Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, has been celebrated for over 1000 years according to the lunisolar calendar. This year it falls on February 17, accompanied by visits to ancestral graves, red decorations, and fireworks.
The Chinese New Year in 2026 will fall on February 17, marking the 4723rd year according to the Eastern calendar. The celebrations will last two weeks, concluding on March 3.
In a private conversation with leaders of the European Parliament's political groups, EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas noted that it might be time to start drinking. According to her, this is due to current world events.
Poland neutralized the most powerful cyberattack on energy infrastructure in history, carried out by Russian special services. They tried to cause a complete power outage for Polish citizens at the end of December 2025.
Swiss authorities released the co-owner of the Crans-Montana bar, where 40 people died in a fire, after he submitted documents. Jacques Moretti, head of Le Constellation, must report to the police daily and post bail.
In Kyiv, law enforcement officers exposed a 40-year-old Israeli citizen who is suspected of selling drugs. The man decorated the New Year's tree with bags of drugs.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces may have received the newest American "Tempest" air defense system, developed by V2X, for testing in real combat operations. The complex, presented in October, is designed to combat drones.
American actor Daniel Stern, known for his role in the film "Home Alone," was fined in California for attempting to order escort services. The incident occurred on December 10, and the actor received a fine and a court summons.
Jacques Moretti, owner of the Swiss bar Le Constellation, has been arrested following a fire that killed 40 people. His wife has been placed under house arrest, and the prosecutor's office is investigating a case of negligent homicide.
After Malanka, carolers appeared at the Spartak Shopping and Entertainment Center in Lviv, combining urban rhythm with folk music. This was a continuation of the Christmas program, which included St. Nicholas's Residence and a nativity scene.
On January 7, the Russians launched a massive and combined assault on the positions of the 71st separate airmobile brigade between Andriivka and Oleksiivka in the Sumy region. The defense forces destroyed five enemy groups and more than a dozen occupiers who tried to break through on quad bikes and on foot, with total losses amounting to 42 people.
The state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" sold 91. 4 thousand New Year trees, generating 16.5 million hryvnias in revenue. The highest demand was recorded in the Volyn and Rivne regions, and the lowest in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
In 2025, over 11,000 mobile internet outages were recorded in Russia across 80 regions, including Kamchatka. The authorities explain this by protection against drones, although the real goal is to strengthen control over the information space.
Germany could have a presence in a NATO country bordering Ukraine a year after any future ceasefire, Merz says.
Law enforcement officers detained a serviceman who demanded 9,000 US dollars for including a soldier in the rotation lists. The suspect was detained on January 1 in Dnipro while receiving a bribe.
Long-range drones of the SBU's "Alpha" Special Operations Center successfully attacked the No. 100 GRAU arsenal in Kostroma Oblast and the "Gercon Plus" oil depot in Lipetsk Oblast. Ammunition exploded at the arsenal, and an intense fire broke out at the oil depot.
At the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, skiers honored the 40 dead and 119 injured in the fire by forming a heart in the snow. The prosecutor's office is investigating the management of the Le Constellation establishment.
Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka met with Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych. They discussed the mood in Czech society and the recent public discussion regarding the New Year's address by Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura.
Russia claims that Ukraine has been attacking Moscow daily with drones since the beginning of 2026, considering it an escalation. By January 4, 437 drones were allegedly shot down over Russia, including 57 over the Moscow region, causing flight delays at Moscow airports.
At the first auction of 2026 in Tokyo, a 243 kg tuna was sold for $3. 2 million to Kiyomura Corp. The owner of the Sushi Zanmai sushi bar chain set a new record, surpassing his 2019 figure.
Hyundai Motor Co. Executive Chairman Chung Euisun predicted an extremely difficult period for the global automotive industry due to trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and increased competition. The company plans to invest 125 trillion won in new technologies over the next five years.
On January 4, 2026, during the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV called for solidarity with peoples suffering from wars. The Pontiff expressed concern about the situation in Venezuela, emphasizing the priority of the people's well-being and calling for a return to the rule of law.
Greek airspace was blocked for several hours due to an unprecedented aviation radio frequency failure. The incident caused lengthy delays for thousands of passengers in the middle of the holiday season.
All 40 victims of the fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Switzerland have been identified, and their families have been notified. A criminal investigation has been launched against the bar's management for involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and negligent arson.
The film "Avatar: The Way of Water" has officially grossed over $1 billion at the global box office. This was reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Leonardo DiCaprio missed the Palm Springs International Film Festival due to travel restrictions caused by US airstrikes in Venezuela. The actor was supposed to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in the film "One Battle After Another," but accepted it via video link.
Former Disney Channel singer Dove Cameron and Damiano David of the band Måneskin have announced their engagement. The couple has been dating for two years and first met at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.
In Switzerland, 24 of the 40 victims of the bar fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort have been identified. Among the deceased are citizens of Switzerland, Italy, the UAE, Romania, France, and Turkey, aged between 14 and 39. A national day of mourning is scheduled for January 9, 2026, with a minute of silence and church bells ringing.
A young driver decided to drift under the New Year tree on the square in front of the Opera House in Lviv. He was quickly identified thanks to the cameras of the City Security Center and brought to administrative responsibility.
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, appeared in public for the first time since late December – with a cane.
