As the year draws to a close, a remarkable initiative involving “superheroes” clad in unique costumes brings unexpected joy — not only to the sick children but also, perhaps even more deeply, to their parents.

Asian shares have retreated after U.S. stocks edged back from their record heights.

Franz Welser-Möst will retire as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra in June 2027, ending a 25-season tenure that will be the longest in the ensemble’s history.

Asian shares are mostly higher after Wall Street drifted to a mixed close.

Whether you’re gearing up for resolutions or just looking for a fresh start in 2024, Consumer Reports’ exclusive product tests and shopping tips will help you find the items you need to ring in the New Year with seasonal savings.

Asian stocks are lower, tracking a weak start to 2024 on Wall Street as Japan's markets reopened.

Roanoke College projected Virginians would spend $900 on average. Now, that it's the New Year, you might be looking for ways to save money.

The Roanoke branch of the NAACP held a Jubilee Day event to commemorate the day that the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law.

Five people in Virginia could be starting the new year as a millionaire.

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has announced that she plans to abdicate after 52 years and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.

The Austrian government says that it is giving the country’s world-famous Vienna Boys Choir 800,000 euros ($884,000) to help it out of severe financial difficulties.

Help us settle this holiday debate.

Ten years ago, Ukrainians took to the streets to protest a decision by their Moscow-friendly president to move the country away from the European Union and toward Russia.

Two lucky Virginians are bringing in February with a whopping $50,000 win in the Virginia Lottery.

Two lucky Virginians are bringing in February with a whopping $50,000 win in the Virginia Lottery.

French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a substantial boost in military spending through the end of this decade to face evolving threats.

A Pittsylvania County truck driver is starting the new year off on the right foot, with a $1 million win in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle.

Germany’s biggest police union has called for concerted action to prevent a repeat of the violence toward officers, firefighters and medical personnel seen in Berlin and other cities during the New Year’s celebrations.

Five people in Virginia could be starting off the new year as a millionaire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address to the nation usually is rather anodyne and backed with a soothing view of a snowy Kremlin.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping says his country is on the “right side of history" in a New Year's address that comes as questions swirl over his government's handling of COVID-19 and economic and political challenges.

Officials say at least one person has been killed and 14 others hospitalized as multiple blasts rocked Kyiv.

Downtown Roanoke ready for New Year's Eve Celebrations

Lottery players will have a chance to ring in the New Year with a $685 million bonus in their bank account as a drawing is held in the Mega Millions game.

Experts are saying 2023 is going to be a bounce-back year.

French President Emmanuel Macron says people spreading fake news online should be held accountable and possibly brought to justice.

Russian officials are sounding the alarm about a looming surge of coronavirus infections due to the highly contagious omicron variant.

The Serbian Orthodox Church says the Patriarch, Porfirije, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ringing in the New Year can mean setting new fitness goals, but they are not always easy to keep.

Reigning “Jeopardy!”.

Amazement Square in Lynchburg helped children ring in the New Year in a fun way.

Flight cancellations surged again on the last day of 2021, with airlines blaming it on crew shortages related to the spike in COVID-19 infections.

Admission is free for most of the trails.

More than a year after the vaccine was rolled out, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. have soared to their highest level on record at over 265,000 per day on average.

If you’ve loved the warmer weather over the past several days, you’ll love what we have in store through the weekend. Temperatures begin mild today and warm up quickly this afternoon. Highs will return to the 60s and lower 70s.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is bringing in the New Year with some Winterland fun with the return of their annual Winter Weekends!

Joe Biden will spend his first Christmas as president at the White House with family and is giving up his New Year’s tradition of sun and St. Croix for the chill of Delaware this year.

Aliyev marked the Nowruz holiday by lighting a ceremonial fire outside Shusha, a culturally revered city that Azerbaijan took from Armenian forces in last autumn's war. Shusha, a center of Azeri culture for centuries, came under Armenian control in 1992 in fighting over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. (Vugar Amrullaev, Azerbaijani Presidential Press Office via AP)MOSCOW – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev marked the Nowruz holiday Saturday by lighting a ceremonial fire outside Shusha, a culturally revered city that Azerbaijan took from Armenian forces in last autumn’s war. Shusha, a center of Azeri culture for centuries, came under Armenian control in 1992 in fighting over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region. “Today we are celebrating Nowruz in our ancient city Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan.

