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Year in review: Our pick of the major global news events that shaped a turbulent 2025

For many, 2025 might be summed up in a single word: turbulent. Some countries were battered by air strikes, others by trade tariffs. It was a year of wars and ceasefires, political upheaval and popular protests. 2025 saw the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza end with a US-brokered ceasefire which has proven to be shaky, while Russia's war in Ukraine continues to grind on, extending well into its fourth … [Read more...]

JV purchases Ft. Worth Home2 Suites

Hunter Hotel Advisors facilitated the sale of the Home2 Suites Fort Worth Cultural District, a 162-room, extended-stay hotel located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The property was sold by Southeastern Real Estate Group, to a joint venture between Ad Astra Capital and TMGOC Ventures, in a transaction led by Kami Burnette, SVP, Hunter Hotel Advisors. Completed in 2020, the property benefits … [Read more...]

Hyatt Completes Sale of Playa’s Owned Real Estate Portfolio to Tortuga

CHICAGO, Illinois—Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the closing of the sale of the real estate portfolio previously acquired from Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. to Tortuga Resorts for approximately $2 billion. Hyatt can achieve up to an additional $143 million earnout if certain operating thresholds are met, and the company has retained $200 million of preferred equity in Tortuga in connection … [Read more...]

New Year festivities set the stage for AFCON round of 16

Morocco welcomed 2026 with celebrations across the country, while attention turned to the Africa Cup of Nations as the group stage concluded. Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Sudan advanced from Group E, while Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique moved on from Group F. The knockout stage begins January 3 with Senegal facing Sudan. Key matches on Sunday include Mali vs. Tunisia and South Africa vs. … [Read more...]

Donna Rae Garff Marriott dies at 90

Donna Rae Garff Marriott, wife of J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., chairman emeritus, Marriott International, has died at the age of 90. She and her husband recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Born June 10, 1935, in Evanston, IL, she grew up in Salt Lake City, where she developed a love for music and dance and attended the University of Utah. In 1955, she married Bill Marriott, beginning … [Read more...]

Kenya: Multi storey building collapses in Nairobi, trapping unknown number of people

The Kenya Red Cross said a multi agency response team was on site managing the operation. Local media reported that the building was around 16 storeys high. Authorities have not yet commented on the cause of the collapse or confirmed the number of victims. Officials said the death toll was not expected to be high, though the rescue effort was still ongoing. Building collapses are a recurring … [Read more...]

Kinseth acquires Courtyard hotel in Iowa

Kinseth Hospitality Companies (KHC) has acquired the Courtyard by Marriott Omaha East/Council Bluffs, IA. The 131-room hotel is located in Council Bluffs, IA, about four miles from Omaha, NE. “We are pleased to welcome the Courtyard by Marriott Council Bluffs into the Kinseth Hospitality Companies family,” said Les Kinseth, president, KHC. “This acquisition aligns with our strategic growth … [Read more...]

Winchester Hospitality sells Orlando Red Roof Inn for $5.65M

DSH Hotel Advisors arranged the sale of the centrally located 74-room Red Roof Inn Orlando South – Florida Mall for $5.65 million. DSH Hotel Advisors represented the seller, Winchester Hospitality LLC, and the buyer, JANM Hospitality LLC. DSH held the exclusive listing with the seller, generating 150+ signed confidentiality agreements from qualified buyers and receiving multiple offers from buyers … [Read more...]

Hyatt completes $2B sale of Playa’s owned portfolio to Tortuga

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has closed the sale of the real estate portfolio previously acquired from Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. to Tortuga Resorts for approximately $2 billion. Hyatt can achieve up to an additional $143 million earnout if certain operating thresholds are met and has retained $200 million of preferred equity in Tortuga in connection with the transaction. The real estate … [Read more...]

Bulgarians adapt to euro, banks and shops report smooth transition

Most large retailers reopened on January 2, after trading on New Year’s Day was largely limited to small local shops. The switch to the euro has so far been orderly. Within a day of Bulgaria joining the Eurozone, banks had restored most online and mobile services, and many cash machines were already dispensing euro notes. Both the euro and the lev are circulating during the transition. Shops are … [Read more...]

Xi Jinping: 2025 was a year of AI and chip breakthroughs amid US-China tech rivalry

Chinese President Xi Jinping said 2025 was the year that China’s technologies, including artificial intelligence and semiconductor chips, “reached new heights”. In his New Year’s address, Xi lauded the efforts of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor chip companies by saying that they "integrated science and technology deeply with industries, and made a stream of new … [Read more...]

BYD overtakes Tesla as China reshapes the global EV race

The battle of the electric vehicles seems to be comfortably leaning in favour of Chinese producer BYD as Elon Musk's Tesla cars continue to underperform sales-wise, with the Chinese producer posting a nearly 28% increase in year-to-date sales for December. Tesla sold around 480,000 of its Model 3 and Y in the third quarter, and around 400,000 in the fourth quarter, according to December estimates. … [Read more...]

