Global Pulse

标签： Europe

欧洲

  • Fire at Swiss Alps bar kills many people and leaves multiple injured during New Year’s celebrations

    Fire at Swiss Alps bar kills many people and leaves multiple injured during New Year’s celebrations

    CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — A devastating fire ripped through a popular bar during New Year’s celebrations in this renowned Alpine resort, resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries, according to local authorities. The tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday when flames engulfed ‘Le Constellation’ bar at approximately 1:30 a.m., while more than one hundred revelers were inside the establishment.

    Police spokesperson Gaëtan Lathion confirmed the severity of the incident, stating that emergency responders encountered ‘many injured and many dead’ at the scene. The resort community, typically bustling with international tourists during the holiday season, has been plunged into mourning as investigators work to determine the fire’s origin.

    Situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana represents both a premier ski destination and a rapidly evolving municipality. The area, located just 40 kilometers north of the iconic Matterhorn peak, has been actively transitioning from traditional tourism toward becoming a hub for high-tech research and development. Despite these modernization efforts, the region remains deeply connected to its winter sports heritage.

    Authorities have established both a reception center and dedicated helpline for affected families as the community grapples with the scale of the tragedy. The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, with officials noting the particular challenges presented by the international nature of the resort’s visitor population.

    The municipality, formed through the merger of multiple towns in 2017, spans 590 hectares from the Rhône Valley to the Plaine Morte glacier, with its highest point reaching nearly 3,000 meters elevation. This tragic event has cast a shadow over what should have been a festive celebration in one of Switzerland’s most picturesque alpine settings.

  • Zelensky says peace deal is 90% ready in New Year address

    Zelensky says peace deal is 90% ready in New Year address

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his New Year’s address that a comprehensive peace agreement to conclude nearly four years of conflict with Russia stands at 90% completion. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the remaining 10% of negotiations would “determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe,” while asserting that Ukraine seeks “the end of the war – not the end of Ukraine.”

    The diplomatic progress faces renewed challenges following Moscow’s allegations of a Ukrainian drone attack targeting President Vladimir Putin’s private residence at Lake Valdai. Russian authorities released purported evidence including flight path maps indicating drone launches from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions, along with footage of wreckage identified as a Ukrainian Chaklun drone. The Kremlin announced it would reassess its negotiation stance due to these allegations, which Ukrainian officials and EU diplomat Kaja Kallas have dismissed as a “deliberate distraction” from peace efforts.

    Central to the negotiation stalemate remains the status of Donbas, where Russia currently controls approximately 75% of Donetsk and 99% of Luhansk regions. Zelensky explicitly stated that Ukrainian withdrawal from the eastern industrial heartland would mean “everything will be over,” referencing Moscow’s persistent demand for full control of the territory.

    International involvement continues to intensify, with French President Emmanuel Macron announcing concrete commitments from European states and allies meeting in Paris on January 6. This follows high-level discussions between Zelensky and Trump administration advisers regarding proposed 15-year security guarantees for Ukraine. US special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed ongoing talks with UK, French, and German security counterparts about “strengthening security guarantees and developing effective deconfliction mechanisms.”

    Meanwhile, Putin’s considerably shorter New Year message praised Russian troops participating in what Moscow terms a “special military operation,” asserting that “we believe in you and our victory.” In a concerning development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his country’s “invincible alliance” with Moscow, with South Korean officials confirming Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops, missiles, and long-range weapons to support Russian operations, suffering an estimated 600 casualties.

  • French government defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney

    French government defends granting citizenship to George and Amal Clooney

    The French government has formally justified its decision to grant citizenship to actor George Clooney, his human rights lawyer wife Amal Clooney, and their eight-year-old twins Ella and Alexander. The naturalization, announced last weekend in France’s official government journal, has sparked a nuanced debate about privilege and equitable treatment within the nation’s immigration system.

    French authorities clarified that the Clooneys qualified under a specific legal provision allowing naturalization of foreign nationals who significantly contribute to France’s global influence and cultural outreach. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that George Clooney’s stature as an international film star brings substantial benefits to France’s cinema industry, while Amal Clooney’s legal work frequently intersects with French academic institutions and international organizations based in the country.

    The decision faced public scrutiny when junior interior minister Marie-Pierre Vedrenne raised concerns about perceived special treatment, noting that many French citizens might view the move as undermining principles of fairness in the naturalization process. Vedrenne specifically pointed to the actor’s self-admitted limited French language proficiency as potentially sending “a message that is not good.”

