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»»»

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the names of 24 companies and consortia that have won licenses in the ninth exploration licensing round, the largest in the Kingdom’s history to date. The winning entities were awarded 172 mining sites, including 76 sites t»»»

The faithful attend a Christmas mass at the damaged St. Anthony church in Al-Khiyam, southern Lebanon, on December 25. This is the first Christmas mass in the town since a cease-fire was agreed to between Lebanon and Israel in late November 2024 to halt more than a year of cross-border fighting wit»»»

Abdolnasser Hemmati, newly appointed governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), has pledged to restore economic stability by taking firm action against loss-making banks, curbing excess liquidity growth and dismantling distortions caused by multiple exchange rates. »»»

10...nine...eight... As Wednesday turned to Thursday, people around the world said goodbye to a sometimes challenging 2025 and expressed hopes for the new year to come. Midnight arrived first on the islands closest to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiritimati (Christmas»»»

“The New Year requires not words, but character and courage,” wrote MECh leader Radostin Vasilev on Facebook. “Bulgaria needs order, justice, and governance that serves the people, not the mafia. The people need the truth,” Vasilev added. “Our duty is to defend our sovereignty, protect the national»»»

President Donald Trump has made the first vetoes of legislation since retaking the White House nearly a year ago, setting up a potential showdown with US lawmakers. The two bills he vetoed passed Congress with bipartisan support, meaning lawmakers could muster enough votes to override him in the ne»»»

As the world welcomes 2026, cybercriminals in Hyderabad have launched a new scam targeting WhatsApp users. Authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana have warned users of a surge in WhatsApp scams coinciding with New Year celebrations. Also Read: No WhatsApp or Telegram without SIM in In»»»

A government building in southern Iran was attacked on Wednesday, authorities said, as the country's top prosecutor warned of a "decisive response" to any attempt to create instability after days of economic protests. Spontaneous protests, driven by dissatisfaction at Iran's economic stagnation, be»»»

“All the compromises I made over the past year were for this moment, because I unconditionally believe that from now on Bulgaria will be a complete and full-fledged member of the European community, something that we all absolutely deserve,” There Is Such a People leader Slavi Trifonov wrote on Fac»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining safety and public order during celebrations and large gatherings, stressing that any negative behaviour will be addressed in accordance with clear legal procedures. Lieutenant Colonel Yousuf Al Mahmoud, Director of the Special »»»

Iranian protesters tried to break into a local government building in the southern Fars Province on Wednesday, state media said, on a fourth day of demonstrations over the cost of living that have prompted an unusual government offer of dialogue. Protests over high inflation and a slump in the valu»»»

New York, Dec. 31 (SANA) A year after the collapse of ousted regime, tens of thousands of Syrian families are still searching for answers about the fate of more than 100,000 people who disappeared into the country’s security prisons during nearly 14 years of war. Documents and Testimonies Reveal a »»»

1 of 2 | President Donald Trump has issued his first two vetoes of his second term this week, striking down infrastructure bills aimed at Colorado and Florida. Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump issued his first two vetoes of his second term this week, »»»

Riyadh: The main Saudi stock index closed Wednesday up 109.18 points, reaching 10,490.69 points, with trading valued at SAR 3.2 billion. The volume of shares traded reached 150 million, with 249 companies recording gains, while 12 companies saw their shares decline. Meanwhile, the parallel Saudi st»»»

As Bulgaria is joining the eurozone on January 1, 2026, BTA's English service is running an updated, revised and enlarged version of a timeline of the landmark dates in the country's progress towards accession that was first published in July 2025. July 1, 1997: A strict exchange rate regime known »»»

A UN humanitarian team visited el-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region for the first time since a paramilitary force overran the city in October, carrying out a rampage that is believed to have killed hundreds of people and sent most of the population fleeing. The hours-long visit gave the UN its first »»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping exchanged New Year’s greetings, praising steady relations between the two countries. Moscow and Beijing have deepened cooperation since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The two countries describe their t»»»

Finnish police have detained a vessel suspected of damaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland. The cargo vessel, the Fitburg, was sailing from St Petersburg to the port of Haifa in Israel, under the flag of St Vincent and Grenadines. All 14 crew »»»

A telephone conversation took place between Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. During the phone call, the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, strongly condemned the reckless attack by Ukrainian drones on the residence of the Pr»»»

DOHA: The 3rd Souq Waqif Truffle Exhibition and Auction, held in the eastern square of the market, is witnessing a large turnout of visitors and truffle lovers, following the outstanding success achieved by the exhibition over the past two editions, establishing a culture of buying this product in »»»

Islamabad: Pakistan reported a sharp decline in polio cases in 2025 due to sustained vaccination campaigns and improved disease surveillance, health authorities said on Wednesday. Official data showed polio cases fell from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025, with no new cases reported nationwide since Septem»»»

Israel plans to ban 37 aid organizations from operating in Gaza from Thursday unless they hand over detailed information on their Palestinian staff, despite mounting criticism from the United Nations and the European Union. Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on food a»»»

Russia's defense ministry released video footage on Wednesday of what it said was a downed drone at a briefing intended to show Ukraine tried this week to attack a presidential residence and challenge Kyiv's denials that such an attack took place. Kyiv says Moscow has produced no evidence to suppor»»»

As 2025 comes to a close, editorial team thanks our readers for following our coverage throughout the year. Your engagement makes it possible for us to deliver news, analysis, opinions, features and perspectives that challenge the mainstream narrative and highlight the stories that truly matter. RT»»»

Police in San Antonio, Texas, said they have found a body during the search for Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, who went missing on Christmas Eve. The body hasn't been officially identified. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI. | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Authorities found a body during a search for a mis»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - Weather conditions on Wednesday night will be marked by temporarily thundery rain, spreading to the rest of the northern regions and the Sahel, with passing clouds over the remaining areas, according to forecasts by the...»»»

