The number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats in 2025 climbed to its second-highest level since records began, official figures showed on Thursday, piling pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer as anti-immigration sentiments gain ground ahead of key local elections in May. The second-highe»»»

South Korea’s exports climbed to a record $709.7bn in 2025, crossing the $700bn threshold for the first time as a powerful rebound in semiconductors offset weaker trade with the US and China, the nation’s Yonhap News Agency reports. »»»

China’s largest electric carmaker, BYD, posted a fresh global record for electric vehicle sales in 2025, underlining the shifting balance of power in the world’s fast-evolving auto industry. The Shenzhen-based auto giant s»»»

China’s largest electric carmaker, BYD, posted a fresh global record for electric vehicle sales in 2025, underlining the shifting balance of power in the world’s fast-evolving auto industry. The Shenzhen-based auto giant s»»»

South Korea’s exports climbed to a record $709.7bn in 2025, crossing the $700bn threshold for the first time as a powerful rebound in semiconductors offset weaker trade with the US and China, the nation’s Yonhap News Agency reports. »»»

Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight on Thursday, marking a historic moment with a low-key swearing-in ceremony held deep beneath Manhattan. The Democrat, who at 34 is the city’s youngest mayor in generations, takes office as one of the most closely watched political fig»»»

Zohran Mamdani pledged to prove that left-wing politics can deliver for ordinary people as he was sworn in as New York mayor on Thursday, beginning a term likely to bring confrontation with US President Donald Trump and scrutiny of his ambitious plans for the country’s largest city. Zohran Mamdani »»»

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been discharged from hospital in Brasília and taken back into custody, a week after undergoing double hernia surgery, as he continues to serve a prison sentence for leading an attempted coup. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left a hospita»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai moved higher at the end of the first trading week of 2026, recovering from a muted start to the year as global markets reopened with a cautious but constructive tone. By 7.50 am on Friday, the price of 24-karat gold stood at Dh524 a gram, up from Dh520.25 the previous da»»»

A junior minister on Wednesday said the French citizenship granted to Hollywood star George Clooney despite his poor level of French suggested a "double standard". The Clooney family became citizens just days before language requirements were toughened under new rules from January 1. France's junio»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un heaped praise on Pyongyang's forces supporting Russia's war in Ukraine in a new year's message, hinting at the "remarkable feats" the country's troops will perform on overseas battlefields in years to come. Thousands of North Korean troops were deployed in Russia's K»»»

In a live New Year’s address, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te highlighted the need for increased defence spending and warned of a critical year ahead following a major Chinese military exercise that saw rockets fired towards Taiwanese territory. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Thursday »»»

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»»»

The foundation stone was laid in Riyadh Thursday for the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) “Hexagon” Data Center, the world’s largest government data center by megawatt capacity. Classified as Tier IV and holding the highest data center rating by the global Uptime Institute, »»»

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov set out what he described as three possible scenarios for Bulgaria in a social media post, the party’s press service said on Thursday. Kostadinov linked the scenarios to the period after the March elections and framed the choice as one between his party and it»»»

The start of the year is a time for reflection and responsibility for the future - a time to acknowledge that mistakes are part of public and political life, but also that forgiveness, dialogue, and wisdom are the way forward, the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) wrote on Facebook on Thursday»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria marks one year since becoming a full member of the Schengen Area. On December 12, 2024, the Council of the European Union decided to lift checks at the land Schengen borders of Bulgaria and Romania. Bulgaria and Romania had waited to accede Schengen since 2010, when the»»»

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»»»

The US military said on Wednesday that it had carried out strikes on three alleged drug-smuggling boats in international waters, killing three people. The latest operation is part of a wider campaign that has drawn criticism from legal experts and rights groups. The US military announced on Wednesd»»»

Throughout 2026 2026's mind-blowing global events: Sports thrills, science breakthroughs, tech revolutions & flying taxis take off UAE: Launch of air taxi service following regulatory approval and completion of "vertiports". US: America250 Celebrations, a year-long event marking the 250th anniversa»»»

A worker at Walt Disney World is "recovering" after being injured by a 400-lb (180kg) runaway fake boulder prop in an incident that was caught on video, the Florida theme park confirmed. The incident took place at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! during a live recreation of a famous scene »»»

PARIS: Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney were granted French citizenship because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach,” the French government said Wednesday, defending their naturalisation that was questioned b»»»

Outgoing Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said she is happy to have had the opportunity to be part of the fulfillment of a dream shared by generations of Bulgarians. She wrote that in a post on Facebook after Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone from the first day of 2026. “Bulgaria i»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Amid conflicts and crises, 2025 also brought reasons for optimism, medical breakthroughs, encouraging signs for the planet and sporting and cultural surprises. As the world heads into 2026, FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the stories that offered moments of relief.  Welcome to 2026! As the new»»»

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»»»

“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»»»

Iran will meet any attempt to use ongoing protests driven by economic hardship to foment insecurity with a "decisive response", prosecutor-general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said Wednesday. Shopkeeper-led demonstrations broke out Sunday to protest the sanction-hit country's rising cost of living. »»»

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. »»»

On the eve of New Year 2026, President of the Republic Bajram Begaj delivered a message of greetings to all Albanians, calling for unity, cooperation, and coordination around national goals and interests. President Begaj described the New Year as a moment of reflection and emphasized the importance»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Beijing said Wednesday it had "successfully completed" military drills around Taiwan that simulated a blockade of the self-governing island's key ports. The war games began days after the US announced an unprecedented $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan.  Chinese warships and coastguard vess»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli Army Grapples with Post-War Psychological Impact: 21 Soldiers Committed Suicide in 2025 31-12-2025 15:01 PM Israeli occupation army»»»

Manila: In a viral post that’s got the low-carb community buzzing, Marco Reyes — the chemical-engineer-turned-keto-kingpin — links his health revolution to the nation’s hottest health drama, amid reports of a spike in heart attacks during the Christmas holidays. Marco isn’t just any fitness guru; h»»»

Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff who also serves as a special envoy for strategic cooperation, speaks at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea, 30 December 2025, after returning from his trip to Poland to attend a signing ceremony for Hanwha Aerospace's export deal»»»

A special drone show over Knyaz Alexander I Battenberg Square in Sofia will mark the first minutes of Bulgaria’s membership in the euro area, the Finance Ministry said. The event will be livestreamed on the official online channels of the euro introduction campaign at evroto.bg/bg/live/146# and fac»»»

It's been a roller-coaster year for financial markets - but US stock investors are heading into 2026 on a high note. US President Donald Trump's global trade tariffs sent shockwaves through markets in the spring. But by summer, the US saw record highs fuelled by strong company profits and confidenc»»»

To almost no-one's surprise, Taylor Swift dominated the UK music charts in 2025. The star's 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, was the year's biggest seller, registering an impressive 642,000 chart sales since its release in October. Women led the way all year, with breakout Brits like Olivia Dean»»»

India has surged past Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy at $4.18 trillion, positioning itself to eclipse Germany for the third spot by 2030, according to a government release. Highlighting on-going reforms, New Delhi has cited India’s rapid, domestically-driven growth, strong consu»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»