Tributes have been paid after the crash that injured British former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed two close associates. There were also growing concerns about Nigeria’s roads following the deadly crash near Lagos on Monday. Joshua was under “observation” while recovering from minor injuries following the crash, his promoter said. The high-profile accident has prompted serious concerns about road safety on Nigerian highways, where accidents are common. Experts say a combination of factors including a network of dilapidated roads, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and indiscipline by drivers, produces the grim statistics.

They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday. One of the newcomers is the Teddy Roosevelt terrier, named for the former U.S. president. Another is the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka (zviht-NEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah). It's a lapdog developed in Soviet-era Russia. The third is a centuries-old French hunting hound called the basset fauve de Bretagne (bah-SAY’ fohve deh breh-TAHN’-yeh). The AKC now recognizes 205 breeds. Recognition means eligibility for many U.S. dog shows and can increase a breed’s visibility to the pet-loving public.

Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in 2026 by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes. There’s the chile pepper drop in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the cheese wedge drop in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Key West, Florida, has its conch shell drop and Mobile, Alabama, celebrates with the MoonPie drop. It’s all a nod to the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. That tradition dates back to 1907. Now there are New Year’s ball drops and cherry drops and pickle drops from coast to coast.

Power problems and a stuck train have interrupted rail traffic through the Channel Tunnel connecting the U.K. to continental Europe. Eurostar has indefinitely suspended its services to and from London during the busy holiday period. The company blames overhead power supply issues and a failed train operated by LeShuttle. Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel's operator, says the power problem began overnight Monday, affecting both passenger and vehicle travel. Traffic is expected to resume gradually on Tuesday afternoon. Teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to rebook their journeys.

The big story of the upcoming midterm elections will be the fight over which party will control the U.S. House of Representatives during the last half of President Donald Trump's second term in office. But there's a related issue that is potentially just as important — whether the Trump administration will try to interfere with the way the elections are held. Democrats point to a number of developments over the past year as warning signs. Trump has issued executive orders on voting and targeted groups that organize and fund Democratic campaigns. His Justice Department has sued mostly Democratic-controlled states for detailed voter information. And the administration has sent the military into Democratic-run cities.

Young gymnasts were sounding warnings about a coach as far back as 2017. That's the same year the U.S. Center for SafeSport was created in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse scandal. People familiar with the case involving Sean Gardner told The Associated Press he had agreed to a permanent ban from coaching early this year but the center never closed the deal. The people spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by SafeSport and said Gardner's case got tangled in office politics that included allegations of retaliation. SafeSport says putting Gardner on temporary suspension was effectively the same as a permanent ban. Gardner has pleaded not guilty to federal child pornography charges and is awaiting trial.

Faith leaders across the United States face challenges as they support anxious immigrants. Haitians, Afghans, and Somali Americans fear policy changes under the Trump administration. In Springfield, Ohio, and elsewhere, Haitians are worried as their Temporary Protected Status is set to expire soon. Afghan refugees face increased restrictions, affecting organizations like Lutheran Social Services. In Minnesota, Somali Americans are dealing with heightened immigration enforcement and derogatory comments from President Trump. Faith communities are uniting to provide sanctuary and support, and religious leaders are speaking out against dehumanizing rhetoric and emphasizing the dignity of every individual.

The Detroit Lions won't make the playoffs, but one of their fans has influenced the postseason picture. The NFL suspended Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf for the final two games after an incident with Lions fan Ryan Kennedy. Metcalf's absence was felt in the Steelers' 13-6 loss to Cleveland. This sets up a crucial game against the Baltimore Ravens, with the winner taking the AFC North and the loser going home. The NFC faces a similar scenario between the Panthers and Buccaneers. Analysts say the Steelers need to adjust their strategy without Metcalf to succeed against the Ravens.

Local authorities in France say Brigitte Bardot’s funeral is set for next week in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez which she helped make famous. The cinema star and animal rights activist died Sunday at 91 in southern France. Saint-Tropez town hall said Monday that a ceremony is scheduled on Jan. 7 and will be broadcast on large screens at the port and central square. The burial will be private at the local cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. A public homage will follow. Bardot retired from cinema in 1973 and lived in Saint-Tropez for more than a half-century.

China’s top diplomat has slammed a record U.S. military sale to Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday also blasted what he called pro-independence forces in Taiwan and the leaders of Japan. The military package announced earlier this month by the U.S. State Department amounts to the largest U.S. arms sale to Taiwan and is valued at more than $11 billion. China has responded to the arms sale by launching two days of military drills around Taiwan. The exercises also are seen as a rebuke to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after she inflamed Beijing last month by implying Japan could militarily intervene over Taiwan.

Boston College forward James Hagens scored in a 1:03 span late in the second period and early in the third and the United States overcame a two-goal deficit to beat Slovakia 6-5 on Monday night in the world junior hockey championship. Hagens tied it at 4 with 45 seconds left in the second, then gave the Americans the lead 18 seconds into the third. The United States matched Sweden at 3-0 in Group A play ahead of their New Year’s Eve showdown. In the early game, Sweden had four power-play goals in an 8-1 romp over Germany.

Tiger Woods turned 50 on Tuesday, Dec. 30, a milestone for the golf great who has left a trail of brilliance on the course and struggles off the course. He's the only player to hold all four majors at the…

Police say an investigation that extended to the Philippines of two men accused of killing 15 people at a Sydney Jewish festival has found no evidence they were part of a “broader terrorist cell.” Police alleged on Tuesday that Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram acted alone in their attack at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14 . They spent most of November in the Philippines but rarely left their hotel. Police allege they were inspired by the Islamic State group. Naveed Akram has yet to enter pleas to dozens of charges. Police shot him in the abdomen and killed his father during a gunfight at Bondi.

Saudi Arabia says it bombed the port city of Mukalla in Yemen over a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there that arrived from the United Arab Emirates. The attack signals a new escalation in tensions between the kingdom and the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the Emirates. It also further strains ties between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which had been backing competing sides in Yemen’s decadelong war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. A military statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency announced the strikes, which it said came after ships arrived there from Fujairah, a port city on the UAE’s eastern coast.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has died at 80, her political party has announced Tuesday. Her rivalry with Sheikh Hasina defined Bangladeshi politics for a generation. In January 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted Zia in her last corruption case, which she claimed was politically motivated. This would have allowed her to run in February's election. She returned to Bangladesh in May after medical treatment in the U.K. Zia was the first woman elected prime minister of Bangladesh.