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 »»»

The United States (US) under President Donald Trump has entered a new and more confrontational phase in its campaign against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This includes what appears to be the first American strike on Venezuelan soil, a move that marks a significant escalati»»»

Serbia has secured a temporary exemption from US sanctions imposed on the nation’s only oil refinery, which is majority-owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom, Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic has announced. The Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) said early in December it was forced to suspe»»»

Throughout 2026 2026's mind-blowing global events: Sports thrills, science breakthroughs, tech revolutions & flying taxis take off UAE: Launch of air taxi service following regulatory approval and completion of "vertiports". US: America250 Celebrations, a year-long event marking the 250th anniversa»»»

2026 has been designated as the UAE’s Year of the Family — a clear invitation to pause in our busy lives and rediscover what it means to truly see, listen, and connect with those closest to us. In a world overflowing with distractions — where devices constantly compete for our attention — we are of»»»

Dubai: Ras Al Khaimah ushered in 2026 with a 15-minute New Year’s Eve spectacle featuring drones and fireworks that set a new Guinness World Records title for the largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by multirotor drones. 2,300 drones form phoenixThe centrepiece of the celebration was a large»»»

In a dramatic escalation of anti-drug operations, US Southern Command (Southcom) announced on December 31, 2025, that forces under Joint Task Force-Southern Spear (JTF-SS) conducted "kinetic strikes" against three narco-trafficking vessels in international waters on December 30. Also Read: A timeli»»»

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»»»

Happy New Year to all of our readers, viewers, customers and followers. We're full of excitement as we move into 2026 on the back of an epic evening across the UAE. No-one does it better than our seven Emirates, right? Spectacular fireworks, complex drone shows, incredible crowds, stunning lights..»»»

A worker at Walt Disney World is "recovering" after being injured by a 400-lb (180kg) runaway fake boulder prop in an incident that was caught on video, the Florida theme park confirmed. The incident took place at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! during a live recreation of a famous scene »»»

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»»»

Tunis, Jan. 1 (TAP) – President Kais Saied on Wednesday night addressed the Tunisian people in a speech to extend his congratulations on the New Year 2026.At the outset of his address, the Head of State expressed his sincerest wishes to the Tunisian...»»»

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»»»

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital in Nigeria days after a fatal car accident that killed two of his close friends. The former world champion was deemed fit to recuperate at home, the Ogun and Lagos states said in a joint statement, describing him as "heavy h»»»

The United States announced sanctions on four companies Wednesday over their operations in Venezuela's oil sector, in the latest effort to put pressure on the nation's President Nicolas Maduro. The US Treasury Department also identified four related oil tankers as blocked property. Also In This Pac»»»

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»»»

The National Guard will be withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore., amid legal challenges to their use and a Supreme Court ruling against the Chicago deployment, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The National Guard wil»»»

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria ranking members Ivaylo Mirchev hopes for 2026 to be the year when full euro integration and civic awakening change the country for the better. "Let 2026 be the year in which our full euro integration and civic awakening will change our country for the bette»»»

Outgoing Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said she is happy to have had the opportunity to be part of the fulfillment of a dream shared by generations of Bulgarians. She wrote that in a post on Facebook after Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone from the first day of 2026. “Bulgaria i»»»

US President Donald Trump has stepped back from plans to deploy National Guard troops in several large, Democrat-led US cities, he announced on Wednesday. The decision underscores the legal and political limits he has faced in using the military to support his tough-on-crime agenda during his secon»»»

The past year will go down in history as 12 turbulent months that brought both despair and hope for the Bulgarian people, said Vazrazhdane party leader Kostadin Kostadinov in a video address on Facebook. He argued that many times “free Bulgarians” striving for an independent state were placed at a »»»

For Bulgaria, 2026 is a pivotal year as the country achieves full membership in the eurozone, enabling it to take its rightful place in the European family, wrote National Assembly Chair Raya Nazarayan in a Facebook post after midnight on January 1, 2026 as Bulgaria officially adopted the euro. Naz»»»

