Bulgaria marked its first official euro transactions shortly after the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2026, as the country officially adopted the single European currency. According to the payment service provider Borica AD, the very first successful euro withdrawal was recorded at 00:20 at an AT»»»

Doha: The Qatar Calendar House on Thursday said that planet Earth will reach the closest point in its orbit around the Sun, known as perihelion, on Saturday evening, 14 Rajab 1447 AH, corresponding to January 3, 2026. At that time, Earth will be at an approximate distance of 147 million kilometers »»»

UAE announces the passing of a new law on the age of maturity. The UAE has lowered the age of legal majority from 21 to 18 under a new federal decree law issuing an updated Civil Transactions Law. The reform also amends the minimum age for guardianship over financial affairs, allowing individuals a»»»

London: Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea head coach after 18 months in charge, the Premier League club announced Thursday. "Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company," said a club statement. The Italian's exit from Stamford Bridge comes with the club fifth in th»»»

Starting today, January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopts the euro, bringing several significant changes into effect for citizens and businesses across the country. Until the end of January, payments can be made in both leva and euros, with change typically returned in euros. Exceptions may occur»»»

The hundreds of thousands who gathered on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on Thursday took a historic stand in solidarity with Palestine, pledging to continue their struggle until Gaza, Jerusalem, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are free, said a Turkish civic leader at the massive event. “Together with hundreds of»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Public Prosecution's Criminal Studies Institute announced that it trained 1,863 trainees in 2025 through courses in various judicial, legal, and administrative disciplines. The number also included training visits from Arab and international judicial and academic bodies, in additio»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amiri Guard School celebrated on Thursday the graduation of the new recruits from the foundation course No. 37 at Lahsaniya camp, with the attendance of Amiri Guard Commander HE Major General Staff Mohammed bin Sultan Al Suwaidi. Several assistants to the Amiri Guard Commander, as »»»

The Israeli army has raised its readiness level in anticipation of a potential attack on Hezbollah, according to Israeli media reports. The reports said U.S. President Donald Trump has given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "green light" to take military action against the group "if nece»»»

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 overlooked one of »»»

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,»»»

With the start of the new year, Lebanon remained vulnerable to Israeli attacks and violations of the ceasefire agreement. Our correspondent in south reported that an enemy Zionist force penetrated six hundred meters into the lower neighborhood in center of Kfarkela town and carried out a large expl»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Sheikh Zayed Festival marked the arrival of 2026 with spectacular New Year celebrations, drawing large crowds to Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi for an evening of culture, entertainment and visual displays. Visitors gathered across the festival grounds as the countdown to midnight culminated »»»

For the first quarter of 2026, the country will operate under an extension law, which limits state spending to the revenues collected each month. Despite the absence of a regular budget, the minimum wage has been established at just over €620 per month, providing a stable baseline for workers amid »»»

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»»»

Greece’s meteorological highlights for 2025 show a peak temperature of 45.8°C in Skala, Messinia, recorded on July 25, and the year’s lowest temperature, not including ski resorts, of -11.8°C at Ochyro Nevrokopi on February 22, according to figures provided by meteo.gr and the National Observatory »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The biting cold kept people huddled next to their heat sources while fog obscured road vision last Tuesday in India’s Gurgoan and Faridabad. And in the middle of the frigid night, a woman’s cries for help as she was brutally raped in a moving car went unanswered, reports Times of India. The 25-year»»»

Several dozen people are presumed dead and around 100 injured after a fire ripped through a bar in a ski resort in southern Switzerland, officials have said. The fire broke out at around 01:30 (00:30 GMT) during new year celebrations in a bar called Le Constellation in Crans-Montana, police said. P»»»

Tunis, January 1 (TAP) – The average Money Market Rate (TMM) remained stable at 7.49% in December 2025 for the fourth consecutive month, according to the monetary and financial indicators published by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).The TMM has...»»»

