The British online publication The Independent has released its ranking of the ten most attractive and affordable destinations in Europe for short city breaks in 2026. The list highlights cities that offer a variety of experiences, from history and architecture to nature and gastronomy, while remai»»»

DUbai: The final morning of 2025 began on a harsh note for residents of Delhi-NCR, as dense fog, severe cold and hazardous air quality combined to disrupt normal life across the region, severely impacting road, rail and air travel. A sharp drop in temperatures, extremely low visibility and poor pol»»»

Tourism remains a stable and steadily developing sector in Bulgaria, with further growth anticipated in 2026. Speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio, Prof. Rumen Draganov, director of the Institute for Analysis and Evaluation in Tourism, said, “Tourism is quite stable in the country as an economy»»»

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»»»

Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand's tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year amid rainy weather. South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks struck midnight in Auckland, a city of 1.7»»»

2025 Wrapped: IAEA’s Most-Read Nuclear Explainers - Institute of Energy for South-East Europe About UsMission and VisionBackgroundAnnual ReportArticles of AssociationBoard of GovernorsOrganizationExecutive CommitteeScientific CommitteesResearchInternational Advisory GroupCo-operation in SE EuropeIn»»»

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Where is the LNG Market Heading? - Institute of Energy for South-East Europe About UsMission and VisionBackgroundAnnual ReportArticles of AssociationBoard of GovernorsOrganizationExecutive CommitteeScientific CommitteesResearchInternational Advisory GroupCo-operation in SE EuropeInformation FeedAdv»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut said on Wednesday tensions in the society were very high and that perseverance in dialogue was the only solution for overcoming political divisions. Dialogue is a means of recovery and refreshing the society, Macut said on K1 TV. "I think tensions are very high and»»»

Dubai: Eurostar trains between London and Paris have largely resumed, offering relief to travellers after major disruption in the Channel Tunnel earlier this week, according to a BBC report. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The rail operator said it plans to run a full »»»

On New Year’s Eve, about 300 municipal buses will be in operation in Bishkek, running until 2–3 a.m. on January 1, the City Hall reported. According to the municipality, a large number of people are expected in the city center due to festive events on Ala-Too Square. Therefore, public transport wil»»»

In the weeks before the Gaza ceasefire on October 10, Israel widely deployed a new weapon: M113 Armored Personnel Carriers repurposed to carry between 1 and 3 tons of explosives, Reuters found. As Israeli troops pushed toward the center of Gaza City, these powerful bombs, along with airstrikes and »»»

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that the country's economy is expected to have grown "around five percent" in 2025, despite "pressure" during a year he described as "very unusual", state media said. The announcement came in a New Year's Eve speech by Xi to a top political consultative b»»»

Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response". "Peaceful livelihood protests are part of social and understandable realities," Mohammad Movahedi-Azad told »»»

Syrian authorities have arrested 21 people in the coastal province of Latakia over alleged links to the ousted government of former president Bashar al-Assad, state media reported, after sectarian violence prompted an overnight curfew in the provincial capital. Authorities in Syria’s Latakia provin»»»

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.»»»

Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner since border clashes broke out between the two countries in July as part of a renewed ceasefire signed Saturday. Dozens of people have been killed and more than a million more driven from their homes after renewed fighting erupted in December. T»»»

Doha, Qatar: As Qatar Foundation marks its 30th anniversary, it has launched The QF Generation, an immersive storytelling initiative that brings together 30 individuals whose lives have been shaped by QF. Through personal reflections, they share their journeys and highlight how they are now contrib»»»

Dubai: Double-decker buses have returned to Karachi after more than six decades, marking a significant moment for public transport in Pakistan’s largest city as authorities seek to ease chronic mobility problems for its growing population. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Wednesday inau»»»

Public transport in Sofia will remain operational through New Year’s Eve, with a special night schedule in place between 23:30 on December 31, 2025 and 04:30 on January 1, 2026. During these hours, selected tram, trolleybus, bus and metro lines will run at extended intervals to serve residents and »»»

Kyrgyzstan is consistently implementing measures to substitute imports of vegetable oil, the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry reported. According to the ministry, five new oilseed processing enterprises were launched this year: one in Issyk-Kul r»»»

On New Year’s Eve, top performers of Kyrgyzstan will take the stage for audience on Ala-Too Square. The press service of Bishkek City Hall reported. According to the announcement, the festive show program on December 31 will begin at 6 p.m. «Altynai Asanbekova, Nazik Abdymamytova, Akbar Suyunbaev, »»»

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Jeenbek Kulubaev introduced Ruslan Rakhimov to the staff of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the new rector. During the meeting, it was noted that the newly appointed rector has extensive experience in research activitie»»»

Dubai: Iran is once again facing a moment of deep uncertainty as economic collapse, public anger and regional tensions converge. In recent days, the country has seen its largest protests in three years, sparked by a sharp fall in the national currency and a steady erosion of living standards. While»»»

A head-on collision between two trains on the line that services Peru's Machu Picchu killed one person and injured at least 40 others, authorities said, updating an earlier toll. The deceased was the conductor of one of the two trains, according to the prosecutor's office in Cusco, the city closest»»»

In 2025, Bulgaria recorded a markedly positive migration balance, with arrivals significantly outnumbering departures. Data from the National Statistical Institute, cited by Nova TV, show that around 13,000 people left the country during the year, most of them heading to Germany and the United King»»»

