World

Dubai property sales hit record over 185 bln USD in 2025

DUBAI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Dubai's real estate market recorded its highest-ever sales in 2025, with sales value rising more than 30 percent from a year earlier, data from the Dubai Land Department showed.

World

Fireworks accidents kill two in the Netherlands; fire destroys historic Amsterdam church

THE HAGUE, Jan 1 (Reuters) - ‌Two people died in the Netherlands in fireworks accidents ‌and there were scattered instances of violence as the ‌country celebrated the New Year, and in a separate incident a historic church in the heart of Amsterdam burned down.

Other Sports

Ski Jumping-Slovenia's Prevc soars to second successive Four Hills victory

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, Jan ‌1 (Reuters) - Domen Prevc of Slovenia is looking more ‌and more like the man to beat ‌at the Milano Cortina Olympics, soaring to another commanding ski jumping victory at the Four Hills Tournament on the famed Garmisch ‍hill on Thursday.

World

New Year party at Swiss ski resort turned into a disaster zone

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland, Jan 1 (Reuters) - As ‌he approached Le Constellation bar to celebrate the New Year in a snowy Swiss ski resort ‌bright with Christmas lights, Dominic Dubois saw flames engulfing the building.

World

Yemen’s Aden airport shuts as Saudi-UAE rift deepens

DUBAI, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Air ‌traffic at Yemen's Aden international airport was halted ‌on Thursday as tensions persisted between Saudi Arabia and ‌the United Arab Emirates, two Gulf powers whose rivalry is reshaping war-torn Yemen.

World

Factbox-Crans-Montana: Swiss resort at centre of deadly bar fire

BERLIN, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Following are ‌some key facts about the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana where officials said dozens ‌of people were killed and 100 injured, most of them seriously, after ‌a fire tore through a crowded bar during a New Year's Eve party.

Singapore

Galloping into the new year: Singapore Mint Lunar Fair opens at Chinatown Point Atrium

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Mint's annual Lunar Fair kicked off at Chinatown Point Atrium on Thursday (Jan 1), offering the public a first look at newly issued Chinese New Year-themed coins, gifts and collectibles.

Football

Soccer-Heavyweights line-up as Cup of Nations reaches knockout stage

RABAT, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The ‌past three Africa Cup of Nations finals were littered with giant slaying performances and shock results ‌but the latest edition in Morocco has gone with form and assured a heavyweight ‌line-up of teams for the knockout fixtures at the weekend.

AseanPlus News

Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Thursday (Jan 1, 2026)

Here's a look at the news highlights from Asean countries in the Star-AseanPlus section for Thursday (Jan 1, 2026)

World

New York Mayor Mamdani sworn in with progressive agenda ahead

NEW YORK, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Democrat Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as ‌New York City's mayor in the first minutes of the New Year on Thursday at the historic City Hall subway station, kicking off a term that will be closely watched by both liberal backers ‌and conservative opponents.

Nation

2026 tax return filing programme now available on LHDN portal

CYBERJAYA: The Income Tax Return filing programme for the year 2026 has been uploaded on the official Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) portal as a reference and guide for taxpayers submitting their returns this year.

Japan

Female nail technician found dead in Mito, Japan with apparent stab wound to neck

MITO, (Japan): A female nail technician was found bleeding and collapsed inside her apartment in Mito.

Philippines

Philippines raises Mayon Volcano alert level amid signs of increased unrest

MANILA: (Bernama-Xinhua) The Philippines raised the alert level of Mayon volcano in Albay province on Luzon island on Thursday (Jan 1) following signs of increased volcanic activity, reported Xinhua.

Nation

Selangor PAS Youth supports Sanusi to lead Perikatan

PETALING JAYA: Selangor PAS Youth has expressed its full and open support for the nomination of Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as the new Perikatan Nasional chairman to replace Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Nation

Dr Wee spends New Year attending wedding of Melaka CM's daughter

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong attended the wedding of Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh's daughter on Thursday (Jan 1).

World

Russia says it will give U.S. proof of attempted Ukrainian strike on Putin residence

MOSCOW, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Russia said ‌on Thursday it had extracted and decoded a file from ‌a Ukrainian drone downed earlier this week that it said shows ‌it had been targeting a Russian presidential residence and that it would hand over the relevant information to the United States.

Football

Soccer-Gabon government sack Aubameyang and national team

RABAT, Jan 1 (Reuters) - ‌Gabon's government have announced the suspension of the national team, the ‌sacking of the coach and kicked Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off the squad ‌in the wake of three defeats at the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Entertainment

BTS to make full comeback with new album in March after nearly four years

SEOUL: South Korean K-pop sensation BTS will release a new album featuring all seven members on March 20, marking its first full-group comeback in nearly four years, the band's agency said on Thursday (Jan 1).

World

Ukraine condemns Russian new year drone attack on power infrastructure

Jan 1 (Reuters) - A Russian drone ‌attack damaged power infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ‌said on Thursday, while Moscow accused Ukraine of carrying out a ‌deadly new year attack in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine.

World

Bulgaria celebrates entry into euro zone, lev currency banished into history

SOFIA, Jan 1 (Reuters) - EU member ‌Bulgaria marked its entry into the euro zone on Thursday ‌with a display of euro coins on the facade of ‌the central bank in Sofia and fireworks to celebrate a long-awaited milestone.