Here's who's performing on New Year's Eve to ring in 2026

As revelers from around the world ring in 2026 inNew York City's Times Square, they're being treated to aNew Year's Evepacked with live performances.

Crowds have gathered to watchthe ball dropfrom atop the skyscraper at One Times Square on New Year's for more than a century. Atthis year's festivities, organizers unveiled a star-studded lineup of entertainment featuring Diana Ross, Ciara, Maren Morris, Little Big Town and more.

But it's not the only New Year's celebration with A-list performers on tap. Some top country music stars usher in 2026 onCBS' "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash,"with Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and CeCe Winans just a few of those taking the stage.

Here's what to know about who is scheduled to perform, and when, this New Year's Eve.

Full list of Times Square New Year's Eve performers

New Year's Eve celebrations officially kicked off inTimes Squareat 6 p.m. ET with the lighting and raising of the ball that will drop at midnight. The evening features performances from some big names in the entertainment world:

James McCarthyB.o.B Ciara Tones And ILE SSERAFIMAGNEW, a New York dance groupRobynLittle Big Town Xavi Maren MorrisAna Barbara Diana RossWhen is Diana Ross performing on New Year's Eve?

Legendary singer Diana Ross is scheduled to perform a medley of her hit songs,including"I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down," on the Countdown Stage in Times Square beginning at 11:37 p.m. ET on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC. Ross is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for Lifetime Achievement — one as a solo artist and one with the Motown group The Supremes — as well as a Tony, multiple American Music Awards, a Golden Globe and Kennedy Center Honors.

When is Ciara performing on New Year's Eve?

Grammy-winning singerCiara's Times Square performance is expected to air sometime between midnight and 12:30 a.m. ET on "New Year's Rockin' Eve," according to an ABC spokesperson. Twenty-one of the R&B artist's songs have made it onto Billboard's Hot 100 chart, including her 2004 hit "Goodies," which claimed the No. 1 spot for seven weeks. Earlier this year, Ciara released "CiCi," her first album since 2019.

When is Little Big Town performing on New Year's Eve?

Country music groupLittle Big Townis scheduled to play a medley of their hits starting at 9:35 p.m. ET on "New Year's Rockin' Eve." The band has been together for over a quarter-century with 32 songs making Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, including their 2014 hit "Girl Crush," which was No. 1 for 13 weeks. Along the way, Little Big Town was named vocal group of the year six times by the Country Music Association and four times by the Academy of Country Music, and they've won three Grammys.

When is Maren Morris performing on New Year's Eve?

Country music starMaren Morrisis scheduled to perform a medley of her songs starting at 10:33 p.m. ET on "New Year's Rockin' Eve." The singer-songwriter, who released her latest album "Dreamsicle" earlier this year, rose to stardom with her 2016 hit "My Church." The song won her a Grammy and peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

When is Robyn performing on New Year's Eve?

Swedish pop star Robyn is scheduled to sing her 2010 songs "Dancing on My Own" and "Call Your Girlfriend" as well as her new single "Dopamine" starting at 9:18 p.m. ET on CNN's "New Year's Eve Live." "Dancing on My Own" was named thetop song of the 2010sby the Associated Press' music editor. More recently, a writer forBritain's The Guardianlikened it to Donna Summer's "Last Dance" andGloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive."

When is Tones And I performing on New Year's Eve?

Australian singer-songwriter Tones And I was set to perform her hits "Dance Monkey," "Fly Away" and "Gone Gone Gone" starting at 8:03 p.m. ET on theofficial livestreamof the festivities in Times Square. She's expected to return at 11:55 p.m. for her version of John Lennon's iconic song "Imagine" before the countdown to 2026. "Dance Monkey" climbed to the No. 4 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 2020, and "Gone Gone Gone," her new song with David Guetta and Teddy Swims, has been on the chart for the past three weeks.

Schedule for tonight's Times Square performers

When are your favorite acts performing? Here is a list of the scheduled times for each performance (all times Eastern). Organizers note that the times on thelive schedulemay not match the exact broadcast time.

