Thousands gathered in New York City’s Times Square on Dec. 31, 2025, to watch the iconic ball drop at midnight and usher in 2026. The event followed a long-running tradition that began in the early 20th century and is now paired with a special America250 semiquincentennial moment after midnight. Organizers staged a daytime confetti test … Read more
Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was discharged from a Lagos hospital on Wednesday after a car crash on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, that killed two of his close team members. Nigerian authorities and his promoter said Joshua sustained minor injuries and was released as clinically fit to recuperate at home. The victims, strength-and-conditioning coach … Read more
Lead: Cities around the globe marked the arrival of 2026 on the night of 31 December 2025, with waterfront fireworks, public gatherings and official safety operations in place. Early time zones saw major displays over harbors and coastlines while later celebrations stretched across the Americas from Rio de Janeiro’s beaches to New York’s Times Square. … Read more
Lead: On Dec. 31, 2025, San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini was named to Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina, after a selection process led by general manager Doug Armstrong. Celebrini, who first caught Armstrong’s attention during a Nov. 21, 2024 meeting at Enterprise Center, strengthened his case with a strong … Read more
Organizers of the Rose Parade in Pasadena and regional emergency officials warned Wednesday that a strong winter storm is bringing near-certain rain to Southern California, threatening a wet New Year’s Day crowd along Colorado Boulevard. Forecasts called for rain beginning late Wednesday and continuing into Thursday morning, with a parade kickoff scheduled for 8 a.m. … Read more
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was waived unexpectedly with one week remaining in the season after a mix of on-field and off-field issues, coach Brian Schottenheimer said. The team cited performance, injury history and protocol breaches as contributors, and Schottenheimer described the decision as the result of “multiple factors.” Diggs signed a five-year, $97 million … Read more
On Dec. 31, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, No. 23 Iowa upset No. 14 Vanderbilt, 34-27, in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Quarterback Mark Gronowski, in the final game of his college career, was named game MVP after a 16-for-22, 212-yard passing night with three total touchdowns and a rushing score. The Hawkeyes scored 27 … Read more
Lead As 2026 opens, gold is positioned for a potential major advance if a technical breakout sustains above the $5,000 level. Markets have largely priced in moderate U.S. rate cuts and a softer dollar, but a parabolic upswing and ongoing structural tailwinds could push bullion toward the $6,000 area. The immediate technical target lies near … Read more
Dec. 31, 2025 — Over 2025 the stock market’s strong finish owed largely to one theme: investments tied to artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 climbed more than 17 percent as the Federal Reserve trimmed interest rates by 0.75 percentage points, and investors rallied around companies seen as central to A.I. infrastructure. While the economy broadly … Read more
Lead Health officials reported that the drug‑resistant fungus Candida auris spread across 28 U.S. states in 2025, with 7,046 cases recorded nationwide as of Dec. 20 and 158 cases reported in Alabama this year. Public health authorities say the organism persists on skin and surfaces, enabling transmission in health‑care settings and via contaminated equipment. State … Read more
Lead: On Dec. 31, 2025, at Walt Disney World in Florida, a cast member was injured after a large prop boulder rolled off its track during the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Videos shared on TikTok and Reddit showed the prop falling from the raised stage and striking a staffer who stepped in front of … Read more
Wall Street closed out 2025 near record territory on Wednesday as a surge in technology stocks and growing hopes for lower interest rates offset a year of political and economic disruption. The S&P 500 rose 16.4% for the year, finishing at 6,845.50 on New Year’s Eve in New York, despite slipping 0.7% in the final … Read more
The Ohio Department of Health and local officials confirmed the state’s first pediatric influenza death of the 2024–2025 season in the Miami Valley region. The report, announced by local health authorities, marks the first child fatality attributed to seasonal flu in Ohio this year and has prompted renewed public-health reminders about vaccination and early treatment. … Read more
Lead: Former special counsel Jack Smith’s full closed-door deposition before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee was made public Wednesday in a 255-page transcript and over eight hours of video. The material stems from a deposition earlier this month in a committee investigation led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan. Smith, who sought to testify publicly but … Read more
On 31 December 2025 a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt in Aleppo’s Bab al‑Faraj neighbourhood, killing one police officer and wounding two others as security personnel who were guarding New Year’s Eve events moved to detain him. State media SANA and officials quoted by Al‑Ikhbariah said officers had observed the suspect and tried to … Read more
