From 2026 to 2028, Earth will experience a cascade of double solar eclipses, including three total and three annular solar eclipses. This is a repetition of a pattern last observed from 2008 to 2010.
In Switzerland, investigators are identifying charred bodies after a bar fire that killed about 40 people at a New Year's Eve party. Among the first identified is a 16-year-old Italian golfer.
This refers to advanced weapon systems, including ballistic missiles and drones, for cryptocurrency. This would allow Tehran to circumvent Western financial restrictions.
A study of magmatic rocks in Western Australia has shown that the Earth's crust began to form actively a billion years later than previously thought. A comparison of these rocks with lunar samples confirmed the identical initial composition of the Earth and Moon 4.5 billion years ago, supporting the Giant Impact theory.
Australian Russell Allan Wilson was killed on December 12 during combat operations in the Donetsk region, fighting for Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. He was supposed to get married a week after his last mission.
The first to welcome 2026 were Oceania and Asia, where celebrations are accompanied by pyrotechnic shows and traditional rituals. New Zealand greeted the year with a five-minute fireworks display over Sky Tower, while Sydney honored the victims of the terrorist attack with a minute of silence and projections on the Harbour Bridge.
Japan, South and North Korea officially entered the New Year. Traditional ceremonies were held in Seoul and Japan, and a large-scale fireworks display in Pyongyang.
Residents of Australia and New Zealand welcomed the New Year 2026, thousands of people took to the streets of cities, including Canberra and Wellington. In Sydney, where a terrorist attack previously occurred, about 1 million people watched the fireworks under close police supervision.
Since PURL was launched in August, 24 countries have joined it, and the total amount of contributions is $4. 3 billion. This allows for the purchase of American weapons, including missiles for Patriots, and strengthening Ukraine's defense.
The European Union plans to impose a 20th package of sanctions against Russia on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Measures will include travel restrictions, asset freezes, and sanctions in the energy and banking sectors.
New Year on the planet lasts almost a day, starting from the Line Islands in the Pacific Ocean and ending in Samoa. Find out the exact time of the 2026 New Year celebration in different countries of the world according to Kyiv time.
Netflix has released the trailer for the film "The Peak" starring Charlize Theron and Eric Bana, where Theron plays a woman who gets caught in a deadly game with a serial killer. The film is set to premiere on April 24, 2026.
New research reveals that the first humans settled Sahul (Australia and New Guinea) about 60,000 years ago via two main migration routes from Southeast Asia. This confirms the "long chronology" of settlement and refutes assumptions about the displacement of the first settlers by later waves of migration.
Western sanctions have reshaped India's oil trade, reducing its reliance on Russian oil. Imports from Russia decreased by 17.8% in January-October 2025, while imports from the US increased by 83.3% and from the UAE by 8.7%.
Russia has postponed plans to triple its annual liquefied natural gas production due to international sanctions. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that achieving the goal of producing 100 million tons of LNG per year would be delayed by several years.
A car with the words "Happy Chanukah" was set on fire in a Melbourne suburb early on Christmas morning. The suspected antisemitic incident occurred less than two weeks after a terror attack in Sydney that killed 15 people.
Santa Claus and his reindeer have embarked on a round-the-world journey to deliver gifts, having already made stops in New Zealand and Australia. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking his route.
The US dollar weakened on Wednesday, poised for its biggest annual drop since 2017, as investors anticipate further Fed rate cuts. The euro and pound sterling strengthened, reaching new three-month highs.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha discussed with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong another Russian attack and emphasized the importance of international solidarity. The parties coordinated further steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, noting a new package of military aid from Australia.
In California, a shark attacked a group of 17 swimmers, leaving a 55-year-old woman missing. The US Coast Guard is conducting a large-scale search operation, and beaches are closed.
Shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China more than doubled compared to last year, reaching 1. 6 million metric tons in November. This allowed Russia to overtake Australia and become the largest supplier after Qatar, offering the cheapest LNG among 12 suppliers.
The Parliament of New South Wales convened an urgent session to adopt radical changes to gun legislation after the terror attack on Bondi Beach, where 15 people died. The new bill will limit the number of firearms to four or ten for farmers.
Switzerland is considering strengthening the protection of children from risks on social media, including a complete ban on access to platforms for minors. Minister Baume-Schneider expressed openness to such a step, inspired by Australia's experience.
Thousands gathered on Sydney's Bondi Beach a week after an attack on a Jewish festival that killed 15 people. The event was attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other high-ranking officials, as authorities step up the fight against antisemitism.
The United Kingdom will not unilaterally use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, as it had planned to do so jointly with partners. This comes after a similar EU plan failed due to legal and political obstacles.
The Australian Defence Force granted ABC exclusive access to a classified operation to supply M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Dozens of 60-tonne tanks are already in Poland, having been transported halfway across the world on a cargo ship.
The youngest victim of the Sydney shooting during the Hanukkah celebration was 10-year-old Matilda from a Ukrainian family. The girl died in the attack, which killed a total of 15 people.
Australian authorities have filed 59 charges, including murder and terrorism, against 24-year-old Navid Akram, who survived an attack on a Sydney beach. 15 people died in the incident, and his father was killed by police.
Alex Kleitman, a Holocaust survivor, died during a terrorist attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, protecting his wife. The couple had been together for over 60 years; Larisa Kleitman survived.
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah celebrations, which resulted in the deaths of more than 10 people, has been declared an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack. The suspects are a father and son who, according to police, were adherents of ISIS ideology.
