Netherlands police face 'unprecedented' New Year's violence
Police in the Netherlands were pelted with fireworks and faced an "unprecedented amount of violence" on New Year's Eve, officers have said. A 19th century church in Amsterdam was engulfed by fire in the early hours of New Year's Day, although the cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Vondelkerk,»»»
Yemen separatists say Saudi-backed forces to deploy in seized territories
Separatists from Yemen's Southern Transitional Council said on Thursday that Saudi-aligned government forces would enter territories seized by the UAE-backed group, in a step that appeared unlikely to satisfy Riyadh after it repeatedly demanded their full withdrawal. A surprise offensive by the STC»»»
Russia to Give US Decrypted Data From Ukrainian Drone That Flew Towards Putin’s Residence
Ukraine attempted to attack the residence of the Russian President in the Novgorod region on the night of December 28 to 29. Other statements by Russian Defense Ministry:Russian intelligence services retrieved a flight mission file from one of the Ukrainian drones that attacked Putin's residence.Th»»»
Bulgarian Travelers Face Higher Fees as Greek Highway Tolls Rise in 2026
Greece has ushered in 2026 with higher toll fees on its northern highways, a change that will directly affect thousands of Bulgarian travelers crossing the border at Kulata en route to Thessaloniki and other destinations. The cost of a one-way journey to Thessaloniki has risen by 23 percent, increa»»»
Fire ravages Amsterdam church on 'unsettled' Dutch New Year
The Hague: A huge inferno gutted a 19th century Amsterdam church Thursday, as the Netherlands endured an unsettled New Year's Eve with two dead from fireworks and "unprecedented" violence against police. The blaze broke out in the early hours at the Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overloo»»»
Watch: How ‘heroes’ cleaned up Dubai's Burj Khalifa, other celebration sites post NYE revelries
Dubai: As 48 fireworks lit up the sky at 40 locations across Dubai on New Year's Eve, another spectacle unfolded on the ground, one that most revellers would only witness the results of when they woke up the next morning. Around 3,000 Dubai Municipality employees, alongside workers from private fir»»»
Mamdani Sworn in As New York Mayor in Midnight Ceremony
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, taking the oath of office at a 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 Quran as he took his oath. “This is »»»
UDF Leader: With Euro Adoption, Bulgaria Has Finally Become Full-Fledged EU Member
Rumen Hristov, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces, which is part of the GERB-UDF coalition, Thursday said that on this day, "a long-standing dream of the UDF and the democratic community became a reality." With the adoption of the euro, Bulgaria has finally become a full-fledged member of the»»»
Ras Al Khaimah police ensure safe New Year 2026 celebrations with zero traffic accidents
Ras Al Khaimah Police, in coordination with their strategic partners, successfully secured the emirate’s New Year 2026 celebrations under a comprehensive security and traffic plan implemented to the highest standards. The plan included the deployment of more than 70 patrols and the extensive presen»»»
Party Leaders Extend New Year Greetings, Address Bulgaria's Euro Area Accession
Representatives of political entities in the 51st National Assembly have extended New Year greetings and addressed this country's euro area accession in posts on social media. Bulgaria officially adopted the euro on January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member of the euro area - exactly 19 year after »»»
Ukrainian Strike on Cafe in Kherson Region Targeted Civilians – Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian attack in the Kherson Region was pre-planned, with drones deliberately striking a gathering of civilians, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo said that three Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and hot»»»
US freezes child care funding to all states amid fraud scandal – ABC
The US Department of Health and Human Services is halting federal child care funding to all states, pending proper paperwork, following a scandal over alleged widespread fraud in daycare centers in Minnesota, an agency official has told ABC News. Federal funds will be released “only when states pro»»»
Bulgaria joins Eurozone despite opposition – DW – 01/01/2026
PoliticsBulgariaBulgaria joins Eurozone despite oppositionLouis Oelofse with AFP, ReutersBulgaria became the 21st member of the currency union, bringing the number of people using the single European currency to more than 350 million. https://p.dw.com/p/56CRDNearly 20 years after Bulgaria joined th»»»
More than science fiction: could alien civilisations reveal themselves only on the brink of destruction?
