Top Stories • January 2, 2026

A deadly New Year’s Eve fire tore through a crowded bar at the Crans-Montana ski resort in the Swiss Alps, killing about 40 people and injuring at least 115 others, many with critical burns. Swiss authorities say hospitals are overwhelmed, forcing emergency transfers to burn centers in France, Germany, and Italy. Victims are still being identified, and there is no confirmation yet of any Americans among the dead or injured. The Crans-Montana resort is owned by U.S.-based Vail Resorts, which says it is cooperating with authorities. In the United States, President Donald Trump has abandoned plans to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles, backing away from one of his most aggressive domestic security initiatives following legal challenges and limited troop presence. In New York City, newly sworn-in Mayor Zohran Mamdani promised to govern “audaciously,” pledging protections for vulnerable communities as tens of thousands attended his inauguration. Overseas, tensions are rising after Venezuela detained several Americans, while Russia is demanding the U.S. stop pursuing an oil tanker headed toward Venezuela that Washington says is stateless. And health officials warn flu cases are surging nationwide, driven by a strain hitting older adults particularly hard, even as COVID cases remain low.