Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is making it easier for visitors to enjoy Global Village with its public bus service, providing a comfortable, sustainable alternative to driving. Bus route 102 connects Al Rashidiya Metro Station to Global Village, allowing travellers to skip the hassle »»»

Large retail chains across Bulgaria reopened this morning following the public holiday, already operating under the new dual-currency rules after the country’s entry into the eurozone. Big stores are accepting payments both in leva and euros and are returning change in euros where required. So far,»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has introduced a major shift in legal age rules under its new Civil Transactions Law, allowing minors as young as 15 to manage their assets with court approval, while setting 18 years as the age of full legal adulthood. Also Read: UAE lowers age of maturity to 18 years in landmar»»»

On Jan. 2, 2006, 12 men were killed in a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in West Virginia's Upshur County. 1 of 5 | Workers from United Drilling Inc. operate drilling equipment in attempts to drill an observation hole into a shaft where 13 trapped coal miners miners are believed to be in Tallm»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has launched 15 development projects as part of the second phase of the “Zero Bureaucracy” programme, aiming to simplify procedures, reduce paperwork, and provide both customers and staff with faster, more d»»»

DOHA: A Laboratory Specialist at the Medical Commission Department of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Fatima Ahmed Al Sulaiti highlighted the key services offered by the Medical Commission and the role of digital transformation in improving procedures and enhancing the experience for visitors»»»

This file photo shows the 5th Air Cavalry Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, taking part in the Spur Ride event at Camp Humphreys, a key U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, on Sept. 25, 2025. File Photo by Pfc. Kalisber Ortega/U.S. Army/UPI A U.S. Army squadron tasked with a reconnaissance mission in South Kore»»»

Dubai: For many Britons relocating to the UAE, healthcare is one of the most underestimated adjustments. The shift from the UK’s tax-funded NHS to an insurance-led system changes how care is accessed, how quickly treatment is delivered and how much choice patients ultimately have. Sign up for our d»»»

Around 40 people were killed and at least 115 were injured after a fire ripped through a bar during New Year's Eve celebrations in a luxury resort town in southern Switzerland, police said Thursday.  A fire ripped through a bar’s New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort shortly after midn»»»

Bulgaria joined the Eurozone on January 1, becoming the 21st member of the single-currency bloc, even as the country enters the new year mired in political instability after the collapse of its government and mass street protests. »»»

More than 20 million people in the United States will face sharply higher health insurance costs as of January 1 after enhanced tax credits that helped enrollees in the Affordable Care Act afford coverage expired overnight. The expiration of the subsidies will mostly affect families, small business»»»

Many people may take their birth certificate, or similar official papers, for granted - hidden in a drawer and rarely seeing the light of day - but for those without one, it can lead to a shadow life or an uncertain existence. This is thought to affect millions of people around the world, described»»»

With Congress failing to extend subsidies for health insurance bought through federal and state Affordable Care Act online exchanges, the roughly 24 million people who obtain coverage through the ACA are set to see their monthly premiums double. Screenshot via Healthcare.gov Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Insuran»»»

Manila: The Philippines has just dropped a bombshell move to snag mega foreign cash. How? Amid the noise (and the haste) surrounding the multibillion flood-control scam, a new legislation has been crafted to drive foreign investments in energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing — and, m»»»

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro left a hospital Thursday to return to prison and resume serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup. In a ruling published earlier in the day judges denied a request from Bolsonaro's lawyers to grant him house arrest on health grounds. Also Read: Brazil’s»»»

People buying cryptocurrency in the UK now need to share their account details or face penalties, in changes that came into effect on 1 January. The move by the UK's tax body is designed to ensure they pay all relevant tax on buying and selling crypto, including capital gains tax. HMRC will begin a»»»

About 40 people were killed and another 115 injured, most of them seriously, after a fire ripped through a bar’s New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight Thursday, police said. Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased. The Crans-Mon»»»