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 »»»

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the launch of the Community-Managed Virtual Authority, a new initiative inspired by the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, to enhance the role of skilled individuals in shaping the nation's fu»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Pakistan’s inflation rate rose slower-than-expected in December, justifying the central bank’s decision to cut its policy rate to a three-year low to support growth. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The consumer price index rose 5.6% in December from a year earli»»»

DOHA: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force 'Lekhwiya' HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani received Ambassador of China to the State HE Cao Xiaolin. During the meeting, a number of topics of mutual interest were discussed, and existing relations between the »»»

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»»»

New water prices in Bulgaria take effect from today, January 1, 2026, with adjustments ranging from a 12 percent decrease to a 14 percent increase, as determined by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. However, not all consumers will see an immediate change, as the Ministry of Regional Devel»»»

Mobile gaming now accounts for the biggest share of global game revenue. Newzoo's 2025 outlook puts mobile at around $103 billion, which makes up about 55% of the gaming market. That dominance is clear in the numbers. But the real debate is about quality, not market size. Desktop fans want smooth f»»»

From today, January 1, 2026, natural gas in Bulgaria becomes 3.3 percent cheaper, with the new price set at 31.15 euros, or approximately 61 leva, per megawatt-hour, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) announced. The reduction comes as part of the country’s planned winter supply strat»»»

Istanbul, Turkiye: Thousands joined a New Year's Day rally for Gaza in Istanbul Thursday, waving Palestinian and Turkish flags and calling for an end to the violence in the war-torn territory. Demonstrators gathered in freezing temperatures under cloudless blue skies to march to the city's Galata B»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force “Lekhwiya,” HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, received His Excellency Mr. Cao Xiaolin, Ambassador of China to the State. During the meeting, a number of topics of mutual interest were discussed, and exist»»»

Thousands joined a New Year's Day rally for Gaza in Istanbul Thursday, waving Palestinian and Turkish flags and calling for an end to the violence in the tiny war-torn territory. Demonstrators gathered in freezing temperatures under cloudless blue skies to march to the city's Galata Bridge for a ra»»»

Several dozen people are presumed to have died and more than 100 injured following a fire at a ski resort in southern Switzerland, officials have said. Police said several nationalities were likely involved in the New Year's Day fire, which happened at 01:30 local time (00:30GMT) in a bar called Le»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

Taxi fares in Sofia are set to rise with the start of 2026, coinciding with Bulgaria’s official adoption of the euro. From today, January 1, the minimum daytime fare per kilometer is €0.73, equivalent to 1.43 leva, while the night rate increases to €0.84, or 1.65 leva per kilometer. These changes f»»»

Tokyo: A train collided with a car at a railway crossing on the JR Utsunomiya Line in Shiraoka City, Saitama Prefecture, on Thursday, police and fire officials said, adding that the train may have derailed after the incident. The accident occurred at around 2:20p.m. local time when the train struck»»»

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»»»

A toy store in the Kolonos district of Athens was broken into during the early hours of New Year’s Day, with €500 stolen from the cash register. According to police, the perpetrator or perpetrators accessed the premises by entering an adjacent building and reaching the first floor, where the store »»»

From today, January 1, 2026, Sofia’s Center for Urban Mobility adopts the euro for all payments, with transport fares recalculated at the official rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN and rounded down to benefit passengers. Short-term tickets and long-term subscription plans have been adjusted downward. The»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police concluded their New Year 2026 festivities with a series of entertainment, community and awareness events held at Naif and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, drawing more than 5,000 residents and visitors. Organised in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere, the celebrations co»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have announced the successful implementation of their comprehensive security plan for the New Year 2026, ensuring public safety and smooth operations across the emirate during the celebrations. According to the Sharjah Police General Command, operations rooms handled 6,620 e»»»

The first successful euro withdrawal in Bulgaria was recorded at 00.20 am, according to payment service provider Borica AD. The transaction was made at an ATM in the seaside Sunny Beach resort. At 00:03 am, the first successful euro transaction via Borica’s infrastructure was completed using SoftPO»»»

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»»»

Sofia, Jan. 1 (SANA) Bulgaria joined the Eurozone and adopted the Euro as its official currency, becoming the 21st member. Agence France-Presse reported that Bulgaria adopted the Euro nearly 20 years after joining the European Union in 2007 The move comes at a time when many Bulgarians fear it coul»»»

Israeli occupation forces detained dozens of Palestinians, predominantly former prisoners, during raids across multiple towns and villages in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate early Thursday morning. Among those detained was a minor. Israeli settlers bulldozed a Palestinian land in the village »»»

Seoul: K-pop megastars BTS will release a new album in March ahead of a world tour, the group announced on Thursday. South Korea's biggest musical act has been on self-described hiatus since 2022 as its members undertook national military service required of all men under the age of 30. All seven m»»»

Dubai: A Dubai civil court has ordered an Arab national to pay Dh1,572,500 in compensation after he was found to have misappropriated funds entrusted to him to purchase rare Patek Philippe watches. The Court of First Instance ruled that the defendant had committed a breach of trust by taking money »»»