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CBC.ca

Thousands of public, private sector workers will be working from the office again in 2026

The new year will bring some big changes to the rules on in-office work for many employees across the country, including tens of thousands of provincial government staff in Ontario and Alberta, who will soon be required back in the office full time.

Something to prove: How Blayre Turnbull became the ‘glue’ of the Canadian women’s hockey team

Blayre Turnbull, the captain of the Toronto Sceptres is looking to compete in her third Olympics in February. She owns an Olympic gold medal from 2022 and three world championships. Yet for all her success, the 32-year-old always feels like she has something to prove.

Parts of Alberta just saw some of the most snow they've ever seen in the month of December

As of Dec 28, communities including Grande Prairie, Banff and Fort McMurray had seen one of their wettest Decembers on record.

Kim Jong-un's daughter visits family mausoleum, promoting her potential status as heir in North Korea

The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made her first known visit to a sacred family mausoleum, a step that experts say bolstered her status as her father's potential heir.

Trump, top Iranian officials exchange threats over protests in Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged duelling threats on Friday as widening economic protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic, further escalating tensions between the countries.

Quebec City skydivers help set new world record for largest parachute formation

Roughly 100 people from around the world, including some Quebecers, travelled to Lake Whales, Fla., in November to break the world record for largest parachute formation.

I spent over a decade obsessed with the gym. I’ve finally let myself stop

When Zahra Khozema first started going to the gym in university, it made her feel powerful and beautiful. The guilt and stress came later.

Manitoba Hydro fixes downed line, ending Pimicikamak Cree Nation's frigid days in the dark

Power is being restored to Pimicikamak Cree Nation nearly four days after a widespread power outage left community members without heat in freezing winter temperatures and promoted a state of emergency.

Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate captures 1st career World Cup gold

Canadian ski jumper Abi Strate started the new year with a bang by soaring to her first career World Cup victory on Thursday.
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Toronto Star

Earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 rattles southern and central Mexico

A strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico on Friday, interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press briefing of the new year as seismic alarms sounded.

This Shopify merchant received over 50 orders from ChatGPT. Is AI the future of retail?

Many retail analysts say 2025 is Canada's first truly AI-powered holiday season.

The Toronto Star's 2026 short story contest begins Saturday. Here’s how to apply

The annual contest returns to give aspiring writers a chance to win cash prizes and have their work published in print and online by the Star.

Canadian politics in 2026: Two fault lines that could alter the landscape

As 2026 dawns, Donald Trump's rhetoric is far from Canada's only worry. Referendums and party infighting are other consequential political fault lines to keep an eye on.

New Year, new Ontario Liberal Party? It'll take more than resolutions

Around this time 12 months ago, Bonnie Crombie called leadership a tough job. Turns out she didn't know the half of it.

Could your kid's school be on the chopping block? Why debate about under-enrolled schools is heating up

When Faris Arham was weighing his high school options, he wasn't drawn to the big, bustling schools some teens prefer.

These 10 TV shows have our critic looking forward to 2026

From new instalments of "The Pitt," "Bridgerton" and "Outlander" to a new "Game of Thrones" prequel and a "Peaky Blinders" movie followup, the season is stacked.

A teenager saw a need for more female coaches in Ontario girls hockey. Here's how she plans to do it

Mila Ramdas has created a pilot project in Mississauga where high school girls will serve as coaches for players under the age of seven.

Swiss investigators believe sparkling flares atop wine bottles ignited fatal bar fire

Representatives from France and Italy said their nationals are among the missing.

Trump tariffs, AI boom dampen Canadian corporations' hiring outlook in first half of 2026

Some 44 per cent of Canadian companies plan to increase their workforce, down from 51 per cent in the first half of last year, according to a survey by Express Employment Professionals.
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Globe and Mail

How hospitals are dealing with the number of burn victims from Swiss fire

The Associated Press' John Leicester explains how many of the injured from the New Years Eve bar fire in Crans-Montana were transported to hospitals across Switzerland and neighbouring countries as the regional health facility hit capacity.

