Category: Global

Around 40 people have died after a fire broke out at a bar in the southern Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations, police said. Authorities said 115 people were injured, with many suffering severe injuries. 

The fire started at approximately 01:30 local time at Le Constellation bar. Officials investigating the incident have not confirmed the cause but ruled out an attack. People from multiple countries were affected. 

Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler said the immediate priority is to identify the deceased so that bodies can be returned to families quickly.

Thirteen helicopters, 42 ambulances, and 150 emergency responders were deployed to the Valais region, which is popular with tourists. Most of the injured suffered burns, with 60 being sent to Sion hospital, several in critical condition, according to Regional governor Mathias Reynard. He said the local intensive care unit was at full capacity and asked the community to avoid unnecessary hospital visits.

Reynard added, “We are painfully aware that identifying the bodies, as well as the injured, may still take a terribly long time for the families involved.” Some patients were transferred to hospitals in Lausanne, Zurich, and Geneva, where specialist burns units treated them. Dr. Robert Larribau said some victims were aged between 15 and 25 and suffered severe third-degree burns, with internal burns from inhaling smoke.

The incident affected foreign nationals too. The Italian Foreign Ministry said 16 Italians were missing. Three Italian nationals were being moved to Milan’s Niguarda hospital with burns covering 30–40 percent of their bodies. 

The French Foreign Ministry said eight citizens were missing and that French nationals could be among the dead.

State councillor Stéphane Ganzer described the bar as hosting a “young festive population” during the party. Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said the investigation aims “to identify the circumstances which caused this dramatic situation to occur.” She added that staircases were narrow and that several hypotheses were being considered, including a general fire rather than an explosion. She confirmed, “At no time is there a question of any attack.”

Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the fire “one of the worst tragedies that our country has experienced.” Locals gathered at Montana Station Church for a vigil, and floral tributes were laid near the bar. Le Constellation has an upstairs area with TV screens and a large bar downstairs.

International leaders have responded. King Charles and Queen Camilla said they were “greatly saddened” by the fire. French President Emmanuel Macron said injured victims were being treated in France, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed coordination with Swiss authorities to provide medical support.

United States (US) President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the US will intervene if Iran violently suppresses peaceful demonstrations.

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he said in a Truth Social post as Iran faces its largest protests in three years, sparked by economic hardship and a sharp currency slide.

The unrest began Sunday in Tehran, where shopkeepers went on strike over soaring prices and stagnation. Demonstrations quickly spread to other provinces, escalating into violent clashes between protesters and security forces.

On Thursday, six people were reportedly killed in confrontations across three cities, marking the first fatalities since the cost-of-living protests erupted.

Authorities described protesters in Lordegan as attacking administrative buildings including the governor’s office, a mosque, the Martyrs’ Foundation, the town hall and banks. Police responded with tear gas and arrested several alleged ringleaders. In Azna, it was reported that “rioters” targeted a police commissariat.

While state media has consistently labeled demonstrators as rioters during past protest movements, the demonstrations, though smaller than the 2022 unrest triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, have gained momentum as students from at least 10 universities joined earlier this week.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged protesters’ “legitimate demands” and urged the government to act on economic grievances.

“From an Islamic perspective, if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in hell,” he said on state television. At the same time, officials vowed a firm response to any attempt to exploit the situation.

Iran’s prosecutor general said peaceful economic protests were legitimate but warned that efforts to create insecurity or destroy public property would face a decisive response.

Local media coverage has varied, with some outlets highlighting economic struggles and others focusing on alleged troublemakers. Authorities declared Wednesday a bank holiday, citing energy-saving measures during cold weather, though no official link to the protests was made.

It may be noted that Iran’s economic crisis continues to fuel anger. Local currency has lost more than a third of its value against the US dollar in the past year while hyperinflation has eroded purchasing power.

Official figures show inflation at 52 percent year-on-year in December, underscoring the depth of the hardship driving the protests.

Somaliland has pushed back against claims that its recent diplomatic engagement with Israel involved agreements to host Israeli military facilities or resettle Palestinians displaced from Gaza, calling the allegations unfounded.

The denial followed comments by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who said that Somaliland had accepted three conditions from Israel: allowing the resettlement of Palestinians, permitting the establishment of a military base along the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its contacts with Israel were “purely diplomatic” and carried out “in full respect of international law.” The ministry said no agreements existed on hosting foreign military facilities or on resettling Palestinians.

Somaliland’s foreign minister said no discussions had taken place on those issues but did not explicitly rule out future cooperation. Only participation in the Abraham Accords has been publicly acknowledged by both sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that Somaliland would join the accords. He said Israel wanted to “support a democratic, moderate country, a Muslim country, that wants to join the Abraham Accords.”

Israel last week formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so since the region declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Somaliland has since operated its own administration, currency and security forces, but has not previously secured international recognition.

Somaliland President Abdurrahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, is expected to visit Israel in the coming weeks.

Somalia’s president warned that Israel’s move “was not merely a diplomatic gesture but a cover for specific, high-stakes Israeli strategic objectives.” He said Israel would “export its problem in Gaza” to the Horn of Africa and described the recognition as opening “a box of evils in the world.”

Israel has not publicly outlined its reasons for recognising Somaliland. 

Addressing regional reactions, Somaliland’s foreign minister said that some countries believed relations with Israel would cause instability, but said those concerns were unfounded.

More than 50 countries condemned Israel’s decision, while the African Union and the European Union said Somalia’s territorial integrity should be respected.

