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»»»

The US has destroyed three alleged narco-trafficking boats travelling in a convoy in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a number of people aboard, as part of Washington’s growing pressure campaign against Venezuela. The latest lethal “kinetic strike” was conducted in international waters on Decembe»»»

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 »»»

Greece’s judicial calendar for 2026 features a series of high-profile trials with major social and political implications, led by the long-awaited proceedings over the 2023 rail disaster at Tempe that claimed 57 lives. The main trial over the crash in central Greece is set to begin on March 23, mor»»»

A body found in San Antonio, Texas, is that of missing woman Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19. Her death was ruled a suicide. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Jan. 1 (UPI) -- A body found in San Antonio, Texas, is that of missing woman Camila Mendoza Olmos who disappeared on the morning of Chr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (Daam) has signed a financing agreement with the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) to support the 17th edition of the Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival (Marmi) 2026. The festival is held from January 1 to 24, 2026, at Sabkhat Mar»»»

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»»»

Protesters and security forces clashed in three Iranian cities on Thursday, with six people reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out. The protests began on Sunday in Tehran, where shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation, and hav»»»

Two people are reported to have been killed during growing unrest in Iran on the fifth day of protests over the soaring cost of living. Both the semi-official Fars news agency and human rights group, Hengaw, said people had died during clashes between protesters and security forces in the city of L»»»

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»»»

Russian intelligence services were able to retrieve a flight mission file from one of the Ukrainian drones that attacked Putin's residence. Statements by the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces: Decryption of the controllers from Ukrainian UAVs shot down on December 29 unequiv»»»

London: Enzo Maresca left his role as Chelsea head coach on Thursday after just 18 months in charge, the Premier League club announced. The Italian's exit from Stamford Bridge comes with the club fifth in the Premier League table -- 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal -- with one win in their last »»»

Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Yemen began on Thursday handing over military positions to the government’s National Shield forces in the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in eastern Yemen. Local sources in Hadhramaut confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the handover kicked off after mee»»»

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»»»

This story contains details some readers may find upsetting. "I thought my little brother was inside so I came and tried to break the window to help people to exit, and after that I went in." The 18-year-old man, who did not want to give his name, was speaking to the BBC after a huge fire at a New »»»

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians over the New Year, with Moscow reporting a deadly strike on a hotel in territory it occupies in southern Ukraine while Kyiv said there had been another broad attack on its power supplies. The reports coincide with intensive talks aimed at»»»

Tehran: Protesters and security forces clashed in western Iran on Thursday, with three people reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out. The protests began on Sunday in Tehran, where shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation, and h»»»

Issued on the first day of 2026, a report by “Israel Hayom” exposes a deepening demographic crisis, challenging core Zionist claims of attraction and permanence. A report published by the Zionist daily Israel Hayom on Thursday acknowledges a growing reverse migration, revealing that tens of thousan»»»

1 of 2 | Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge in the early hours of New Year's Eve, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Thursday. According to the police, several dozen people died in the fire and around 100 people were injured. Photo by Jean-Chr»»»

Doha,Qatar: Lusail City stole the spotlight during Qatar's New Year celebrations on Wednesday evening, as Lusail Boulevard hosted a grand event marking the close of the year. The city's skyline was illuminated by the largest fireworks display in the State of Qatar, officially welcoming the New Year»»»

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) transported more than 2.8 million passengers during New Year’s Eve 2026 celebrations, it said on X. That means, it saw ridership growth of over 13 per cent compared to last year’s over 2.5 million riders. The smooth transits were only possible thanks to an»»»

Dubai: Dubai's public transport network experienced unprecedented demand on New Year's Eve 2026, with over 2.8 million passengers using various modes of transport to reach celebration venues across the emirate. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported transporting 2,836,859 passengers durin»»»

January opens with unseasonably mild temperatures but unsettled and windy conditions across Bulgaria. On Friday, January 2, atmospheric pressure will continue to fall and stay below the usual levels for this time of year, signalling an active weather pattern. The day will bring plenty of sunshine o»»»

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»»»