QNA Doha The contests of the 17th Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi 2026), patronised by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, are set to kick off today, Thursday, at Marmi Sabkha in Sealine and will continue until January 24, 2026. This festival has been held annually as part o»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Lusail Boulevard hosted a spectacular celebration on Wednesday night, lighting up the city’s skyline with the largest fireworks display in the Qatar. Tens of thousands of visitors gathered to enjoy a one-of-a-kind festive atmosphere as they welcomed the New Year 2026. The »»»

Without a doubt, 2025 proved to be one of the most intense years for the Middle East in the past decades, marking a definitive shift from “managed crises” to a phase of multi-layered and poorly controlled escalation. Unlike previous years, when conflicts – primarily between Iran and Israel – unfold»»»

The German military has characterized hybrid measures such as cyberattacks and so-called disinformation campaigns as preparatory stages leading up to a military conflict, Politico has claimed, citing a classified document. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Berlin has pu»»»

QNA Doha Minister of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs HE Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanim inaugurated the Company Zakat Calculation Service, launched by the ministry’s Department of Zakat Affairs on its official website and app. This step reflects the ministry’s commitment to developing digital s»»»

QNA Doha The General Tax Authority (GTA) has announced that the tax return filing period for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, will commence on January 1, 2026 and continue until April 30, 2026. GTA said in a statement on Wednesday that this comes in compliance with the provisions of Inco»»»

Continued from page 1 The Cabinet also approved the draft MoU regarding joint cooperation between the Public Prosecution of the State of Qatar and the Public Prosecution of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Cabinet concluded its meeting by reviewing two reports and taking the appropriate measures in »»»

AL MURAIKHI BIDS FAREWELL TO AMBASSADOR OF KYRGYZSTAN Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi on Wednesday met with Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Qatar HE Marat Nuraliev, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs thanked the ambas»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has successfully performed the first robotic bilateral ureteric reimplantation in Qatar at Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of complex urinary tract obstruction and reinforcing HMC’s co»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Old Doha Port unveiled its key milestones in 2025, concluding an exceptional year across tourism performance and maritime operations, with record figures of more than seven million visitors across key indicators. During the year, the Port expanded its international presenc»»»

Hanane Djoua Doha As Arab travellers increasingly seek destinations that combine authenticity, nature and cultural depth, Kazakhstan is emerging as a compelling choice one that surprises, reassures, and invites discovery. According to Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Qatar, HE Arman Issa»»»

Tribune News Network Doha With the generous support of donors, Qatar Charity (QC) delivered significant humanitarian and development achievements in Mauritania throughout 2025. Its office in Nouakchott implemented 280 diverse projects across education and culture, economic empowerment, health, wate»»»

Tribune News Network Doha As the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 concluded, Vodafone Qatar successfully delivered on its role as the Official Technology Sponsor, supporting the tournament with connectivity solutions that enabled seamless fan experiences and smooth tournament operations. Vodafone Qatar’s a»»»

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»»»

Continued from page 1 Doha’s selection was underpinned by a set of strategic pillars, including its advanced transport and mobility infrastructure. This encompasses Hamad International Airport, internationally recognised for operational excellence, Qatar Airways’ global network connecting Doha to m»»»

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday released the transcript and video of former special counsel Jack Smith's 8-plus hour closed-door testimony about his efforts to prosecute President Donald Trump. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Former special counsel Jack Smith de»»»

Chinese people will pay a 13% sales tax on contraceptives from 1 January, while childcare services will be exempt, as the world's second-largest economy tries to boost birth rates. An overhaul of the tax system announced late last year removes many exemptions that were in place since 1994, when Chi»»»

Sydney has welcomed the New Year with a message of peace following the Bondi Beach mass shooting, as huge crowds gathered to watch the city's annual fireworks display. The words peace and unity were projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as thousands of heavily armed police officers patrolled th»»»

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»»»