Trump threatens to help protesters in Iran after crackdown

A top Iranian official responded to Trump’s comments, warning that U.S. interference would equal destabilization of the whole region

Teenage golfer identified as first victim after Swiss resort fire that killed at least 40

Swiss police confirmed that about 40 people died in the blaze and 115 were injured

Naples set out to make subway stations ‘catacombs of beauty.’ The results will stop you in your tracks

Latest addition to ‘Stazioni Dell’Arte’ wins praise for a project that’s transformed this Italian city

The world needs to ensure leaders are not immune from criminal prosecution

We’re facing an era in which the ideals of the post-1945 rules-based order are deteriorating

Mamdani’s first day as New York mayor makes clear he’s interested in more than symbolism

The democratic socialist says he will not hide from opponents who consider him radical and dangerous

Bulgaria officially enters eurozone, banishing lev currency to history

Nation’s entry takes number of Europeans using the euro to more ⁠than 350 million

Taiwan vows to defend its sovereignty after Chinese military drills

President Lai Ching-te pledged to protect the self-ruled island from China’s ‘expansionist ambitions’

Fire destroys historic church in the Netherlands as two die in fireworks accidents

Police say about 250 people were arrested and in several towns riot ‌police were deployed

Zohran Mamdani begins term as New York’s first Muslim mayor after historic inauguration

Mamdani steps into one of the country’s most-watched political roles, having promised transformative change on affordability
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Global News

Iran protests widen as Trump and Iranian officials exchange threats

U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials exchanged dueling threats Friday as widening protests swept across parts of the Islamic Republic.

What we know about the deadly New Year’s Eve Swiss Alpine bar fire

People frantically tried to escape from the basement nightclub up a narrow flight of stairs and through a narrow door, causing a crowd surge, one witness said.

Ukraine, Russia trade accusations of civilian strikes as new year begins

Russia accused Ukraine of killing at least 24 people, including a child, in a drone strike on a hotel and cafe, while Kyiv said there had been another attack on its power supplies.

Iran protests spread over ailing economy, at least 6 reported dead

The deaths may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Iran’s theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehran, but expanded elsewhere.

About 40 dead, 115 injured in New Year’s fire at Swiss Alps bar: police

The Crans-Montana resort's crowded Le Constellation bar morphed from a scene of revelry into the site of what Switzerland's president said was one of the country's worst tragedies.

Bulgaria to become 21st country to adopt euro as official currency

The historic milestone arrives amid political instability and skepticism among ordinary people fueled by fears of prices rising in the eastern European country.

Russia releases video of downed drone after Kyiv denied attack on Putin

Russia's defence ministry released video footage on Wednesday of what it said was a downed drone used to attack a presidential residence.

7 Canadians among dozens injured in fatal Peru train crash: minister

A train coming from Machu Picchu collided with a train heading there on Tuesday, according to the company that operates the railway. A rail worker was killed, police say.

Russian drone strike injures 6, including kids, in Ukraine’s Odesa

The attack came as Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in his country's eventual victory in the nearly four-year war against its neighbor.

CIA behind strike at Venezuelan dock allegedly tied to drug cartels

The CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation.
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New York Times

Tesla Car Sales Dropped 9% in 2025, Falling Behind China’s BYD

As the largest maker of electric vehicles in the United States, Tesla suffered more than other carmakers from the elimination of federal incentives.

Trump Says U.S. Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ if Iran Kills Protesters

Mr. Trump’s remarks that he was ready to come to the protesters’ “rescue” are a sharp escalation as protests over economic hardship turned deadly.

In China, A.I. Finds Pancreatic Cancer That Doctors May Miss

A tool for spotting pancreatic cancer in routine CT scans has had promising results, one example of how China is racing to apply A.I. to medicine’s tough problems.

