Violence surrounding protests in Iran sparked by the country’s ailing economy killed two other people, authorities said Saturday, raising the death toll in the demonstrations to at least 10 as they showed no signs of stopping. The new deaths follow US President Donald Trump warning Iran on Friday t»»»

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has declared a national state of emergency, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry. Venezuela’s government has accused the US of launching attacks on civilian and military installations across several states, rejecting what it described as “military aggressi»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has issued a comprehensive set of binding regulations governing the naming of public facilities across the Kingdom, introducing unified standards, governance frameworks, and explicit religious and administrative restrictions. Also Read: Saudi Arabia shuts over 1,300 establishmen»»»

Several explosions were reported in Caracas and surrounding areas in the early hours of January 3, with residents citing loud blasts, aircraft activity and temporary power disruptions in parts of the capital. Authorities confirmed heightened security measures, while air traffic over Venezuelan airs»»»

US officials confirmed that military strikes have been launched against Venezuela, Fox News reports. The attack was initially planned for Christmas but was postponed due to weather conditions, according to CBS Military aircraft are audible over the capital, Caracas A fire broke out at the port of L»»»

Former Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borisсov said the arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was the first clear indication that the current government would fall. Speaking in a nearly two-hour interview for Yavor Dachkov’s podcast, recorded at GERB headquarters on January 2, Borissov said h»»»

Small retailers across Bulgaria are struggling to cope with the practical realities of the switch from the lev to the euro, according to observations from the first working days after the currency changeover. Reports circulating on social media and in local media outlets point to a lack of sufficie»»»

There were twice as many incidents and fires on New Year’s night as a year earlier, Directorate General Fire Safety and Civil Protection Director Alexander Dzhartov said on Saturday. He put the number of fires at 196, compared with 94 on December 31, 2024. Most of the fires caused no material damag»»»

Venezuela has denounced what it calls a military aggression by the United States, following a series of explosions and reported aircraft activity over the capital, Caracas, and other regions in the early hours of Saturday. The government stated that attacks also occurred in the states of Miranda, A»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is following with concern the developments that have taken place in Yemen over the past few hours and expresses its regret over the ongoing escalation. The UAE calls upon Yemenis to prioritise wisdom, exercise restraint, and work toward achieving security and stability in the cou»»»

Akram al-Amri, deputy head of Yemen’s Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, stated that the operation to take over military camps, led by the National Shield forces under the command of Salem al-Khanbashi, Governor of Hadhramaut and head of the security committee, is not a military offensive »»»

Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday declared a state of an emergency over what his goverment called an "extremely serious military aggression" by the United States on the capital Caracas. Multiple explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard around»»»

Dubai: It’s been a news-packed week in the UAE, with the country welcoming 2026 through dazzling New Year’s Eve celebrations, headlined by Burj Khalifa fireworks and grand events across the emirates. Authorities rolled out phased road closures and extended Metro services to manage crowds, while uns»»»

A series of high-profile criminal cases reached final verdicts in 2025, while the arrest and detention proceedings involving Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov also drew widespread public attention. Kotsev was held from July until late November before being re»»»

News report by Khaled Al-Mutairi KUWAIT, Jan 3 (KUNA) -- The offshore exploration project currently being implemented by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) represents a pioneering national step aligning with requirements of State of Kuwait’s Oil Strategy 2040. The project opens the door to applying the lates»»»

In a stunning overnight operation, reports of powerful explosions have emerged from the Venezuelan capital, with eyewitness footage showing fiery blasts near key Chavismo power centers. Amid chaos, casualties are unconfirmed, with evacuations reportedly underway. Global leaders urge restraint as te»»»

Two people including a three-year-old child have been killed and around 28 others injured in a Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said. A multi-storey residential apartment block was almost completely destroyed in the dual missile attack on Friday afternoon, which Ukrainian Preside»»»

On Jan. 3, 1924, two years after rediscovering the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt, Howard Carter and his workers found the stone sarcophagus that contained the gold coffin and mummy of the boy king. 1 of 7 | A replica of a King Tutankhamun statue is on display at the Times Square Discovery Ce»»»

Sheikh Amr bin Habrish al-Alili, head of the Hadhramaut Tribes Alliance in Yemen, urged all Hadhramis, including members of the Elite Forces and Public Security personnel, to stand their ground, stating that the current phase was settled and that there was no room for revenge. Speaking during a vis»»»

Brisbane, Australia: World number one Aryna Sabalenka said Saturday she isn't out for revenge after losing her Australian Open crown in a shock loss to American Madison Keys last year. Sabalenka went into the final at Melbourne Park aiming to become the first woman since Martina Hingis to win three»»»

Israel resumed airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Friday shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from a visit to the United States, where he met US President Donald Trump, as Israeli officials signaled possible military action if Beirut fails to advance to the next phase of a plan t»»»

Several explosions have been felt across Caracas, with plumes of smoke seen rising from the Venezuelan capital in the early hours of Saturday morning. The cause is not yet clear, though a fleet of helicopters have been flying overhead. US President Donald Trump, who has deployed a navy task force i»»»

From how long children stay in school to when they sit exams and even how absences are counted – the UAE’s education system is undergoing some of its most far-reaching reforms in years. In this academic year, parents will need to adjust to a new rhythm shaped by a unified school calendar, stricter »»»

New Delhi: Sacred ancient gems linked to the Buddha were unveiled on Saturday in India for the first time since their colonial-era removal. The Piprahwa gems, a collection of more than 300 precious stones and ornaments believed to have been buried with relics of the Buddha at a stupa site in northe»»»

Police in the northern Athens suburb of Kifissia have arrested a 51-year-old driver who was found to be nearly seven times over the legal alcohol limit after crashing into a tree and several parked vehicles. According to state broadcaster ERT, the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday as»»»

