It’s exciting to win something. For long-time Pakistani resident Adul Salam Muhammad Ashraf that feeling of victory came after 20 years in the UAE. On January 13, he won Dh100,000 in The UAE Lottery. It was a serendipitous opportunity that presented itself about a year ago, when he heard about the »»»

Simeon Dyankov, chairman of Bulgaria’s Fiscal Council, has warned that price increases implemented by traders are likely to remain in place despite new laws and fines, highlighting structural issues in the country’s economic regulation. Speaking on BNT, Dyankov explained that last-minute legislativ»»»

Rabat: Morocco will face Senegal tomorrow, Sunday, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, in the final of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2025). The highly anticipated showdown brings together two of Africa's most formidable sides in a clash worthy »»»

Guangzhou, China: A total of 103 students at a senior high school in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province, have been infected with norovirus, local health authorities said Saturday, noting that no critical or fatal cases were reported. Norovirus, a common pathogen leading to acute gastroenterit»»»

A new year, a new beginning. The latest monthly figures on the economy hardly confirm a change of gear, but nor do they back up the worst doom-mongers claiming decline and recession. It is neither doom nor boom, but a new year makes an opportunity to wipe the slate clean on policy, on a sense of ce»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday gave a key role in post-war Gaza to former British prime minister Tony Blair and appointed a U.S. officer to lead a nascent security force. Trump named members of a board to help supervise Gaza that was dominated by Americans, as he promotes a controversial vis»»»

BusinessBrazilEU and Mercosur countries to sign landmark free trade dealShakeel Sobhan with AFP, ReutersThe agreement took 25 years to negotiate and will create one of the world's largest free trade zones. The trade deal will be signed, despite opposition from some European farmers. https://p.dw.co»»»

Egypt has emerged as Africa’s most AI-ready country, ranking 51st globally out of 195 nations in the 2025 Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index published by Oxford Insights, according to a statement by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. With a score of 57.5, Egy»»»

A Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly flew over the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands at the top end of the South China Sea on Saturday, in what Taiwan's defense ministry called a "provocative and irresponsible" move. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, reports »»»

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he valued an offer by US President Donald Trump to mediate ⁠a dispute over Nile River waters between Egypt and Ethiopia. In a post on ⁠X, Sisi said on Saturday that he addressed Trump's letter by affirming Egypt's position and concerns about the country'»»»

Cairo, Egypt: US President Donald Trump expressed his appreciation for the efforts of his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El Sisi for the mediation efforts between Hamas and the Israeli occupation to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, expressing his appreciation for bilateral relations between the two co»»»

Army of the new authorities announced on Saturday the control on Deir Hafer and Maskanah in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, after the withdrawal of Kurdish militants known as Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). SANA state news agency cited the Syria Army’s Operations command as saying that the Syria»»»

For my first column of 2026, I’m sharing a pasta recipe starring cabbage, sausage and tomatoes. It’s got all the things you could want at this time of year: comfort, nutrition and affordability. The idea for this dish first came to me about a year ago, but for various reasons, I’m just sharing it w»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Bank (QNB) considered that the initial results of the economic agenda known as 3-3-3, launched by the US administration a year ago, include indications of higher-than-expected economic growth, alongside persistent challenges in controlling public finances, as well as tan»»»

Jakarta, Indonesia: An ATR 400 aircraft flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar lost contact on Saturday around Maros Regency in South Sulawesi, Indonesian local media reported. The aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was scheduled to land at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassa»»»

For the first time, UAE athletes are competing on home soil at the second official EEIPC 2026 – the World Skydiving Championships, currently underway in Abu Dhabi. Team UAE, alongside participants from over 30 countries, is competing at CLYMB Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – the world’s biggest indoor skydi»»»

Washington, United States: Google filed a notice on Friday to appeal a federal judge's ruling that it held an illegal monopoly on online search, court records show. A US district judge decided in 2024 that the internet giant had a monopoly on search and text advertising through exclusive distributi»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Vostok battlegroup liberated the village of Priluki in the Zaporozhye region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "Units of the Vostok group of forces advanced into the depth of the enemy's defenses and liberated the village of Priluki in the Zaporozhye region»»»

