Ripped from the Headlines: January 2026: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 17–January 23, 2026

The fashion designer Valentino Garavani, described by Vogue as an "international arbiter of taste," died at the age of 93. Over the decades, scores of prominent women trusted Valentino's judgment on questions of style; he created garments for Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Wintour, and Zendaya, among many others. Valentino's aesthetic was elegant and sophisticated, his clothing embodying luxury and classic beauty. In Latin, arbiter means "judge or mediator."

With just two weeks until the start of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, builders are racing to complete a major arena. The building will host ice hockey competitions, providing seats for more than 15,000 spectators. Before teams can safely play, hundreds of layers of ice must be chilled, one thin sheet at a time, and the rink has to be tested for holes or weakness by Zambonis. Organizers remained optimistic that the arena would be ready for the February 6 opening ceremonies.

On January 23, the Sundance Film Festival opened for its final season in Park City, Utah. Founded by Robert Redford, who died last year, the independent festival has been held in the resort town since 1981. It moves to Boulder, Colorado, next year. As the 10-day event kicked off, organizers and participants described it as bittersweet, both celebratory and nostalgic. Amid screenings of Sundance classics, Redford tributes, and film debuts, the mood was simultaneously joyful and wistful.

A collision between two high-speed trains killed more than 40 people in Spain. After rear cars on a northbound train derailed, a train traveling south on the opposite track slammed into them. The impact caused the second train's front carriages to plummet down a 13-foot slope. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Collision derives from the Latin collidere, "strike together."

As the UN General Assembly marked its 80th birthday, leaders deplored the current turmoil around the world. In his speech, Secretary-General António Guterres condemned 2025's accelerating climate change, widening inequalities, and violations of international law. UN leaders also criticised Russia's continuing aggression toward Ukraine and the U.S. attack on Venezuela. Deplore comes from Latin roots de-, "entirely," and plorare, "weep or cry out."

Evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers won the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her work studying mycorrhizal fungi. Kiers has spent her career investigating the soil's circulatory system, with a focus on the fungal microbes that produce nutrients in exchange for carbon from plant and tree roots. She called the prize "an award for the invisible," celebrating these simple organisms that take vast amounts of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel emissions, locking it away in the soil.

For more than 10 years, Paris has used participatory budgeting to give residents a chance to propose major projects in the city. Parisians as young as eight can take part in the process of deciding how the city's budget will be spent. Since the program started in 2014, over 1,000 of these proposals have been implemented. Budget participants have inspired projects across the city that include such things as community art installations, playgrounds, and rooftop farms.

It's been an extremely hot summer in Brazil, and this week the animals at Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque zoo received popsicles to help cool them down. The flavors of the frozen treats varied from species to species, with monkeys getting watermelon ices and a jaguar enjoying a chicken popsicle. Zoo officials said the water-based, icy snacks helped keep the animals cool and hydrated. Popsicle was coined in 1923 from lollipop and icicle.

High energy costs and new interest in wood-burning stoves have led to a chimney sweep resurgence in London. The comeback of this age-old profession has surprised many. In the 20th century, central heating and strict air quality standards meant few Londoners used their fireplaces. Today, more and more people are taking advantage of cleaner-burning stoves — and seeking out sweeps to clean their chimneys. The Latin root of resurgence means "rise again."

Amid growing international scrutiny of Iran's violent crackdown on protesters, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that thousands were killed in recent weeks. Human rights groups have kept a close watch on the government's brutal reaction to protests, and the World Economic Forum canceled a speech by Iran's foreign minister. Observers say that thousands of people have been killed since December. Scrutiny is from the Latin scrutari, "to examine."