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US military says five killed in latest strike on alleged drug boats
The US military says it struck two boats it alleges were carrying drugs on Wednesday, killing five people on board. US Southern Command did not say where it had carried out the latest strikes but US forces have been targeting vessels they suspect of smuggling narcotics to the Caribbean and the east»»»
Bulgaria Adopts the Euro, Nearly 20 Years After Joining the EU
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»»»
In pictures: New Year welcomed around the world
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»»»
Al-Manar correspondent: A new incursion by Israeli enemy at dawn into “Al-Masareb neighborhood” in the town of Adaysah, and bombed one of the houses - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent: A new incursion by Israeli enemy at dawn into “Al-Masareb neighborhood” in the town of Adaysah, and bombed one of t»»»
Libya’s total public debt valued at LD 270 billion, LIA’s assets valued at US$ 72.83 billion: Audit Bureau’s 2024 Annual Report
According to the Audit Bureau’s Annual Report for 2024 published yesterday, Libya’s total public debt as of the end of 2024, as shown in the Central Bank of Libya’s accounts, reached 84 billion dinars. This does not include the debt of the governments in the east of the country, which amounts to 18»»»
Trump Says National Guard Being Removed from Chicago, LA and Portland
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his administration was removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland but he added in his social media post that federal forces will "come back" if crime rates go up. Local leaders in those cities and Democrats have said the deployments, »»»
Central Bank of Libya’s reserves increased by US$ 3 billion in 2024: Audit Bureau 2024 report
According to the Audit Bureau’s Annual Report for 2024 published yesterday, the Central Bank of Libya’s reserves reached 409 billion dinars, equivalent to 83 billion US dollars, as of December 31, 2024. This represents an increase of 3 billion US dollars, or 4%, compared to the fiscal year 2023. Wh»»»
Tsitsipas Considered Quitting Tennis during Injury-hit 2025
Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Thursday he seriously considered retiring from tennis in the depths of a struggle with serious back pain during much of the 2025 season. But the former world number three, now ranked 36th after playing just two Davis Cup matches since a second-round exit at the US Open, s»»»
Israel’s Netanyahu Among Partygoers at Trump’s New Year’s Eve Fete
US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a glittering New Year's Eve party at his lavish Mar-a-Lago resort on Wednesday, according to social media. Netanyahu, who arrived at the US president's Palm Beach residence on Monday, was spotted alongside tuxedo-clad Tru»»»
N. Korea’s Kim Hails ‘Invincible Alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s Letter
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised his troops fighting abroad as forging an "invincible alliance" with Russia in a new year's message, state media said Thursday. Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, according to South Korean and W»»»
40 dead, 100 injured in New Year explosion at Swiss ski resort town Crans Montana: police
Crans-Montana, Switzerland: A fire ripped through a crowded bar in the luxury Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana as revellers rang in the New Year, killing and injuring several people, police said early Thursday. Police, firefighters and rescuers rushed to the popular resort, one of the top-ran»»»
The Bulgarian President’s New Year Address: Euro Entry Marks Historic Step but Exposes Deep Rift
President Rumen Radev described Bulgaria’s decision to adopt the euro as a strategic move taken at a highly contentious moment, speaking in his New Year’s address shortly before the country entered 2026. According to the head of state, the change of currency marks the final stage of Bulgaria’s inte»»»
Zohran Mamdani Sworn in as New York City Mayor at Historic Subway Station
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»»»
Velichie Leader Mihaylov Wishes Health, Strength, and Courage to All Good People in New Year Message
Velichie leader Ivelin Mihaylov wished health, strength, and courage to all good people in a Facebook message. “I wish all good people to be healthy, strong, brave, and just! Let us remember that God has given us free will, and all decisions are ours, not imposed by anyone. In 2026, let us use this»»»
Bulgaria Switches to Euro: What Will Cost More, Less, and Stay the Same from January 1, 2026 (UPDATED)
As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, replacing the leva (BGN) at a fixed exchange rate of 1.95583 BGN = 1 EUR, the country faces a complex landscape of price adjustments across various sectors. This comprehensive analysis examines which prices are rising, which are falling, an»»»
Digital Age Brings Denmark’s 400-Year-Run Postal Service to Historic End
Beside the railroad tracks of Copenhagen’s train station, right in the heart of the Danish capital, stands a red-brick building with an ornate façade and a copper-clad cupola still turning green over time. When it opened in 1912 as the Central Post Building, its grandeur echoed the booming postal a»»»
Taiwan’s President Pledges to Defend Island’s Sovereignty After Chinese Military Drills
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday vowed to defend the self-ruled island’s sovereignty in the face of China’s “expansionist ambitions,” days after Beijing wrapped up live-fire military drills near its shores. “In the face of China’s rising expansionist ambitions, the international communi»»»
Campaign Launched Against Somali Migrants in US after Vast Fraud Case
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 »»»
How the Assad Regime Covered Up Its Crimes
Thousands of documents and interviews with Assad-era officials reveal how the Syrian regime worked to conceal evidence of its atrocities during the civil war, according to a report published by The New York Times. The heads of the security agencies arrived in convoys of black SUVs to Bashar al-Assa»»»
