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In the early hours of New Year’s Day, an explosion and fire broke out at a bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana in Valais, Switzerland. Local media and police reported severe casualties at the scene. The incident occurred during a New Year’s Eve party, with an estimated crowd of more than 100 people. Police said dozens may have been killed and more than 100 injured.

Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly, and panic during attempts to escape led to crowd surges. The interior of the bar was chaotic. The injured were transported by emergency services to nearby hospitals, with some in critical condition. Authorities said the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, and accidental factors have not been ruled out. Police also stated that terrorism is unlikely, and the current focus is on identifying the deceased and providing medical care.

Swiss officials announced a five-day national mourning period, as the government and rescue agencies work to handle the aftermath. The Valais police chief said identifying the victims could take several days and that families have been notified. Authorities have cordoned off the affected area and imposed flight restrictions in the surrounding airspace to facilitate rescue and investigative operations.

Driven by digitalization and persistent operating deficits, Denmark’s state-owned postal service, PostNord, delivered its final batch of physical letters on December 30 and officially ceased letter delivery services on December 31, bringing to an end more than 400 years of public mail delivery history.

Denmark ranks among the world’s most digitally advanced countries, with both government and private sectors widely adopting online services. As a result, the volume of official documents and personal letters sent in physical form has declined sharply. According to PostNord, letter volumes in 2024 fell by more than 90% compared with 2000. Last year, PostNord recorded an operating loss of approximately 428 million Danish kroner. In light of the drastic drop in mail volumes and long-term losses, PostNord ended its state-run letter delivery service on December 31 and will refocus its operations on parcels and express delivery.

The Danish government has designated the private logistics company DAO to take over the handling of physical letters. In the future, members of the public who need to send letters can do so at DAO service points, and DAO will also offer paid services such as home pickup. During the transition period, the government is providing DAO with subsidies of about 110 million Danish kroner . Should DAO be unable to continue providing letter services in the future, the government remains obligated to appoint another provider to ensure that letter-sending options are not interrupted. However, due to limitations in internet coverage and digital access, postal services still play an important role in rural communities, among women, and within low-income groups, who may be more significantly affected by this change.

Israel has formally recognized Somaliland—located in northeastern Africa and mutually recognizing sovereignty with Taiwan—as an “independent and sovereign state,” and has established diplomatic relations with it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said today that China expresses grave concern over this move and firmly opposes it. China noted that Somalia issued an immediate statement rejecting the move, and that regional organizations such as the African Union (AU), the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have also voiced condemnation.

The Israeli government recently announced its recognition of Somaliland as an independent country, making Israel one of the few nations to openly acknowledge Somaliland’s sovereign status. The decision quickly drew international attention and sparked a new wave of diplomatic ripples across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly reiterated its firm opposition, emphasizing respect for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that the recognition is based on long-term security cooperation, economic and trade ties, and geopolitical considerations. Israel noted that since declaring its separation from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has maintained relatively stable political institutions and democratic elections, in contrast to prolonged instability in the region. Israel believes that recognizing Somaliland will help enhance security along the Red Sea, strengthen counterterrorism cooperation, and ensure the stability of maritime routes.

The Somaliland government warmly welcomed the decision, calling it a “historic step” that symbolizes growing international recognition of its more than three decades of governance achievements. The President of Somaliland emphasized that the government will continue to seek recognition from more countries and deepen cooperation with Israel in agriculture, technology, and security.

However, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said that China has consistently supported African countries in resolving internal issues through dialogue and consultation in accordance with international law and within the AU framework. China firmly opposes any unilateral recognition of Somaliland’s independence, arguing that such actions could exacerbate regional tensions and undermine peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. The spokesperson reaffirmed that China recognizes the Federal Government of Somalia as the sole legitimate government representing Somalia.

The African Union has adopted a cautious stance, noting that the issue of Somaliland’s status involves colonial history, border delineation, and regional stability, and should be addressed through broad consensus. Most African countries have so far refrained from recognizing Somaliland’s independence, concerned that doing so could trigger other separatist movements.

The United States announced on the 29th that it will commit only US$2 billion in humanitarian aid to the United Nations, while warning UN agencies that they must “adapt, downsize, or die” in response to a new fiscal reality. The funding represents only a small fraction of Washington’s past contributions, but the Trump administration argues it is still sufficient to maintain the U.S. position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. The move also establishes a centralized fund to allocate resources across agencies and priority programs. The decision has raised alarm among humanitarian workers, with some programs and services already being cut.

According to UN data, U.S. aid in 2025 stands at US$3.38 billion, accounting for just 14.8% of total global donations—down sharply from US$14.1 billion the previous year and far below the 2022 peak of US$17.2 billion. U.S. officials noted that annual contributions in the past had reached as high as US$17 billion, including around US$8–10 billion in voluntary funding and several billion dollars in mandatory UN membership dues. Critics argue that cuts in Western aid will leave millions facing hunger, displacement, or disease, while also eroding U.S. global soft power.