6:03 p.m.-6:05 p.m. — James McCarthy sings the national anthem6:30 p.m.-6:43 p.m. — B.o.B performs two of his hits plus a new song8:03 p.m.-8:14 p.m. — Tones And I performs three of her hit songs8:26 p.m.-8:32 p.m. — LE SSERAFIM performs their hit songs on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC 8:41 p.m.-8:46 p.m. — AGNEW, a New York dance group, performs9:18 p.m.- 9:31 p.m. — Robyn performs three of her hit songs on "New Year's Eve Live" on CNN9:35 p.m.-9:42 p.m. — Little Big Town performs a medley of their hit songs on "New Year's Rockin' Eve"10:02 p.m.-10:08 p.m. — Xavi performs a medley of his hit songs on "Feliz 2026" on Univision10:33 p.m.-10:41 p.m. — Maren Morris performs a medley of her hit songs on "New Year's Rockin' Eve"11:02 p.m.-11:08 p.m. — Ana Barbara performs a medley of her hit songs on "Feliz 2026"11:37 p.m.-11:46 p.m. — Diana Ross performs a medley of her hit songs on "New Year's Rockin' Eve"11:55 p.m.-11:58 p.m. — Tones And I returns for a special performance ahead of the ball dropAfter midnight — Ciara performs a medley of her hit songs on "New Year's Rockin' Eve"Who's performing on CBS' "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash"?

Music stars help welcome the new year in Nashville onCBS' "New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash."Five hours of festivities air from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT and 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. ET/PT, on theCBS television networkand streaming onParamount+.

Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman headline the celebration, with special guests CeCe Winans and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Comedian and actor Bert Kreischer and country music artist Hardy serve as hosts.

The Nashville event includes a countdown at midnight and the city's traditional Music Note Drop and fireworks, the organizers said.

Here's a list of scheduled performers and special appearances:

Jason AldeanLainey WilsonBailey Zimmerman CeCe WinansThe Fisk Jubilee SingersDierks BentleyBrooks & DunnRascal FlattsZach TopKeith UrbanGretchen WilsonStephen Wilson Jr.Riley GreenMegan MoroneyDwight Yoakam Marcus KingCody AlanCaylee HammackComedian Dusty SlayUFC champion Kayla HarrisonEntertainment Tonight's Cassie DiLauraSirius XM host Buzz Brainard

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byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Here's who's performing on New Year's Eve to ring in 2026

As revelers from around the world ring in 2026 inNew York City's Times Square, they're being treated to aNew Year...

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Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini Are Back Together After a 'Messy Year For the Heart'

Chase Stokes/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini shared in respective Instagram posts that they're back together after announcing their break-up in September 2025

• "2026 my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now," Stokes wrote in an Instagram post

• The country star, meanwhile, wrote on her Instagram Stories that 2025 was a "messy year for the heart"

Chase StokesandKelsea Balleriniare bringing their love into the new year.

The two celebrities shared in respective Instagram posts on Wednesday, Dec. 31 that they are back together after announcing their break-up in September 2025.

Stokes, 33, included several photos of Ballerini, 32, in a reflectivepostto his feed. "Something I've learned this year: don't take advantage of the most beautiful things that in 33 years of life are fleeting. Take accountability, learn from mistakes. Lean into love and say it often," he wrote in the caption.

Chase Stokes/Instagram

"2026 my year of growth, my year of truth. Starting here, starting now. Happy new years," the actor concluded.

The first photo was of Stokes and Ballerini embracing each other while standing on a porch outside. The dimly-lit snap showed them pressing their faces together, nearly sharing a kiss.

View this post on Instagram

Other pictures include the two hugging while turned towards the camera and Ballerini cuddling a dog in a fluffy brown coat.

Ballerini also shared her thoughts on their rekindled romance on herInstagram Stories, in which she acknowledged their hard times. "Messy year for the heart, messy year for the outside coming in, messy year for the way it became an out of our hands portrayal of it," she wrote over a photo of her and Stokes embracing with a sunset in the background.

Chase Stokes/Instagram

"But what I'll say," she continued, "and all I really care to share indefinitely with my personal life anymore, is that I really love love. I believe in it, I believe in him, and I believe in breaking patterns."

"Now go kiss your person and stop speculating," the country star concluded with a kissing emoji.

Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram

Ballerini and Stokes initially sparked dating rumors in January 2023 after the Outer Banks actorshared a cuddly photo of themat the Georgia vs. TCU game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. The twoteased their relationship in a handful of interviewsbefore going public with their romance in April 2023 at the CMT Awards.

In September 2025, a rep for Balleriniconfirmed to PEOPLE that the couple splitafter nearly three years together. A source told PEOPLE at the time, "They're two adults who gave it their all and tried to do everything they could to make it work, but ultimately couldn't. It happens."

In early November 2025,a source told PEOPLEthat they saw the two "holding hands at the table and talking closely" at a restaurant in Dubrovnik, Croatia. "After they got up, they walked together hand in hand towards Old Town. They looked very cute," the onlooker added.