Late again and again? Why poor punctuality could be a symptom of ADHD

Alice Lovatt, a musician and group-home worker in Liverpool, England, was often getting into trouble for being late. She felt embarrassed when she let down friends because of her tardiness and was frequently stressed about arriving at school on time. “I just don’t seem to have that clock ticking in my head,” Lovatt said. It was not until she was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity … [Read more...]

Denmark’s Ørsted files legal challenge to Trump’s wind project block

Danish energy company Ørsted said on Friday that it had launched a legal challenge to the US government’s suspension of its Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island. Along with its joint-venture partner Skyborn Renewables, Ørsted said in a statement that “litigation is a necessary step to protect the rights of the project”. Revolution Wind is more than 85% complete, with 58 out of 65 wind turbines … [Read more...]

Wind is now one of the world’s biggest electricity sources. So why are we switching turbines off?

Last year was a huge victory for the UK’s renewable sector, with project approvals hitting an all-time high and offshore wind farms providing nearly 17 per cent of national electricity output. On 5 December 2025, wind generated a record-breaking 23,825 megawatts of electricity – enough to power more than 23 million homes. However, Octopus Energy, one of the UK’s biggest energy suppliers, has … [Read more...]

Trump in 2026: leader of the free world or lame duck president?

Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2025 marked a stunning political comeback, with the US president pushing an aggressive MAGA policy from trade to international relations. While the US leader has shaped the events of a turbulent 2025, the new year may prove harder to manage for Trump as the midterm elections approach. For Europeans, that is one factor to watch after a difficult year in … [Read more...]

From rural Spain to war: Binéfar becomes a European benchmark in military robotics

Binéfar, an Aragonese town of just over 10,000 inhabitants, located between Huesca and Lérida in northeastern Spain, is home to the largest military robotics plant in the country. This town in the Alto Aragon region designs and manufactures ground robots that are now used in war scenarios, explosive ordnance disposal operations and logistical support missions in more than 20 countries. The plant … [Read more...]

Russian forces target Zaporizhzhia with air strikes, no casualties reported

The first attack took place late on Thursday, triggering three fires. A non residential building and two farm structures were damaged, while falling debris affected nearby homes, roads and parked cars. Emergency crews were seen working at the scene in the hours that followed. A second strike hit around 2 a.m. on Friday, setting a shopping centre on fire. The blaze was later brought under control. … [Read more...]

Japan's imperial family celebrates new year with traditional palace appearance

On Friday, Emperor Naruhito appeared on the balcony with Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family, waving to thousands of people gathered below. Many held small flags and shouted "banzai" as the emperor wished them a happy new year. This year carried added meaning. Naruhito's nephew, Prince Hisahito, took part for the first time, now that he has entered adult imperial duties. He is … [Read more...]

'Why am I doing this?': Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals constant pain almost forced him to quit tennis

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed that he seriously considered retiring from active tennis due to the injuries and pain he felt in 2025. Tsitsipas made clear he's now pain-free in Australia and has his father Apostolos coaching him again after a brief stint with Goran Ivanisevic last year. The Greek former world number 3 opened up extensively on his injury woes during a press conference for the … [Read more...]

Victoria Kafka Jones, daughter of Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones, found dead at San Francisco hotel

The daughter of US acting legend Tommy Lee Jones, best known for his roles in the Men in Black franchise and No Country for Old Men, has been found dead at a hotel in California, according to US media reports. Victoria Kafka Jones, 34, was pronounced dead in the early hours of New Year’s Day at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. The San Francisco Fire Department said emergency crews were called … [Read more...]

Swiss authorities work to identify victims of deadly New Year's fire at Le Constellation

The morning after the blaze, police and firefighters continued working behind tents and screens near the site of the Le Constellation bar, where a New Year’s celebration turned fatal. Around 40 people were killed and more than 115 injured when the fire broke out around 1.30 am in a packed venue. Emergency services mounted a large response. Ten helicopters, 40 ambulances and about 150 responders … [Read more...]

Survivors rescued by SOS Méditerranée mark New Year with hot meal

The rescue comes as SOS Méditerranée resumes operations with the Ocean Viking. In mid December 2025, the organisation announced it had completed repairs costing around 130,000 euros, along with upgrades to crew training and onboard safety procedures. The aim is to restore regular search and rescue patrols along one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The operating environment remains tense. … [Read more...]

AI bands, Sydney Sweeney and demon hunters: Take our New Year quiz

Happy New Year! Despite its Coldplay kiss cam scandals,Wicked mania and deluge of AI slop, 2025 already seems like a distant memory - the mist clearing to make way for a fresh batch of yet-unknown pop culture-defining moments. But don't move on just yet! We've put together a quiz to test your memory (and how much you keep up with Euronews Culture's news section...) From terrifying toys to AI … [Read more...]