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A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, disrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press conference of the year as seismic alarms rang out and claiming at least two lives. Mexico’s National Seismological Service said the quake was centered near San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero, close to the Pacific coast resort city of Acapulco. More than 500 aftershocks were recorded following the main tremor. Guerrero’s civil defense authority reported several landslides in and around Acapulco as well as on highways across the state. Governor Evelyn Salgado said a 50-year-old woman was killed when her house collapsed in a small community near the epicenter. Officials also reported significant structural damage to a hospital in Chilpancingo, the state capital, prompting the evacuation of patients. In both Mexico City and Acapulco, residents and visitors rushed outdoors as buildings shook. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said one person died after suffering an apparent medical emergency and falling while evacuating a building. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), about 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero, in a mountainous area roughly 57 miles northeast of Acapulco. Sheinbaum resumed her briefing shortly after the tremor. José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights activist living on the hills surrounding Acapulco, said he heard a loud rumble and noticed dogs barking before the shaking intensified. 6.9 magnitude earthquake causes small tsunami waves off northeastern Japan “At that moment, the seismic alert sounded on my phone,” he said. “Then the movement became strong and very noisy.” He added that the tremor felt weaker than some previous earthquakes, noting he had packed an emergency bag as aftershocks continued. Díaz Taboada said he was unable to contact friends along the Costa Chica southeast of Acapulco due to disrupted communications.

Less than a day after celebrating his historic inauguration before cheering crowds in Manhattan, Zohran Mamdani began his first full workday as mayor in a way familiar to many New Yorkers: heading to the subway from a small apartment. Wrapped up against the cold and appearing slightly under the weather, the 34-year-old left the one-bedroom Queens apartment he shares with his wife on Friday morning. Unlike most commuters, his journey was closely followed by photographers and videographers, and frequently paused as neighbors stopped to wish him well. The democratic socialist, whose election was widely seen as a major breakthrough for progressives, now faces the realities of leading the nation’s largest city — issuing executive orders, naming officials, responding to reporters, and defending decisions made within his first hours in office. His morning commute carried clear symbolism. Surrounded by security and a few aides on the train into Manhattan, Mamdani posed for selfies with surprised riders before settling into a corner seat to review briefing notes. When two puzzled French tourists asked who he was, he introduced himself as New York’s new mayor. To convince them, he pointed to a copy of the New York Daily News featuring his photo on the front page. Mamdani joins a line of New York mayors who have used public transportation to project accessibility. Former Mayor Eric Adams did the same on his first day, as did Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg during their tenures. Photos of Mamdani riding the subway quickly spread across social media after he arrived at City Hall. The move appeared to reinforce a promise from his inaugural address that his administration would reflect the lives of everyday New Yorkers. His early actions continued that theme. After campaigning heavily on lowering housing costs, Mamdani went straight from Thursday’s inauguration to a Brooklyn apartment building, where he pledged to intensify a legal battle against what tenants allege is a negligent landlord, drawing loud support from residents. Another early decision highlighted the heightened scrutiny surrounding his administration, especially over his views on Israel and support for Palestinians. Seeking what he described as a fresh start, Mamdani rescinded several executive orders issued by his predecessor late in office, including two related to Israel — one adopting a controversial definition of antisemitism that includes certain criticism of Israel, and another prohibiting city agencies from boycotting or divesting from the country. The move sparked immediate criticism from some Jewish organizations, as well as sharp comments from Israeli officials on social media. Asked about the decision Friday, Mamdani read from prepared remarks, vowing that his administration would aggressively fight hate and division. He emphasized that the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism would remain in place. He also announced plans to establish a new “mass engagement” office aimed at continuing his campaign’s efforts to involve more residents in city politics. Speaking to a crowd of supporters and onlookers packed several rows deep, phones raised to capture the moment, Mamdani reflected on the expectations surrounding his leadership. “New Yorkers are allowing themselves to believe in city government again,” he said. “That belief won’t last without real action.” Still ahead for the new mayor: moving into the official mayoral residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side before his Queens lease expires later this month.

