Chris Michael

Millions of people across Europe gathered to watch a solar eclipse that began in Russia’s Arctic north and crossed western Europe, with totality visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain and part of Portugal. Iceland attracted visitors by air, land and sea, including about 53,000 people aboard 31 cruise ships, while Björk hosted an all-day music festival. Spain saw more than 450,000 eclipse tourists and expected up to 6 million people along the viewing path, causing traffic congestion and revitalizing remote rural communities. NASA and other scientific teams studied the eclipse’s atmospheric effects, while crowds across Europe shared improvised and organized viewing experiences.

Donald Trump has been given the Nobel Peace Prize medal by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The gesture followed Machado’s political sidelining after U.S. forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; despite supporters’ hopes that Trump would recognize Machado as Venezuela’s new leader, he instead backed Maduro’s second-in-command, Delcy Rodríguez.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Donald Trump at the White House, describing it as recognition of his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom. The gesture followed Trump’s decision to sideline Machado after US forces abducted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

A fire swept through the crowded Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, killing about 40 people and injuring 115, many of them teenagers. Switzerland’s president, Guy Parmelin, announced five days of national mourning, while investigators worked to identify the dead and determine whether candles, sparklers or flares caused the blaze. Authorities are examining the venue’s safety standards, exits and occupancy, as hospitals in Switzerland and neighboring countries treat severely injured survivors. Several foreign nationals remain missing, and local residents have gathered for vigils as the disaster prompts growing concern about the bar’s safety practices.

A fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during a crowded New Year’s Eve celebration killed about 40 people and injured at least 115, many seriously. Swiss authorities said the incident was not deliberate, no explosive device was involved and no arrests had been made, while investigators examined how the blaze began and whether a sparkler, champagne bottle or other source ignited the wooden ceiling. Victims were expected to include people from several countries, with 16 Italians reported missing and others hospitalized. Emergency services deployed dozens of ambulances, helicopters and disaster-response vehicles, and Switzerland announced five days of mourning.

A rapidly spreading fire engulfed the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during a New Year’s celebration, killing about 40 people and injuring 115, many of them young. Witnesses described flames racing across the ceiling, panic and difficult escapes, while bystanders, emergency services and hospitals treated victims. Investigators had not established the cause; possible explanations included a sparkler near the wooden ceiling or spilled shisha charcoal. Authorities said arson and terrorism were unlikely, while families awaited victim identification and Switzerland declared a period of national mourning.

A fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana during a New Year's Eve celebration killed about 40 people and injured 115. Authorities said the blaze was accidental rather than arson, with witness accounts suggesting that a candle or shisha charcoal may have ignited the venue's wooden ceiling. Many victims suffered severe burns or smoke inhalation, and hospitals across Switzerland treated the injured, including young patients in critical condition. Police and prosecutors launched an investigation while forensic teams worked to identify victims and support their families.

A fire at a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana reportedly killed about 40 people and injured 115. Video shows flames inside the ground-floor bar and lounge, while Swiss police said arson was not suspected and the blaze was believed to have started accidentally.

Indiana Republican lawmakers rejected a Trump-backed plan to redraw congressional districts, voting 31–19 against it despite threats that opponents would face primary challenges. Trump then attacked Senate leader Rod Bray and said he hoped Bray would lose, while Vice-President JD Vance accused him of dishonesty. The live coverage also reports Trump's executive order seeking to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence, his refusal to commit to attending Ukraine peace talks, an ineffective claimed pardon for imprisoned former election clerk Tina Peters, and warnings of possible US land strikes against Venezuelan drug shipments. Other major developments include the release of Kilmar Ábrego García from immigration detention, new US sanctions targeting Nicolás Maduro's family and associated tankers, expanded military control along the California border, failed Senate efforts to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, and renewed criticism of the administration's Venezuela and civil-liberties policies.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports Patrick Dodson describing Indigenous deaths in custody as a national disgrace after figures showed deaths had reached their highest level since 1980, urging the Albanese government to hold states and territories accountable. Perth residents faced urgent bushfire evacuation warnings, while ACT police investigated an alleged $10 million luxury-goods burglary involving French nationals. Bupa was fined $35 million for wrongly rejecting hospital-insurance claims and paid $14.3 million in compensation. Other major developments included a Senate report calling for greater transparency and public-purpose governance in universities, mixed political reactions to its recommendations, steady unemployment despite falling employment, forecasts of a possible interest-rate rise, Queensland’s repeal of renewable-energy targets, and improved Myer sales ahead of Topshop’s planned Australian return.