Dubai: A deadly fire ripped through a crowded New Year party at Le Constellation in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana early Thursday, leaving dozens feared dead and about 100 injured, many seriously. What happened?A fire broke out during New Year celebrations at a packed bar/nightclub, triggeri»»»

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»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has ordered a man to repay $16,000, or its equivalent in dirhams, to a longtime friend after ruling that he failed to return money entrusted to him for investment more than a decade ago. The court found that the defendant had received the sum from the cla»»»

Dubai: Some 116 Saudi government employees across various ministries and public bodies have been arrested in a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown, following a series of investigations conducted by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), the Okaz Arabic daily reported. Nazaha questione»»»

A recently discovered large hilltop settlement could challenge the idea that the Vikings built the first towns in Ireland, a researcher has said. Dr Dirk Brandherm and his colleagues have identified more than 600 suspected houses in the Brusselstown Ring making it, to date, the largest nucleated se»»»

Dubai’s real estate market closed 2025 with record-breaking sales, the highest in the emirate’s history, extending its exceptional performance for a fifth consecutive year and reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading property markets amid strong demand from local and international inv»»»

In 2026, banking in the Gulf and beyond will feel less like a place you visit and more like a digital utility running quietly in the background of daily life. Artificial intelligence, embedded finance and real-time payments are fusing into a new operating system for money that will challenge long‑s»»»

Jumping into the frigid waters of Coney Island in January for a pun on "I'm freezing... your rent". Visiting food trucks to discuss how city permitting processes have led to "Halalflation". Walking the length of Manhattan to show New Yorkers they "deserve a mayor that they can see, they can hear, t»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Ukrainian drone in the Kherson Region attacked a passenger car in which a family was traveling, killing a 5-year-old boy, regional Governor Vladimir Saldo said on Thursday, adding that three adults were hospitalized. "Kiev degenerates committed another bloody crime. Near Taraso»»»

The UAE Defense Ministry announced the voluntary drawdown of its military presence in Yemen, amid deteriorating relations with Saudi Arabia following Riyadh’s declaration that it is deeply disappointed by the UAE’s support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and views such actions as a thre»»»

Bulgaria marked its first official euro transactions shortly after the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2026, as the country officially adopted the single European currency. According to the payment service provider Borica AD, the very first successful euro withdrawal was recorded at 00:20 at an AT»»»

Doha: The Qatar Calendar House on Thursday said that planet Earth will reach the closest point in its orbit around the Sun, known as perihelion, on Saturday evening, 14 Rajab 1447 AH, corresponding to January 3, 2026. At that time, Earth will be at an approximate distance of 147 million kilometers »»»

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»»»

London: Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea head coach after 18 months in charge, the Premier League club announced Thursday. "Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company," said a club statement. The Italian's exit from Stamford Bridge comes with the club fifth in th»»»

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»»»

A huge inferno gutted a 19th century Amsterdam church Thursday, as the Netherlands endured an unsettled New Year's Eve with two dead from fireworks and "unprecedented" violence against police. The blaze broke out in the early hours at the Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overlooked one of »»»

Police in the Netherlands were pelted with fireworks and faced an "unprecedented amount of violence" on New Year's Eve, officers have said. A 19th century church in Amsterdam was engulfed by fire in the early hours of New Year's Day, although the cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Vondelkerk,»»»

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 »»»

The Hague: A huge inferno gutted a 19th century Amsterdam church Thursday, as the Netherlands endured an unsettled New Year's Eve with two dead from fireworks and "unprecedented" violence against police. The blaze broke out in the early hours at the Vondelkerk, a tourist attraction that has overloo»»»

The biting cold kept people huddled next to their heat sources while fog obscured road vision last Tuesday in India’s Gurgoan and Faridabad. And in the middle of the frigid night, a woman’s cries for help as she was brutally raped in a moving car went unanswered, reports Times of India. The 25-year»»»

Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the launch of the Community-Managed Virtual Authority, a new initiative inspired by the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, to enhance the role of skilled individuals in shaping the nation's fu»»»

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»»»

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»»»