Demonstrations by Alawite communities swept through Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama again last week, just a month after a similar wave of protests. This time, however, they unfolded in a far more volatile environment, particularly in Latakia, where unrest turned deadly. Four people were killed, inc»»»

Skopje, 2 January 2026 (MIA) — After a brief disruption in passenger rail service that began Thursday at 4:47 pm due to National Railways Transport staff going on strike over their November pay, trains are back in service. According to National Railways Transport representative and Train Drivers La»»»

Dubai: Twenty years on, January 4 remains a defining date in Dubai’s modern journey, marking the accession of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, as Ruler of Dubai. The occasion continues to stand apart from traditional anniversary commemora»»»

San Francisco, United States: Dreams about the vast potential of artificial intelligence will collide with cold, hard reality as the Consumer Electronics Show kicks off in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Science fiction portrays AI as superintelligence that can operate faster and better than people can, and »»»

A Bangladeshi expat in Al Ain is celebrating a six-figure windfall after getting lucky in Big Ticket’s weekly e-draw. Sobaraj Kha Rafiq Kha pocketed Dh100,000 in Series 282, thanks to his winning ticket number 177520. The 33-year-old, who has called the ‘Garden City’ home for the past 15 years, mis»»»

Iran's foreign minister has called Donald Trump's promise of intervention "reckless and dangerous", after the US President warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue". In a brief post on social media, Trump wrote: "We are locked and l»»»

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine is hosting security advisers for crunch talks on Saturday as Kyiv insists negotiations are zeroing in on a deal, while Russia claims a deadly New Year strike torpedoed the efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said around 15 countries would attend the talks, along w»»»

Rabat: Hugo Broos is hoping to lead South Africa to Cup of Nations glory in Morocco but standing in his team's way in the last 16 on Sunday are Cameroon, the country with whom he won an unlikely continental title in 2017. The showdown at the compact Al Medina Stadium in Rabat has the makings of a f»»»

Dubai: Back at work after the New Year’s celebrations? You’re not alone. One of the most searched questions in the UAE right now is: “When is the next holiday?” From long weekends to Islamic festivals, 2026 is packed with public holidays—perfect for a quick getaway, family time, or just some well-e»»»

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged taking a higher dose of aspirin than typically recommended, but he insists he will continue his long-standing routine, which his physician says is intended for cardiac prevention. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he takes 325 millig»»»

Somaliland has rejected allegations that it agreed to allow an Israeli military presence on its territory or take in displaced Palestinians. The denial follows accusations from Somalia that the breakaway region had accepted such arrangements in return for diplomatic recognition by Israel. Last week»»»

Elon Musk’s AI platform, Grok, is racing to fix flaws in its image-editing tool after users reported that it could turn pictures of children or women into sexualised content. In a statement on X on Friday, Grok acknowledged the problem. “We’ve identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing»»»

1/9According to figures from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the emirate recorded 17.55 million overnight visitors between January and November 2025 — a 5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.Virendra Saklani/Gulf News2/9The continued growth highlighted Dubai’s resil»»»

The poorest UK households have only become poorer under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government despite its promises to boost living standards, several British outlets reported on Friday, citing recently published analytical data. Disposable income left after bills and essentials for the le»»»

Raihan Vadra, the son of India’s Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, has shared the first official pictures from his engagement to Aviva Baig, offering a rare glimpse into a personal family celebration. The engagement took place last month, but the couple chose to ma»»»

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the accession of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, DAMAC Group has planned a citywide celebration, paying tribute to two decades of transformation, ambition and global excel»»»

VK Exhibitions and Decor Industry LLC, a leading player in the region’s fabrication and event infrastructure sector, hosted a grand year-end celebration on December 27, 2025. Held at the VK Group premises, the event brought together nearly 1,000 stakeholders, including blue-collar staff, senior man»»»

Abu Dhabi: Dense fog covered parts of Abu Dhabi and other UAE regions early Saturday, prompting authorities to warn motorists to exercise extra caution. Also Read: Weather update: UAE braces for dusty, windy conditions after stable FridayThe National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued red and y»»»

Manila: The Philippines has unlocked 99-year land leases to foreign investors with Republic Act No. 12252, signed in September. It's deemed a "game-changer". For one, it creates certainty for capital-intensive projects spanning decades, thus giving investors — and jobs — more predictability. Also I»»»

Another 20 nations and entities are restricted from travel to the United States, raising the total number of nations banned to 39 as of Thursday. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Travel restrictions for 20 more nations and locales took effect on Thursday in acco»»»

In cities across the world, the effects of globalisation are producing an unexpected paradox. As urban centres become more connected and outward-looking, they risk losing the very qualities that once made them distinct. Skylines may rise, infrastructures may strengthen, but without a sense of ident»»»

The Iranian government has formally demanded action from the United Nations following a series of increasingly bellicose statements from US President Donald Trump, including a claim that Washington is “locked and loaded” to intervene in the ongoing unrest within Iran. In a letter to UN Secretary-Ge»»»

Dubai: Business travel across the Middle East continued to grow in 2025, and companies expect the trend to carry into 2026 as in-person meetings and regional cooperation remain central to how work gets done. Travel management firm musafir.com says spending on business travel in the region rose abou»»»

At least two people have died after a powerful earthquake hit southern and central Mexico on Friday. CBS, the BBC's news partner in America, reported that as of Friday evening local time, two people were killed and several injured. The epicentre of the 6.5 magnitude earthquake was near the popular »»»

On the first freezing winter day of 2026, surrounded by thousands of cheering New Yorkers and progressive Democratic allies, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to tell a "new story of our city". "City Hall will deliver an agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance - where government loo»»»