Swiss investigators said Friday they believe decorative sparklers attached to Champagne bottles sparked a devastating fire at a crowded ski resort bar after coming too close to the ceiling during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Authorities are examining whether the ceiling’s soundproofing materials met safety standards and whether the sparkler candles — which emit upward sprays of sparks — were legally allowed inside the venue. The fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana early Thursday, killing 40 people and injuring 119 others, making it one of the deadliest disasters in Swiss history. Officials also said they would review other safety measures, including fire extinguishers and emergency exits. Prosecutors in the Valais region warned that criminal charges could follow if negligence is confirmed. Devastating fire at a Swiss bar claims 40 lives Among those missing was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard from Lausanne. His mother, Laetitia, was searching for him Friday, clinging to the hope that he might be among six injured victims still unidentified. “I’m searching everywhere. My son is somewhere,” she said. “I just want to know where he is and be with him — whether that’s in intensive care or elsewhere.” Police said the injured included 71 Swiss citizens, along with people from France, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal and Poland. The nationalities of 14 victims were still unknown. Celebration turns to catastrophe Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, recalled feeling trapped and unable to breathe inside the Alpine bar moments after welcoming the new year. He escaped by pushing open a window with a table, but one of his friends died and several others were still missing hours later. Outside the bar, mourners created an impromptu memorial of flowers and candles, while hundreds gathered at a nearby church to pray for the victims. At a hospital in Sion, a distressed French teenager brought flowers for her 17-year-old best friend, who was badly burned and in intensive care. The girl said she had planned to go to the bar with classmates but changed her mind at the last minute. She later learned that some of her friends were hospitalized, while the fate of others remained unclear. Social media quickly filled with photos of missing people, as families and friends appealed for information. Valais regional leader Mathias Reynard said many accounts described extraordinary bravery during the chaos. While praising emergency responders, he noted that in the first moments it was largely young people who rescued others at great personal risk. Witnesses describe sparklers and chaos Clavier said he noticed servers entering the bar with Champagne bottles topped with lit sparklers shortly before the fire spread. Two women told French media they saw a bartender lifting a colleague onto his shoulders as she held a burning candle, moments before flames engulfed the wooden ceiling. Witnesses described panicked crowds surging toward a narrow exit, people smashing windows to escape, and severely injured victims lying outside as parents rushed to the scene searching for their children. Gianni Campolo, a 19-year-old vacationing nearby, rushed to help after receiving a call from a friend who escaped. He described seeing people with severe burns. “I witnessed something horrific — nothing could be worse than this,” he said. Fourteen-year-old Marc-Antoine Chavanon also helped pull people out of the bar. “People were collapsing. We did everything we could,” he said, recalling a badly burned friend struggling to escape. The intensity of the fire made identification difficult, forcing authorities to rely on DNA samples. In many cases, personal documents were destroyed by the flames. Among those listed as missing was Emanuele Galeppini, a talented Italian teenage golfer. While his family awaited DNA confirmation, Italy’s Golf Federation announced that he had died. Crans-Montana, surrounded by high-altitude ski slopes in the Valais Alps, is a well-known international ski destination and host of major sporting events, including the annual European Masters golf tournament.  

