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‘Living a nightmare’: Families of teens missing after ski resort fire desperate for news

'Living a nightmare': Families of teens missing after ski resort fire desperate for news11 hours agoShareSaveAleks PhillipsShareSaveSuppliedThe families of teenagers missing after a fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are facing an agonising wait for news and appealing for information about their loved ones online.
The fire in Crans-Montana was likely caused by sparklers placed on bottles of champagne that came “too close to the ceiling”, Swiss officials told a news conference on Friday.
An investigation into the fire will focus on the materials used at the site, the bar's fire safety measures, its capacity and the number of people inside at the time, Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud said.
Swiss authorities have said it could take days if not weeks to identify the victims of the fire, which killed 40 people and injured another 119. Officials said 113 of the injured had been identified, with authorities still working to identify the other six.
In the meantime, fam..

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Russia shares ‘evidence’ of drone attack on Putin’s residence; claim navigation system intact

Putin, Trump (File photos) Days after Russia claimed that Ukraine tried to target President Vladimir Putin’s official residence in a drone attack, Russian authorities on Thursday said they had shared what they described as evidence linked to the incident with the United States.The Russian defence ministry released a video on Telegram showing a meeting between Igor Kostyukov, chief of Russia’s main intelligence directorate, and a representative from the US military attache’s office in Moscow. Russian officials said the meeting was held to present materials connected to the alleged drone strike. ‘Kyiv Forced Injured To…’: Russia Levels Shocking Charge After Deadly Kherson Attack “I am Igor Kostyukov, chief of the main intelligence directorate of the general staff of the armed forces of Russia. I have invited you for an important matter. I would like to inform you that we have found the debris of unmanned aerial vehicles involved in this attack,” Kostyukov said at the start of the meeting..

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‘My dad came from India…’: British TV personality says immigrants must be given ‘other chances’

In a poignant recount of her father's immigrant story from the 1960s, broadcaster Narinder Kaur illuminated the struggles he faced while working tirelessly in a steel foundry. She passionately spoke of his unwavering dedication amidst adversity, battling both racism and physical hardships to forge a better future for his family. British broadcaster and television personality Narinder Kaur has called for immigrants to be given fair chances as the UK enters 2026, sharing a personal story about her father’s life and hard work.In a post on X, Kaur wrote that she normally would not share a photo and the early life of her father as a poor immigrant, but this time made an exception only to speak out against growing anti-immigrant rhetoric. “My dad came from India in the early 60s and went straight into hard labour. No help. Not a penny given. Double shifts at the steel foundry for YEARS. The kind of work that ruins your body and shortens your life. Heat, noise, pain, exhaustion—day after..

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Baidu chip unit Kunlunxin files for Hong Kong IPO amid China’s push for tech self-reliance

AdvertisementHong KongChina Future TechSemiconductorsBaidu chip unit Kunlunxin files for Hong Kong IPO amid China’s push for tech self-relianceLast year, 20 Chinese semiconductor IPOs raised over 45 billion yuan (US$6.4 billion), with six of them listing in December
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPThemis QiPublished: 12:50pm, 2 Jan 2026Baidu’s artificial intelligence chip subsidiary Kunlunxin (Beijing) Technology has confidentially applied for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, as the search and AI giant becomes the latest to join an investment frenzy amid China’s drive for tech self-reliance.
The Kunlunxin prospectus was submitted on Thursday but details such as the size and structure of the IPO had not yet been finalised, Baidu said in a statement on Friday.
Baidu’s Hong Kong-listed shares rose 7.5 per cent to HK$141.30 as of the noon trading break.Advertisement“The US tech blockade has made it even more urgent for China to move quickly up the value chain, bui..

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North Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debate

AdvertisementNorth KoreaThis Week in AsiaPoliticsNorth Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debateState media has released images of the first recorded visit of Kim Ju-ae, the teen daughter of Kim Jong-un, to the country’s most sacred site
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPPark Chan-kyongPublished: 12:45pm, 2 Jan 2026An appearance by the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a sacred palace has renewed scrutiny on whether she is being groomed for succession in the secretive regime.Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13 years old, made her first recorded visit on Thursday to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the holiest site in the country dedicated to its hereditary rule, sparking speculation she could receive an official title at a coming party congress.
While some observers see her prominent positioning in released photographs by state media as a powerful succession signal, others caution that the imagery may just be intended to project stabil..

