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New Year celebrations

Europe News

Owner of Swiss bar in deadly blaze held for domestic abuse, media say

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Thailand marks Songkran New Year with water fights and travel surge

Thailand marked the start of the Songkran New Year on Monday, 13 April 2026, with large crowds gathering in Bangkok for its traditional water festival.

Switzerland

Former fire safety chief remains silent in Swiss bar fire probe

Prosecutors believe the fire started when champagne bottles with sparklers attached were raised too close to the ceiling in the bar's basement level, igniting the sound insulation foam.

Partner content

Navruz: Tajikistan's Timeless Celebration of Culture and Life

Partner content presented by Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Keeping a tradition alive for more than 3000 years is no small achievement. But spend five minutes witnessing the Navruz celebrations, and you start to understand why.

Cult

A pastry rooted in seasonal and cultural practices

In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Pakhlava, a layered pastry linked to Novruz, reflects shared cultural traditions, with recipes passed down through generations and prepared as part of seasonal celebrations.

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Culture Series

Spring celebrations bring families together through tradition

In partnership with Azpromo

Novruz celebrations bring families together through seasonal rituals, traditional food and shared customs, marking renewal and the arrival of spring.

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Nowruz in Tehran: Crowded markets dispte ongoing airstrikes

Iran’s capital Tehran showed signs of cautious activity on 19 March 2026 as residents prepared for Nowruz, despite ongoing US-Israeli strikes that have disrupted daily life since 28 February.

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2026 Year of the Horse: Dragon dances and lanterns as Moscow celebrates Lunar New Year

Festivities marking the Lunar New Year began in Moscow, featuring decorations, performances and food markets across the city.

17 February 2026

Culture news

'Only in Japan can you see this!' Nabana no Sato's winter world lights

Thousands of people are visiting Japan’s largest light festival known as Nabana no Sato. Taking place some four hours from the capital Tokyo, one of the biggest attractions is a 35-metre-high reconstruction of Mount Fuji.

13 January 2026

Switzerland

Swiss court orders pretrial detention for bar manager over fatal fire

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the owners, who are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire.

12 January 2026

Switzerland

Manager of Swiss bar that caught fire killing 40 held in custody

Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop champagne bottles started the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana when they came too close to the ceiling.

Switzerland

Swiss bar owners 'overwhelmed with grief' after 40 killed in fire

Those comments come on the same day it emerged that fire safety inspections hadn't been carried out at the bar since 2019.

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Shipwreck survivors find solace on SOS Méditerranée vessel

A week after leaving Libya on a makeshift boat, shipwreck survivors found brief calm with a hot meal on a SOS Méditerranée vessel. Ocean Viking resumes operations amid rising threats.

Netherlands

At least two die in violent New Year Dutch police call 'unprecedented'

Meanwhile, similar incidents of the police being targeted by fireworks were reported in Belgium and two youngsters died in an accident involving home-made explosives in Germany.

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Europe welcomed 2026 with fireworks and large public gatherings

Major European cities like London, Paris, Berlin, and Madrid welcomed 2026 with spectacular fireworks and large public gatherings, continuing beloved traditions.

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Switzerland resort fire: ‘several dozen’ dead and about 100 injured after blast in Crans-Montana

Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a Swiss Alps bar during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday.

World News

Global celebrations mark New Year with hopes for peace in 2026

As clocks struck midnight, cities around the world celebrated the New Year with concerts, fireworks and light shows.