The Osh Regional Department of Internal Affairs reported that three citizens in Alai district voluntarily handed over three traumatic pistols to the police for subsequent destruction. According to the police, the decision was made following the circulation of videos on social media showing threats »»»

President Donald Trump has unveiled the leadership structure of a high-powered committee which will oversee the reconstruction and governance of Gaza, naming himself as its chairman and appointing a controversial roster of diplomats, financiers and political allies. In a White House statement relea»»»

Bulgaria has registered its lowest refusal rate for U.S. tourist and business visas in almost 20 years, with rejections standing at 5.11%, according to official figures released by the U.S. Department of State for the 2025 U.S. fiscal year. The data were confirmed by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign »»»

Dubai: In a remote village in North Sumatra, Indonesia, the Manurung family has found itself thrust into an unexpected global spotlight, as videos documenting their daily lives spread rapidly across social media, challenging long-held prejudices and misconceptions. Four of the six Manurung siblings»»»

Misrata Chamber of Commerce, represented by Ali Miftah Zaqut, Director of the Exhibitions and Media Department, accompanied by Mustafa Çatiroğlu, the founding member of the Ike-Talli Istanbul Industrial Zone in Turkey, held several meetings in Istanbul on January 15 and 16, 2026. The meeting was he»»»

Police in Uganda have denied allegations that presidential candidate Bobi Wine was abducted on Friday evening as vote counting continues in the East African nation amid an internet blackout. Wine's party said a helicopter landed in the grounds of his house in the capital, Kampala, and forcibly took»»»

Syria's Kurds on Saturday said a presidential decree recognizing the minority's rights and making Kurdish an official language fell short of their expectations as Syrian government forces entered the outskirts of a northern town. In a statement, the Kurdish administration in Syria's north and north»»»

Hezbollah offered condolences on Friday to Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Al-Sistani on the demise of his brother, Sayyed Hadi. In a statement, Hezbollah’s Media Relations Office said: “With great satisfaction with God’s decree and submission to His will, we received the news of the passing away»»»

New York: US aviation authorities issued notices Friday warning airlines to "exercise caution" in the airspace over Mexico and Central America due to "military activities." The Federal Aviation Administration posted a series of messages cautioning about a "potentially hazardous situation," citing t»»»

The White House on Friday announced some members of a so-called "Board of Peace" that is to supervise the temporary governance of Gaza, which has been under a fragile ceasefire since October. The names include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, »»»

Dubai: The UAE is marking the ‘Day of Solidarity’ or 'Day of Resolve' today, January 17, with nationwide displays, as fighter jets and helicopters are set to sweep across the skies of all seven emirates this afternoon. Late on Friday, the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, was illuminated wit»»»

The mayor of Yokohama has apologised for insulting colleagues after an official publicly accused him of making offensive remarks. At a news conference, the Japanese city's human resource chief, Jun Kubota, alleged that Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka had used terms such as "idiot" and "human scum" to dispa»»»

On Jan. 17, 1995, a powerful earthquake rocked Kobe, Japan, and the surrounding area, killing about 5,500 people. 1 of 6 | People offer prayers for the victims of the January 17, 1995, Great Hanshin earthquake with candles marking the date during a ceremony January 17, 2025, in Kobe, Japan. File Ph»»»

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs has approved, at second reading, a provision allowing up to 20 polling stations to be opened outside Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions in countries outside the European Union. The decision was taken during the debate on a cons»»»

Attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have continued in southern Lebanon, raising growing concern among Lebanese and diplomatic circles. The latest incident occurred on Thursday in the border village of Adaisseh, where an Israeli drone dropped a grenade near a UNIFIL patro»»»

Rabat: Sadio Mane will cement his status as one of the all-time great African players if he can lead Senegal to victory against hosts Morocco in Sunday's Cup of Nations final -- a game he has said will be his farewell to the tournament. Former Liverpool star Mane turns 34 in April and has played ov»»»

