Kathimerini 1m

Cold start to the New Year with frost, local snow, and gradual deterioration

The New Year begins with cold conditions across the country, with frost expected during the early morning and evening hours on the mainland, locally strong in northern areas. In the greater Athens area, cloudiness will temporarily increase during the early hours, bringing a few local showers. Light»»»

ekathimerini.com
Kathimerini 1m

Traffic restored on Parnitha Avenue after snow and ice disruption

Traffic flow on Parnitha Avenue in northern Athens, which was suspended on New Year’s Eve due to snowfall and icy conditions, was fully restored on Thursday morning. Traffic police said all weather-related obstacles have been cleared, allowing vehicles to move normally along the route. While snowfa»»»

ekathimerini.com
Bulgarian News Agency 1m

Leaders Highlight Bulgaria’s Adoption of Euro in New Year’s Messages

In their New Year’s messages, President Rumen Radev, Parliament leader Raya Nazaryan, and outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov highlighted Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro as its national currency. As of January 1, Bulgaria is the 21st member of the euro area. “The decision to adopt the single E»»»

bta.bg
Dailynews Hungary 6m

More than science fiction: could alien civilisations reveal themselves only on the brink of destruction?

Follow our Facebook page to get the latest news about Hungary! Follow our X (Twitter) page to get the latest news about Hungary! Subscribe to our Telegram channel to get the latest news about Hungary! whatsapp Subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news about Hungary! ENHRNLFRJARORUEST»»»

dailynewshungary.com
BBC 8m

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»»»

bbc.com
Al Awsat 11m

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Bulgarian News Agency 13m

Outgoing Justice Minister Says Major Legislative Reforms Carried Out, Two EC Payments Received in Single Year

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, outgoing Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev said that major legislative reforms, delayed for years, had been implemented and two payments had been received from the European Commission within a single year. “In less than a year, we changed laws, introduced new rules, »»»

bta.bg
BBC 16m

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»»»

bbc.com
Al Manar 18m

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»»»

Al Awsat 23m

‘Several Tens’ Dead, About 100 Injured in Fire at Swiss Alps Resort During New Year’s Celebration

“Several tens of people” are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a Swiss Alps resort town bar during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday. Specific casualty figures were not immediately available from the fire at the bar called bar called Le Co»»»

english.aawsat.com
Gulf News 23m

India bullet train set for August 15, 2027 debut with phased rollout

Dubai: India’s first bullet train is set to begin operations on August 15, 2027, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday, outlining a phased rollout plan for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. Speaking during a Cabinet press briefing, Vaishnaw said the initial operatio»»»

gulfnews.com
Egypt Independent 23m

Egypt receives $3.5 Bln in Samla, Alam Al-Roum development

CAIRO, Dec 30 (MENA) – Egypt has received $3.5 billion as part of an investment deal to develop Samla and Alam Al-Roum area on the Northwest Coast in Matrouh Governorate. The project is an investment partnership between the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities and Qatari Diar Co, s»»»

egyptindependent.com
Sana 28m

Syrian Interior Ministry foils ISIS plot targeting churches and New Year celebrations

Aleppo, Jan. 1 (SANA) The Syrian Interior Ministry announced Thursday that it had thwarted an ISIS plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo. The ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel that, as part of ongoing counterterrori»»»

sana.sy
Al Awsat 35m

One Dead as Israeli Forces Open Fire on West Bank Stone-Throwers

The Israeli military said its forces killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank in the early hours on Thursday as they opened fire on people who were throwing stones at soldiers. Two other people were hit on a main ‌road near the ‌village of Luban ‌al-Sharqiya ⁠in Nablus, ‌the military statemen»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 47m

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, »»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 47m

UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the move would "further impede" the agency's ability to operate and carry out»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 59m

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 59m

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Gulf News 59m

Pakistan terror violence falls after Afghan border closure, despite deadly 2025: Report

Dubai: Pakistan recorded a notable decline in cross-border terrorist attacks and violence-linked fatalities after it shut its border with Afghanistan on October 11, according to a security report cited by Dawn on Thursday. Terrorist attacks fell by nearly 17 per cent in December, following a 9 per »»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 59m

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 59m

Philippines expands senior citizen support as pension programmes continue into 2026: What to know

Manila: The Philippine government keeps the good times rolling for lolo and lola, pumping up financial perks through a vibrant mix of social welfare goodies, pension tweaks, and hot-off-the-press legislation proposals.​ Manila continues to expand financial assistance for the country's seniors a mix»»»

gulfnews.com
Sputnik 1h

Russia Blames Everyone Who Sponsors ‘Terrorist Bastards’ in Ukraine - MFA Spox on Attack in Kherson