As Schools Embrace A.I. Tools, Skeptics Raise Concerns

More governments are rolling out chatbots in schools. Some experts warn the tools could erode teaching and learning.

Survivor Recounts Moment He Caught Fire in Swiss Bar

Noa Bersier went to Le Constellation with friends on a whim. An hour later, he was caught in one of Switzerland’s worst tragedies.

In the Arctic, Drones Help Identify Deadly Virus in Whales

Scientists took samples from whale blow, identifying possible disease risks for marine mammals in northern seas.

Ukraine’s Zelensky Names Kyrylo Budanov as New Chief of Staff

Kyrylo Budanov, who has served as Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, is seen as a potential rival to Mr. Zelensky if elections are held.

New York Magazine Put Mamdani’s Team on Its Cover. One Aide Was Erased.

Catherine Almonte Da Costa was part of a photo shoot on the mayor-elect’s inner circle. The next day she resigned amid an uproar over antisemitic statements she had posted on social media years earlier.

After Watergate, the Presidency Was Tamed. Trump Is Unleashing It.

In the 1970s, Congress passed a raft of laws to hold the White House accountable. President Trump has decided they don’t apply to him.

Wall Street Sees Another Banner Year for Markets. Could Anything Stop It?

Analysts have forecast more stellar gains for the S&P 500. But concerns about inflation, the dollar and sky-high valuations could make for a choppy run.

CNBC

Norway wraps up 2025 with 96% of its new car market fully electric, and Tesla's sales are surging there

Almost all new cars sold in Norway last year were fully electric, according to registration data published Friday.

China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s top EV seller for the first time

The milestone caps an extraordinary rise for BYD, a company Tesla's Elon Musk once dismissed by laughing at their products.

Tesla reports 418,227 deliveries for the fourth quarter, down 16%

Tesla's fourth-quarter deliveries report follows a steep rally in the company's stock in the last few months of 2025.

Buffett says Berkshire has the best odds of any company for lasting 100 more years as he hands over reins

Berkshire has "a better chance I think of being here 100 years from now than any company I can think of," Buffett said.

European shares rally as tech leads gains; Britain’s FTSE 100 hits 10,000 points for first time

Britain's FTSE 100 index on Friday surpassed the symbolic 10,000 points marker for the first time, extending gains after a bumper 2025.

Trump says U.S. will intervene if Iran 'violently kills' protestors

Protests erupted last week over the government's handling of a sharp fall in the nation's currency and soaring prices.

Orsted files legal challenge over Trump's halt to $5 billion offshore wind project

Shares of Orsted, the world's largest developer of offshore wind farms, rose more than 4% on the news.

South Korea's Kospi hits record high as region trades mixed at the start of 2026

Some Asian markets are still closed for the holidays, including Japan and mainland China.

Baidu’s semiconductor unit Kunlunxin files for Hong Kong listing amid AI chip boom in China

Baidu has announced plans to spin off its artificial intelligence chip subsidiary, Kunlunxin, and list the new firm on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Shares of KFC and Pizza Hut Indian operator Devyani jump on merger with rival franchisee Sapphire

Two major franchisee operators for Yum!Brands in India will merge to create a single unified franchisee for KFC & Pizza Hut in the country

Washington Post

At least 40 dead in Swiss ski resort fire as authorities search for answers

Fire rapidly engulfed the Constellation bar at the Crans-Montana resort, triggering at least one explosion, officials said. At least 40 are dead and many more injured.

Mapping U.S. strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific

An ongoing record of U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since Sept. 2.

Iran protests sparked by failing economy turn deadly

Authorities reported one death, while rights groups said security forces killed several. President Donald Trump appeared to threaten intervention in a social media post.

Surging left-wing party challenges politics-as-usual in Germany

The rise of the nationalist far right has alarmed many Germans, but “The Left” party is most popular with young voters, posing a challenge to the centrist establishment.

India pioneered job guarantees. A new law could weaken them, critics say.