Just weeks later, on Nov. 20, Stokesshared two cryptic postson his Instagram Stories that hinted at him and the "Baggage" singer being done for good. "Don't believe the media. I'm blocked, I did nothing wrong," Stokes wrote in the first post. "Sorry ❤️ I tried."

Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I'm sorry for those who believed in us," he wrote in a second post. It is what it is. Onwards and upwards."

Balleriniwrote in an update on her Instagram Storiesin December 2025 that she's "trying to make my personal life personal for now."

"Unless it comes from me, its not from me. and that is really important in protecting my peace right now," the singer added.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini Are Back Together After a 'Messy Year For the Heart'

Chase Stokes/Instagram NEED TO KNOW Chase Stokes and Kelsea Ballerini shared in respective Instagram posts that they're back together...

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Elsie Hewitt Shares a Photo of Her and Pete Davidson's Baby While Ringing in the New Year from Home: 'This New Year's Eve'

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Elsie Hewitt shared a series of photos on her Instagram Stories that offered a look at her New Year's Eve as a mom

• "What are all the new parents doing this nye? Is it sooo different than past new years?" she captioned a filtered selfie

• Hewitt and Pete Davidson welcomed their first baby together on Dec. 12

Elsie Hewittis being candid about her first New Year's Eve as a mom!

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, the newly minted mom, 29, shared a series of photos on herInstagram Storiesthat offered a peek at how her holiday looks different with her baby daughter, Scottie Rose.

"What are all the new parents doing this nye? Is it sooo different than past new years?" she captioned a filtered selfie.

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram

Hewitt made her point clear with her two following posts, the first of which showed her fully glammed for last year's end-of-the-year celebration.

"Me last new year's eve," she wrote over a snap of her posing with black and gold foil door streamers.

In the photo, Hewitt wore a black ensemble with flower cut-outs. She styled her in a tight bun and wore gold eyeshadow and a glossy red lip.

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram

The model then shared a photo of her New Year's Eve this year. The bare-faced mom grinned while snapping a selfie with her baby in a crib behind her. Also present in the photo was a stroller and a nursing pillow.

"Me this new years eve," Hewitt captioned the post, adding a teary-eyed smiling emoji.

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram

Hewitt and Pete Davidson, 32,welcomed their first baby together on Dec. 12. They shared the news onInstagramnearly a week later. "my best work yet, i am absolutely overflowing with love and gratitude and disbelief," the mom captioned the post, which featured several photos of the couple and their newborn.

"wu tang forever," Davidson added.

Hewitt had a rocky first few days of motherhood, as she revealed on her Instagram Stories that sheneeded dental surgery to remove a wisdom toothshortly after giving birth.

"who else had to get a wisdom tooth removed directly from the hospital the day after they gave birth" she wrote over a selfie of herself and her daughter in the back of the car.

On Dec. 26, Hewittshowed off her post-baby bodywith a bathroom mirror selfie in which she wore a black T-shirt and a pair of postpartum underwear. She wrote over the image, "Adult diapers all day (& night)."

She added: "My sister asked me if I pee in them & if ur wondering the same thing the answer is NO LMAO."

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram

Sources previously told PEOPLEthat Hewitt and theSaturday Night Livealum are "settling into a rhythm" after welcoming their daughter.

"Being home has been really special for them," the source said. "They're settling into a rhythm, taking everything day by day and just enjoying getting to know their daughter. It's been a lot of firsts, but it's a really happy, exciting time for both of them."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Hewitt confirmed that she and Davidson wereexpecting their first baby togetherin July 2025, sharing a series of photos onInstagramat the time. The post included shots of her with Davidson and a sonogram image.

"Welp now everyone knows we had sex," Hewitt joked in her caption.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Elsie Hewitt Shares a Photo of Her and Pete Davidson's Baby While Ringing in the New Year from Home: 'This New Year's Eve'

Elsie Hewitt/Instagram NEED TO KNOW Elsie Hewitt shared a series of photos on her Instagram Stories that offered a look at her New Year...

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Major fire breaks out at historic church in Amsterdam

A church on the outskirts ofAmsterdam'sfamous Vondelpark went up in flames on Thursday morning, causing the church tower to collapse.

The major fire, which started shortly after midnight, has been declared a regional emergency and several dozen homes have been evacuated. All surrounding streets, close to the historic Vondelkerk church, have been closed off.

Videos circulating on social media show dramatic flames engulfing the spire.

The 154-year-old church "cannot be saved" and "the entire church may collapse", a spokesperson for the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region said.