China will implement more proactive ​macroeconomic policies next year, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, according ‌to state ‌media. The ‌Chinese ⁠economy ​is ‌expected to achieve about 5% growth for 2025, to about 140 ⁠trillion yuan ($20 trillion), ‌Xi said. The ‍country ‍will promote ‍effec»»»

Relations between India and the Maldives represent one of South Asia’s most stable and organically developed partnerships. Maldives Insight reports. Long before diplomatic ties were formalised in 1965, the two nations were linked through maritime trade, cultural exchange and people-to-people contac»»»

Eurostar will resume full service Wednesday after a power glitch left crowds of travellers stranded on either end of the Channel Tunnel, the service said in a statement. Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel that connects France and the UK since it first launched in »»»

Meteorologists predict that no precipitation is expected in Bishkek during the second half of the day. January 1: Rain, turning into snow at night. Nighttime temperatures will drop to around +2°C, while daytime highs will reach +6°C. January 2: Partly cloudy. Night temperatures will fall to 0°C, wi»»»

Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished with 239 people on board, a renewed search has begun in the remote southern Indian Ocean, as investigators deploy advanced deep-sea technology in a fresh bid to solve one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries. Nearly 12 years after Malay»»»

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 »»»

As Bulgaria prepares to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, consumers are being urged to prioritise card payments during the initial transitional period. Bogomil Nikolov, chairman of “Active Consumers,” told Bulgarian National Radio that the start of the year presents a unique challenge: banks will »»»

Leader of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon wished President Sadyr Japarov and the people of Kyrgyzstan a Happy New Year 2026. The presidential press service reported. «I wish you and your family good health, happiness, and prosperity, and to the fraternal people of the Kyrgyz Republic—peace, stability, an»»»

Five thousand medical workers in Kyrgyzstan will receive mortgage apartments out of turn. Health Minister Kanybek Dosmambetov announced during a visit to children’s medical institutions in the country. According to him, providing housing for medical workers is one of the pressing issues. The minist»»»

Leader of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev wished the head of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, and the people of the republic a Happy New Year. The presidential press service reported. «In the outgoing year, through shared aspirations and joint efforts, we have achieved the dynamic development of good-neigh»»»

Dubai: Shah Rukh Khan has arrived in Dubai, with videos circulating across social media showing the Bollywood superstar around town just in time for the city's most anticipated New Year's Eve event. His presence adds an extra layer of excitement to what's already shaping up to be one of Dubai's gra»»»

The staff of the Bishkek Heating and Power Plant (HPP) have been switched to an enhanced operating mode in connection with the New Year holidays, the press service of the City Hall reported. Emergency response teams are on round-the-clock standby to promptly address any potential emergencies. To en»»»

Indonesian authorities have raised the alert level for the Mount Bur Ni Telong volcano in the country’s westernmost province of Aceh to its second highest following a series of increased activity and volcanic earthquakes, official said Wednesday. The 2,624-meter (8,600-foot) stratovolcano in Aceh's»»»

As Bulgaria adopts the euro, small settlements lacking post offices, ATMs, and other essential services face a particularly difficult transition. One such place is the village of Emen in Veliko Tarnovo region, home to roughly twenty elderly residents. Emen lacks public transport, a post office, and»»»

Kazakhstan’s leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, sent a message of congratulations to Sadyr Japarov, the head of Kyrgyzstan, and the people of the country on the upcoming New Year 2026. In his congratulatory telegram, the head of Kazakhstan wished Sadyr Japarov inexhaustible energy, family well-being, a»»»

TEHRAN — Some shopkeepers in Tehran shut their stores for the second day in a row Monday in protest against economic hardships and sharp swings in Iran's embattled currency, media reports said.The rial has hit new lows on the unofficial market, with the US dollar trading at around 1.42 million rial»»»

France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen will attend the screen legend Brigitte Bardot's funeral next week, but President Emmanuel Macron will not, their teams said on Tuesday. In her later years, Bardot was an outspoken supporter of the far right and was convicted in court for hate speech, stirring»»»

Dubai: Shah Rukh Khan has arrived in Dubai, with videos circulating across social media showing the Bollywood superstar around town just in time for the city's most anticipated New Year's Eve event. His presence adds an extra layer of excitement to what's already shaping up to be one of Dubai's gra»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent New Year’s greetings to Kyrgyzstan’s leader Sadyr Japarov and the people of the republic. The president’s press service reported. The congratulatory telegram notes that the strategic partnership and alliance between Russia and Kyrgyzstan are at a high level. Ac»»»

In 2025, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan strengthened financial protection for citizens and laid the legal foundation for the transition to digital som. Melis Turgunbaev, the National Bank Chairman, posted on Facebook, summing up the results. He also noted the introduction of a self-ban procedure f»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov will spend the New Year holidays in Kyrgyzstan. Presidential press secretary Askat Alagozov told 24.kg news agency. According to him, the head of state will celebrate the holiday with his family. At the same time, Sadyr Japarov will be in constant contact with »»»

The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, wished President Sadyr Japarov and the people of the Kyrgyz Republic Happy New Year. According to the press service of the head of state, Xi Jinping sent a personalized greeting letter conveying his best wishes for a Happy New Year.»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar is witnessing rapid development in the information technology sector and is among the top 20 countries globally this year which demonstrates the robust business environment in the country. Qatar has achieved a remarkable advancement in the 2025 World Digital Competitiveness Ranki»»»

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan clarified new entry requirements for foreigners entering Georgia. Effective January 1, 2026, new entry regulations will apply to all foreigners: they must have valid health and accident insurance for the entire period of their stay in Georgia. This requ»»»