(Stephane Mahe/Pool Photo via AP)BREST – French President Emmanuel Macron hoped on Tuesday that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will show a greater military commitment to fight against Islamic extremists in several theaters of conflict and especially in the Middle East. Macron stressed that France has maintained its efforts to fight against the Islamic State group in the region. About 900 French troops are currently taking part in the U.S.-led international coalition. In his speech, Macron also suggested he is considering a partial troop pullout in Africa’s Sahel region, an “adjustment” he presented as a consequence of successes achieved by French forces last year and an expected greater involvement of other European countries. The deployment of about 5,100 troops in five West African countries represent France’s largest military operation abroad.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an on-line New Year press conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)SEOUL – South Korea’s president on Monday urged the incoming Biden administration to build upon the achievements and learn from the failures of President Donald Trump’s diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Biden has accused Trump of chasing the spectacle of summits rather than meaningful curbs on the North’s nuclear capabilities. And while Moon acknowledged that Biden is likely to try a different approach than Trump, he stressed that Biden could still learn from Trump’s successes and failures in dealing with North Korea. “The start of the Biden administration provides a new opportunity to start over talks between North Korea and the United States and also between South and North Korea,” which have stalled amid the stalemate in nuclear negotiations, Moon said.

The 11th annual Resolution Run is virtual this year, which means you can complete your two-mile run or walk from anywhere. It’s the kick-off to the Boys and Girls Club’s Healthy Life Choices programming. For 2021, the theme and resolution is creating an environment of equity, justice and inclusion. The run is meant to help people stay on track for their New Year fitness goals but it also sparks community reflection. Since the Resolution Run is virtual the club hopes people will participate in the selfie challenge while running or walking so the kids can see how many people are supporting them.

FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2020 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses for photographs after the television recording of her annual New Year's speech at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel considers U.S. President Donald Trump's eviction from Twitter by the company “problematic,” her spokesman said Monday. Twitter permanently suspended Trump from the microblogging platform on Friday, citing a “risk of further incitement of violence” in the wake of the storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the outgoing president. “Seen from this angle, the chancellor considers it problematic that the accounts of the U.S. president have now been permanently blocked.”Facebook on Thursday suspended Trump’s account through Jan. 20, the day of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, and possibly indefinitely. Merkel herself does not have a Twitter account, although Seibert does and many German government ministers do.

Committing to a healthier you in 2021 isn’t as straight forward as you may think and takes much more than just eating right. Registered dietician Claire Chewning, owns Yours Chewly Nutrition. Chewning recommends starting with actionable goals that you can achieve in a short amount of time then add on more when you see fit. If you choose to engage in health promoting behaviors, know that they can have positive impact on your health regardless... Posted by Yours Chewly Nutrition on Monday, November 16, 2020The point is to be realistic when you set your goals so it’s actually something you can accomplish. She believes many people are focused on eating better for immune system health or other concerns the pandemic has brought to light.

Thousands of people attend a music concert to celebrate New Year's in the Mbare suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe, early Friday, Jan 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)MUTARE – In response to rising COVID-19 numbers, Zimbabwe has reintroduced a night curfew, banned public gatherings, and indefinitely suspended the opening of schools. “We are being overwhelmed and overrun,” Information Minister Nick Mangwana warned, saying the country's hospitals are rapidly reaching capacity with COVID-19 patients. Zimbabwe recorded 1,342 cases and 29 deaths in the past week, “the highest number recorded so far,” Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said, announcing the strict measures. Funerals are now limited to 30 people while other gatherings such as weddings and church services are banned for 30 days.

ROANOKE, Va. – You can help keep your pet healthy in 2021 with these New Year’s resolutions. Veterinarians say that animals need regular exercise, just like humans. It’s important to consider the age, breed and current health of your pet, but most dogs need at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Regular grooming is important, along with choosing the right food. Experts say that you should pay attention to the first three ingredients listed, especially protein.

ROANOKE, Va. – Gun ownership and diabetes are two dramatically different topics, but people in both groups experienced a significant law change when the book closed on 2020. Starting on New Year’s Day, online concealed carry classes are no longer allowed in Virginia. Additionally, the price of insulin is now capped at $50 for a month-long supply. “We really want gun owners to take the initiative to learn about firearm safety,” Tyler said. “A woman I know was jeopardizing her own health and not taking her insulin so that she could get her grandson’s asthma medicine,” Southard said.

Trace testing has linked the new Melbourne coronavirus cluster to the New South Wales outbreak. The newest occurred at midnight Friday when Victoria closed its border to New South Wales, prompting traffic bottlenecks as people raced to beat the closure. Once in Victoria, COVID-19 testing sites saw long queues as travelers lined up for mandatory testing. South Korea reported 824 new cases, raising the national tally to 62,593 with 942 deaths. — Thai authorities are planning to launch two levels of restrictions of activities for highly controlled areas where coronavirus cases are on the rise.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – The soggy start to 2021 didn’t prevent some Virginians from keeping a favorite tradition. National forests and state parks across the country offer First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day. Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County typically hosts guided tours; however, because of the pandemic, they had self-guided ones and a scavenger hunt. Workers said although the crowd was smaller this year, it’s a symbolic way to start the year off on the right foot. Jackson said many people took advantage of the outdoors in 2020 and he hopes it continues this year.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke Star was the finish line for some runners Friday morning who were looking to fulfill a more than 30-year-old tradition. Every New Year’s Day, Star City Striders, a running group in the Roanoke Valley, hosts a run to the star. To ring in 2020, 200 people did the run; however, due to COVID-19 and the restrictions on gatherings, the official run couldn’t happen this year. Even though it wasn’t official, runners and walkers still laced up their shoes and started the year started on a healthy note. Star City Striders plans to start its tradition back up on New Year’s Day 2022.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, intensive care units in several parts of Texas were full or nearly full. India and Brazil trail behind the U.S. in coronavirus cases at over 10 million and 7 million, respectively. ___MILAN, Italy — Italy added another 462 virus deaths on Friday for a known pandemic death toll of 74,621, the highest in Europe. ___BANGKOK — The Thai capital is shutting down venues including schools and entertainment parks as coronavirus cases continue to spread. China on Friday reported a total of 19 new virus cases, including 10 that were brought from outside the country.

