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Euronews staff tell us how New Year is celebrated in their countries

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Euronews staff tell us how New Year is celebrated in their countries

From Spain’s grape-eating tradition to Italy’s lucky red underwear, Euronews staff share how they like to see the new year in.

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Every European country has its own way of ringing in the new year, with traditions that overlap and diverge across borders.

If you have ever wondered how each nation celebrates New Year’s Eve, Euronews staff has got you covered. Here are their tales of how the moment is marked in their home countries.

Portugal: Inês Trindade Pereira

We spend New Year’s Eve with either family or friends, celebrating and partying with loved ones. We also wear blue underwear, as it’s supposed to bring good luck for the new year.

At midnight, we eat one raisin for each of the clock’s 12 strikes and wish for nice things like health and happiness. We also drink champagne and make a toast, and then watch the fireworks as the new year begins.

Then we go to our balconies and bang pots and pans really loudly. The noise is supposed to make the bad energies stay behind in the last year.

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Ireland: Meabh McMahon

Irish people often celebrate New Year’s Eve by gathering with friends and family to enjoy a night of food, drink, and good company. The atmosphere is lively, with bars, restaurants, and clubs filled to capacity as people come together to ring in the new year.

While some may choose to go out and party, others prefer to stay in for a more relaxed celebration to avoid expensive nights out and long queues.

Those who stay at home often indulge in a massive feast, complete with delicious food, drinks, and a carefully curated playlist, creating a cosy and enjoyable evening.

In addition to the food and festivities, one of the key traditions in Ireland is watching the fireworks display and the countdown on national TV.

As the clock strikes midnight, people across the country sing “Auld Lang Syne” to mark the transition into the new year.

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France: Romane Armangau

In France, we call New Year’s Eve “Le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre”, and we mark it with a festive and luxurious dinner.

It’s a time for big meals and lots of socialising. We usually celebrate among friends and gather to enjoy gourmet foods like foie gras, oysters and seafood, and champagne flows throughout the evening.

At midnight, we celebrate with a toast of champagne, exchanging wishes for a happy new year with the traditional phrases “Bonne Année” or “Meilleurs Vœux”.

While large cities may have fireworks and public events, many people celebrate quietly at home with loved ones. In Paris, there is a huge fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. It’s also common to kiss friends and family on the cheek as part of the celebration.

Hungary: Sándor Zsíros

In Hungary, 31 December is an occasion for festivities, parties, and gatherings.

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At midnight, everyone listens to the national anthem on television, standing with a glass of champagne in hand until the end, when we clink glasses and wish each other a happy new year.

Then, after the president makes a televised speech, we watch the beautiful fireworks ring in the new year.

For New Year’s Eve, traditional dishes include salty cakes, roasted pig, lentil soup, and sausage.

On 1 January, we eat lentils to bring money and luck. The one thing we’re not supposed to eat is chicken, which is said to “scratch the good luck”.

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Italy: Alice Carnevali

It’s customary for Italians to enjoy lentils and cotechino, a hearty pork sausage, at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

This tradition dates back to ancient Rome, where people would carry a scarsella — a leather pouch filled with lentils — tied to their belts, symbolising the hope that the beans would magically turn into coins.

The shape of the lentils, round and coin-like, is the inspiration behind the tradition. Additionally, Italians also wear red underwear to attract good fortune in the year ahead.

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Spain: Leticia Batista-Cabanas

In Spain, we call the last night of the year “Nochevieja,” which literally means old night. In our tradition, we eat 12 grapes at midnight, one at each strike of the clock.

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This little ritual, a century-old tradition, is supposed to bring good luck for the next year. Spaniards specifically hoping to find love in the coming year should eat the grapes while crouching under the dining room table. In my experience, this is not an infallible technique.

We also wear red underwear for that extra bit of luck. After midnight, we hug and kiss our loved ones, then watch the fireworks and party until the morning.

The next day, it’s traditional to eat lentils, which are supposed to bring abundance and prosperity.

Greece and Cyprus: Orestes Georgiou

In Cyprus and Greece, a coin is placed inside a traditional New Year’s cake called vasilopita, which is infused with orange and mastic. The cake is baked on 31 December then cut on New Year’s Day, with everyone receiving a piece by order of eldest to youngest.

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The person whose slice has the coin is considered to be blessed with luck for the year, and is expected to keep hold of the coin and not spend it.

Another tradition observed across Greece involves hanging a pomegranate, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, on the front door of each home.

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At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the lights are turned off, and the pomegranate is smashed against the door. This signifies a blessing for the family home, with the year ahead said to be full of health and happiness.

Germany: Johanna Urbancik

In Germany, New Year’s Eve — or Silvester — is all about fireworks. It’s an old tradition to scare away evil spirits. Everyone fires New Year’s Eve rockets into the air — a gold mine for manufacturers. There are rockets available for €10, but you can easily spend more than €100.

