Countries across the world have begun to ring in 2026 with fireworks and light shows. In Australia, Sydney began 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display, as per tradition. Some 40,000 pyrotechnic effects stretched 7 km across buildings and barges along its harbour ‌and featured a waterfall effect from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 31: People enjoy the New Year's Eve firework displays at Opera House on December 31, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Thousands turned out to celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney, as the Harbour Bridge lit up with fireworks.

Emmanuel Fernandez will be "grateful" to take part in his first Old Firm derby when Rangers travel to Celtic on Saturday. "We've just got to stay focused about ourselves, get to the weekend and deal with it," said Fernandez. It was a fourth goal of the season for Fernandez and he gave credit to set-piece coach Scott Fry. "It's difficult, because as I do keep winning it (in the air), people defend differently and maybe put two players on you. "So I'm enjoying the run and it's about continuing this run and keep going and getting three points as much as possible."

‘A baby can’t live this way’ – one mother shares her story of a second Christmas facing homelessnessNicola Scott and her one-year-old son from Blanchardstown are among the thousands of people in emergency accommodation in DublinNicola Scott and her son Cameron spent Christmas in a B&B. Photo: Tony GavinLaura Lynott Today at 06:30A young mother has told of how she fears for her toddler’s future after living in emergency accommodation for over a year.

WhatsApp confirms big news and four new iPhone and Android features to try todayWhatsApp has released an update just in time for New Year's Eve. It's always a busy night for chat platforms, with WhatsApp confirming that December 31 is always its most hectic evening of the year. ‌Now, in a bid to boost those messages, WhatsApp has added some new features just in time for the celebrations. • 2026 sticker pack: share your joy for the coming new year with our latest 2026 sticker pack. "If you’re the one planning New Year’s, we have a few tips for how to make the planning smooth in the group chat," WhatsApp added.

Renowned Fair City and theatre actor David Heap dies at 76Kenneth FoxActor David Heap, who played Donal Maher in Fair City, has died at the age of 76. The English-born actor moved to Ireland after playing the original Captain Lancey in the world premiere of Translations by Brian Friel in 1980. His wife, actor Olwen Fouéré, confirmed the news of his death on Tuesday, “in my arms at home” in a social media post. Sharing a tribute on Wednesday, Dublin’s Gate Theatre said it was “very saddened to learn of” Heap’s death. “David performed memorably in many Gate Theatre productions including Salomé, The Importance of being Earnest and Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” the post, containing a selection of stills from each production, read.

France intends to follow Australia and ban social media platforms for children from the start of the 2026 academic year. A draft bill preventing under-15s from using social media will be submitted for legal checks and is expected to be debated in parliament early in the new year. The government wants the social media ban to come into force from September 2026. Earlier this month, Macron confirmed at a public debate in Saint Malo that he wanted a social media ban for young teenagers. The social media ban is part of Macron’s attempt to shape his legacy as he enters his difficult final year as president with a divided parliament.

Football coach Sherrone Moore was sacked for 'an inappropriate relationship with a staff member', the University of Michigan said. Photograph: Greg Fiume/GettyIt is alleged that the then University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore texted an OnlyFans model at half-time during his team’s resounding 27-9 defeat by Ohio State back in November. “Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the official university statement said on December 10th. Shiver’s desk was just 2ft from the door of Moore’s office in Schembechler Hall, a facility named for the most storied Michigan coach of all. College football.

Estate agent Sherry FitzGerald said the average cost of a second-hand home in the Republic was 6.8% higher in 2025. The average value of second-hand homes in the Republic rose by almost 7 per cent in 2025, as supply remained constrained and inflation was resilient, new data showed. Estate agent , said the average cost of a second-hand home in the State was 6.8 per cent higher in 2025. There was a more significant decline, however, in the Dublin area, where residential values were 5.8 per cent higher year on year. That compared with 7.1 per cent growth in 2024, and an average rise of 8 per cent outside the capital during 2025.

New Year's Eve celebrations are taking place across the world tonight as we mark the final remaining hours of 2025. Japan and South Korea became the first Asian nations to see in the new year with traditional bell-ringing celebrations taking place across Tokyo and Seoul. Parties soon followed in Beijing, Singapore, Taiwan and Manila where the clock struck midnight an hour later. Across Britain, revellers have been told to wear extra layers when they head out to watch fireworks displays with the Met Officeissuing a snow warning for London later this week. <p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p>Follow the latest updates on New Year's Eve celebrations below

Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin spokesman on housing: 'Conflating the issues of homelessness and immigration is not only dishonest - it is dangerous.' Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/The Irish TimesSinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats have called on Tánaiste Simon Harris to withdraw remarks he made linking homelessness to immigration. In an interview with the Irish Times, Mr Harris said a “significant number” of people in emergency accommodation for homelessness “don’t have a housing right in Ireland”. Mr Harris claimed he was “shut down” when he said in November that Ireland’s “migration numbers are too high” as he doubled down on comments linking immigration to the high rate of homelessness. “Conflating the issues of homelessness and immigration is not only dishonest - it is dangerous.

But perhaps the most uncomfortable question of them all is 'what happens if someone dies?' It comes as Ben Vos, who has spent 35 years working at an airport mortuary, explained what happens in this situation. Working at the dedicated mortuary at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Vos manages post-mortem care for travellers who pass away abroad or onboard a flight. Along with a representative who handles border control and a coroner, Vos will enter the plane after passengers have disembarked after landing. EasyJet rejects the narrative put forward by some of the concerned passengers that the woman was deceased when brought on board.

Rodri and Jeremy Doku could feature as Manchester City head to Sunderland on New Year’s Day. Key midfielder Rodri was an unused substitute in Saturday’s Premier League win over Nottingham Forest after recovering from his latest injury setback. Jeremy Doku could return from a calf problem (Nick Potts/PA)Winger Doku, who enjoyed a strong start to the season, has been sidelined for the past four games with a calf injury. Their returns are timely with City short of a number of players heading into a busy January programme. Including a trip to Tottenham on February 1, City face 10 games in the space of 32 days in four competitions.

‌The Dane was signed in Erik ten Hag's second summer, joining from Atalanta in August 2023 for £64m. But after 14 goals in 62 Premier League outing it appears as if United will cut their losses. ‌The reported figure means the Manchester outfit will end up taking a £21m hit on a player just three years after landing him. The transfer dealings from the Ten Hag era continued to paint a bleak picture and have cost United dearly. The player considers himself a Napoli player, and the same goes for us.

The January transfer window opens in less than 24 hours - and we already look to have our first big move wrapped up as Manchester City close in on Antoine Semenyo. Liverpool have also been linked with the sought-after Bournemouth winger, who looks to be headed for the Etihad, largely due to his release clause simplifying the move. Elsewhere, Arsenal and Manchester United continue to be linked with new arrivals as well as exits. The Red Devils continue to deal with talk of midfielders as speculation over Kobbie Mainoo's future remains. Mirror Football has all the latest transfer news and gossip for you, so stay locked in below...

The lazy way to describe the EV5 is as an electric Sportage. The EV5, at its best in basic Earth 2 specification, offers a maximum claimed range of 530kmBut I digress. Our thus-far brief test drive shows the Kia EV5 should manage around 430kmNow this needs a bit of clarification and nuance. In our experience, the VW’s real-world range is more like 450km, while the Kia EV5 – at least according to our thus-far brief test drive – should manage around 430km. Basically, the EV5 looks and feels like a slightly smaller EV9, rather than an upsized EV3, and that’s the right way to do it.