Somaliland’s president said on New Year’s Eve that “many more nations will soon formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland.”

Somalia continues to claim Somaliland as part of its territory.

Mamdani has been sworn in as New York City’s mayor at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall, beginning his term as the first Muslim to lead the United States’ (US) largest city.

His office said the understated location was deliberately chosen to reflect his commitment to working-class New Yorkers, a central theme of his campaign focused on tackling the rising cost of living.

“This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani told reporters after being sworn in.

His oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously prosecuted President Donald Trump for fraud.

The ceremonial inauguration later Thursday is expected to feature speeches from Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Around 4,000 ticketed guests are set to attend the event outside City Hall.

Mamdani’s team has also organised a block party, allowing tens of thousands of people to watch the ceremony at designated viewing areas along Broadway.

Despite the symbolic opening, questions remain over whether Mamdani, virtually unknown a year ago, can deliver on an ambitious agenda that includes rent freezes, universal childcare and free public bus services.

“Once an election is over, symbolism only goes so far with voters. Results begin to matter a whole lot more,” said John Kane, a lecturer at New York University.

How President Trump behaves could prove a decisive factor. The Republican, himself a New Yorker, has repeatedly criticised Mamdani, though the two held unexpectedly cordial talks at the White House in November.

Columbia University professor and political analyst Lincoln Mitchell said the meeting “couldn’t have gone better from Mamdani’s perspective”, but warned the relationship could quickly sour.

Trump’s ongoing increase in raids targeting immigrants across the US makes immigration a possible flashpoint. Mamdani has promised to defend New York’s immigrant communities.

President Trump called Mamdani a “communist lunatic” and promised to stop federal funding for the city if he won the November election. Mamdani has described Trump as a fascist.

Mamdani took the oath with his hands on two copies of the Holy Quran — one belonging to his grandfather and the other from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture.

The new role also brings a change of address, as Mamdani moves from his rent-controlled apartment in Queens to the mayor’s official residence in Manhattan. He said the move was driven mainly by security concerns, despite questions raised during the campaign over affordability.

Born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven. With a relatively brief political career that included serving in the New York State Assembly, he has sought to compensate by surrounding himself with seasoned aides from previous mayoral administrations and the government of former president Joe Biden.

He has also opened dialogue with business leaders, some of whom had predicted a mass departure of wealthy New Yorkers if he won. Real estate leaders have since dismissed those claims.

France is preparing a social media ban for children under 15, following Australia’s world-first restriction on platforms for those under the age of 16.

As per the details, a draft bill outlining the measure will be submitted for legal review before being debated in parliament, under which Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube will be banned.

The proposal will also include a ban on mobile phones in high schools for students aged 15 to 18, while phones have already been restricted in primary and middle schools. 

The draft bill cites “the risks of excessive screen use by teenagers”, including exposure to inappropriate content, online harassment and changes in sleep patterns. It states the need to “protect future generations” from dangers that threaten their ability to thrive in society.

President Emmanuel Macron has expressed support for the ban in recent weeks. At a public debate in Saint Malo, he said, “The more screen time there is, the more school achievement drops, the more screen time there is, the more mental health problems go up.” 

He used the analogy of a teenager in a Formula One car, stating, “If a child is in a Formula One car and they turn on the engine, I don’t want them to win the race, I just want them to get out of the car. I want them to learn the highway code first, and to ensure the car works, and to teach them to drive in a different car.”

Anne Le Hénanff, the minister in charge of digital development and artificial intelligence, told Le Parisien that the social media ban for under-15s is a government priority. She added that the bill would be “short and compatible with European law”, referencing the EU’s Digital Services Act, which aims to combat hateful speech, misinformation and disinformation.

It merits a mention that other countries are also considering restrictions for young users. Denmark and Malaysia are aiming to introduce a ban for under-15s and under-16s, respectively, whereas Norway is reviewing similar measures for 2026.

The government in the United Kingdom (UK) has also said that “nothing is off the table” but emphasised that any ban must be “based on robust evidence”.

Mali and Burkina Faso have announced reciprocal travel restrictions on US citizens after both countries were placed under a sweeping US travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.

Both West African states were recently added to the list of countries facing full entry bans under an expanded policy introduced by US President Donald Trump.

In separate statements, they said American nationals would now face the same restrictions.

Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said the decision was taken on the basis of reciprocity, while Mali’s foreign ministry stressed the need for mutual respect and sovereign equality.

Mali also said it regretted the US decision, noting that it had been taken without prior consultation.

The move follows reports by Niger’s state news agency that the country has imposed a similar ban on US citizens, though Niger’s foreign ministry has not issued an official statement.


Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are all governed by military juntas that took power in coups.

The three countries have since formed their own regional bloc and shifted closer to Russia after ties with other West African states and Western countries deteriorated.

Earlier this month, the White House announced full-entry restrictions on nationals from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, along with South Sudan, Syria and Palestinian authority passport holders.

The measures are due to take effect on January 1 and were described by the administration as necessary to protect US (United States) security.

The U.S also moved Laos and Sierra Leone from partial restrictions to the full ban list and imposed limited restrictions on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

According to the White House, the measures will remain in place until affected countries demonstrate credible improvements in identity management, information-sharing and cooperation with US immigration authorities.

The restrictions include several exemptions and will not apply to lawful permanent residents, many existing visa holders, diplomats or athletes attending major sporting events.

Officials said waivers may also be issued on a case-by-case basis when travel is deemed to be in the national interest.