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.

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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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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.

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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 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

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December 31, 2025

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 ask...

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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

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December 31, 2025

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 P...

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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

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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 wit...

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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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December 31, 2025

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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