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People also do something called “bleigießen” to predict the future. It’s lead casting, where we place a little spoonful of lead over a flame. Once it’s liquid, you tip it into a bowl of water, and the shape it takes predicts your future. However, it’s illegal now.

Another classic tradition is to watch a British comedy sketch from 1963 called Dinner for One on TV. There’s also a superstition not to hang up laundry.

Poland: Berenika Sorokowska

In Poland, New Year’s Eve, or “Sylwester”, is celebrated with parties, music, dancing, and fireworks. We gather with friends and family to ring in the new year, often celebrating until midnight.

When the clock strikes 12, fireworks light up the sky, marking the start of the new year with hope and joy. On New Year’s Day, families often relax and enjoy a quiet day together.

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Some Poles also take part in making resolutions for the year ahead, focusing on self-improvement. The day is about reflection and celebrating the fresh start that the new year brings.

We also bake something called faworki, traditional Polish pastries also known as “angel wings.” They are thin, crispy strips of dough that are twisted into shapes and deep-fried until golden and crunchy.

After frying, they are dusted with powdered sugar. Faworki are light, airy, and have a delicate texture, making them a popular treat during festive seasons.

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Trump tips DoorDash driver $100 for delivering McDonald’s to Oval Office

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Trump tips DoorDash driver 0 for delivering McDonald’s to Oval Office

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump had two bags of McDonald’s delivered to the Oval Office on Monday by a DoorDash driver he tipped $100, using his favorite food and a reality TV flourish to promote a tax policy he says has meant big rebates for Americans who earn gratuities.

Sharon Simmons, dressed in a “DoorDash Grandma” T-shirt, walked up to the Oval Office’s exterior door and knocked as media cameras rolled. Trump popped out and said, “Hello. Nice to see you,” before proclaiming, “Look at this!” and then, glancing toward a pack of nearby reporters, offering, “This doesn’t look staged, does it?”

It was, of course. Making it onto the White House grounds alone requires obtaining prior permission and passing through security, while accessing the Oval Office — not to mention getting so close to the president — would have been impossible without additional screenings and background checks.

Still, the White House has attempted to call more attention to a piece of the Trump-backed tax and spend package approved last summer that allows Americans to temporarily deduct some federal taxes from income earned on tips. It lets certain workers deduct up to $25,000, but phases out for those with higher incomes.

Officials are intensifying the publicity effort ahead of Tax Day on Wednesday — even as the issue has been overshadowed for weeks by the war in Iran that has raised gas prices and spooked financial markets, and more immediately by Trump’s feud with Pope Leo XIV.

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McDonald’s is a longtime favorite of the president — and fare he’s used to political ends before.

He famously ordered it, along with vast piles of other fast food, to serve the visiting NCAA football champion Clemson Tigers in 2019 during his first term, when a government shutdown had reduced White House kitchen staff. Trump also staged one of the most memorable stops of his successful 2024 reelection campaign by visiting a Pennsylvania McDonald’s restaurant, where he worked the fry station and took reporters’ questions from the drive-thru window.

On Monday, Simmons, who DoorDash said was from Arkansas, recounted how the tax changes had helped reduce the amount of income she had to claim. Simmons subsequently told reporters she had earned more than $11,000 in tips a year. Exact figures on her savings were difficult to verify without Simmons’ tax statement wasn’t provided to reporters.

Trump then asked, “Would you like to do a little news conference with me?” and had her stand awkwardly beside him as he took questions about his threats to blockade the Strait of Hormuz and his refusal to apologize to Pope Leo.

The president eventually asked Simmons: “I think you voted for me. Do you think?” To which she responded, “Um, maybe.” Undaunted, Trump continued: “I heard you’re a great supporter. We appreciate it.”

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When a reporter later asked if the White House was a good tipper, Simmons hesitated: “Um … potentially.”

“Wait,” Trump crowed, reaching into his pocket for a $100 bill and handing it to Simmons with a grin. She took the money, laughed and finished, “Yes, very,” as the president patted her on the back and beamed.

Trump also invited Simmons and her husband to a UFC bout he’s helping to stage on the White House lawn to mark his 80th birthday in June. And he turned to Simmons again to press her on if she believes “men should play in women’s sports” — a frequent topic of his as he blasts Democrats for being too supportive of transgender rights.

“I really don’t have an opinion on that,” Simmons replied, prompting Trump to push, “I’ll bet you do.”

“No, no,” she insisted. “I’m here about no tax on tips.”

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The White House later said that Trump personally delivered the food — consisting of cheeseburgers and fries — to West Wing staff.

It didn’t say if he got a tip for doing so.

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Iran secures UN role with backing from UK, France, Canada, Australia as US stands alone

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Iran secures UN role with backing from UK, France, Canada, Australia as US stands alone

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Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition.

The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees.

Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations.

TERROR SPONSOR IRAN GETS UN LEADERSHIP OVERSEEING CHARTER PRINCIPLES

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Members of the United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution to unblock the Strait of Hormuz during a meeting on Iran and the Middle East at U.N. headquarters in New York on April 7, 2026.  (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

ECOSOC nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism.