As of 2.30am the fire remained unabated and a national alert was issued warning locals of heavy smoke. Emergency services remain at the scene and are attempting to extinguish the fire using water from the adjacent Vondelpark. Firefighters are unable to enter the building due to the risk of collapse.

"It's a very large, historic building. There's a lot of wood, and the wind also allows the fire to spread easily and widely," the spokesperson told ANP. "The church's characteristic appearance has been lost. [It's a] terribly bad and dramatic start to the new year."

"This is a very intense and terrible fire in this monumental church," said Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. "Our first concern and priority now is the well-being and homes of the immediate residents."

The church, located in the centre of the city, close to Leidseplein – Holland's most famous nightlife district – dates back to 1872. It is a short walk from the popular Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

byDonna Devi

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December 31, 2025

Major fire breaks out at historic church in Amsterdam

A church on the outskirts ofAmsterdam'sfamous Vondelpark went up in flames on Thursday morning, causing the church tower to collapse. ...

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Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who campaigned on a promise to tackle the affordability crisis in one of America's most expensive cities, was sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor early Thursday.

Mamdani, a 34-year-old immigrant from Uganda, makes history as the city's first Muslim mayor, first South Asian mayor and the youngest mayor to hold the high-profile office in more than a century.

"This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said moments after being sworn in.

The former state assemblyman from Queens captured the world's attention and stunned the political establishment with his win in the Democratic primary last summer, runninga campaign focused on affordability: He promised to create a universal childcare program, freeze the rent for roughly two million rent-stabilized tenants and make city buses "fast and free."

Mamdani was sworn just after midnight during a private ceremony alongside his wife, artistRama Duwaji. His parents, filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a professor at Columbia University, were also in attendance.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who Mamdani has described as a "political inspiration," administered the oath of office.

The setting was symbolic. Mamdani was sworn in on the platform of the old City Hall subway station underneath City Hall Park in Manhattan – an architectural marvel where tiled, arched ceilings, colored glass skylights and brass chandeliers have laid dormant since the station was shuttered in 1945.

The location, which is closed to the public except for the occasional guided tour,is one of New York's 28 original subway stations that opened in 1904, ushering in a new dawn of innovation and growth in New York City.

Following his swearing in, Mamdani spoke about the significance of the setting, calling it "a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city."

He also announced Michael Flynn, a longtime city planner, as the city's next Department of Transportation Commissioner.

Mamdani has made public transportation a central focus of his agenda. In addition to proposing to make city buses free, he has said his administration would expand the city's bicycle lane network and optimize streets for pedestrians.

A public ceremony will be held at City Hall Plaza on Thursday afternoon. At least 4,000 people are expected to attend, including high-profile leaders of the progressive movement: DemocraticRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezwill introduce Mamdani, and the public oath of office will be administered by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

A block party hosted by Mamdani's transition team – dubbed the "Inauguration of a New Era" – will line Broadway, with supporters of the new mayor gathering outside the gates of City Hall.

Mamdani's ambitious agenda has drawn some skepticism. He has proposed taxing the wealthy to pay for his proposals, something he can only do with the support of the state legislature and the governor. And while Mamdani is taking office at a time of general economic strength in the city, the high cost of living is squeezing working-class New Yorkers.

The dawn of Mamdani's administration also comes as thenational Democratic Partyis wrestling with its identity and struggling to energize a divided base.Mamdani's winhas fueled debate about whether the party should move further to the left and focus on affordability as its primary issue in the upcoming midterm elections.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who campaigned on a promise to tackle the affordability crisis in one of America's most expens...

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Volunteer in Iran's Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A volunteer member of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in a western province duringwidening demonstrations sparked by the Islamic Republic's ailing economy, authorities said Thursday, marking the first fatality among security forces during the protests.

The death Wednesday night of the 21-year-old volunteer in the Guard's Basij force 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 to other provinces.

The state-run IRNA news agency reported on the Guard member's death but did not elaborate. An Iranian news agency called the Student News Network, believed to be close to the Basij, directly blamed demonstrators for the Guard member's death, citing comments from Saeed Pourali, a deputy governor in Iran's Lorestan province.

The Guard member "was martyred ... at the hands of rioters during protests in this city in defense of public order," he reportedly said. Another 13 Basij members and police officers suffered injuries, he added.

"The protests that have occurred are due to economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations, and are an expression of livelihood concerns," Pourali said. "The voices of citizens must be heard carefully and tactfully, but people must not allow their demands to be strained by profit-seeking individuals."

The protests took place in the city of Kouhdasht, over 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tehran.

Iran's civilian government under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has been trying to signal it wants to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged there is not much he can do as Iran's rial currency has rapidly depreciated, with $1 now costing some 1.4 million rials.

