Morning bird: New year 2026 welcomed by people all over the world. Europe negotiated with the United States about the future of Ukraine
Prague's Old Town Square and many other places in the Czech Republic witnessed New Year's celebrations. Around the world, there were fireworks, and some places also had bell ringing, drumming, or drone shows. National security advisors from France, Britain, and Germany met with the US Secretary of State Marc Rubio to discuss the next steps in the negotiations about plans for Ukraine, including its future security. The talks also concerned the future "prosperity package for Ukraine".
New Year's Eve celebrations marked by significant public interest
The center of Prague and a number of other domestic cities filled with people during the New Year's Eve midnight. However, the course of the celebrations was mostly without major issues. Celebrations took place elsewhere as well. The change of the year was usually announced with fireworks, somewhere traditions prevailed and somewhere the deceased were remembered. For example, the most populous Australian city, Sydney, started 2026 with a fireworks display. The show took place under increased police presence, considering it was only a few weeks since armed men killed 15 people during the celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on the local Bondi Beach, the server Ceskenoviny.cz reported.
Rubio negotiates on the war in Ukraine with representatives of four European countries
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has negotiated with national security advisers from France, Britain and Germany on the next course of action in negotiations on plans for Ukraine. The main Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov also took part in the talks, calling them productive. The topics discussed included, for example, "strengthening security guarantees and the development of effective mechanisms for conflict resolution". These mechanisms are supposed to ensure that the war in Ukraine can be stopped and prevented from starting again, wrote the website Ceskenoviny.cz.
Iranian protesters tried to break into one of the government buildings
Protesters in Iran tried to break into one of the local governor's buildings in the city of Fasa in the southern province of Fars. Footage broadcast by state media showed a group of people trying to pry open the gate of the building. Protests started in Iran five days ago after shop owners in Tehran took to the streets because the local currency rial had fallen to a record low against the US dollar. This, coupled with high inflation and rising living costs, worsened the country's economic situation, reported Al Jazeera.
The Myanmar army reports over 50 percent participation in the first round of elections
The Myanmar army announced that the voter turnout in the first round of local elections exceeded 50 percent. Reportedly, 52 percent, that is more than six million registered voters cast their votes. Therefore, the voting has already been branded as "successful". On the contrary, critics from the ranks of human rights advocates claim it was "fraudulent". The three-round voting system is taking place amid an ongoing civil war that has been ravaging the country since 2021 when the army took over the power. According to the preliminary results, the pro-military Party of Solidarity and Development overwhelmingly won, stated Al Jazeera.
Sources: Ceskenoviny.cz, Al Jazeera
