World

A collection of 1636 posts

Tech

Homeland Security pauses immigration applications from 20 more countries

The Department of Homeland Security is pausing immigration applications from 20 additional countries following increased scrutiny of people who seek legal pathways to immigrate to the U.S. The move comes amid heightened attention to applicants using lawful routes for immigration, and applies to applications submitted from those countries. Key

World

George and Amal Clooney Granted French Citizenship

The French government said it granted George and Amal Clooney citizenship, citing their contributions to France’s international influence. The Clooneys have primarily lived in France since 2021. Key Topics World, Culture, France, Citizenship, George Clooney, Amal Clooney, International Influence

World

Witnesses describe chaos as packed Swiss bar fire leaves dozens dead and many injured

Witnesses say patrons were trampling one another while trying to flee a blaze that tore through Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Police have confirmed about 40 people were killed and 115 others injured, the majority suffering

World

Around 40 killed and 115 injured in New Year’s Eve bar blaze at Swiss ski resort

This article contains details some readers may find distressing. About 40 people were killed and 115 injured when a fire tore through the Constellation Bar during a New Year's Eve party at the upmarket Crans‑Montana ski resort. The blaze broke out at roughly 1.30am local time

World

Sparklers on champagne bottles blamed for deadly Swiss ski‑resort bar fire

Sparklers attached to champagne bottles are the likely cause of the deadly blaze that swept through the Constellation bar in Crans‑Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day, Valais attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said. At least 40 people were killed and 119 injured in the fire.

World

Sparklers and flammable ceiling material blamed for rapid spread of deadly Swiss ski-resort bar fire

A fire tore through Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in the early hours while guests were celebrating the start of 2026, killing at least 40 people and injuring 119, officials said. The blaze began at roughly 1.30am local time and police arrived within minutes. Witnesses described

World

Cheap Chinese Solar Is Reshaping South Africa’s Power System and Economy

Falling prices for Chinese-made solar panels and batteries are driving rapid adoption across South Africa, from suburban homes to wineries, factories, shopping malls and mines, cutting bills and reducing reliance on the country’s aging coal plants. Solar rose from almost nothing in 2019 to roughly 10 percent of South

World

Sparklers on champagne bottles blamed for deadly Swiss ski‑bar blaze as teens named among missing

Swiss prosecutors say sparkler candles placed on top of champagne bottles are the likely cause of the devastating fire that tore through the Constellation bar in Crans‑Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day. At least 40 people were killed and a further 119 injured. Severe burns

Health

Teenager Forces Door to Free Patrons During Swiss Bar Blaze

Nestor Fischer, 17, said he helped create an escape route after a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge in Lausanne on New Year’s Day. Having left the bar before midnight, Mr. Fischer returned about 90 minutes later to find smoke and people screaming. He described

Crypto

Masked Thieves Raid German Bank Vault, Steal at Least €31 Million

Masked thieves drove into a garage at a Sparkasse branch in Gelsenkirchen and forced their way into the bank’s archive, police said. The robbers drilled through a thick wall to create a hole large enough to crawl through, then spent hours opening private lockboxes, likely using crowbars. Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen

World

Witnesses describe chaotic escape as dozens killed in Crans-Montana bar fire

About 40 people have been reported killed and around 115 injured after a fire tore through Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year's Day, police said. The majority of the injured suffered serious burns. Samuel Rapp, who was

World

Iran warns of swift response after Trump says US is 'locked and loaded' over protests

Iran has warned of a "swift, decisive and comprehensive" response if the US intervenes after President Donald Trump said he was "locked and loaded" and would "rescue" protesters if they were killed while demonstrating. On Friday evening Iran's foreign ministry condemned the

World

Russian winemakers aim for elite status, but blind tasting favours Europe

Mikhail Nikolaev, of Nikolaev & Sons in Russia's Krasnodar region, says the estate can produce sparkling wines comparable to Champagne and English fizz. The producer uses the traditional method, ageing wine on lees, and focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery currently makes about 60,000 bottles