U.S. President Donald Trump and senior Iranian officials exchanged sharp warnings on Friday as protests expanded across Iran, further heightening tensions between the two countries following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Violence linked to the demonstrations has left at least eight people dead so far. The unrest began partly due to the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, but has increasingly taken on a political tone, with protesters voicing opposition to the government. Now in their sixth day, the protests are the largest Iran has seen since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody sparked nationwide unrest. While serious, the current demonstrations have not yet reached the scale or intensity of those earlier protests, which were triggered by Amini’s arrest over alleged hijab violations. Trump’s remarks prompt swift reaction from Tehran Trump posted on his Truth Social account that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States would intervene. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he wrote, offering no further details. In response, Ali Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the U.S. and Israel of fueling the unrest, though he provided no evidence. Iranian officials have repeatedly made similar claims during past protest movements. Larijani warned on X that U.S. involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the entire region and damage American interests. He also cautioned that Trump’s actions could put U.S. troops in the region at risk. His comments appeared to reference the significant U.S. military presence in the Middle East. In June, Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran. Although one missile struck a building, no injuries were reported. Iran warns of harsh response to any attack amid Trump’s nuclear threat A U.S. official said there had been no changes to American troop deployments or readiness levels in the region following Trump’s statements. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent a letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council calling for condemnation of Trump’s remarks and reaffirming Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty. He warned that the U.S. would be responsible for any consequences resulting from what he described as unlawful threats. Separately, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cautioned that any foreign interference threatening Iran’s security would be met with force. U.S. shows open support for protesters Trump’s comments marked a rare, explicit show of U.S. support for Iranian demonstrators. Previous American leaders avoided such statements out of concern they could undermine protest movements. During Iran’s 2009 Green Movement, President Barack Obama refrained from public support, later calling that decision a mistake. Analysts warn that Trump’s remarks could give Iranian authorities justification to claim the unrest is driven by foreign interference. Naysan Rafati of the International Crisis Group said that while the protests stem from domestic grievances, official crackdowns justified by U.S. statements could provoke the very intervention Iran fears. Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also pointed to long-standing grievances against U.S. actions, including the 1953 CIA-backed coup, the 1988 downing of an Iranian passenger plane, and the recent U.S. strikes. Demonstrations continue nationwide Protests continued Friday in multiple Iranian cities, though daily life in Tehran remained largely normal. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, demonstrations have occurred in more than 100 locations across 22 provinces, with the death toll rising to eight after a protester was killed in Marvdasht. Crowds gathered in Zahedan, near the Pakistan border, and funerals for slain demonstrators triggered additional marches. Videos circulating online showed mourners confronting security forces at the funeral of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari, who was killed in Kouhdasht. His father rejected claims that his son belonged to the Basij paramilitary force, and later reports suggested official accounts were under review. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s reformist government has signaled a willingness to engage with protesters but admits it has limited ability to address the rapidly worsening economy. The rial’s collapse — now trading at about 1.4 million rials to the dollar — initially sparked the unrest. Although rooted in economic hardship, the protests have also included chants against Iran’s ruling system. Efforts to stabilize the economy since the June conflict have largely failed. Iran has recently announced it has halted uranium enrichment at all sites, signaling openness to renewed negotiations to ease sanctions. However, talks have yet to resume, as both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warned Iran against reviving its nuclear program. 

A bar fire in the Swiss Alps during New Year’s festivities has resulted in deaths and injuries. According to local media, police confirmed that people were killed and hurt in the incident, though officials had not yet released the exact number of casualties. The fire broke out in Crans-Montana, a ski resort town in Switzerland’s Alpine region. Authorities said further information was not immediately available.

