Bulgaria became the 21st country to switch to the euro as it entered the New Year on Thursday, a milestone met with both cheers and fears, nearly 20 years after the Balkan nation joined the European Union. At midnight (2200 GMT Wednesday), Bulgaria gave up the lev currency, which has been in use si»»»

Countries around the world are welcoming the New Year as midnight strikes from time zone to time zone. The island of Kiritimati - an atoll in the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati - became the first place to enter 2026. One tourist there told us he marked it "on a beach with no satellites, no signs»»»

Abu Dhabi Police have recognised an Asian expatriate resident for his honesty and integrity after he handed over a sum of money he had found. The award was presented by Brigadier Dr Hamad Abdullah Al Neyadi, Director of the Criminal Security Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, who also gave him a gift to a»»»

Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight Thursday, taking the oath of office at an historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, placing his hand on a holy Quran as he took his oa»»»

The Trump administration in recent months has latched onto news of a large-scale public benefit fraud scandal to carry out immigration raids and harsher policies targeting Minnesota’s large Somali migrant community. An influencer's video on the subject ignited conservative circles this weekend and »»»

Dubai: Friday sermons and prayers across the UAE will be held at 12.45pm from tomorrow, under a nationwide schedule announced last month by religious authorities. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat said the change, effective from tomorrow—the first Friday of the new year»»»

Dubai: UAE motorists are heading into 2026 with fuel prices finally moving in a friendlier direction after a year marked by sharp swings at the pump. January opened with noticeable cuts across petrol and diesel grades, offering some relief after months of volatility and raising expectations that th»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sheikh Talal Nasser Al-Thani-owned Jalila Alghania, ridden by Gavin Matt Ryan, delivered a commanding performance to secure the End Of Year Cup at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday. The four-year-old filly remained steady throughout the 1300m Local Purebred Arabian Graduation feature before»»»

Dubai: An Emirates Airbus A380 flying from London to Dubai made a precautionary return to Heathrow shortly after take-off on New Year’s Eve due to a technical issue, the airline confirmed. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Emirates flight EK002, operating from London Hea»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai softened on January 1, easing from last week’s record highs as global markets closed out a volatile but historic year for precious metals. As of Thursday morning 9:15 am, 24-karat gold was priced at Dh520.25 per gram, while 22-karat stood at Dh481.75, offering some relie»»»

Dubai: Weather conditions across the UAE are expected to stabilise slightly today, with fair to partly cloudy skies prevailing and increased humidity developing overnight and into Friday morning across some coastal and internal areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). The NCM h»»»

Sharjah: Families, friends and tourists came together across Sharjah’s waterfronts to welcome 2026 with fireworks, live performances and cultural celebrations, as Al Heera Beach, Al Majaz Waterfront and Khor Fakkan Beach hosted packed New Year’s Eve programmes. Al Heera Beach dazzles visitors with »»»

Dubai: Gold heads into 2026 carrying the weight of an exceptional year. Gold remained on track for its strongest annual gain in over four decades, while other precious metals fell sharply as investors booked profits after a strong, record-setting rally. Gold has gained around 70% this year and silv»»»

Revellers around the world toasted the start of 2026, bidding farewell on Wednesday to a volatile year when temperatures soared, US President Donald Trump upended global trade, and the brutal conflict in Ukraine raged on. While a fragile truce took hold in devastated Gaza, violence in Sudan continu»»»

PARIS: Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney were granted French citizenship because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach,” the French government said Wednesday, defending their naturalisation that was questioned b»»»

Dubai: Dubai is ending 2025 with record numbers on the board and a noticeably different mood among buyers. After a year of momentum-led decisions, the property market is heading into 2026 with a sharper focus on long-term usability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Sale»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Museums (QM) has honoured the patrons whose generosity has enriched its collections and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s cultural landscape. From families sharing treasured heirlooms and artists donating unparalleled works, to corporations and diplomatic»»»

French lawmakers are set to debate a ban on social media for children under the age of 15 – as well as a prohibition on the use of mobile phones in high schools – that could begin with the next school year in September 2026.  The draft bill on social media restrictions, which also include»»»

“In these moments, just before the New Year, we all feel the passage of time. Before us is the future. And how it will unfold largely depends on us,” President Vladimir Putin said as he addressed his fellow Russians in the final minutes of 2025. The president also said that:As Russians are always r»»»

Protesters in Iran have tried to break into a local government building in the southern province of Fars, on a fourth day of demonstrations sparked by a currency collapse. Officials said three police officers were injured and four people arrested in the city of Fasa. Confrontations were also been r»»»

The faithful attend a Christmas mass at the damaged St. Anthony church in Al-Khiyam, southern Lebanon, on December 25. This is the first Christmas mass in the town since a cease-fire was agreed to between Lebanon and Israel in late November 2024 to halt more than a year of cross-border fighting wit»»»

10...nine...eight... As Wednesday turned to Thursday, people around the world said goodbye to a sometimes challenging 2025 and expressed hopes for the new year to come. Midnight arrived first on the islands closest to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiritimati (Christmas»»»

President Donald Trump has made the first vetoes of legislation since retaking the White House nearly a year ago, setting up a potential showdown with US lawmakers. The two bills he vetoed passed Congress with bipartisan support, meaning lawmakers could muster enough votes to override him in the ne»»»

A government building in southern Iran was attacked on Wednesday, authorities said, as the country's top prosecutor warned of a "decisive response" to any attempt to create instability after days of economic protests. Spontaneous protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation, be»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining safety and public order during celebrations and large gatherings, stressing that any negative behaviour will be addressed in accordance with clear legal procedures. Lieutenant Colonel Yousuf Al Mahmoud, Director of the Special »»»