A cold front that began moving through in 2020 will bring us widespread rain and cooler temperatures. Many of us reached our high temperatures shortly after 2021 began... okay, I’ll stop with the new year’s jokes. During the day, our temperatures will stay in the 30s as scattered rain moves in. Rain AccumulationThis weekend will bring us more pleasant weather with highs returning to the 50s and 60s. A lot of sunshine is on the way with highs in the 50s.

The benchmark S&P 500 index finished with a gain of 16.3% for the year, or a total return of about 18.4%, including dividends. And the S&P 500 rose or fell by at least 1% on twice as many days in 2020 than it did, on average, since 1950. The electric car maker jumped 743.4% in 2020 for the biggest gain in the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 set 33 record highs in 2020. The S&P 500 rose 24.03 points, or 0.6%, to 3,756.07, an all-time high.

FILE - In this Dec. 30, 2020, file photo, an employee tolls the closing bell during a ceremony of the last trading day at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday, Dec. 31, while the handful that remained open was mixed. (JPX via AP)Major Asian bourses were closed for the New Year's holidays Thursday while the handful that remained open was mixed. Trading was closed in Tokyo and South Korea. The Tokyo exchange marked the end of trading for the year Wednesday, with the Nikkei falling 0.5%, and trading will not reopen until Monday next week.

Thailand generally has been viewed as successful in combating the coronavirus, due partly to its well-regarded public health infrastructure and people’s adherence to mask-wearing and other protocols. But cases have jumped significantly since an outbreak was detected last week among migrants from Myanmar working at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province. Samut Sakhon Gov. Weerasak Wijitsaengsri tested positive for the virus after meeting Sunday with senior health officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Samut Sakhon was put under lockdown on Dec. 19, followed by Samut Songkhram and Samut Prakarn.

Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trumps signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)Asian shares were mixed Wednesday after a lackluster day on Wall Street, as the boost from President Donald Trump’s signing of the coronavirus relief package faded. It is still on track to end the month 7.7% higher, more than twice as much as the S&P 500. The S&P 500 fell 8.32 points to 3,727.04. With two days of trading left in 2020, the S&P 500 is up 15.4% this year, while the Nasdaq is up 43.2%.

Hata was the son of late Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, who headed an opposition-led government in 1994. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government has been reluctant to impose tougher restrictions that would further damage the pandemic-hit economy. South Korea on Monday registered 808 new coronavirus cases, raising its national caseload to 57,680 with 819 deaths. Sri Lanka has confirmed 41,053 coronavirus cases, including 191 fatalities. The government also announced 5,854 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the country's total to 719,219 confirmed cases, including 21,452 deaths.

NEW YORK – Jennifer Lopez will help bring in the New Year with a headlining performance in New York’s Time Square for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021." Other performers include Cyndi Lauper, Billy Porter and Jimmie Allen. Lauper and Porter collaborated on the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots" and they will join forces for a special performance during the TV special, which will air on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021" will run until 2 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 1. Seacrest is returning to host the event for a 16th year, and he will be joined by Porter and Lucy Hale in New York.

ROANOKE, Va. – Three people are now millionaires and five others won $100,000 in Virginia’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle. One of those $100,000 tickets, ticket #328806, was bought at Gobble Stop on Virginia Avenue in Narrows! Now it’s time to wait and see who the winners are. Here’s the breakdown of other big winners. Those numbers are posted at the Virginia Lottery’s website: www.valottery.com.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – New York City’s counterterrorism czar expects Times Square to be “the safest place on the planet Earth” on New Year’s Eve. Post Malone, BTS and Alanis Morissette are scheduled to perform on stages in the heart of Times Square. “This is going to be one of the most well-policed, well-protected celebrations in the entire world and we'll have another safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve,” Shea said. Streets in and around Times Square will be closed to car traffic hours before the ball drops and police cars and sand-filled sanitation trucks will be positioned to stop vehicles from driving into the crowd. Everyone showing up for the confetti-filled festivities should expect to be wanded with metal detectors before being ushered to one of 65 viewing pens set up around Times Square to prevent overcrowding.