world

Eruption of long-dormant Ethiopian volcano subsides

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia: Volcanic activity in northern Ethiopia’s long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano subsided Tuesday after an eruption over the weekend that left a trail of destruction in nearby villages and caused flight cancellations after ash plumes disrupted high-altitude flight paths.

Villages in the district of Afdera in the Afar region were covered in ash, officials said residents were coughing, and livestock found their grass and water totally covered.

India’s flag carrier, Air India, said it canceled 11 flights, most of them international, on Monday and Tuesday to inspect aircraft that may have flown over affected areas, acting on a directive from India’s aviation safety regulator.

Another Indian operator, Akasa Air, said it had canceled flights to Middle East destinations such as Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled over the past two days.

At least seven international flights scheduled to depart from and arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the Indian capital of New Delhi were canceled on Tuesday, while at least a dozen were delayed, according to an official at the airport.

An official in charge of health in northern Ethiopia’s Afdera district, Abedella Mussa, said the residents were coughing and mobile medical services from the larger Afar region had been launched in the remote area.

“Two medical teams have been dispatched to the affected kebeles (neighborhoods) like Fia and Nemma-Gubi to provide mobile medical services,” he said.

Another official in charge of livestock, Nuur Mussa, said animals were unable to find clean water or grass. “Many animals, especially in the two affected kebeles, cannot drink clean water or feed on grass because it is covered by volcanic ash,” he said.

Atalay Ayele, a geologist at Addis Ababa University, said such eruptions occur because Ethiopia is situated along an active rift system where volcanism and earthquakes are frequent.

“This is the first recorded eruption of Hayli Gubbi in the last 10,000 years,” he told the AP. “It will likely continue for a short period and then stop until the next cycle.”

The ash cloud is moving towards China and is expected to clear Indian skies by 1400 GMT Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.

The high-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea, Yemen, Oman, the Arabian Sea and then towards western and northern India, the weather office added.

Gulf news

Culture

Oulu, Trenčín Named 2026 European Culture Capitals

The cities of Oulu in Finland and Trenčín in Slovakia have been selected as European Capitals of Culture for 2026.

The European Union annually names several cities as European Capitals of Culture to underline Europe’s cultural diversity and honour the cultural and artistic identity of each region.

The two cities replace Chemnitz in Germany’s Saxony and the Slovenian-Italian border twin cities of Nova Gorica/Gorizia.

WAM

world

Oman announces January 2026 public holidays in advance

Oman has confirmed two public holidays in January 2026 to mark Accession Day and the Islamic occasion of Al Isra’a Wal Miraj, as part of a newly approved policy to announce national and religious holidays in advance each year.

Under the calendar endorsed by the Council of Ministers, Thursday, January 15, 2026, will be observed as a public holiday to commemorate Accession Day, marking the anniversary of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s accession to the throne.

A second public holiday will follow on Sunday, January 18, 2026, to mark Al Isra’a Wal Miraj, the Islamic observance commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and ascension.

The announcements is part of a shift in how holidays are scheduled, with the government opting to publish dates at the start of each Gregorian year to improve institutional planning and coordination across both the public and private sectors.

However, the policy excludes Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, which will continue to be announced separately based on official moon sighting.

In a statement, the Ministry of Labour said the advance scheduling is intended to help government entities and businesses organise daily, seasonal and annual operations more efficiently, while also reducing clashes between public holidays and major local or international events.

The ministry added that employees required to work during official holidays will continue to be compensated in line with existing labour regulations.

Beyond January, the government also confirmed public holidays later in the year, including National Day on November 25 and 26, Islamic New Year on June 18, and Mawlid Al Nabawi on August 27, reinforcing the country’s move towards greater predictability in its annual calendar.

Story by Gulf News

world

Syria to launch new currency on January 1

Syria is set to introduce a new national currency starting 1st January 2026, the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdulkader Husarieh, announced on Thursday.

In a statement carried by Syria Arab News Agency (SANA), Husarieh described the move, outlined in Decree No. 293 of 2025, as a “pivotal national milestone” and the beginning of a new economic and monetary phase for the country.

Under the decree, the Central Bank has been granted authority to set the timelines and locations for the currency exchange, Husarieh said, pledging that the process will be smooth and well-organised.

He added that the procedures will be explained clearly and transparently during a dedicated press conference, aimed at enhancing public confidence and reinforcing the partnership between the bank and citizens.

Speaking on the significance of the new currency, Husarieh said it symbolises Syria’s financial sovereignty following liberation and represents a step toward economic stability and development.

Story by WAM