Three Ukrainian drones attacked a hotel and cafe in the Kherson region, with one drone carrying an incendiary device. Regional governor Vladimir Saldo stated the strike intentionally targeted civilians leaving 24 dead, 29 injured, including 5 children. "This morning, alongside their croissants and »»»

sputniknews.com
Novinite 1h

St. Basil’s Day, Survaki Rituals, and New Year Traditions Observed Across Bulgaria

On January 1, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marks St. Basil’s Day, also known as Vasilitsa or Survaki, one of the most widely observed calendar and name-day holidays in the country. The feast honors St. Basil the Great, while nearly 40,000 people in Bulgaria named Vasil and its many variations cele»»»

novinite.com
Novinite 1h

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»»»

novinite.com
Gulf News 1h

Honest act earns expat appreciation from Abu Dhabi Police

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Libya Herald 1h

Audit Bureau Annual Report 2024 published – reveals decline in oil revenues for the year

The Audit Bureau’s Annual Report for 2024, issued yesterday, revealed a decline in total oil revenues recorded in the books during 2024 by approximately 31.8 billion Libyan dinars compared to the 2023 fiscal year. The report indicated that oil revenues, taxes, and royalties amounted to 89,810,095,2»»»

libyaherald.com
Bulgarian News Agency 1h

Foreign Ministry: With Adoption of Euro, Bulgaria Affirms Its Place at Heart of EU

With the adoption of the euro, Bulgaria affirms its place at the heart of the European Union, facilitates travel, business, and investment, and contributes to stability and confidence in the common European economy, the Foreign Ministry said on Facebook. As of January 1, Bulgaria is the 21st member»»»

bta.bg
Novinite 1h

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»»»

novinite.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 1h

Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

Israel said on Thursday that 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza had not complied with a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards," in particular disclosing information on their Palestinian staff, and that it "will enforce" a ban on their activities. "Organizations that have failed»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Manar 1h

West Bank: Israeli occupation forces abduct dozens of Palestinians during an ongoing wide-scale detention campaign in the town of Jaba’, south of Jenin, for the second consecutive day - Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe West Bank: Israeli occupation forces abduct dozens of Palestinians during an ongoing wide-scale detention campaign in the town of Jaba’, so»»»

Al Awsat 1h

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 »»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Gulf News 1h

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 »»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 1h

All UAE mosques shift to 12.45pm Friday prayers from tomorrow

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 1h

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»»»

english.aawsat.com
Middle East Observer 1h

Europe’s €90bn Ukraine Loan: Strategic Leverage or a Growing Burden?

Europe’s decision to mobilise a €90 billion EU-backed loan to keep Ukraine financially afloat marks one of the most consequential—and revealing—moments of the war. Beyond the complex night-long diplomacy that sealed the deal in Brussels, the key strategic question now confronting European capitals »»»

Gulf News 2h

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»»»

gulfnews.com
UPI 2h

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»»»

upi.com
The Peninsula 2h

France's Reunion warns of 'probable or imminent' volcanic eruption

Saint-Denis de La Réunion: France's Reunion island warned early Thursday of the "probable or imminent eruption" of its Piton de la Fournaise volcano, one of the most active in the world. All access to the volcano has been closed after the The Piton de la Fournaise Observatory detected a "seismic cr»»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com
Al Awsat 2h

Asharq Al-Awsat's Mohammed al-Shafei Passes Away Leaving Behind Long Career in Pursuing the Toughest Files

Mohammed al-Shafei, one of Asharq Al-Awsat's most prominent journalists, passed away at 74 on Wednesday, leaving behind a career that spanned over 40 years during which he tackled the thorniest and most complex files. Al-Shafei specialized in extremist groups and was among the first journalists to »»»

english.aawsat.com
Al Awsat 2h

Freed Prisoner Close to Sinwar Leading ‘Revolution’ Within Hamas in Gaza

Hamas has undergone a series of leadership changes in the Gaza Strip following the assassination of several senior figures during the two-year Israeli war, increasing the influence of individuals close to the movement’s former leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in clashes with the Israeli army in»»»

english.aawsat.com
Sputnik 2h

Zelensky Knows He’s ‘Toast’ After Conflict Ends – Analyst

Zelensky needs the proxy war in Ukraine to continue because “peace will bring to light all his highly detrimental decisions and rampant corruption,” writes Tuomas Malinen, a professor at the University of Helsinki, in an article on Substack. Volodymyr Zelensky knows full well he is doomed once the »»»

sputniknews.com
Gulf News 2h

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»»»

gulfnews.com
Gulf News 2h

Oman mandates premarital health checks to curb genetic and infectious diseases

Dubai: Mandatory premarital medical examinations came into force on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for all Omanis intending to marry, following a royal decree in a move the authorities say is designed to strengthen family health and curb the spread of genetic and infectious diseases. According to local»»»

gulfnews.com
Kathimerini 2h

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»»»

ekathimerini.com
The Peninsula 2h

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 »»»

thepeninsulaqatar.com