seeking to outmaneuver Trump on Greenland – media
The UK and Germany are drawing up plans aimed at preventing US President Donald Trump from seizing Greenland, Bloomberg and The Telegraph reported over the weekend. Trump has long argued that the US should control the Danish self-governing island, citing its strategic position and the need to count»»»
Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026 presents historic images from the nation’s founding era
The National Archives and Library has allocated a special corner to exhibit a rare collection of historic photographs of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may Allah rest his soul, captured by the lens of British traveler and explorer Wilfred Thesiger. The exhibition i»»»
Sharjah Charity’s ‘Jood 2026’ sets Dh150m target to support millions this Ramadan
Sharjah: Sharjah Charity International has launched its new smart application on Apple Store and Google Play and announced its Ramadan campaign, Joud 2026, with a fundraising target of Dh150 million. The launch took place in the presence of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ch»»»
Sheikh Mansour Award spurs agricultural innovation and sustainability in UAE
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award: A Platform to Foster Innovation and Support Local Production Abu Dhabi Integrates Technology and Advanced Techniques to Achieve Sustainability and Food Security The pavilion of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, at the»»»
Heavy mining equipment delivered to Togolok gold deposit - | 24.KG
Another shipment of specialized heavy mining equipment has been delivered to Togolok gold deposit, developed by Kumtor Operating Company. According to the company, the equipment is intended for complex development work at the mine, which is considered a strategically important project for Kyrgyzsta»»»
Bulgaria to Invest Nearly 310 Million Euros in Enterprise Modernization in 2026
The Ministry of Innovation and Growth (MIG) plans to allocate close to 310 million euros for the technological modernization and renewal of Bulgarian businesses in 2026. The funding will be distributed across five measures under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Program (CIE), the m»»»
She dreamed of a future. Shot from close range: Iran’s protests are killing its youth
Dubai: A 23-year-old university student was shot in the head “from close range” during Iran’s anti-government protests, a human rights group said, as fresh details emerged of a violent crackdown that has left hundreds dead across the country. Rubina Aminian, a textile and fashion design student at »»»
Saudi Industrial Production Index Records Highest Growth Since Early 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index posted a year-on-year increase of 10.4 percent in November 2025, compared with the same month a year earlier, marking its highest growth rate since the beginning of 2023, according to preliminary data. On a monthly basis, however, the index declined by 0.7»»»
Saudi Arabia Consolidates Its Position Among the World’s Top 20 Economies in 2026
As the global financial landscape is reshaped by accelerating geopolitical shifts, economic data show that Saudi Arabia has firmly consolidated its place among the world’s 20 largest economies in 2026. This standing reflects the success of Vision 2030 in diversifying income sources and expanding gr»»»
Nepal's unemployed youth scramble for election jobs
Kathmandu: Tens of thousands of young Nepalis have applied for temporary jobs policing upcoming elections, the first polls since a youth-led uprising spotlighted the Himalayan nation's economic woes. Nepal estimated it suffered losses of about $586 million and that nearly 15,000 people lost their j»»»
Israeli strikes kill 1 in South as Aoun says arms have become a burden
The Israeli army carried out several strikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday, killing one person, according to Lebanese authorities, with the Israeli military saying it targeted a Hezbollah militant and alleged infrastructure. The strikes came days after the Lebanese military said it had completed di»»»
Marat Imankulov: More has been done in five years than in previous decades - | 24.KG
Former State Secretary of Kyrgyzstan Marat Imankulov gave an interview to Birinchi Radio, in which he summed up the performance of the current authorities and spoke about key changes in the areas of security, economy, and public administration. According to the former state secretary, society is ac»»»
More than 100 professions in Kyrgyzstan to receive special work schedules - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a list of categories of specialists with a special nature of work, as well as the duration of their working hours. The corresponding resolution was signed by Cabinet Chairman Adylbek Kasymaliev. According to the document, its purpose is to legally»»»
'Are You Dead?': The viral Chinese app for young people living alone
A new bleak-sounding app has taken China by storm. Named "Are You Dead?" the concept is simple. You need to check in with it every two days – clicking a large button – to confirm that you are alive. If not, it will get in touch with your appointed emergency contact and inform them that you may be i»»»
Prime Minister meets CEO of US International Development Finance Corporation
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, received on Monday the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation HE Ben Black, during his visit to the country. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relat»»»
This new crash test dummy could keep women safer in car accidents
Bald, faceless and empirically lifelike, this dummy may not be much to look at. But experts say it is a quantum leap forward in a decades-long effort to make cars safer for women. In November, regulators unveiled THOR-05F - short for “Test device for Human Occupant Restraint, 5th-percentile Female”»»»
Prime Minister meets US Under Secretary Helberg
Doha, Qatar: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, received today, January 12, 2026, HE Jacob Helberg, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs of the United States of America, who is currently visiting the country. During th»»»
Fever expands to Qatar, strengthening nation's position as a global hub for culture, sports, and live experiences
DOHA: Fever, the world's leading tech platform for discovering culture and live entertainment, announcedits strategic expansion into Qatar. This milestone underscores the country's growing momentum as a global hub for innovation, major events, and cutting-edge experiential entertainment. Fever's ex»»»
Café faces backlash over AI image of late TV host
A café in Messini, Peloponnese, is facing criticism for using an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image of the late television host Giorgos Papadakis in an advertisement, showing him enjoying coffee “from the gates of heaven” just days after his death. Papadakis, one of Greece’s most familiar»»»