Meanwhile, state television separately reported on the arrests of seven people, including five it described as monarchists and two others it said had linked to European-based groups. State TV also said another operation saw security forces confiscate 100 smuggled pistols, without elaborating.

The protests have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of22-year-old Mahsa Aminiin police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations. However, the demonstrations have yet to be countrywide and have not been as intense as those surrounding the death of Amini, who was detained over not wearing her hijab, or headscarf, to the liking of authorities.

Iran's theocracy had declared Wednesday a public holiday across much of the country, citing cold weather, likely as a bid to get people out of the capital for a long weekend. The Iranian weekend is Thursday and Friday, while Saturday marks Imam Ali's birthday, another holiday for many.

The protests, taking root in economic issues, have heard demonstrators chant against Iran's theocracy as well. The country's leaders are still reeling after Israel launched a12-day waragainst the country in June. The U.S. also bombed Iranian nuclear sites during the war.

Iran has said it isno longer enriching uraniumat any site in the country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential negotiations over its atomic program to ease sanctions. However, those talks have yet to happen as U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu havewarned Tehran against reconstituting its atomic program.

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Volunteer in Iran's Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A volunteer member of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in a west...

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Carson Beck, No. 10 Miami KO No. 2 Ohio State, advance to CFP semis

Carson Beck was able to avoid the question as well as he was able to sidestep any Ohio State pass rush when he was asked on ESPN which team he would prefer to play in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Ole Miss or Georgia.

The obvious answer is Georgia, where Beck was the starting quarterback in the 2023 and '24 seasons.

Beck isn't there anymore, and on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, he led No. 10 Miami to a 24-14 upset of No. 2 Ohio State in a semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.

"When you look at the College Football Playoff bracket when it came out, it's hard not to look forward to the games," he said. "You see the two teams that we could end up playing, and I'm super excited for this team and the opportunity to play in the semifinals, and whichever team is able to win that game (on Thursday between Ole Miss and Georgia), we'll go on and prepare and we'll make the most of it."

A perfect non-bulletin board answer, much like the near-perfect first half that staked the Hurricanes to a 14-0 halftime lead against the defending national champion Buckeyes.

"We still have a long ways to go, but certainly a lot of progress in the last couple of I'd say, the last five, six games or so, and looking forward to getting better and having an opportunity here in about a week," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said.

The Hurricanes (12-2) overcame a home loss to Louisville and an overtime defeat at SMU to be selected to the CFP for the first time despite criticism they didn't belong.

Now, they'll get an opportunity to improve on their 6-0 record against ranked opponents this season. They will learn the identity of their next foe when the No. 3 Bulldogs and No. 6 Rebels meet on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans.

"I'm so grateful and so thankful for this team, my teammates, the coaches," Beck said. "The way that we've persevered and fought through adversity this entire year, nothing has been easy about this year. You know, we've been doubted, we've been counted out countless times and time again. We come back and we fight and we push and we work and we just get it done when it matters."

The Hurricanes took the two-touchdown lead on the strength of a 9-yard scoring catch by Mark Fletcher Jr. and a 72-yard pick-6 by Keionte Scott. Fletcher also ran for 90 yards in the game.

Beck finished 19 of 26 for 138 yards and a TD.

In the two years of the CFP 12-team playoff, all five teams to receive first-round byes have lost. Miami defeated Texas A&M 10-3 in College Station, Texas, in a first-round game on Dec. 20. The Buckeyes had last played Dec. 6, when they fell 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game.

"I felt like it took us awhile to get into the rhythm of the game," Ohio State coach Ryn Day said. "I thought we did (that) coming out of the second half, and by then it was going to take a very, very efficient second half to win the game, being down 14-nothing.

"And when you have a start the way that we did, you put yourself at risk of having to be, really, darn near perfect in the second half to go win the game. So, we put ourselves behind the eight ball."

The Buckeyes (12-2) cut the deficit to 14-7 midway through the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Bo Jackson to cap an 11-play, 82-yard drive, but Carter Davis nailed a 49-yard field goal to make it 17-7 with 3:01 to go in the third.

A Jeremiah Smith 14-yard TD catch on a pass from Julian Sayin made it 17-14 with 13:28 to go. However, the Hurricanes marched 70 yards to wrap it up when CharMar Brown ran in from the 5 with 55 seconds left.

Sayin completed 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while Smith made seven catches for 157 yards.

"We just started executing better the second half," Sayin said. "But ultimately, it wasn't good enough. Didn't put enough up enough points, and it starts with me."