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed Wednesday that Turkiye is ramping up efforts to halt Israel's offensives on the Gaza Strip, surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, and embark on rebuilding efforts. The Gaza ceasefire deal is still effective thanks to the sage conduct of the people»»»

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»»»

People ride the subway past a euro adoption poster in Sofia, Bulgaria, Monday. Bulgaria is set to become the 21st member of the eurozone on Jan. 1, transitioning from the national lev to the euro amid public concerns that the move could trigger immediate price hikes and a higher cost of living. Pho»»»

Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) closed 2025 at 10,762 points, marking a 1.81% year‑over‑year increase. Market capitalization rose by approximately QAR 23.4 billion, reaching QAR 644.3 billion, up from QAR 620.86 billion at the end of 2024. In terms of trading value, activity declined by about »»»

A passenger has described "chaos" after two trains collided head-on near Peru's most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu. Niels Honkoop, 33, told the BBC he had switched seats part-way through the journey from the middle of the train to the back, before it crashed, injuring many of those sitti»»»

1 of 5 | Activists face off with Los Angeles Police Department officers during the “No Kings” protest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles on October 18. Demonstrations took place in cities across the United States opposing policies of the Trump administration. File Photo by Jim»»»

People across the world celebrate the start of 2026, with New York's iconic Times Square ball descending 18 hours after the South Pacific greeted the New Year. Also Read: Countdown to 2026: UAE crowds gather for spectacular New Year fireworks1/7Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbou»»»

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PARIS — Traffic slowly resumed Wednesday in the Channel tunnel after an electricity failure halted train trips connecting London to the European mainland, as frazzled passengers arrived in France after hours trapped in a powerless train.The Eurostar online timetable however still announced some del»»»

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria was preparing to switch to the euro on Wednesday night to become the 21st eurozone member, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.At midnight (2200 GMT Wednesday), Bulgaria will wave goodbye to both»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - After Ukraine's attack on the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, questions arise about Western countries' involvement in such operations, European Parliament lawmaker from Luxembourg Fernand Kartheiser told RIA Novosti. Such an action was "ill-considered" because "it »»»

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has officially announced today its comprehensive calendar of sports events and competitions for 2026. The calendar features 83 championships, including 39 international events, 16 world championships, 10 Asian tournaments, three GCC competitions, one Arab cha»»»

In the first year of his second term, US President Donald Trump was flattered and praised as prominent figures calculated that massaging the ego of the leader of the free world was the easiest way to manage global diplomacy – and possibly serve their own interests. The lesson was learned early in T»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police will deploy 172 traffic and security patrols across the emirate’s roads during New Year’s Eve, as part of a comprehensive security and traffic plan to manage crowds, ensure road safety and maintain public order while welcoming 2026, senior officers said. The patrols will be »»»

PoliticsAsiaIran: Economic crisis, political discontent threaten regimeMohsen BarinProtests triggered by soaring inflation and a collapsing currency have highlighted widespread political discontent. Will Iran's deep economic woes lead to regime change? https://p.dw.com/p/569zaThe protests began wit»»»

The EU's top diplomat has called Moscow's claims that Ukraine targeted Russian government sites a "deliberate distraction" and an attempt to derail the peace process. Kaja Kallas' comments on social media appear to be a reference to the Kremlin's allegation that Ukraine attempted a drone strike on »»»

In a New Year video message posted on Facebook on December 31, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde highlighted Bulgaria's expected accession to the euro area on January 1. Lagarde said: "This is not any New Year for the euro area. We are welcoming Bulgaria as a new member of the euro »»»

Drone strikes on the Ukrainian city of Odessa overnight injured at least 6 people, including 3 children, as Russia doubled down on a month-long campaign targeting the strategically key region on the Black Sea. File photo by Igor Tkachenko/EPA-EFE Dec. 31 (UPI) -- At least six people, three of them »»»

The Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to carry out a terrorist attack with 91 long-range drones that targeted the Russian president's residence in the Novgorod region on the night of December 29. The attack involved drones launched from multiple directions, all of which were intercepted and destroye»»»

Eurostar passengers wait for train services to be resumed at St. Pancras International station in London Tuesday. Eurostar cancelled all services Tuesday following a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel. Most trains are running as usual Wednesday. Photo by Akmen Tolga/EPA De»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums is proud to honour the many 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 missio»»»

If you are out today and find yourself in a minor road accident this New Year’s Eve, Dubai Police assures you that you don’t have to spend a long time waiting for a police patrol. The police tweeted that people facing this minor bump in the road should just head to the nearest fuel station (ADNOC, »»»

More than three years after taking power in a military coup, Guinea’s junta leader Mamady Doumbouya secured a sweeping election victory on Tuesday that cements his grip on the presidency, in a vote critics say was held in a tightly controlled political environment as the country seeks to draw a lin»»»