Police in San Antonio, Texas, said they have found a body during the search for Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, who went missing on Christmas Eve. The body hasn't been officially identified. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI. | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Authorities found a body during a search for a mis»»»

People ride the subway past a euro adoption poster in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday. Bulgaria is set to become the 21st member of the eurozone on Jan. 1, transitioning from the national lev to the euro amid public concerns that the move could trigger immediate price hikes and a higher cost of living. Pho»»»

PARIS — Traffic slowly resumed Wednesday in the Channel tunnel after an electricity failure halted train trips connecting London to the European mainland, as frazzled passengers arrived in France after hours trapped in a powerless train.The Eurostar online timetable however still announced some del»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police will deploy 172 traffic and security patrols across the emirate’s roads during New Year’s Eve, as part of a comprehensive security and traffic plan to manage crowds, ensure road safety and maintain public order while welcoming 2026, senior officers said. The patrols will be »»»

The EU's top diplomat has called Moscow's claims that Ukraine targeted Russian government sites a "deliberate distraction" and an attempt to derail the peace process. Kaja Kallas' comments on social media appear to be a reference to the Kremlin's allegation that Ukraine attempted a drone strike on »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums is proud to honour the many patrons whose generosity has enriched its collections and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s cultural landscape. From families sharing treasured heirlooms and artists donating unparalleled works, to corporations and diplomatic missio»»»

For the first time since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, Libyans are reconnecting with their ancient heritage at the recently reopened national museum in Tripoli. In a historic building in central Tripoli, Libyans wander past ancient statues and artefacts at their national museum, which reopened»»»

Five people have been taken to hospital after an arson attack on a house in north Dublin. The incident took place at a property on Creston Avenue, Finglas at around 12:45 local time on Wednesday. A woman and a teenage boy suffered serious injuries as a result of the blaze. Gardaí (Irish police) and»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) – The Criminal Chamber of the Tunis Court of Appeal on Tuesday evening upheld the first-instance ruling sentencing Abir Moussi, president of the Free Destourian Party, to two years in prison in the case filed against her by the...»»»

Dubai: The Dubai Court of Cassation has issued a final ruling in the high-profile money laundering case known as the “Abu Sabah case”, partially overturning a Court of Appeal judgment by cancelling a Dh150 million joint fine and ordering instead the confiscation of funds derived from the crime. The»»»

Dhaka: Bangladesh bid farewell on Wednesday to former prime minister Khaleda Zia in a state funeral that drew vast crowds mourning a towering leader whose career defined the country's politics for decades. Zia, the first woman to serve as prime minister in the South Asian nation of 170 million peop»»»

Dubai: Oman has tightened pre-entry requirements for expatriate workers under its professional accreditation system, requiring expatriates to verify their academic and professional qualifications before entering the country, while warning of strict penalties for forged certificates, local media rep»»»

Dubai Police is not leaving anything to chance tonight. As citizens, residents, and visitors to Dubai travel to their celebratory spots – places from where they can enjoy their meals, the glittering stars, and pyrotechnic and drone shows – to usher in 2026, it’s quietly taking care of the details. »»»

Don't feel like going all the way to Ras Al Khaimah but really want to see the grand sky shows that will welcome 2026? We've got you covered. This year, the emirate is going all-out with its sparkling displays. The main show will run for about 15 minutes and will include an aerial display of a phoe»»»

Bulgaria is the country with the most centralized system of government in the European Union as its municipalities are entirely dependent on the national authorities and the state budget, said Donka Mihailova, Mayor of Troyan and Deputy Chair of the Management Board of the National Association of M»»»

To almost no-one's surprise, Taylor Swift dominated the UK music charts in 2025. The star's 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, was the year's biggest seller, registering an impressive 642,000 chart sales since its release in October. Women led the way all year, with breakout Brits like Olivia Dean»»»

Dubai: Eurostar trains between London and Paris have largely resumed, offering relief to travellers after major disruption in the Channel Tunnel earlier this week, according to a BBC report. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The rail operator said it plans to run a full »»»

The author of Heated Rivalry has revealed the success of the TV adaptation has resulted in her receiving specialist help with her Parkinson's disease. Rachel Reid, 45, was diagnosed with the condition in the summer of 2023, around the same time she was approached about adapting her book series for »»»

Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response". "Peaceful livelihood protests are part of social and understandable realities," Mohammad Movahedi-Azad told »»»

Hundreds of thousands of people travelled from across Bangladesh to the capital Dhaka on Wednesday to pay their final respects to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Zia, who was the country's first female prime minister, died on Tuesday from a prolonged illness. She was 80. The mourners held out th»»»

Doha, Qatar: As Qatar Foundation marks its 30th anniversary, it has launched The QF Generation, an immersive storytelling initiative that brings together 30 individuals whose lives have been shaped by QF. Through personal reflections, they share their journeys and highlight how they are now contrib»»»

Dubai: Iran is once again facing a moment of deep uncertainty as economic collapse, public anger and regional tensions converge. In recent days, the country has seen its largest protests in three years, sparked by a sharp fall in the national currency and a steady erosion of living standards. While»»»

The daughter of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy tycoon jailed in Hong Kong, has expressed concerns about her father's deteriorating health in prison, saying that his fingernails "sometimes fall off" and his teeth are rotting. Lai, 78, has been detained since December 2020 and faces life in prison. Ear»»»

On Dec. 31, 2020, the historic Brexit trade agreement with the European Union entered legal force in Britain just hours before the official end of the transition period. 1 of 5 | British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to No.10 Downing St after attending debate at the Houses of Parliament rega»»»

Eurostar will resume full service Wednesday after a power glitch left crowds of travellers stranded on either end of the Channel Tunnel, the service said in a statement. Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel that connects France and the UK since it first launched in »»»