Sports

Swiss New Year nightclub inferno highlights dangers of indoor fireworks

At least 40 people died in a New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana as emergency services work to identify those killed and injured. Local attorney general Beatrice Pilloud said the blaze "would appear" to have started from sparkler candles, also

World

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York mayor, vows bold democratic socialist agenda

Zohran Mamdani took office as New York City's mayor after a midnight oath at the rarely used Old City Hall subway station and a later formal ceremony at City Hall. The Democratic Socialist, who is the city's first Muslim mayor, the first person of South Asian

Sports

Swiss Begin Slow Process to Identify Victims of Crans-Montana New Year's Fire

Swiss authorities entered a period of national mourning as they began the painstaking task of identifying victims of a fast-moving fire that tore through a bar in Crans-Montana during New Year’s celebrations. Officials warned identification could take days or weeks because many victims suffered severe burns and were not

World

Mali and Burkina Faso Bar U.S. Citizens in Response to Washington’s Visa Restrictions

Mali and Burkina Faso announced they will impose travel bans on American citizens in retaliation for President Trump’s decision to bar their nationals from entering the United States from Jan. 1. Both governments said in separate statements they were acting "in accordance with the principle of reciprocity,"

World

Tighter Student Loan Collections Loom in 2026; Struggling Borrowers Urged to Act

Millions of federal student loan borrowers are behind on payments and face more aggressive government collection efforts in 2026 as the loan system undergoes legal and policy shifts. Almost 10 million borrowers are in default, including about 3.4 million who have not been formally moved into the government’s

World

Crans‑Montana Nightclub Fire Victims Flown to Specialized Hospitals Across Switzerland

Victims of a devastating fire that tore through a nightclub in Crans‑Montana early on New Year’s Day were flown by helicopter and ambulance jet to hospitals across Switzerland for specialized treatment. The intensive care and surgery wards at Hospital du Valais in Sion quickly filled, officials said. Authorities

Crypto

Viral Right‑Wing Video Spurs Federal Probe and White House Praise

A 43-minute video posted the day after Christmas by 23-year-old creator Nick Shirley alleging widespread fraud at Somali-run child care and autism centers in Minnesota has been viewed by millions and prompted federal action. The New York Times could not verify the video’s claims. State regulators said unannounced visits

World

Iran vows swift retaliation after Trump says US is 'locked and loaded' over protests

Iran warned of a "swift, decisive, and comprehensive" response if the US intervenes after President Donald Trump said America was "locked and loaded" and would "come to [protesters'] rescue" if demonstrators were killed. The Iranian foreign ministry condemned the remarks as "intimidating&

AI

Sparklers and ceiling foam likely fuelled rapid spread of Swiss bar blaze

Investigators are probing why a New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana spread so quickly, killing at least 40 people and injuring 119. Authorities said sparklers attached to champagne bottles that were held "too close to the ceiling" appear to have started the

World

Sony adds Need for Speed Unbound, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Core Keeper to PS Plus in January

Sony has revealed the first batch of PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for 2026: three titles that will be available starting January 6. Subscribers retain access to these games as long as their subscription remains active. Need for Speed Unbound, a late-2022 racing entry with cel-shaded visuals, joins the lineup on

Sports

Guinea Votes as Junta Leader Seeks Legitimacy, Barring Key Rivals

Voters in Guinea went to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election that could cement the rule of Col. Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of the military junta who seized power in a 2021 coup and has extended a transition repeatedly. Doumbouya introduced a new Constitution that lets him run

World

SpaceX to lower about 4,400 Starlink satellites to improve space safety

SpaceX is undertaking a major reconfiguration of its Starlink constellation, moving roughly 4,400 satellites from about 341 miles (550 km) to 298 miles (480 km) over the course of 2026, Michael Nicolls, SpaceX’s vice president of Starlink engineering, wrote on X. Nicolls said the shift is "focused