Zohran Mamdani officially became New York City’s mayor shortly after midnight on Thursday, taking his first oath of office inside a historic, long-closed subway station in Manhattan. A Democrat, Mamdani made history as the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city, swearing in with his hand placed on a Quran. Calling the moment “the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani spoke briefly during the private ceremony, which was led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The event was held at the former City Hall subway station, one of the system’s earliest stops, famed for its ornate arches and vaulted ceilings. In his first comments as mayor, Mamdani described the station as a symbol of the essential role public transportation plays in the city’s past and future. He also announced Mike Flynn as his choice to lead the Department of Transportation. Smiling, he wrapped up his remarks before exiting up a staircase. Later in the day, Mamdani is scheduled to take the oath again in a larger public ceremony at City Hall, administered by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The event will be followed by a block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” a route historically used for ticker-tape parades. Mamdani now steps into one of the most demanding roles in American public life and becomes one of the country’s most closely watched political figures. Beyond being the city’s first Muslim mayor, he is also the first of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa. At 34, he is among the youngest mayors New York has had in decades. Running on a platform that made affordability a central campaign issue, the democratic socialist pledged sweeping changes to ease the cost of living. His proposals included free child care, fare-free buses, a rent freeze for roughly one million apartments, and a trial of city-operated grocery stores. Alongside those ambitions, Mamdani must also manage the everyday challenges of running the city, from sanitation and snow removal to transit disruptions and infrastructure repairs. Born in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani. His family moved to New York when he was 7. He later became a U.S. citizen in 2018 after growing up in a post-9/11 city where many Muslims faced discrimination. Before running for mayor, Mamdani worked on Democratic political campaigns and was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, representing part of Queens. He and his wife, Rama Duwaji, will move from their rent-stabilized one-bedroom apartment in the outer boroughs into the official mayoral residence in Manhattan. Mamdani takes office as the city shows signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with violent crime falling to pre-pandemic levels, tourism rebounding, and unemployment returning to earlier norms. Still, high living costs and rising rents remain major concerns. He will also have to navigate relations with Republican President Donald Trump. During the campaign, Trump threatened to cut federal funding and suggested deploying National Guard troops if Mamdani won. However, the two later met at the White House in what was described as a cordial discussion. Trump said he wanted Mamdani to succeed, though their sharp policy differences—especially on immigration—are likely to cause renewed friction. Mamdani also faces criticism from segments of the city’s Jewish community over his stance on Israel’s government. Since winning the election, Mamdani and his team have focused on preparing for the transition, assembling experienced advisers familiar with city government. That effort included convincing Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to stay on, easing concerns among business leaders about potential major shifts in policing policy. 

Mali and Burkina Faso announced late Tuesday that they will bar United States citizens from entering their countries, in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s decision to restrict the entry of Malian and Burkinabe nationals into the United States. The decisions were announced in separate statements by the foreign ministries of the two West African nations, reflecting growing tensions between military-led governments in the region and Washington. On Dec 16, Trump extended existing US travel restrictions to 20 additional countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all governed by juntas that have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States. Mali’s Foreign Ministry said the move was based on the principle of reciprocity, adding that the government would immediately impose the same conditions and requirements on US citizens as those applied to Malian nationals seeking entry to the United States. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré issued a similar statement, saying the ban on American nationals was taken for the same reasons. The White House has cited ongoing attacks by armed groups as one of the grounds for the travel restrictions. Mali and Burkina Faso have faced persistent violence from militant groups, a key factor behind the military coups that brought the current juntas to power after the overthrow of civilian governments amid worsening insecurity.

Zohran Mamdani is set to assume office as mayor of New York City at the start of 2026, with inauguration events stretching from midnight into New Year’s Day. The Democratic mayor-elect’s team has arranged two swearing-in ceremonies on Thursday. The first will be a brief, private event with family members shortly after midnight at the historic former City Hall subway station in Manhattan. A larger, public ceremony will follow later in the day, featuring a block party outside City Hall. It has long been tradition for incoming New York City mayors to mark the start of their term with more than one ceremony, as the new term officially begins with the new year. Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams was initially sworn in at Times Square after the New Year’s Eve ball drop, while former mayor Bill de Blasio took his first oath at his Brooklyn home. Mamdani’s midnight ceremony will take place at the old City Hall subway station, one of the city’s earliest subway stops, known for its ornate arches and vaulted ceilings. New York Attorney General Letitia James will administer the oath of office. The station, once the flagship stop of the city’s first subway line, was closed in 1945 and is now largely inaccessible to the public, aside from occasional guided tours. Mamdani’s office said the location was chosen to reflect his commitment to working people who keep the city running. In a statement, Mamdani said the station symbolised New York’s ambition to build transformative infrastructure that improved the lives of ordinary people—an ambition he said his administration aims to revive. Later on Thursday afternoon, Mamdani will be sworn in again on the steps of City Hall at a public ceremony scheduled for 1pm. The oath will be administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, a longtime political inspiration for Mamdani, while US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver opening remarks. The mayor-elect’s inaugural committee includes actor John Turturro, playwright Cole Escola and author Colson Whitehead, along with community advocates, small business owners and campaign workers. The public ceremony will be accompanied by a block party along Broadway leading to City Hall, with organisers expecting thousands to attend. The event will feature music, performances and interfaith elements, according to Mamdani’s office.

Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian prisoners of war who had been held for five months, in line with a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending prolonged and bitter border clashes between the two neighbours. The release followed a ceasefire pact signed on Saturday by the defence ministers of Thailand and Cambodia at the same border checkpoint linking Thailand’s Chanthaburi province and Cambodia’s Pailin province, where the handover took place. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said the repatriation was carried out as a gesture of goodwill, confidence-building and compliance with international humanitarian norms. Cambodia’s Defence Ministry welcomed the move, saying it would help foster peace, stability and the full normalisation of relations between the two countries for the benefit of their peoples. The freeing of the soldiers removes a major obstacle to easing tensions after two rounds of intense fighting over disputed border areas. Thailand had earlier maintained that detaining the soldiers was permitted under the Geneva Conventions, which allow prisoners of war to be held until hostilities end. Thai authorities said the detainees were granted access to the International Committee of the Red Cross and other protections under international humanitarian law. Cambodia, however, had used the continued detention of the soldiers to galvanise domestic support amid the standoff with Thailand. In a statement on Wednesday, Cambodia’s defence ministry said the government had honoured its pledge to the families of the captured soldiers and the nation that no servicemember would be left behind. Under the ceasefire terms, the prisoners were to be released if fighting ceased for 72 hours after the agreement took effect at noon on Saturday. While that period ended on Tuesday, Thai officials said additional time was needed to assess the situation, citing reports of Cambodian drone activity along the border. The two sides have offered conflicting versions of how the soldiers were captured on the day an earlier ceasefire took effect in late July. Cambodian officials said their troops approached Thai positions peacefully to exchange post-conflict greetings, while Thai authorities claimed the soldiers entered territory Thailand considers its own with hostile intent. Initially, 20 Cambodian soldiers were taken captive, though two were released within days on medical grounds. The July ceasefire was mediated by Malaysia and reinforced by pressure from then US President Donald Trump, who threatened to suspend trade benefits unless both sides agreed. A more detailed agreement was finalised in October during a regional meeting in Malaysia attended by Trump. Despite those efforts, tensions persisted, with propaganda exchanges and sporadic clashes continuing before escalating into heavy fighting in early December. Since December 7, Thailand has reported the deaths of 26 soldiers and one civilian due to the fighting, along with 44 civilian fatalities, according to officials.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he hopes to reach the second phase of the Gaza peace plan “very quickly” and warned Hamas of “hell to pay” if it does not disarm soon. Trump made the remarks during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. He said Israel has “lived up to the plan 100%” despite ongoing military actions in Gaza. The Gaza ceasefire, which began in October, envisions a technocratic government in Gaza, disarmament of Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and reconstruction of the territory. Trump said reconstruction could “begin pretty soon.” Trump also warned Iran that the US could carry out further strikes if the country resumes its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes. Iran’s top adviser, Ali Shamkhani, responded that any aggression would receive an “immediate harsh response.” Trump said the focus now is on ensuring Hamas disarms “in a fairly short period of time” so that the peace plan can progress. He stressed that Israel is following the plan and expressed concern mainly about the actions of other parties. The leaders also discussed regional tensions, including Syria and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. Trump said he hopes Israel can maintain peaceful borders with Syria under its new leadership. Since the ceasefire began, at least 414 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, while Israel has reported three soldier deaths during the same period.   With inputs from BBC