    However, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who personally signed the naturalization decree, strongly defended the decision as “a big chance for our country.” The ministry highlighted the family’s demonstrated ties to France, including their primary residence in an 18th-century villa purchased in 2021 near Brignoles in southern Provence.

    In recent interviews, Clooney has expressed his family’s deep connection to France, noting that his wife and children are fluent French speakers while he continues language studies through a learning app. The actor has humorously acknowledged his family sometimes converses in French to secretly discuss him without his understanding.

    The Clooneys have specifically cited France’s strict privacy laws and more grounded lifestyle as primary reasons for establishing their main home there, contrasting it with the intense media scrutiny their children would face in Hollywood. George Clooney told Esquire magazine that raising children in France provides them with “a much better life” away from paparazzi and constant public comparison.

  • What are Russians hoping for in 2026, asks Steve Rosenberg

    What are Russians hoping for in 2026, asks Steve Rosenberg

    As the conflict in Ukraine approaches its fourth consecutive year, BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg has conducted a series of ground-level interviews across Russia to gauge public sentiment about the nation’s future. The extensive reporting reveals a complex tapestry of expectations among Russian citizens as they look toward 2026.

    The investigation captures diverse perspectives ranging from economic concerns to geopolitical expectations. Many interviewees express profound anxiety about the prolonged duration of the military engagement and its cascading effects on daily life, international relations, and economic stability. Contrary to monolithic Western perceptions, Rosenberg’s findings illustrate significant variance in how ordinary Russians conceptualize their personal and national future.

    Economic stability emerges as a predominant concern, with citizens highlighting worries about inflation, currency valuation, and access to imported goods. The reporting also identifies nuanced perspectives on international isolation, with some expressing hope for normalized relations while others anticipate continued geopolitical tensions. Personal aspirations intertwine with national destiny in unexpected ways, creating a multifaceted portrait of a society navigating unprecedented circumstances.

    The temporal focus on 2026 provides a strategic midpoint perspective, allowing citizens to project beyond immediate wartime realities toward medium-term outcomes. Rosenberg’s methodology emphasizes authentic street-level conversations rather than official narratives, capturing voices often absent from international coverage. This approach reveals surprising resilience in some quarters alongside deep apprehension in others, presenting a more complete picture of the Russian psyche during this historical moment.

    The reporting concludes without definitive predictions, instead presenting the array of hopes and concerns as Russia continues to adapt to economic transformations and global repositioning. This ground-level account provides valuable insight into how geopolitical events translate into personal expectations for the future.

  • Bulgaria joins the euro after rocky path to new currency

    Bulgaria joins the euro after rocky path to new currency

    Bulgaria has officially become the 21st nation to adopt the euro, marking a significant yet contentious milestone for the European Union’s most economically disadvantaged member state. This transition, which saw the Bulgarian lev replaced on January 1st, 2026, positions the nation ahead of wealthier Eastern European peers like Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

    The move to the single currency has exposed a stark generational and geographic rift within the country. For younger, urban, and entrepreneurial citizens, euro adoption represents the final step in a long journey of European integration, following NATO and EU membership and entry into the Schengen zone. They view it as an optimistic leap toward greater economic opportunity and stability.

    Conversely, for older, rural, and more conservative segments of the population, the abandonment of the historic lev—a national symbol since 1881—has provoked fear and resentment. The currency, whose name means ‘lion,’ was pegged first to the Deutschmark and then to the euro since 1997, but its physical replacement is seen by many as an erosion of national sovereignty.

    This societal split is reflected in opinion polls, which indicate the nation’s 6.5 million people are almost evenly divided. The political landscape further complicates the transition. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s coalition government collapsed after a no-confidence vote on December 11th, 2025, following mass protests against the national budget. This event continues a pattern of extreme instability, with seven elections held in the past four years and an eighth likely imminent.

    Interviews with citizens reveal the depth of this division. Todor, a 50-year-small business owner in Gabrovo, expressed strong opposition, stating he believed 70% would reject the euro in a referendum—a vote proposed by President Rumen Radev but rejected by the government. He blamed fears of the new currency for a decline in his sales amid already high inflation.

    In contrast, Ognian Enev, a 60-year-old tea shop owner in Sofia, welcomed the change as a mere ‘technical’ shift. He noted that many Bulgarians, particularly the 1.2 million living abroad who send remittances in euros, are already accustomed to the currency. Like many retailers, he is prepared with euro coins and notes for the dual-currency period throughout January, where change will be given in euros, ahead of the lev’s complete retirement on February 1st.