--Field Level Media

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Carson Beck, No. 10 Miami KO No. 2 Ohio State, advance to CFP semis

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Flames beat Flyers 5-1 for 4th straight home victory

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Dustin Wolf made 25 saves, Mikael Backlund scored his 10th goal and the Calgary Flames beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 on Wednesday night.

Morgan Frost, Jonathan Huberdeau, Rasmus Andersson and Connor Zary also scored, and MacKenzie Weegar and Matt Coronato each had two assists.

The Flames have won five straight and 10-1-1 in their last 12 at home. They are 18-18-4 overall. Wolf has won eight in a row a home.

Up 2-1, Calgary got a two-man advantage midway through the second period. Zary set up Andersson for a one-timer with 18 seconds left on the power play.

Travis Konecny scored for Philadelphia, and Sam Ersson stopped 20 shots. the Flyers dropped to 20-12-7.

Flyers: At Edmonton on Saturday in the finale of a five-game trip.

Flames: Host Nashville on Saturday in the fourth game of a five-game homestand.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/NHL

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

Flames beat Flyers 5-1 for 4th straight home victory

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Pastrnak leads Bruins past Oilers 6-2 to stop 6-game slide

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — David Pastrnak had two goals and an assist as the Boston Bruins closed out the calendar year with a much-needed 6-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

Hampus Lindholm and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (21-18-2), who snapped a six-game losing streak that began with a 3-1 loss at home to Edmonton on Dec. 18.

Casey Mittelstadt and Jonathan Aspirot also scored, while Viktor Arvidsson and Fraser Minten each had two assists. Jeremy Swayman was solid in net with 34 stops for the win.

Hampus Lindholm had just one point in his previous 12 games.

Zach Hyman and Jack Roslovic scored for the Pacific Division-leading Oilers (20-15-6), who have lost two of three but still went 9-5-1 in December.

Connor McDavid had an assist, extending his point streak to 14 games (13 goals, 21 assists). It's the first time a player has recorded that many points in one month since Mario Lemieux in December 1995.

Hyman ran his point streak to six games and has 12 goals in his last 16.

Connor Ingram made 23 saves for Edmonton.

Pastrnak was one of five NHL players with more than 100 regular-season points in the 2025 calendar year, with 113. McDavid (116) and fellow Oilers star Leon Draisaitl (107) were two of the others.

Bruins: At the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, the fourth stop on a five-game trip.

Oilers: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/NHL

byDonna Devi

in

December 31, 2025

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Notable works entering the public domain in 2026

New Year's Day commemorates the passing of time and the start of a new chapter, so it is fitting that the same day also presents an opportunity to breathe new life into thousands of creative works nearly a century old. As of Jan. 1, 2026, characters like early Betty Boop and Nancy Drew, and a variety of popular movies, books and songs, have entered the the public domain.

They join a growing list of cultural icons that are no longer under copyright protection, includingPopeye the Sailor Manand the"Steamboat Willie" version of Mickey Mouse.

List of popular intellectual property entering the public domain in 2026

The year 2026 marks the first time that copyrighted books, films, songs and art published in the '30s enter the U.S. public domain. As of Jan. 1, protections have expired for published works from 1930 and sound recordings from 1925.

Here are some of the most notable works that are now available for free use by anyone:

"The Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie, the first novel featuring elderly amateur detective Miss Marple."The Secret of the Old Clock" by Carolyn Keene, the first appearance of teen detective Nancy Drew, and three follow-ups."The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper.Fleischer Studios' "Dizzy Dishes," the first cartoon in which Betty Boop appears.Disney's "The Chain Gang" and "The Picnic," both depicting the earliest versions of Mickey's dog Pluto.The initial four months of "Blondie" comic strips by Chic Young, featuring the earliest iterations of the titular character and her then-boyfriend, Dagwood.The film "All Quiet on the Western Front," directed by Lewis Milestone, Best Picture winner at the 3rd Academy Awards."King of Jazz," directed by John Murray Anderson, Bing Crosby's first appearance in a feature film."Animal Crackers," directed by Victor Heerman and starring the Marx Brothers."The Big Trail," directed by Raoul Walsh, John Wayne's first turn as leading man."But Not For Me," music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin."Georgia on My Mind," music by Hoagy Carmichael, lyrics by Stuart Gorrell."Dream a Little Dream of Me," music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, lyrics by Gus Kahn."Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moonlight," music by Al Sherman, lyrics by Al Lewis.Piet Mondrian's painting, "Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow."

