The annual countdown celebration in Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve will feature a brand new ball. The dazzling Constellation Ball sparkles with 5,280 Waterford crystals and is said to glow brighter than ever before. It is the ninth iteration of the ball since its first descent down the flagpole in 1907. #newyork #timessquare #newyearseve #2026 #waterfordcrystal | RTÉ News

CNN's David Culver gets an exclusive look inside the US Border Patrol Academy as recruiting numbers hit a record high. During one of their training sessions, agents shared where most of them are from. Their response may surprise you. Stream the full story on the CNN app. | CNN

CNN's Will Ripley talks about the 2023 Australian mushroom poisonings case involving Erin Patterson, who was convicted for orchestrating an unimaginable crime. Stream the three-part CNN Original Series "Death Cap: The Mushroom Murders" on the CNN app. | CNN

For years, rumors swirled about where Jeffrey Epstein’s wealth came from. A New York Times investigation reveals the truth of how a college dropout clawed his way to the pinnacle of American finance and society. Read more: https://nyti.ms/4aRspTU | The New York Times