With the start of the new year and the adoption of the euro, Bulgaria has been given a chance for a new beginning, MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski wrote in a Facebook post. He said the country must now "move forward with confidence, stability and national self-esteem, and must not allow d»»»

In a New Year address, published on the Council of Ministers’ Facebook page, Bulgaria's outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said: "We are welcoming the New Year 2026 as a member of the euro area – a strategic step that brings greater security, financial stability and more opportunities for bot»»»

“I am convinced that the Eurozone is not just a change of currency, but a civilizational choice. This key decision required from the political class a clear choice - narrow party populism or statesmanship,” wrote GERB leader Boyko Borissov on Facebook. “For GERB, the choice was clear. This choice a»»»

Open-source imagery and data confirm that the vessels targeted by the Saudi-led coalition air strike on Mukalla, Yemen, on December 30, originated from the United Arab Emirates. The ships were carrying Emirati military vehicles used by a separatist group. Images of the air strike on Yemen’s port of»»»

Dozens of NGOs expect to see their licenses to operate in Gaza revoked on January 1 for failing to comply with Israel’s new rules for the Palestinian territory. Their expulsion comes as Gazans face harsh winter conditions and a deepening humanitarian crisis.  Medical charity Doctors Without Bo»»»

Bulgaria officially adopts the euro as of the first day of 2026 and becomes the 21st member of the eurozone. This happens exactly 19 years after the country joined the European Union. Until the end of January, the lev will remain a legal means of payment alongside the euro, and from February 1 the »»»

Amid conflicts and crises, 2025 also brought reasons for optimism, medical breakthroughs, encouraging signs for the planet and sporting and cultural surprises. As the world heads into 2026, FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the stories that offered moments of relief.  Welcome to 2026! As the new»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron said in his New Year's address that 2026 "can be and must be a fruitful year" as he attempts to regain some momentum and launch the final projects of his second five-year term. Macron outlined his three wishes for the French people in his New Year's speech: unity, s»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria - the poorest country in the European Union - has become the 21st member of the eurozone - leapfrogging more obvious and prosperous candidates like Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. For mostly urban, young and entrepreneurial Bulgarians, it's an optimistic and potentially lucrative l»»»

“To regain our democracy, we must not waste the energy and hope that were born in the squares, nor the opportunity to change Bulgaria,” said President Rumen Radev in a televised New Year’s address to the nation. “We are counting down the last minutes of the passing year. In the comfort of our homes»»»

Australia, New Zealand and several eastern Asian nations were the first countries to ring in 2026 with spectacular fireworks displays. The rest of Asia, Africa and Europe will be the next regions to watch as the countdown clock ticks down to midnight.   The world is welcoming 2026 with a »»»

Iran will meet any attempt to use ongoing protests driven by economic hardship to foment insecurity with a "decisive response", prosecutor-general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said Wednesday. Shopkeeper-led demonstrations broke out Sunday to protest the sanction-hit country's rising cost of living. »»»

Lusail, Qatar: A spectacular display of pyrotechnics and synchronised drone technology illuminated the skyline over Lusail Boulevard at midnight on Thursday, as Qatar formally ushered in the year 2026. The celebration, which drew tens of thousands of residents and international visitors, has garner»»»

US President Donald Trump has said he is withdrawing National Guard troops from several US cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles, after a Supreme Court ruling last week undermined his authority to use troops for policing. "We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when c»»»

Sofia residents and visitors flooded the city’s central Battenberg Square for the traditional open-air New Year’s concert on December 31, 2025. For the second consecutive year, the municipality is replacing traditional fireworks with a large-scale light show for a more environment-friendly New Year»»»

“For the first time since the Second Bulgarian Empire, Bulgaria is printing a currency that is accepted beyond the country’s borders. January 1, 2026 marks the beginning of an era. Bulgarians travel freely, work, and develop businesses as equal citizens in the richest union in the world,” said Cont»»»

1 of 2 | A menorah is projected onto the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, during a New Years Eve tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting on Dec. 14. Photo by Dan Himbrechts/EPA Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Australia rang in 2026 with fireworks, solidarity, words of encou»»»

Dubai: As the New Year rang in, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, marked the start of 2026 by sharing New Year wishes with the nation. Sheikh Hamdan poste»»»

The Justice Department on Wednesday announced it is reviewing 5.2 million more pages of Jeffrey Epstein case files and intends to make them available in January. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice is reviewing 5.2 million more pages of the Jeffr»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - Speaker of the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), Brahim Bouderbala, called on the Executive to speed up the submission of draft laws to the Assembly so that they can be examined thoroughly and carefully, in the...»»»