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky was not targeting Putin residence in drone attack, CIA tells Trump

CloseRussia releases video of drone it says was used in alleged attack on Putin residenceThe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has told US president Donald Trump that Ukraine did not attempt to assassinate Vladimir Putin, contradicting Russian claims that Ukrainian drones targeted one of the Russian president’s residences.
US intelligence assessed the allegation as false, indicating Putin misrepresented the incident.
Earlier, Russia released videos of alleged drone wreckage and claimed it had decoded files proving the attack, but Ukraine called the footage “laughable” and accused Moscow of staging the incident to derail the peace talks.
Meanwhile, the two countries exchanged drone strikes on each other’s energy grids as the New Year began, according to local officials.
On New Year’s Eve, Russia claimed Ukrainian drones struck a cafe and hotel in the occupied village of Khorly, Kherson region, killing 24 and injuring at least 50, with one drone reportedly carrying an incendiary mixture…

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France defends George and Amal Clooney citizenship amid claims of special treatment

The French government has defended its decision to grant citizenship to Hollywood actor George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.
Officials said that the couple were naturalised because “they contribute, through their distinguished actions, to France’s international influence and cultural outreach”.
The naturalisations, which also include their twins Ella and Alexander, were announced last weekend in the Journal Officiel, the official gazette for French decrees.
However, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed misgivings on Wednesday. She suggested that some French compatriots might believe the star couple received special treatment, given the actor’s own admission that his French is “horrible, horrible”.
Speaking to France Info, she said: “The message being sent is not good.”
She added: “There is an issue of fairness that, in my eyes, is absolutely essential.”
open image in galleryGeorge and Amal Clooney have been granted F..

World

Maduro says Venezuela open to US talks on drug trafficking

Maduro says Venezuela open to US talks on drug trafficking2 hours agoShareSaveChris GrahamShareSaveReutersVenezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday he was open to talks with the US on drug trafficking and oil, after weeks of an escalating pressure campaign against his government.
In an interview with Venezuelan state TV, Maduro said he was ready for dialogue with the US “wherever they want and whenever they want”.
He also evaded a question about President Donald Trump saying the US had attacked a docking facility in Venezuela, which was reportedly carried out by the CIA. The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.
It comes as US forces have been targeting vessels they suspect of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.
In total, there have been more than 30 strikes on vessels as part of the Trump administration's “war on drugs” , with more than 110 people killed since the US carried out its first attack on a boat ..

World

Around 40 dead in Swiss ski resort bar fire, police say

Around 40 dead in Swiss ski resort bar fire, police say5 hours agoShareSaveJemma CrewandGabriela PomeroyShareSaveVideo shows fire spreading across Swiss bar ceilingAround 40 people have died after a fire ripped through a bar in a ski resort in southern Switzerland, police have said. A further 115 people are injured, many of them “severely”.
The fire broke out at around 01:30 (00:30 GMT) during new year celebrations in a bar called Le Constellation in Crans-Montana.
Officials investigating the incident have not confirmed any cause, but categorically ruled out an attack.
People from multiple countries have been affected. Regional police commander Frédéric Gisler said the priority in the coming days was to identify those who had died “so that their bodies can be returned rapidly” to their families.
Thirteen helicopters, 42 ambulances and 150 emergency responders were sent overnight to the scene of the fire in the Valais region, which is popular with tourists.
Most of the injured experienc..

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Is HasanAbi serious about quitting Twitch streaming in 2026? His latest rant suggests mounting frustration

HasanAbi hinted he may quit Twitch streaming in 2026 during a heated livestream, expressing frustration with his community’s behavior toward fellow creators. He criticized viewers for misplaced aggression, warned of bans, and admitted he “hates Twitch streaming.” While no final decision was announced, his comments signaled burnout and raised real questions about his future on the platform. HasanAbi may quit Twitch streaming in 2026, a statement that sent ripples through his audience after a tense moment on a recent livestream. The political commentator was not jesting at the thought. It emerged in an uncivilized call where impatience overtook his customary restraint, and there came the shebang criticized in a relationship that he has long nurtured with his audience.The moment felt less like a threat and more like exhaustion speaking out loud. HasanAbi addressed what he sees as misplaced aggression within his community, especially when it spills over onto people he considers friends. Hi..