Iranian shopkeepers and traders protest against the economic conditions in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. File Photo by a stringer/EPA Jan. 1 (UPI) -- At least one person is dead and possibly more after protests broke out across Iran against high inflation and a currency collapse. The protests have been»»»

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly stated that reunification with Taiwan is “inevitable,” reiterated the notion in his address to the nation on New Year’s Eve, touting an unbreakable “bond of blood and kinship.” Taiwan has been ruled by Chinese nationalist forces as the Republic of Ch»»»

To be fair to the dismal year on the way out, at least 2025 won’t be a hard act to beat. In particular, if last January anyone was recklessly optimistic enough to hope for the West to come to its senses about its catastrophic relationship with Russia and the war in and over Ukraine, they will have »»»

The UAE has put in place two federal decree laws dedicated to the Capital Market Authority and regulation across capital markets. This legislative step is part of a wider initiative to update the financial sector’s legal environment. Stability, market efficiency, and competitive edge receive reinfo»»»

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro was both a major milestone and a deeply personal moment on Thursday. In posts on LinkedIn and Facebook, Georgieva looked back on the country’s tough shift from communism and the hyperinflation th»»»

Libya said on Thursday that Britain had agreed to analyze the black box from a plane crash in Türkiye on December 23 that killed a Libyan military delegation, including the head of its army. General Mohammed al-Haddad and four aides died after a visit to Ankara, with Turkish officials saying an ele»»»

Israel on Thursday said 37 humanitarian agencies supplying aid in Gaza had not met a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards", and would be banned from the territory, despite an international outcry. The international NGOs, which had been ordered to disclose detailed information on th»»»

Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy spread Thursday into the country's rural provinces, with at least three people being killed in the first fatalities reported among security forces and protesters, authorities said. The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by»»»

Tunis, January 1 (TAP) – The average Money Market Rate (MMR) 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 MMR has...»»»

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»»»

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...»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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, »»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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 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»»»

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»»»

Starting in January, passengers holding long-term public transport subscriptions in Sofia will have the option to add an extra card covering all night lines, the Central Transport Authority announced. The additional card will be valid for night routes N1, N2, N3, and N4. It will be available at a c»»»

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»»»

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»»»

In Bulgaria, the maximum value of food vouchers is set at 102.26 euros following the currency conversion, without any increase in the nominal amount. Tanya Obushtarova from the Association of Food Voucher Operators explained that for digital vouchers, this change is purely technical. The associatio»»»

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»»»

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»»»

A member of Iran's security forces was killed during protests that have swept across the country since last week, state television reported on Thursday citing a regional official, marking the first fatality among security forces during the protests. "A 21-year-old member of the Basij from the city »»»

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»»»

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»»»

Dubai: An Emirates Airbus A380 flying from London to Dubai made a precautionary return to Heathrow shortly after take-off on New Year’s Eve due to a technical issue, the airline confirmed. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Emirates flight EK002, operating from London Hea»»»

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Former US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn told RIA Novosti that he considers Washington's peace plan for resolving the conflict in Ukraine as a "good." “I do believe that there is a good peace plan on the table,” Flynn said in the interview. At the same time, according to Flynn, the situati»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a peace agreement to end the war with Russia is "90% ready", in a New Year address that largely focused on resistance to Moscow's full-scale invasion. Zelensky said the remaining 10% of the agreement to end nearly four years of conflict would "determi»»»

The US military carried out new strikes against three vessels allegedly carrying drugs, as a result of which three "narco-terrorists" were killed, the US Southern Command said. "On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes »»»

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 »»»

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: 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»»»

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»»»

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 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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

“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»»»