A mass rural employment program has cut poverty in India and inspired policymakers globally. Critics say the government risks rolling back that legacy.

About 40 killed, 115 injured in New Year’s bar fire at Swiss ski resort

Officials ruled out the possibility of an attack and are investigating the cause of the blaze, which left many of the injured with “significant, severe burns.”

2025 was a year of heightened conflict, amid wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan

Violent conflicts around the world left at least 240,000 people dead in 2025, ACLED data shows. The high level of conflict remained steady after years of increasing.

In plan for Ukraine, Trump faces fundamental differences with Russia

Russia invaded Ukraine to restore it to Moscow’s orbit, but President Donald Trump’s peace plan would increase Kyiv’s security, economic and other ties with the West.

Queen Camilla says she was assaulted on a train as a teenager

In a radio discussion about violence against women, Queen Camilla for the first time described fighting off an attempted sexual assault as a teenager in Britain.

BBC

'Crazy 24 hours' - McFarlane ready for Chelsea chance

Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane says it has been a "crazy" 24 hours since replacing Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.

The debate about whether the NHS should use magic mushrooms to treat depression

Many clinical trials to test the use of psychedelic medicines for conditions such as depression have been underway since 2022 - with surprising results

US slashes proposed tariffs on Italian pasta imports

The plan to impose steep tariffs on 13 producers could have seen major price rises for US consumers.

'Good idea' or taking 'massive chance' - is Rosenior ready for Chelsea?

Liam Rosenior is the leading candidate to become the Chelsea manager. BBC Sport looks at the reasons why.

'We need to protect players' - how can tennis avoid breaking point?

With the 2026 tennis season kicking off, BBC Sport analyses why many top players are complaining about burnout and what could be done to prevent it.

Survivor describes how she lost sight of friend while fleeing blaze

Dozens of people have died in the fire and more than 100 left injured.

Zelensky names spy chief to head presidential office

Kyrylo Budanov has led the Hur military intelligence, which has claimed a number of highly-effective strikes against Russia.

Young Italian golfer feared dead and 100 in critical condition - what we know so far

Several dozen people are presumed to have died in the blaze in the resort of Crans-Montana.

Double record-breaking year for UK as 2025 confirmed as warmest and sunniest on record

Simon King looks back at the extreme weather the UK had during 2025 as the Met Office confirms it as the warmest and sunniest on record

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 27 people in New Year attack in occupied Kherson

Ukraine says it only conducts strikes against military targets and adheres to international law.

The Independent

Switzerland fire latest: Sparkler candles on champagne bottles revealed as likely cause of deadly blaze

Swiss Police have confirmed around 40 people have died after a fire ripped through a bar in a popular Swiss ski resort

Wes Streeting issues cold snap warning as pressure on NHS intensifies

The Health Secretary urged the public to only use A&E in genuine emergences

The facial feature experts say is an early warning sign of dementia

Scientists found looking older than you are significantly increases your chance of being diagnosed with dementia

How the climate crisis is changing an ancient way of life in Ethiopia

Families have been raising livestock in the Afar region of northeastern Ethiopia for centuries, but Nick Ferris finds that these traditions are changing thanks to the impact of the climate crisis

Mexican president’s speech interrupted by emergency sirens as 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes country

The Mexican president was speaking about tourism when the earthquake struck

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv denies targeted strike on Kherson hotel that killed 27 on New Year’s Day

Ukraine said its forces ‘adhere to international law’

The top photos of the week by AP photojournalists

Dec. 26, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026

Eight Epstein survivors call for Trump to be impeached over handling of file release

After reading heavily-redacted documents which appear to break the law, the survivors of the convicted pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, are demanding accountability from the president

Cold weather payments triggered in over 400 postcodes – check if you’re eligible

Over 600,000 households are in line for the one-off payment

Tesla loses title as world's biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row

Tesla lost its crown as the world’s bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a second year in a row