Gold fireworks, gray realities -- Middle East's uneven march into 2026

CAIRO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Fireworks flared above the Middle East as 2026 arrived, bursting into gold and white over new skylines and ancient quarters alike. From Egypt's desert capital to the Gulf's glass towers and the streets in Damascus, crowds welcomed the Year 2026 with music, phones held aloft, and countdowns shouted in unison.

Yet across the region, the celebrations unfolded against a backdrop of war, disp