January 2026

Europe: Trains Restart After Tunnel Power Fault Halts Travel

Europe: Trains Restart After Tunnel Power Fault Halts Travel

January 1, 2026 9:02 am

Eurostar resumes after Channel Tunnel power outage strands thousands of passengers, causing delays, cancellations, and disrupted travel across Europe.

European high-speed rail services are resuming after a power failure in the Channel Tunnel disrupted travel for thousands, officials said, though delays and cancellations remain likely.

The outage, triggered by a fault in the tunnel’s overhead power supply, caused a LeShuttle freight train to stall, halting traffic between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. Eurostar trains connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam were temporarily suspended, leaving passengers stranded.

“All Eurostar services are scheduled to run today,” the company said. “However, …

Thailand Frees 18 Cambodian Soldiers After Months In Captivity

Thailand Frees 18 Cambodian Soldiers After Months In Captivity

January 1, 2026 8:45 am

The soldiers, held since July 2025, were handed over at Pailin border checkpoint, signaling progress in easing Thailand-Cambodia tensions.

Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained since July 2025, officials confirmed, marking a key step in efforts to ease tensions along the shared border.

The handover took place at a border checkpoint in Pailin province on December 27, 2025, as part of a ceasefire agreement signed the same day. The release was initially delayed by a day following allegations of ceasefire violations by Cambodia, which Cambodian authorities denied.

The returning soldiers were welcomed by well-wishers and high-ranking …

Iran: Protests Spread Nationwide As Currency Hits Record Lows

Iran: Protests Spread Nationwide As Currency Hits Record Lows

January 1, 2026 7:33 am

Rallies enter third day as Rial plunges, prices soar, and Iranian government reshuffles central bank leadership amid pressure from sanctions abroad unrest now.

Protests over rising prices and economic hardship spread across Iran on Tuesday December 30, 2025, after the national currency fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar, intensifying public anger over inflation and declining living standards.

Demonstrations were reported in several major cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, as crowds gathered to protest sharp increases in the cost of food, medicine, and basic services. Videos shared on social media showed protesters chanting slogans critical of

…
Machu Picchu Train Head-On Collision Kills 1, Dozens Injured

Machu Picchu Train Head-On Collision Kills 1, Dozens Injured

January 1, 2026 6:27 am

A head-on crash between two tourist trains near Machu Picchu has killed one person and injured around 40 others, halting rail service to the famed Inca citadel, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The collision involved Inca Rail S.A. and PeruRail S.A. trains traveling on the single-track line that carries more than 1.5 million visitors each year to the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The victim has been identified as the conductor of one of the trains. Around 40 passengers sustained injuries, with at least 20 reported in serious condition. Foreign tourists were among those hurt, highlighting the international significance of the accident.

Emergency …

Reuters/Keir Starmer New Year Message Promises Change In 2026

Keir Starmer New Year Message Promises Change In 2026

January 1, 2026 3:19 am

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his New Year message to promise that Britain is turning a corner, saying the country will begin to feel tangible improvements in daily life during 2026 after years of strain.

Speaking as his government enters a challenging second year in office, Starmer said his goal was to “defeat the decline and division offered by others” and restore a sense of confidence after what he called a long period of difficulty for many households.

The prime minister acknowledged public frustration with the speed of progress, noting that economic and social pressures did not emerge overnight. …

Russia - Ukraine Peace Deal Is 90% Ready, Ukraine Says

Russia – Ukraine Peace Deal Is 90% Ready, Ukraine Says

January 1, 2026 3:08 am

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a potential peace agreement with Russia is close to completion, telling the nation in a New Year address that negotiations are “90 percent ready” as the war approaches its fourth year.

Speaking from Kyiv, Zelensky said the final phase of any deal would be decisive not only for Ukraine but for Europe as a whole. “The remaining 10 percent will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine, and the fate of Europe,” he said.

Zelensky used his address to underline that Kyiv wants an end to the war but not at the expense …

Diseases That Pay: The Global Health Economy—Intro

Diseases That Pay: The Global Health Economy—Part 2

January 1, 2026 2:56 am

The Pharmaceutical Empire

Beneath the white coats lies the most sophisticated market ever built — one where human frailty is the raw material and the cure is the product line.

By Prof. MarkAnthony Nze

The modern pharmaceutical industry presents itself as medicine’s cathedral, laboratories gleaming like sanctuaries, scientists in spotless coats, and advertisements that equate capsules with compassion. But the illusion is costly. Behind the glass facades and charity campaigns lies one of the most profitable and secretive industries in history, a trillion-dollar enterprise that has converted human suffering into its most renewable resource.

By 2025, the world’s pharmaceutical spending …

Taiwan Vows To Defend Sovereignty After China Drills

Taiwan Vows To Defend Sovereignty After China Drills

January 1, 2026 2:42 am

Taiwan vows to defend its sovereignty and strengthen its defenses as pressure from China intensifies, President Lai Ching te said Thursday, days after Beijing fired dozens of rockets toward the island during large scale military drills.

Speaking in a New Year address broadcast from the presidential office in Taipei, Lai said the exercises underscored the growing threat facing Taiwan and the need for sustained investment in national defense.

“The international community is watching whether the Taiwanese people have the determination to defend themselves,” Lai said, adding that his position as president was unchanged. “My stance has always been clear: to …

Zohran Mamdani Sworn In As New York City Mayor

Zohran Mamdani Sworn In As New York City Mayor

January 1, 2026 2:07 am

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s mayor just minutes into the New Year, taking the oath of office inside the historic City Hall subway station in a symbolic start to his term.

The oath was administered shortly after midnight by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, formally transferring power at the moment the new four year mayoral term began under state law. Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, stood beside him during the brief ceremony.

“Happy New Year to New Yorkers, both inside this tunnel and above,” Mamdani said after the oath, standing beneath the vaulted ceiling of …

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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