A Deadly Blaze in Switzerland

We made it through a big news year — with U.S. politics in turmoil, wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and A.I. seemingly everywhere — and things show no signs of slowing down in 2026.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in Switzerland turned tragic when a devastating fire broke out at a bar in a ski resort town. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the city’s first Muslim mayor.

We’ve also got some tips, from you, our readers, on how to stay informed this year without feeling overwhelmed. But first, more on the news.

Dozens were killed in a fire in a Swiss resort town

The blaze broke out during a New Year’s Eve party at a bar in Crans-Montana, a ski resort town in the Swiss Alps. About 40 people were killed and roughly 115 injured, many gravely, the police said.

The Swiss president said it was “one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced.”

The victims, from multiple countries, had flocked to Le Constellation bar when a blaze began at around 1:30 a.m. Swiss authorities said the fire set off a flashover, when combustible material in a room ignites almost simultaneously, spreading flames with lethal speed. At least one explosion quickly followed.

Officials said it was too early to comment on the cause or on possible safety lapses at the bar, but they ruled out terrorism.

About 30 Italians were believed to have been at the bar, and 16 were unaccounted for. Several medical officials also noted the youth of the victims. The head of a hospital in the city of Lausanne, where 22 severely burned people were taken, told the Swiss news site 24 Heures that most of them were between ages 16 and 26. Here’s what else we know about the disaster.

Mamdani took office in New York

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor of New York City in a private ceremony held yesterday at an abandoned subway station, hours before a public inauguration outside City Hall.

Mamdani, 34, a democratic socialist, became the first Muslim and South Asian to govern America’s largest city. “There are many who will be watching. They want to know if the left can govern,” he said in his inaugural address.

What comes next will determine whether Mamdani will be viewed as the catalyst for a new era or as a failed idealist, soon forgotten, my colleague Nicholas Fandos writes.

OTHER NEWS

This year will be Ukraine’s fourth under Russia’s full-scale invasion. Few soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine think it will be the last.
Many aid groups in Gaza, including Doctors Without Borders, face suspension under new Israeli rules, and will have to leave by March.
A suicide bomber killed a security officer and wounded two others at a checkpoint in Aleppo, Syria.
A coup leader in Guinea, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, won a presidential election meant to legitimize his rule, according to early results.
At least one person was killed in Iran in clashes between protesters and security forces, Iran’s state media and activist groups said.
President Trump, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling web of deal-making. The lines between U.S. interests and those of Trump’s inner circle are blurred.

Your tips on coping with the news

Recently we asked you for your advice on how you stay informed without feeling overwhelmed. You came back with some excellent ideas, and we thought sharing them would be a great way to start out what’s sure to be a busy new year.

A healthy mind-set

I struggle with how binary we have become, everything is either good or bad. Nothing in between. The world is far more nuanced, and we need to understand and grasp this. Makes life more complex but much easier. — Peter Forbes, Australia

What matters most is remembering that not everything is chaos, and that a news story can change the next day, so it’s not worth getting overwhelmed. — Andrés Almeida, Quito, Ecuador

I don’t have a strategy per se, but I have to tune out completely when I begin to feel overwhelmed, and this might mean not listening to news broadcasts for up to a week, or only Googling what I want to know. When I feel up to immersing myself in what often feels like a maelstrom, sharing news with a friend helps give me perspective! — Beverley Ann Abrahams, Zimbabwe

Give yourself (or force upon yourself!) moments of grace by noticing the weeds growing around buildings, sidewalks, in abandoned lots. These little plant rebels are resilient, and so are you. — Anna Heldring, the Netherlands

Choose carefully

I subscribe to two weekly newsletters that post only positive news — medical breakthroughs, declining infant mortality, the success of vaccines in developing countries, etc. I read them so that I can balance the horror of what is happening with the miracles that mostly go unreported. — Shelley Hoffmire, Oxford, U.K. (The newsletters are Fix The News and Reasons to be Cheerful.)

I think that we are in an age where information is everywhere and everything. Magazines and newspapers may be a thing of the past, but their manner of displaying the information may be just the thing we need, namely short and catching paragraphs regarding the day’s most important news. — Nick Murgoci, Bucharest, Romania

Cope? I actually enjoy the news! Making a conscious effort to consume both liberal, balanced and conservative media allows me to formulate my own decisions. — Lyle Leesburg, Virginia, U.S.

I try to be as pragmatic as possible, comparing different international and national media, reading opinion pieces from experts, or listening to podcasts. And if this doesn’t work, or if it becomes too much, I go for a run or do some sport right after reading or listening to the news. This week my uncle told me that he’s started watching puppy videos right after consuming news that upsets or infuriates him, as a way to calm down. He’s definitely onto something! — Paloma Todolí de Luis, Barcelona, Spain

SPORTS

Football: Chelsea and head coach Enzo Maresca, less than two years into his contract, parted ways.

Golf: Masashi Ozaki, Japan’s most successful golfer, has died at 78.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“When I look at an apron, I see history.”

— Carolyn Terry, who along with her husband Henry has amassed the world’s largest collection of aprons. The designs on display in a tiny museum in Mississippi are a reflection of how the U.S. economy has fared during different eras.

AROUND THE WORLD

Strudel in a sleeker setting in Vienna

New bakeries and restaurants are offering a fresh take on Vienna’s cafe culture.

Grand coffeehouses have fueled the city’s cultural life for nearly two centuries, but they sometimes feel tired. Now, drinkable coffee is back, along with fresh takes on French-style patisserie amid the classic Austrian rolls. And there’s a renewed focus on local ingredients and an organic sensibility.

Take a culinary tour of the city with the food writer Anya von Bremzen as she explores seven spots shaking up Vienna’s food scene.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Detox: Hotels are wooing travelers with booze-free attractions for Dry January.

Read: Here are 25 books coming out this month.

Thrive: Our health reporters have 10 nutrition lessons for a healthier new year.

Navigate: A first-time visitor to Japan who doesn’t speak the language used the in-ear translation feature of Apple’s AirPods on a visit to Tokyo. Here’s how it went.

RECIPE

These coconut caramel clusters are known as chukchuk or shukshuk. The snacks are common anywhere fresh coconut is easy to find. Modern versions are also found on the busy streets of Lagos, Nigeria, sold by vendors as a snack.