New Year 2026 was welcomed by Sydney with a spectacular fireworks display held under heightened security, following a deadly attack that shocked the city weeks earlier. Countdown organisers paused celebrations for a moment of silence to honour the victims, with the Harbour Bridge lit in white and symbols of unity projected across the skyline.    

Russia has launched a rare overnight strike on western Ukraine, targeting multiple facilities — including a U.S.-owned Flex electronics plant employing thousands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a “deliberate strike” on American property, warning that Moscow’s true intentions are now clear. The strike comes as Donald Trump shifts away from his earlier peace stance. The U.S. President hinted at allowing Ukraine to “fight back”, warning of “interesting times ahead”, while calling it impossible to win against an “invader country.”