Amsterdam’s historic Vondelkerk (church) was destroyed by a fire likely triggered by fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

According to Euronews, the fire broke out at the church just after midnight, indicating that the likely cause was fireworks. The fire quickly spread through the church’s wooden tower, causing the building to collapse.

Firefighters responded to the scene and tried their best to contain the blaze. Traffic in the surrounding area was halted and residents were asked to leave amid worries that the fire might spread.

Emergency responders were unable to save the landmark, which later collapsed. Video footage of the aftermath shows the scorched bricks of the historic structure.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, locals were shocked and saddened at losing one of the city’s iconic structures. 

One resident wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “You can feel the strong heat everywhere. People are in shock. It’s such a beautiful church. Gone.”

The official cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Vondelkerk was built in 1880 and the building has been out of service since 1997. The former Catholic church was a cultural and events venue after closing for worship in the 1970s.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, said the year 2025 marked a decisive shift in Pakistan’s digital journey, anchored by the passage of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 and the creation of new national digital institutions.

In a year-end message, the minister highlighted governance reforms as a major achievement, noting that the e-Office system achieved 100% adoption in 38 of 39 federal divisions, cutting file processing time from 25 days to four and potentially saving Rs9.5 billion annually.

On service delivery, the minister cited the success of Islamabad’s ParkApp, which crossed 1.37 million users and generated Rs22.86 billion in revenue, and the National Job Portal, which registered over 510,000 CVs and advertised more than 33,000 federal jobs.

In healthcare, the “One Patient, One ID” initiative at PIMS expanded daily OPD capacity by 3,000 patients while reducing laboratory reporting times by several hours.

Connectivity and infrastructure development remained central to the digital agenda, she said, noting that Pakistan crossed 200 million telecom subscribers, mobile broadband penetration reached 60%, and over 31 million mobile phones were assembled locally.

Three new submarine cables landed during the year, while a fibre-optic backbone from Karachi to China and Central Asia positioned Pakistan as a regional data transit hub. The country also rose 14 places in the UN E-Government Development Index.

The minister said policy reforms, including right-of-way changes, 5G spectrum finalisation and expanded rural connectivity projects, laid the groundwork for the next decade.

Shaza added that Pakistan approved its first National AI Policy, launched a national semiconductor programme, expanded digital skills training for over 920,000 learners, and grew IT exports to $3.8 billion, while narrowing the gender gap in mobile internet access.

“2025 was the year of foundations,” she said, adding that 2026 would focus on scale and leadership.

Kate Beckinsale spoke candidly about the toll grief has taken on her health addressing recent comments about her weight loss.

The Underworld star took to Instagram to explain that the deaths of her mother, Judy Loe, in July 2025, and her stepfather, Roy Battersby, in early 2024, have left her struggling with appetite and energy.

“I think it’s shock and trauma,” Beckinsale said in a reel clarifying that her experience is not about willpower or anorexia but about her body “closing down” in response to loss.

Pearl Harbour alum described how watching loved ones suffer at the end of their lives has made eating feel impossible.

She added that she sometimes wonders if survivor’s guilt plays a role.

Despite online criticism, Beckinsale chose compassion over confrontation.

“It just wouldn’t cross my mind to make nasty remarks about someone’s appearance,” she wrote noting that kindness was a value instilled in her by her parents.

Her tribute to her mother, who died of cancer at 78, was especially poignant.

Loe was described by Beckinsale as “the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend.”

The English actress praised her mother’s bravery, forgiveness, and belief in the good in people noting that the world feels “dim without her.”