How the public domain works

When a work's copyright protections lapse, it lands in the public domain, allowing anyone to use and build upon it as they see fit for free and without needing permission.

"Copyright gives rights to creators and their descendants that provide incentives to create," Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke University'sCenter for the Study of the Public Domain,told CBS News' Lee Cowan in 2024. "But the public domain really is the soil for future creativity."

The U.S. Constitution'sintellectual property clauseestablishes that works be protected for a limited amount of time, "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." The Founding Fathers left it to Congress to sort out the specifics.

Generally, in the U.S., works published or registered before 1978 retain copyright protections for 95 years. For later works, protection usually spans the creator's lifetime and 70 years after.

"If copyright lasted forever, it would be very difficult for a lot of creators to make the works they want to make without worrying about being in the crosshairs of a copyright lawsuit," Jenkins said.

Just because a work's copyright has expired does not mean that members of the public cannot be held legally liable in some instances. For example, while the original Betty Boop from 1930 is in the public domain, the modern version is not. So to avoid infringement, any reuse would need to steer clear of her newer characteristics. Additionally, the character is subject to multiple trademarks, which further complicates its use.

What's entering the public domain in 2027?

Copyrighted works from 1931 will see their protections expire in 2027. This includes Universal Pictures' "Frankenstein" and "Dracula" films, Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights," Fritz Lang's "M," Herman Hupfeld's jazz standard "As Time Goes By" and more.

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Notable works entering the public domain in 2026

New Year's Day commemorates the passing of time and the start of a new chapter, so it is fitting that the same day...

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New Year's celebrations welcome 2026 around the world. See the photos.

Around the world, 2026 has begun to arrive. Crowds across the globe have gathered to ring in the new year, often accompanied by increasedsecurity measures.

In some communities, the traditional celebrations were shadowed by grief. Hong Kong adjusted its plans in honor of the 161 people who recently died in a high-rise apartment fire, while public events in Sydney, Australia, paid tribute to the15 people killedin a terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 14.

Here's how the world is ringing in 2026, in photos.

U.S., the Americas and the Caribbean ring in 2026

The celebrations to ring in the new year began with a bang in the Americas.

In Brazil, revelers packed the iconic Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for concerts and a 12-minute fireworks show. On Dec. 30, the Brazilian city received the title of the world's largest New Year's Eve celebration from the Guinness World Records, a recognition of its famous massive festivity with live music shows by the sea.

In Chile, people gathered at the port of Valparaiso for a fireworks show.

InNew York City, thousands of people braved frigid temperatures and packed Times Square for the famous ball drop. The ball, covered in more than 5,000 crystals, descended a pole and confetti rained down in Times Square.

The party began early with musical performances from the likes of Ciara, Little Big Town, Diana Ross and others.

After midnight, the ball rose again, sparkling in red, white and blue to mark the United States' upcoming 250th birthday.

In Washington, D.C., a fireworks display lit up the night sky over the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, which was illuminated with Freedom 250 projects to kick off the country's 250th anniversary.

In Caracas, Venezuela, revelers took to the streets to welcome the new year.

Increased security for New Year's Eve in Europe

A few hours before midnight arrived in Europe, Pope Leo XIV gave hisfinal general audienceof 2025 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. He quoted the late Pope Francis, led the congregation in a traditional prayer, and looked back upon the events of 2025.

In Paris, a New Year's Eve concert was cancelled because officials feared "unpredictable crowd movements" on the Champs-Elysées, which had been "deemed to not be sized" appropriately for the event. The new year is being celebrated with fireworks and a video projection on the Arc de Triomphe.

Increased security and traffic measures, including the mobilization of 10,000 police officers, have been implemented in the French capital.

London is hosting a ticketed fireworks event in the middle of the city, but Primrose Hill, a popular viewpoint, will be inaccessible, the Metropolitan Police Departmentsaid. Law enforcement has been deployed across the city to "provide a reassuring presence, to deter those who might want to take advantage of the crowds to commit crime and to respond decisively to any incidents," said MPD Commander Nick John, who is in charge of the New Year's Eve policing operation. Security was also increased on public transportation.

In Rome, a crowd gathered to celebrate with sparklers outside the Colosseum.

Berlin residents and tourists marked the end of 2025 by taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital's cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The Berlin TV Tower was nearly invisible amid the falling snowflakes and fog.

In Hamburg and Baden-Württemberg, people celebrated with fireworks shows that lit up the night sky.

A rainbow of fireworks lit up New Year's celebrations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In Barcelona, Spain, residents were entertained with a drone display "2026" in the night sky during the city's New Year celebration.

