Switzerland’s President, Guy Parmelin, has announced a five-day national mourning period following a devastating fire at a popular resort town’s bar, which claimed the lives of 40 people and injured over 100 others. The incident occurred during a New Year’s celebration, where a blast caused a massive fire to engulf the New Year’s Eve party venue.
President Parmelin described the incident as the country’s worst tragedy in its history, stating that it may take several days to identify the victims due to the severity of the blaze. The President also announced that the city of Bern’s flag will remain at half-mast for five days in respect for the victims.
According to the Swiss police, the blast occurred around 1:30 am on Thursday morning, when people were gathered at the New Year’s Eve party venue. The authorities have confirmed that there are foreign nationals among the victims and that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident. They have ruled out terrorism and stated that the investigation will continue to uncover the reasons behind the tragedy.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed his condolences over the loss of life and expressed the government’s solidarity with the Swiss government and people during this difficult time. The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani, has called on the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council to condemn the statements made by US President Donald Trump, describing them as “unlawful and provocative.”
Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, claimed that his company’s X AI chatbot, GruK, can produce better medical imaging results than doctors, particularly in X-ray and MRI diagnostics. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns over Israel’s decision.
In a separate incident, the UAE Ministry of Defense has announced that it has withdrawn troops from the region after a successful operation against militants. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed his willingness to facilitate negotiations between the US and North Korea. The real estate market in Dubai has seen a record number of transactions in 2025, with property prices increasing by 30.6% compared to 2024. A driver in Dubai has been fined 10,000 dirhams for performing stunts on the road.
In India, the police have seized over 1 million fake degrees from 22 universities in the state of Kerala. The foreign ministers of Muslim countries have issued a joint statement calling for the restoration of basic infrastructure and hospitals in Gaza, as well as the reopening of the Rafah crossing.
A viral video on social media has shown a group of men performing physical exercises at the Ottoman Mosque in Bradford, UK. The video, which has been viewed over 2 million times on TikTok and Facebook, has sparked a global reaction.
The Canadian Transport Regulatory Agency has demanded an investigation into a pilot’s alleged drunk driving incident on duty while working for Air India. Sources have revealed that Saudi King Salman provided humanitarian aid packages that were later seized by the Taliban in Afghanistan. A US billionaire and CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, has confirmed that he will provide financial support to the Republican Party before the 2026 midterm elections.
In Iran, protests have been ongoing for five days against rising inflation and the devaluation of the currency. The British Meteorological Office has issued amber and yellow warnings for potential snowfall. The Foreign Minister has stated that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions to resolve the issues.
