This week, a lunar eclipse in Virgo will occur, and Mercury retrograde will continue, affecting global processes and daily life. Astrologer Ksenia Bazylenko told how these events will affect each zodiac sign.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa stated that the Russian Federation will not succeed in its imperial plans. Ukraine is entering the fifth year of a full-scale war, enduring intense attacks, but continues to resist.
Australia and New Zealand announced new packages of sanctions and additional financial assistance to Kyiv. This happened on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy signed decrees imposing sanctions against 225 captains of vessels exporting Russian oil products. Sanctions were also imposed on 46 Russian citizens, 2 Iranian citizens, and 44 Russian companies serving the military-industrial complex.
A deep cyclone has hit New Zealand's North Island, leaving tens of thousands of households without power. Flights in Wellington have been canceled due to wind gusts of up to 193 km/h.
New Zealand authorities have updated warnings for extreme rainfall and stormy winds. Extensive flooding has already led to the death of at least one person.
Chevrolet has unveiled an exclusive series of the Corvette Z06 supercar, dedicated to the model's debut in the 12-hour race in Bathurst. Only 12 units have been produced for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Japan plans to join NATO's PURL mechanism to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. Tokyo will finance non-lethal equipment such as radar systems and body armor.
The man who killed 51 Muslim worshippers told the Court of Appeal that he was coerced into pleading guilty due to harsh prison conditions. He is seeking to overturn his guilty plea and life sentence.
Power outages increase the costs of food production, storage, and logistics. This leads to a gradual increase in prices for energy-dependent goods such as meat, dairy products, and bread.
New Zealand Police have confirmed the discovery of human remains at the site of a landslide that covered a campsite near Mount Maunganui. The search operation has transitioned into a body recovery phase, as the chances of finding survivors have virtually disappeared.
Two people have died and several more are believed to be trapped under debris following landslides on New Zealand's North Island. The landslides were caused by heavy rains, which led to flooding and power outages.
A powerful tropical storm caused a massive landslide on Mount Maunganui in New Zealand, burying a popular campsite. Several people are officially reported missing, and a search operation is underway.
Donald Trump has invited a number of countries to his "Peace Council for Gaza" to implement a 20-point plan. The signing ceremony is scheduled for this Thursday in Davos.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that after the development of a peace plan and security guarantees for Ukraine, Russia must demonstrate its interest in ending the war. The 20-point peace plan was discussed by Zelenskyy and Trump in 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highly praised the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris on January 6, where 27 heads of state, the EU, NATO, and other representatives were present. He emphasized the importance of joint declarations and the readiness to deploy coalition forces for real security.
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.
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.
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.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees on synchronizing sanctions with Great Britain against 8 individuals and 40 legal entities involved in the deportation of children and the supply of components for Russian weapons. Ukraine also imposed sanctions against 8 military leaders of South Sudan in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
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.
The "Ramstein-32" meeting brought Ukraine record financial commitments for 2026, including 11. 5 billion euros from Germany and 7 billion dollars from Norway. Partner countries also transferred new Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems, and allocated funds for drones, artillery, and ammunition.
The Russian Federation has been recognized as the least peaceful country on the planet, taking last place in the annual Global Peace Index (GPI) report. Ukraine and Sudan also made it into the top three most dangerous states.
A shooting occurred on Bondi Beach in Sydney during a Jewish Hanukkah holiday event. At least 11 people were killed and dozens were injured, prompting shock and condolences from world leaders.
Around 600 artifacts were stolen from the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection of the Bristol Museum on September 25. Avon and Somerset Police appealed to the public for help, releasing photographs of four suspects in the theft.
New Zealand is allocating $15 million to a program for the procurement of American weapons for Ukraine. This contribution is part of Ukraine's Priority Urgent Requirements List (PURL) and will only be used to purchase weapons or equipment that comply with the country's international obligations.