    To ease the public’s fear of price gouging, a mandatory dual-pricing law has been in effect since August 2025. The near 1:2 conversion rate (€1 = 1.95583 lev) simplifies the transition. Elaborate consumer protection watchdogs have been established to prevent merchants from rounding prices up, with some, like Sofia’s public transport fares, being rounded down instead.

    In a symbolic move to assuage concerns over lost identity, Bulgaria’s euro coins feature distinct national imagery: St. Ivan of Rila on the €1 coin, Paisius of Hilendar on the €2, and the ancient Madara Rider on the smaller denominations.

    The ultimate economic impact remains the critical unknown. The country now faces two potential futures: the successful ‘Baltic model’ of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which combined euro adoption with robust reforms to spur investment and fight corruption, or the ‘Italian model’ of prolonged economic stagnation—an outcome some, including Mr. Enev, fear is more likely for Bulgaria.

  • Pope asks that Rome welcome foreigners as he closes out 2025

    Pope asks that Rome welcome foreigners as he closes out 2025

    VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV culminated the 2025 Holy Year celebrations with a profound appeal for social inclusivity during New Year’s Eve vespers at St. Peter’s Basilica. The spiritual leader emphasized Rome’s historical role as a sanctuary for marginalized communities while addressing assembled dignitaries including Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.

    Reflecting on the monumental Jubilee year that attracted 3.2 million pilgrims according to newly released Vatican statistics, the Pontiff expressed gratitude to Roman citizens and volunteers who facilitated the massive influx of visitors. The celebrations marked both the quarter-century tradition of Holy Year observances and a significant papal transition following the passing of Pope Francis in April 2025.

    In his homily, Leo XIV reinforced his predecessor’s vision of enhanced hospitality, stating: “What can we wish for Rome? That it may be worthy of its little ones—children, lonely elderly, struggling families, and those seeking dignified lives after journeying from distant lands.” The American-born Pope, who assumed leadership in May following Francis’s demise, specifically highlighted the city’s responsibility toward fragile demographics.

    The Jubilee events witnessed notably subdued participation during early 2025 due to Francis’s extended hospitalization, with attendance dramatically surging after Leo’s election. The formal conclusion of Holy Year ceremonies is scheduled for January 6, 2026, though the December 31st service effectively symbolized the spiritual culmination of this extraordinary period for global Catholicism.

  • Finnish police seize ship suspected of sabotaging undersea cable

    Finnish police seize ship suspected of sabotaging undersea cable

    Finnish law enforcement has apprehended a cargo vessel and its entire 14-member crew on suspicion of damaging a vital undersea telecommunications cable connecting Helsinki to Tallinn across the Gulf of Finland. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, prompted a major multi-agency response involving coast guard helicopters and patrol ships.

    The detained vessel, identified as the Fitburg, was en route from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Haifa, Israel, sailing under the flag of St. Vincent and Grenadines. Authorities intercepted the ship after telecommunications provider Elisa detected a fault in its submarine cable system. The coast guard reported finding the vessel dragging its anchor in proximity to the cable’s location.

    While Elisa confirmed service continuity through rerouted traffic, police have launched a criminal investigation into “aggravated disruption of telecommunications” and “aggravated sabotage.” The multinational crew comprises Russian, Georgian, Kazakh, and Azerbaijani nationals.

    This incident occurs against heightened regional security concerns, with eight NATO countries bordering the Baltic Sea. Estonian authorities simultaneously reported an outage in a second Finland-Estonia cable, though causation remains unconfirmed. Finnish President Alexander Stubb affirmed national preparedness for “security challenges of various kinds,” while EU Technology Commissioner Henna Virkkunen pledged vigilance against “hybrid threats.

    The event echoes growing apprehensions about critical infrastructure vulnerability, particularly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Security expert and Finnish MP Jarno Limnell characterized the situation as involving “national security” where “critical infrastructure is the front line.” Police Chief Ilkka Koskimäki declined to speculate on state involvement, emphasizing that investigators focus exclusively on establishing factual circumstances.

