Around 40 people died and 115 were injured, many seriously, in a fire in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, according to Frederic Gisler, police chief of the canton of Valais, quoted by local media yesterday.more
France and the UK would be willing to send troops to Ukraine to oversee a potential ceasefire, even without an agreement from the UN or the EU. Both countries would be satisfied with an invitation from Kyiv, the German daily Die Welt reported.more
On Tuesday, the Portuguese government announced that it was suspending the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) at Lisbon Airport. According to the Portuguese authorities, the system, which had been in place since October, was causing frequent disruption to the capital's airport.more
The wealth of the world's 500 richest people increased by a record $2.2 trillion over the past year, reaching $11.9 trillion thanks to gains in the stock, metal, cryptocurrency and other asset markets, according to Bloomberg.more
With the arrival of 2026, Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone, abandoning the lev, which had been in use since the end of the 19th century. Society was divided almost equally between supporters and opponents of this decision, while Bulgarian businesses viewed the change with optimism.more
The New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square will be particularly festive tonight, according to local media reports. They will combine the traditional New Year's Eve show with the inauguration of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States.more
85 per cent of French people – the highest percentage among European countries – believe that the past year has been a bad one for their country. The French are also the most pessimistic about the coming year, with only 41 per cent believing that it will be better for them than 2025.more
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first new-generation obesity drug in tablet form, containing semaglutide. It is expected to go on sale in the US in January 2026. Another drug with a similar effect is expected to be approved in mid-2026.more
The weekly "Economist" cites the predictions of experts from Good Judgment, a company specializing in political and economic forecasts, for 2026. In their assessment, the probability that Russia's war against Ukraine will not end before January 1, 2027, is 74 percent.more
In 2026, the situation in the Ukrainian-Russian war will likely remain similar to what we have been observing for over three years: slow Russian territorial advances will come at the cost of heavy human losses. However, the question remains what next steps Moscow will take towards other countries.more
The U.S. president gets favorable views from only about a third of people who support the parties Trump wants to see win power in France and Germany.more
The Danish postal service PostNord will deliver its last letter today after 400 years of service. The dismantled red mailboxes are being auctioned off for charity.more
Brazil heads into the year’s final days under a blazing sky, as heat tightens its grip on major cities and small towns alike.
The latest heatwave has turned the end of December into a stress test for Brazil’s infrastructure, public health systems and daily routines, with weather stations quietly logging numbers that would have sounded unthinkable just a decade ago.more
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke on Sunday evening with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump and European leaders, a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office in Downing Street said.more
In Rome, where around one million tourists visit during the Christmas and New Year period, one of the biggest attractions is the new Colosseo metro station. The investment, which was completed after 13 years of construction, has been named an archaeo-station because it displays archaeological finds discovered during the works.more
Legendary French actress Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, AFP reported today, citing a statement issued by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. The actress was hailed as an icon of femininity in the 1960s. In recent years, she was a staunch defender of animal rights.more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that during tomorrow's meeting in Florida with US President Donald Trump, he will convince him of his willingness to compromise on the peace plan, which is to secure American military and intelligence support, according to the Telegraph newspaper.more
The Italian Antitrust Authority has fined Ryanair over €255 million for "abusing its dominant position" in the market. The airline called the fine "bizarre and unfounded" and announced it would appeal.more
This year's Gift of the Year in Sweden is a toy for adults, which can be an advanced construction set, a coloring book or a collectible figurine, announced the Swedish Trade Analysis Institute (HUI).more
New York City sparkled with a record number of Christmas lights, new attractions, and spectacular premieres of festive installations. Almost the entire city transformed into a winter wonderland, delighting residents and numerous tourists.more
A single Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has landed a staggering $1.82 billion (£1.43bn) jackpot, making it the second-largest win in the history of the US lottery.more
NORAD, the U.S.-Canadian Air Defense Command, will be "tracking" the journey of Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve for the 70th time. This tradition dates back to 1955, when children began calling a special Pentagon emergency line wanting to speak with Santa.more
Reports by Russian generals containing erroneous information, including downplaying tactical setbacks, were intended to convince Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the war was going his way, the British newspaper Financial Times reported on Monday, citing Western officials.more
The Powerball holiday jackpot streak continues! No ticket matched all six numbers drawn last night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $1.60 billion for Monday night’s drawing. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $735.3 million.more