“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»»»

The US Congress has released the transcript of testimony by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, in which he defended his decision to lead two defunct criminal investigations into Donald Trump. The transcript, released on New Year's Eve by the House Judiciary Committee, is 255 pages. It features ques»»»

New York: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has strongly criticised Israel's decision to suspend the work of a number of humanitarian organisations, calling the move shameful and part of a pattern of unlawful restrictions on aid. In a statement issued in New York on Wednesday,»»»

The firm behind US President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform said it will issue a new cryptocurrency to its shareholders, marking the Trump family's latest foray into digital assets. The digital token from Trump Media and Technology Group will add to the Trumps' crypto ventures, which have gen»»»

The year has shown that there are still opportunities for restoring relations between Moscow and Washington, Russian Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev has said in a holiday message. ”The past year has been challenging, but it has also opened up opportunities for restoring Russian-American rel»»»

Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been allowed to participate in the Munich Security Conference (MSC) next year, the event’s chairman has said. The AfD, known for its anti-migrant rhetoric and calls for Berlin to stop sending military aid to Ukraine, had been barred from »»»

A potential threat caused a partial shutdown at Kansas City International Airport late Wednesday morning. The airport was reopened about an hour later following a search. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A late-morning threat on Wednesday caused a temporary lockdown at»»»

SNAP users in 18 states will have new restrictions this year on what they can buy with their benefits. Some take effect Thursday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- SNAP users in some states face additional limits on what they can buy that take effect Thursday. At least 1»»»

“Today, Bulgaria takes the final step on its long path of full European integration, a path laid out decades ago by numerous visionary politicians, many of whom were socialists. The Bulgarian euro is not just a currency. It is part of our civilizational and conscious choice, which we make every day»»»

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 nation's new jobless claims were less than expected at 199,000 seasonally adjusted claims for the week ending on Saturday, the Department of Labor reported. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The nation's new jobless claims exceeded expectations with fewer than 200,0»»»

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Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal al-Shaar, emphasized that the new national currency aims to improve the efficiency of transactions in the national economy, making the exchange of value smoother and more convenient. In a Facebook post, al-Shaar noted that the real ch»»»

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) The Syrian Arab Republic reaffirmed its full support for Yemen’s unity and sovereignty, standing alongside the legitimate government in preserving state institutions and fulfilling the aspirations of the Yemeni people for security and stability. The Ministry of Foreign Affa»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Lebanon 2025: A Year of Resilience and Steadfastness Amid Accelerating Events 31-12-2025 21:21 PM Lebanon entered 2025 in the aftermath of »»»

Several US states are set to ban items like soda and candy for Americans who rely on government benefits to buy food. The bans will start New Years Day in five states - West Virginia, Utah, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska - and will impact lower-income families enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Ass»»»

DOHA: The contests of the 17th Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2026), patronized by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, are set to kickstart on Thursday at Marmi Sabkha in Sealine and will continue until January 24, 2026. This festival has been annually held as part of the S»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - Minister of National Defence Khaled Shili inspected on Wednesday evening operations at the El Omrane Military Base, reviewing its infrastructure, the readiness of stationed units, and the living and working conditions of...»»»

A Hezbollah delegation paid a holiday visit to Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi at the Patriarchal See in Bkerke on Tuesday. The delegation included MPs Ali Fayad and Raed Brou, along with Political Council members Abu Saeed Al-Khansa and Abdullah Zaiour. They met with Patriarch Al-Rahi t»»»

Ajman Municipality has announced that paid parking will be free of charge on January 1, 2026. Normal parking fees will resume on January 3, 2026. The municipality also confirmed the closure of its main Customer Happiness Center, Manama Center, Masfout Center, and Lease Regulation Department on Janu»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic announced on Wednesday the Serbian oil company NIS had received a licence from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) that would enable it to continue operations until January 23. NIS is under US sanctions due to »»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri chaired a small cabinet meeting at the Government Palace in Kasbah on Wednesday, focused on reviewing the Investment Law and exploring new investment opportunities in Tunisia.The Prime...»»»

The United States is the second-largest destination for Chilean cherry exports after China, with shipments exceeding 3.9 million 5-kilogram boxes in 2024. File Photo by Benjamin Hernandez/EPA SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The start of Chile's new cherry export season is delivering strong result»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Axios reveals new details of Trump-Netanyahu meeting in Florida 31-12-2025 18:08 PM Latest News Urgent News Axios reveals new details of Tr»»»

Vladimir Zelensky has claimed that he is in discussions with US President Donald Trump about American troops being deployed to Ukraine, in line with the security guarantees Washington has offered Kiev, according to The Telegraph. The statement came despite Trump repeatedly ruling out such a scenari»»»

Hungary is strong enough to, if necessary, resist the pressure from the European Union and even the rest of the Western world, PM Viktor Orban has said. He noted that, before Trump’s reelection, Hungary had to stand up not just to the EU leaders but to the Biden administration as well.WorldOrban Ex»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - Finance Minister Michket Slama Khaldi said on Wednesday that the trade agreements Tunisia has concluded since the 1970s have cemented its presence in various global markets, particularly in Africa.Speaking during a plenary...»»»

Burkina Faso and Mali have created travel bans for Americans in retaliation for U.S. travel bans against their citizens. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Two African countries have announced travel bans against U.S. citizens in retaliation for President Donald Trump»»»

1 of 2 | Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., announced Wednesday that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will hold hearings over alleged fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs starting next week. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The House Committee on O»»»