India’s cleanest city, toxic taps: 7 dead as over 200 hospitalised in Indore water crisis
Dubai: A lethal mix of sewage and drinking water triggered a public health disaster in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore — India’s cleanest city — killing at least seven people and hospitalising over 200, as investigations revealed shocking lapses in civic infrastructure and official coordination. According »»»
Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has warned the remnants of the former regime against efforts to lead chaos, killing, and destruction as his ministry announced the arrest of several people in Latakia and Tartus for involvement in war crimes and instigations that threaten civil peace. Khattab s»»»
This Is Our Story, Mohammed
This is our story, Mohammed. We fell in the trap early. We were lured by the beautiful, but deceitful, ink. We chose a thorny profession. We chose a long tunnel. No breaks and no truces. It is the hot pursuit of the news that takes up most of our lives. The reader is insatiable. The journalist purs»»»
Thailand and Cambodia Sign Ceasefire to End Border Fighting
Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday signed a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending weeks of armed clashes along their disputed border, following a renewed escalation in early December. The ceasefire came into force around noon local time, calling for an immediate halt to military movements by both side»»»
Acclaimed Egyptian Filmmaker Daoud Abdel-Sayed Dies at 79
Veteran Egyptian screenwriter and director Daoud Abdel‑Sayed has died in Cairo at the age of 79, bringing to a close one of the most intellectually influential careers in Egyptian and Arab cinema. Born on 23 November 1946, Abdel-Sayed emerged as a leading figure of Egyptian neo-realism, renowned fo»»»
Countercyclical Capital Requirement in Bulgaria Remains at 2% Amid Strong Credit Growth
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has confirmed that the countercyclical capital buffer for credit risk exposures in Bulgaria is set to remain at 2 percent in the first quarter of 2027. This decision, announced by the BNB Governing Council, aims to strengthen banks’ ability to absorb potential loss»»»
Sovereign wealth funds pour $66 billion into AI as assets hit $15 trillion
Dubai: Sovereign wealth funds globally amassed a record $15 trillion in assets under management in a year when many deepened their technology investments and profited from buoyant markets, according to a new report by Global SWF. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Overall»»»
UK, European Intel Might Be Involved in Ukraine's Deadly Strike in Kherson Region - Governor
Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the Kherson Region, with preliminary data showing 24 people killed and over 50 injured. "The cynical and criminal strike was obviously executed to disrupt all attempts by Russia and the US to reach a diplomatic settlement," Governor Vladimir Saldo told Sputni»»»
On This Day, Jan. 1: First Tournament of Roses parade takes place - UPI.com
On Jan. 1, 1890, the first Tournament of Roses parade took place in Pasadena, Calif. 1 of 8 | Volunteers use thousands of flowers and other plant material to prepare floats for the 136th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on December 30. The Rose Parade will be televised live on»»»
Will petrol get cheaper in 2026? What UAE drivers should expect
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»»»
Greece, Cyprus welcome 2026 without the bang
Greece and Cyprus are starting 2026 by turning down the volume. The countries’ capital cities, Athens and Nicosia, have traded the familiar whizz, crackle and boom of window‑rattling fireworks for spectacle without the shock wave, opting for low‑noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays. T»»»
Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow
New York: Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US, was readying yesterday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President Donald Trump. After the clocks strike midnight, bringing in 2026, Mamdani will take his oath of office at an abandoned subway stop, taking »»»
Orbán: To stay out or not to stay out—this was the question in 2025
In his year-end interview on M1 television, Prime Minister Orbán delivered a sobering message: Europe has chosen war, and Hungary must now decide whether to join or remain on its own path. “To stay out or not to stay out—this was the question in 2025,” he declared, saying that next year’s parliamen»»»
Arsenal reaping rewards for ‘sacrifices and commitment’: Arteta
London: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his side are starting to see the benefits of their hard work as the Gunners head into 2026 at the top of the Premier League. Tuesday’s emphatic 4-1 win at home to title rivals Aston Villa left Arsenal five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, »»»
Mbappe suffers knee sprain in blow for Real Madrid
Madrid: Real Madrid yesterday said that Kylian Mbappe (pictured) had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona. “After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid’s medical services, he was diagnosed with a sprain in his left»»»
Finland seizes ship sailing from Russia after suspected undersea cable sabotage
Finnish authorities seized a vessel on Wednesday, suspected of sabotaging an undersea telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea. Finnish police seized on Wednesday a ship sailing from Russia suspected of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf o»»»
Sudan lose to Burkina Faso as Algeria win again at AFCON
Casablanca: Sudan must face 2022 champions Senegal in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations after losing 2-0 to Burkina Faso in their final group game yesterday, while Algeria beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 at the same time. Lassina Traore’s early strike put Burkina Faso ahead at the Mohammed V Stad»»»