Havana: Cuba, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off from its main oil supplies, generated only half of the electricity it needed in 2025, according to official statistics analyzed by AFP. The communist island is in the throes of its worst economic crisis in decades, marked by re»»»

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed High Representative for Gaza. In this role, he will act as the key on-the-ground link between the Peace Council and the National Committee for the Governance of Gaza (NCAG), coordinating civilian and security efforts while overseeing governanc»»»

Report by Shaimaa Al-Ruwaished KUWAIT, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- An unforgettable chapter in Kuwaitآ’s history and in the hearts of the Kuwaiti people is marked today (Saturday), as the first airstrike by the international coalition forces was launched on January 17, 1991, marking the start of the "Operatio»»»

Italians began exploring a varied diet sometime between the 7th and 6th centuries BC, according to a new analysis of ancient teeth from Iron Age Italians. Unravelling details about the lifestyles of ancient cultures is a challenging task, as it requires specific, well-preserved fossils of long-dece»»»

Italians began exploring a varied diet sometime between the 7th and 6th centuries BC, according to a new analysis of ancient teeth from Iron Age Italians. Unravelling details about the lifestyles of ancient cultures is a challenging task, as it requires specific, well-preserved fossils of long-dece»»»

Iran is facing a sweeping security crackdown after a wave of arrests and the heavy deployment of forces in Tehran and other cities, as residents and a rights group said protests have largely abated under the weight of the clampdown. Accounts from residents in the capital described a cautious calm s»»»

Dubai’s Discovery Gardens community has been given extra time to register for on-street paid parking, after residents reported problems using the PARKONIC app. Parkonic confirmed on Saturday that the activation period has been extended until Monday, January 19. The company said it understands resid»»»

Israel is grappling with a dramatic increase in post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide among its troops after its two-year assault on Gaza, precipitated by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel. Recent reports by the Defense Ministry and by health providers have detailed the mili»»»

Dubai: With the birth of the crescent moon of Shaaban expected tomorrow, Muslims around the world are entering the final month before Ramadan. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society, said the Shaaban crescent will be born on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 11:52pm UAE time. B»»»

Copenhagen: Large demonstrations are planned across Denmark and Greenland on Saturday to protest against US President Donald Trump's designs to take over the Arctic island. Thousands of people have indicated on social media that they intend to take part in marches and rallies organised by Greenland»»»

A senior Lebanese security source said Lebanese military intelligence is questioning Syrian national Ahmad Dunya and examining the origins of funds seized in his possession and their presumed destinations, stopping short of saying they were intended to finance fighters as part of a plot to destabil»»»

BusinessEurope'Not just trade': The EU-Mercosur megadeal Rosie BirchardAs the EU's share of the global market slips, the Mercosur deal could unlock access to critical raw materials. It's also indicative of a wider EU economic pivot. https://p.dw.com/p/56ozZTariffs on most goods will be cut or scrap»»»

Dubai: As Ranveer Singh’s Bollywood hit Dhurandhar rakes in Rs 13 billion at the box office, we asked powerhouse performer Rani Mukerji, whose husband produced the film, the question on everyone’s mind: does one film’s success embolden others and finally shift the conversation about what kinds of m»»»

A phone call on Friday between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and President Joseph Aoun helped quell speculation of serious rifts between the two, after weeks of reports suggesting relations had deteriorated into what some described as a “shaky relationship.” Geagea statement The LF said on Fr»»»

KUWAIT, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- 1962 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah signed a decree approving formation of the Gulf State's first government. The 14-member cabinet had a mandate of writing a constitution. 1981 -- Abdullah Al-Nouri, a scholar, teacher and was the director of Kuwait Radio »»»

Israel pressed ahead with targeted killings of senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures in Gaza, citing recent attacks on its forces, even as a ceasefire agreement entered its second phase, and plans were announced for a technocratic body to administer the enclave. On Thursday, Israel killed two seni»»»