In Ukraine, Odesa residents held a traditional celebration called Malanka, featuring traditional costumes, folklore characters, songs, dances, theatrical performances and other rituals meant to bring prosperity in the new year.

Ukraine is marking its fourth New Year's at war following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In his end-of-the-year address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country isclose to a peace dealwith Russia, but cautioned that the most important issues were still unsolved and that any agreement should not reward Moscow.

"The peace agreement is 90 percent ready. Ten percent remains. And that is far more than just numbers," Zelenskyy said in the address, posted on his Telegram account. "Those are the 10 percent that will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe."

Russian President Vladimir Putin used his traditional New Year's address to reaffirm his belief in Russia's eventual success in its invasion of Ukraine. He praised Russian troops as heroes, "fighting for your native land, truth and justice."

"We believe in you and our victory," Putin said, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.

In Greece and Cyprus, officials turned down the volume, replacing some traditional fireworks with low-noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays in capital cities. Officials said the change is intended to make celebrations more welcoming for children and pets, particularlyanimals sensitive to loud noise.

A global welcome to 2026

Fireworks and street festivals were the order of the day in many cities around the globe.

In Dubai, thousands of revellers queued for up to nine hours for a spectacular fireworks and laser display at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. After a build-up featuring jet skis and floating pianos on an adjacent lake, a 10-minute burst of pyrotechnics and LED effects lit up the needle-shaped, 2,717-foot tower.

Solemnity and celebration mix in Australia and New Zealand

Countries in the South Pacific were first to ring in the new year, as midnight struck in New Zealand a full 18 hours before the ball was scheduled to drop inNew York City's Times Square.

In Auckland, New Zealanders welcomed 2026 with a fireworks display launched from the country's tallest structure, Sky Tower, in a celebration that drew thousands despite rain. The five-minute pyrotechnic display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 787-foot tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand's North Island on Wednesday due to dismal weather forecasts.

Australia's east coast welcomed 2026 just two hours later, but in Sydney, the country's largest city, celebrations were held under the pall of Australia's worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.Two gunmentargeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 people in what authorities called an ISIS-inspired antisemitic terror attack.Officials had said that more than 2,500 officers would be on hand to patrol the area around Sydney's iconic harbor, the epicenter of New Year's Eve celebrations. Many were to openly carry automatic rifles, a sight rarely seen in Sydney.

Amid those security measures, thousands thronged to the waterfront to watch a fireworks show centered on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged Sydney residents not to stay away due to fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year's Eve festivities as a victory.

"We can't be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city," Minns told reporters on Wednesday. "We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we're not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism."

An hour before midnight, the Bondi Beach massacre victims were commemorated with one minute of silence, while images of a menorah were projected onto the bridge's pylons. The crowd was invited to show solidarity with Australia's Jewish community by shining their phone lights across the harbor.

Observances across Asia

In Indonesia, one of Australia's nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year's Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated bycatastrophic floods and landslidesthat struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.

The capital, Jakarta, chose to reduce the usual fanfare, opting instead for subdued celebrations with a calm and reflective program centered on prayers for victims, city Gov. Pramono Anung said last week. But a large crowd still gathered to welcome 2026.

Concerts and fireworks on Indonesia's tourist island of Bali have been canceled and replaced with a cultural arts event featuring 65 groups performing traditional dances.

Hong Kong, too, was to ring in 2026 without the usual spectacular and colorful explosions in the sky over its iconic Victoria Harbor, after a massivefire tore through an apartment complex in Novemberand killed at least 161 people.The city's tourism board instead hosted a music show featuring soft rock duo Air Supply and other singers in Central, a business district. The facades of eight landmarks were to turn into giant countdown clocks presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a New Year's Eve address broadcast by state media, hailed his country's technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewingthreats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory."We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship," he said.

"The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable," Xi said, as his country's military announced the conclusion oflarge-scale military drills around Taiwanthat were condemned by the democratically governed island's leadership as "highly provocative and reckless."

In South Korea's capital, Seoul, a bell tolling was held at the Bosingak Pavilion and fireworks lit up the sky.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an appearance at an an event to celebrate the new year in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Temple bells rang across Japan, and some people climbed mountains to see the year's first sunrise. Others were eating noodles in a traditional wish for long life because of the noodles' shape.

The Philippines welcomed 2026 with fireworks over Manila, where skyscrapers were also outlined in lights.

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New Year's celebrations welcome 2026 around the world. See the photos.

Around the world, 2026 has begun to arrive. Crowds across the globe have gathered to ring in the new year, often accompan...

Read More