Damascus, Jan.1 (SANA) Governor of Central Bank of Syria (CBS), Abdelkader Husrieh , called on economic activities to cooperate in implementing the cash replacement process and ensuring financial accuracy in transactions, in line with commercial customs and ethical values. This applies to all deali»»»

Dubai: Dubai Duty Free has reported a landmark year in 2025, posting annual sales of Dhs8.680 billion ($2.378 billion), a 9.85% rise over 2024, making it the most successful year in the retailer’s 42-year history. The strong performance was driven by ten record-breaking months, with December standi»»»

Adrienne Martin and her family are starting the New Year off without healthcare. The 47-year-old Texas mother had to make a difficult choice when she found out her monthly healthcare premium was increasing in 2026 from what she described as a manageable $630 (£467) to an unaffordable $2,400 (£1,781»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

Egypt has taken a significant step in modernising its healthcare supply chain with the launch of a new unified digital portal by the Unified Procurement Authority (UPA), bringing together procurement, logistics, and medical technology management into a single national platform for the health sector»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The Justice Department on Wednesday announced it is reviewing 5.2 million more pages of Jeffrey Epstein case files and intends to make them available in January. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice is reviewing 5.2 million more pages of the Jeffr»»»

Damascus, Dec. 31 (SANA) Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal al-Shaar, emphasized that the new national currency aims to improve the efficiency of transactions in the national economy, making the exchange of value smoother and more convenient. In a Facebook post, al-Shaar noted that the real ch»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) - The Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) passed three organic bills during a plenary session on Wednesday at the Bardo Palace.The first bill concerns the approval of amendments to Protocol (B) of the free trade agreement...»»»

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 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 »»»

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»»»

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the site struck in Venezuela was used to mix coca paste into cocaine and linked it directly to the ELN, the Colombian guerrilla group Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he learned the United States' attack on Ven»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will officially adopt the euro, completing a process of European integration that began with EU membership in 2007. With this step, the Bulgarian lev will exit circulation after nearly a century and a half, closing a chapter that began shortly after the country’s libera»»»

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to welcome the New Year 2026 with an unprecedented festive spectacle, headlined by fireworks and light shows stretching from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. Al Wathba area in Abu Dhabi will host one of the largest New Year celebrations in the UAE and the region. The Hig»»»

From 1 January 2026, Bulgaria officially switches to the euro, with the fixed conversion rate set at 1 euro = 1.95583 leva (BGN). For the first month, until 31 January 2026 inclusive, a dual-circulation period will apply, allowing cash payments to be made either in leva or in euros, depending on th»»»

Tunis, Dec. 31 (TAP) – The Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) started, on Wednesday morning, during a plenary session held at the Bardo Palace, the review of a number of organic draft laws.These draft laws include an organic bill approving...»»»

Dubai: Pakistan’s federal government has amended the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules to formally recognise facial and iris scans as valid biometric identifiers, expanding the definition of biometrics beyond fingerprints, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) said on Wednesday.»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged citizens and residents to strictly follow safety guidelines when attending gatherings in public areas. The Ministry emphasised the importance of complying with laws, regulations and public etiquette, and avoiding any behaviour that could cause h»»»

Europe is no longer sleepwalking into disaster. It is marching toward it with wide-open eyes, clenched fists, and a disturbing sense of moral self-satisfaction. At the very moment when the United States, under Donald Trump’s leadership, is returning to diplomacy, restraint, and strategic realism, t»»»

The UAE has once again demonstrated its forward-looking approach to national development with the issuance of two landmark Federal Decree Laws. One governs the national educational curriculum and the other regulates higher education and scientific research. These laws, issued in December 2025, are »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) has launched the redesigned website of the “Mawared” system, introducing a modernised interface and enhanced digital services aimed at supporting human resources operations across government entities. The announcement was made i»»»

Kyrgyzstan has announced a tender for the allocation of land plots to implement renewable energy projects, including the construction of solar power plants and small hydropower plants in several regions of the country. According to the Green Energy Fund, nine land plots have been put up for tender »»»