  • EU’s top diplomat rejects Russian claims of Ukrainian attack on government sites

    EU’s top diplomat rejects Russian claims of Ukrainian attack on government sites

    The European Union’s top diplomat has characterized Moscow’s allegations of Ukrainian aggression against Russian government sites as a calculated diversion tactic aimed at undermining ongoing peace negotiations. Kaja Kallas, responding to Kremlin assertions that Ukraine targeted one of Vladimir Putin’s residences with drone strikes, condemned these claims as baseless propaganda from the aggressor nation that has systematically attacked Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

    Russian officials escalated rhetoric this week following unverified allegations of attempted strikes on Putin’s Valdai residence, with parliamentary defense committee head Andrei Kartapolov declaring the incident ‘a strike on the heart of Russia.’ Despite initially dismissing the need for evidence, Russian military authorities subsequently released geolocation maps and footage of downed drones allegedly proving Ukrainian involvement. Independent verification remains impossible, with the BBC unable to confirm the authenticity or origins of the materials.

    Ukrainian officials have met these allegations with derision, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi describing the evidence as ‘laughable’ and unconvincingly fabricated. President Volodymyr Zelensky framed the incident within the context of recently productive ceasefire discussions with American mediators, suggesting Russia intentionally sought to disrupt diplomatic momentum between Kyiv and Washington.

    The allegations emerged alongside intensified aerial assaults on Ukrainian territories, particularly the port city of Odesa where recent attacks damaged residential buildings and left 170,000 without power during freezing temperatures. These developments occur against the backdrop of Putin’s December threat to sever Ukraine’s maritime access in retaliation for previous drone incidents involving Russian tankers.

    As another year of conflict concludes, Kyiv residents maintain cautious hope for peaceful resolution while contributing to war efforts through public fundraising initiatives. Zelensky has expressed desire to accelerate peace talks with international involvement in January, though Russian cooperation appears increasingly unlikely following the alleged drone incident and subsequent diplomatic deterioration.

  • Watch: Stunning celestial events that lit up the skies in 2025

    Watch: Stunning celestial events that lit up the skies in 2025

    The year 2025 has proven to be an extraordinary period for astronomical enthusiasts worldwide, featuring a succession of breathtaking celestial phenomena that transformed night skies into cosmic theaters. This remarkable series of events provided both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers with unprecedented opportunities to witness the universe’s grandeur.

    Among the most anticipated events were the periodic meteor showers, which delivered particularly intense displays this year. The Perseids in August and Geminids in December exceeded expectations with meteor rates reaching up to 120 visible streaks per hour under optimal conditions. These cosmic light shows resulted from Earth’s orbit intersecting with debris trails left by comets Swift-Tuttle and 3200 Phaethon respectively.

    The lunar calendar similarly impressed with multiple supermoons occurring throughout the year. These occurrences, when the full moon coincides with perigee (the moon’s closest approach to Earth), created spectacular visual displays with the lunar disk appearing approximately 14% larger and 30% brighter than typical full moons. The September supermoon was particularly notable for its coincidence with lunar perigee, making it the most dramatic lunar display of the year.

    Additional phenomena included planetary conjunctions where Venus, Mars, and Jupiter appeared to cluster in unusual celestial formations, providing exceptional photographic opportunities. The year also featured a partial solar eclipse visible across North America and a penumbral lunar eclipse observable from Europe and Africa.

    Astronomical organizations worldwide reported increased public engagement with night sky observation, with many communities hosting special viewing events. The accessibility of these events—requiring no special equipment beyond the naked eye—contributed to their widespread appeal, fostering greater public appreciation for astronomical science and the natural wonders of our universe.

  • Five taken to hospital following arson attack

    Five taken to hospital following arson attack

    A deliberate fire at a residential property in North Dublin has resulted in five individuals being hospitalized, with two suffering serious injuries. The arson attack occurred shortly after midnight on Wednesday at a home on Creston Avenue in the Finglas district.

    Emergency responders, including Gardaí (Irish police) and fire services, rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Among the victims were a woman in her 40s and a male teenager who sustained serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention. The other occupants included a woman in her 20s and two female teenagers, all of whom sustained injuries classified as non-life-threatening.

    All five victims were transported to medical facilities for treatment, with the most seriously injured taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital and Temple Street Children’s Hospital. The scene has been secured by authorities for technical examination as part of an active criminal investigation.

    Gardaí have launched a public appeal for information regarding the incident, specifically requesting anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Creston Avenue area between midnight and 1:00 AM on Wednesday morning to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in any available CCTV footage or dashcam recordings that might provide evidence about the perpetrators or circumstances surrounding the attack.

    The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the motive behind the arson attack and identify those responsible for the violent assault on the residential property.