Italy Two young men arrested over New Year's Eve attacks on women in Milan Nine women say they were assaulted by groups of young men in Milan's main square during the celebrations. 12/01/2022
no comment Vietnam incense village dazzles ahead of Lunar New Year, though sales down Vietnam's "incense village" is a dazzling pink as workers prepare fragrant sticks for the Lunar New Year holiday, but strict rules to stop the spread of Covid-19 are dulling its lustre. 12/01/2022
no comment Worshippers pray for good health in ice water purification ceremony Tokyo worshippers participate in the annual ice water purification ritual at the Teppozu Inari Shrine, an event to pray for good health in the new year. The participants warm up by stretching their bodies and jump into a pool of cold water with huge ice blocks in it. 09/01/2022
no comment Swimming group holds annual New Year's day plunge in Boston The annual New Year's day plunge is led by one of America's oldest cold-water swimming groups, the L Street Brownies. 02/01/2022
no comment Swimmers near Lisbon brave traditional new year's sea dip Every January 1, dozens of Lisbon residents meet for the first swim of the year on Carcavelos beach -- a way to chase away "bad energy" and "starting the year with a new lease of life", according to the bathers 01/01/2022
no comment Berliner and Dutch honour the New Year's dip tradition Members of a German winter-swimming club took their traditional first swim of the New Year with a dip in Berlin's Lake Oranke on Saturday. Swimmers dive into the cold waters of the North Sea to celebrate New Year's Eve in Scheveningen. 01/01/2022
France French burn fewer cars on New Year's Eve due to pandemic Fewer arson attacks occurred because of massive police presence on cities’ streets this New Year’s Eve. 01/01/2022
Germany NYE's fireworks kill men in Germany, Austria The sale of fireworks for personal use was banned in Germany this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 01/01/2022
Taste Five things to do with leftover champagne (other than drink it) While the idea of leftover fizz might sounds ridiculous, it does happen - and for when you're too hungover to drink it, here are some suggestions for its more creative uses. 01/01/2022
Belgium Dutch tourists flock to Belgium to escape New Year lockdown at home Thousands of Dutch visitors have been out and about in Antwerp shopping as well as eating and drinking in bars and cafés that are shut down in the Netherlands. 31/12/2021
Australia 'Welcome 2022!': Sydney sees in New Year with dazzling fireworks show The Australian city shrugged off a COVID surge with a spectacular Harbour Bridge display, while in New Zealand Auckland's celebration was a far more low-key affair. 31/12/2021
world news Europe cracks down on New Year celebrations amid COVID-19 records Across Europe, New Year celebrations are scaled down and restrictions imposed as countries experience a massive surge in coronavirus infections. 31/12/2021
Hear Greek government bans music on New Year's Eve The spread of the omicron measurement has prompted the measure, the latest in a raft of restrictions introduced across Europe this winter. 30/12/2021
no comment Santa Race in North Macedonia and in Russia Hundreds dress up as Santa for annual race in Skopje and in St Petersburg 27/12/2021
United Kingdom London's 'Big Ben' fully visible again to ring in the New Year "It's an international symbol, an international symbol of democracy, and [...] it was the only bell allowed to ring during the Second World War. So that was the sound of liberty and hope." 23/12/2021
no comment One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid 22/12/2021
no comment Santa Claus roams Christian town of Iraq, "putting smiles on children's faces" Locals dressed up as Santa Claus roam the streets of al-Hamdaniya, a Christian town overrun by the Islamic State group in 2014, in the Nineveh governorate of Iraq, distributing sweets to children to "put a smile on their faces". 21/12/2021
world news Better to cancel Christmas events than grieve later, warns WHO chief "An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday, highlighting data suggesting Omicron spreads "significantly faster" than the Delta variant. 21/12/2021
no comment Ice sculptors transform a Russian city into a winter wonderland Working in subzero temperatures, ice sculptors have turned the Siberian city of Tomsk into a winter wonderland. It's all part of the Crystal Tomsk ice sculpture festival where 16 sculptor teams compete for a top prize. 20/12/2021
no comment Kyoto entertainers perform New Year greeting ritual In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, professional female entertainers known as "geiko," and their apprentices known as "maiko," have started offering early New Year's greetings. 13/12/2021
no comment Hundreds dressed as Santa run down Athen streets Hundreds of people dressed up in red and white Santa Claus costumes to take part Sunday in Athens' seventh charity Santa Run. 12/12/2021
no comment Budapest embraces the Christmas spirit Budapest's Christmas market is welcoming visitors for the first time since the start of the pandemic. 02/12/2021
no comment Lord Mayor of the City of London unveils a rubbish Christmas tree The Lord Mayor of the City of London unveils a Christmas tree made out of waste at his official residence, Mansion House. 01/12/2021
no comment Penguins post Christmas wishes to Santa Zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo have been helping their resident penguins post Christmas wishes to Santa this week. 25/11/2021
no comment -"Santa of Jerusalem" visits Sea of Galilee ahead of Christmas Bringing presents and a tree, Issa Kassissieh, better known as the Santa Claus of Jerusalem, arrives in the Sea of Galilee on his kayak to bring joy to the children in anticipation of Christmas. 10/11/2021
no comment Gazans celebrate escape of six Palestinians from Israeli prison Gazans celebrate the escape of 6 Palestinian prisoners from an Israeli prison in northern Israel through a tunnel dug beneath a sink, triggering a massive manhunt for the group that includes a prominent ex-militant. 06/09/2021