The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote.

At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system.

The United States was the only member state to formally break from consensus.

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MIKE WALTZ TURNS TABLES ON IRANIAN ENVOY AT HEATED UN MEETING

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, Feb. 28, 2026. (Heather Khalifa/Reuters)

In remarks delivered April 8, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Dan Negrea said the U.S. “disassociates from consensus” on both decisions, calling several of the countries involved unfit for such roles.

“The regime threatens its neighbors and has, for decades, infringed on the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their basic human rights,” Negrea said, adding that “we believe Iran is unfit to serve” on the committee.

The decision drew sharp criticism from UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog group.

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Hillel Neuer told Fox News Digital: “By their cynical actions at the UN, major Western states have betrayed their own human rights principles, severely undermining the rules-based international order that they claim to support.”

“We note that the EU states clearly had another option. They did take action in recent years to stop Russia from getting elected to similar bodies, and so we deeply regret that they failed to do the same now to stop the election of serial violators such as Iran, China, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.”

“We salute the United States for their moral clarity and leadership in objecting to the election of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other brutal regimes.”

Neuer warned the composition of the NGO committee could allow authoritarian governments to influence which organizations are accredited, potentially sidelining independent human rights groups.

“This means dictatorships will have a majority on the committee in order to deny United Nations accreditation to independent organizations that call out their human rights violations, and to accredit more fake front groups created by the regimes,” he said.

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Israel’s mission to the United Nations also pointed to political tensions surrounding the vote, saying Iran attempted to challenge Israel’s candidacy during the same ECOSOC session.

AMBASSADOR MIKE WALTZ LAYS OUT ‘AMERICA FIRST’ VISION FOR US LEADERSHIP AT THE UN

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani attends a United Nations Security Council meeting, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S. Feb. 28, 2026. (Heather Khalifa/Reuters)

Israel was elected to several U.N. bodies, according to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, including the Commission on the Status of Women and the NGO Committee, despite opposition.

“Iran also tried to turn the elections at the UN into an arena for incitement against Israel and failed,” Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said. “Those who oppress women and trample on human rights in their own country will not teach us what women’s rights are.”

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Ahead of the vote, around 70 civil society groups warned that countries with poor human rights records could secure seats on key oversight bodies, but the elections proceeded without a formal vote, a process known as approval “by acclamation.”

Critics argue that this procedure allows controversial candidates to secure influential roles with limited transparency or accountability.

The developments are likely to intensify scrutiny over how U.N. bodies are staffed and whether political considerations are outweighing human rights concerns.

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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S. Feb. 28, 2026. (Heather Khalifa/Reuters)

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Fox News Digital reached out to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and U.S. mission for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

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UN experts slam attacks on Gaza shelters, forced displacement in West Bank

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UN experts slam attacks on Gaza shelters, forced displacement in West Bank

Panel details incidents of violence by Israeli forces and settlers against displaced Palestinians in Gaza and occupied West Bank.

United Nations experts have reiterated calls for an end to Israeli attacks on displaced Palestinians in Gaza as well as forced displacement measures in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement issued on Monday by the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR), the experts detailed several incidents in March in which Israeli air strikes set tents of displaced Palestinians in Gaza on fire, killing many.

“This cycle of displacement, terror, and targeted attacks serves an ultimate purpose: to make life unbearable for Palestinians and permanently force them from their land,” the panel said.

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Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, is interviewed by the Associated Press in Rome, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, was one of the experts [Gregorio Borgia/AP]

“The vast majority of Gaza’s population has already been displaced multiple times which amounts to forcible transfer,” the panel said, adding that “targeting areas known to shelter displaced civilians is a grave breach of international humanitarian law.”

The experts noted that civilians in tents and makeshift shelters are already experiencing grave health risks, including hunger, freezing, flooding, and a lack of basic services. The panel said that “women and children bear a disproportionate share of deprivation”.

The panel also criticised “the sharp escalation in forced displacement” across the occupied West Bank, driven by the Israeli army and what the experts called “State-backed settler terrorism”. This includes “daily attacks resulting in killing, injury, and harassment of women and children, and the widespread destruction of Palestinian homes, farmland and livelihoods”.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced amid expanding illegal settlement activity in 2025, according to a report by the UN Human Rights Office.

The experts said that “the scale and pattern of these actions shows once again the ongoing broader policy of ethnic cleansing across the occupied Palestinian territory”.

They urged Israel to end all ongoing forced displacement in the West Bank and to facilitate the safe return of displaced Palestinians.

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“States must bring Israel’s unlawful occupation to an end,” they said, urging countries to remember their legal obligations, call for investigations, and avoid assisting Israel while its occupation of Palestinian territory continues without accountability.

The panel of 13 experts was made up of UN special rapporteurs, including on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, the rights of internally displaced persons, Paula Gaviria Betancur, the right to food, Michael Fakhri, and on the violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem.

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