The decision has plunged many UN agencies into crisis, particularly those responsible for refugees, migrants, and food assistance. The Trump administration’s multibillion-dollar cuts to foreign aid have forced these organizations to slash budgets, scale back aid programs, and eliminate thousands of jobs. Other major Western donors, such as Germany, have also reduced aid as defense spending rises. UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned that the global humanitarian response is overstretched and underfunded, leaving the UN with “brutal choices” about how to focus scarce resources on those in greatest need.

Guinea, a West African nation, goes to the polls on the 28th in a presidential election widely expected to be won by incumbent junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, amid a race lacking serious challengers.

According to Reuters, Doumbouya, in his 40s, is a former special forces commander who seized power in a 2021 military coup that ousted then-president Alpha Condé. He is running in the election as an independent candidate and will nominally compete against eight other contenders. However, with no strong rivals in the race, the outcome is widely seen as a foregone conclusion.

Former president Condé and long-time opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile. If elected, Doumbouya would begin a seven-year presidential term. His rule, however, has drawn growing scrutiny over the state of political freedoms in Guinea. Several civil society groups have accused the authorities of restricting public debate, banning demonstrations, suppressing press freedom, and narrowing the space for opposition activity.

Benedict Manzin, Middle East and Africa chief analyst at risk consultancy Sibylline, said that once formally elected, Doumbouya is likely to further leverage presidential powers to consolidate his own authority and entrench the military’s political influence in Guinea.

According to a report by AFP, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to deliver his year-end address in a few days, but recent opinion polls show his approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he was first elected in 2017.
In a poll conducted by Toluna/Harris Interactive for the LCI news channel, only 25% of respondents said they held a favorable view of Macron.

Jean-Daniel Levy, head of Toluna/Harris, said in a statement that the French public appears to be judging Macron primarily through the lens of domestic politics, rather than his positions on foreign policy.

The online survey of 1,099 French adults found that only 37% of respondents plan to watch the year-end address live on December 31, down from 40% last year.

The poll also shows that approval ratings for all major political leaders in France have declined. However, the most positive momentum currently belongs to Jordan Bardella, the 30-year-old president of the far-right National Rally (RN) party. A poll conducted in November showed Bardella to be the party leader with the strongest support ahead of the 2027 French presidential election, raising the possibility that he could become the youngest president in French history. The current youngest president on record is Macron himself, who was 39 years old when he took office in 2017.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on the evening of Christmas Day (the 25th), stating that U.S. forces had carried out lethal attacks against Islamic State (IS) extremist terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, vowing to completely wipe out their camps. He added that the relevant strikes had been executed “perfectly” on multiple occasions.

In his post, Trump described the Islamic State as “terrorist scum,” accusing the group of targeting and brutally killing innocent Christians. He said he had previously warned IS that if it did not stop the massacres, it would pay a price. However, he did not provide further details regarding the specific targets or the timing of the attacks.

Nigerian authorities also confirmed that the United States had recently launched airstrikes against IS militant bases in northwestern Nigeria. Nigeria reportedly participated in intelligence gathering, planning, reconnaissance, and post-operation efforts. The U.S. military deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones, using 16 GPS-guided missiles to conduct precision strikes, successfully killing multiple Islamic State fighters.

The airstrikes did not come without warning. Last month, Trump had cautioned Nigerian authorities that if violence against Christians was not curbed, military action would be taken. As of now, details and scope of the operation remain unclear, and accounts from the United States and Nigeria regarding the strikes are inconsistent. Analysts suggest the actions may be linked to shifts in the global energy landscape and competition over key strategic mineral supply chains.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced at a press conference on the 23rd a draft “peace plan” jointly developed with the United States and Europe. The plan consists of 20 points. Issues concerning territorial questions and control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) remain under discussion, while broad consensus has reportedly been reached on most of the other points. One of the core proposals is the establishment of a “demilitarized zone” (DMZ) in Ukraine’s eastern industrial region (the Donbas) as a major compromise aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict.

Zelenskyy stated that the precondition for creating a DMZ in eastern Ukraine is a mutual withdrawal of forces by both sides. Troops would be pulled back from regions including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv to form a north–south demilitarized corridor. The U.S. has additionally proposed designating this area as a “free economic zone.” Zelenskyy emphasized that if cities such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk are included in the zone, Russian forces must also withdraw approximately 40 kilometers to establish a buffer area.

In addition, the proposal calls for the creation of a second demilitarized zone around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Enerhodar. Management of the plant would be handled by a joint venture between Ukraine and the United States, rather than a trilateral arrangement involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine. Ukraine is also seeking security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, hoping that the United States, Europe, and NATO member states would deploy forces to ensure that Ukraine receives military assistance from partner countries in the event of future aggression.

Russia has not yet responded. However, hardliners within Russia are expected to strongly oppose provisions related to control of Zaporizhzhia and NATO-linked clauses, making rejection by Moscow likely. Zelenskyy agreed to the draft under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump; if Russia still rejects the peace proposal, Trump would be compelled to increase military assistance to Ukraine and impose harsher sanctions on Russia. At present, all parties appear primarily focused on advancing their own interests—whether in ceasefire terms, troop withdrawals, reconstruction, development, or security guarantees. Achieving genuine peace will ultimately require one side to make meaningful concessions.

A U.S. federal judge issued a key ruling on the 23rd, upholding President Trump’s decision to raise the application fee for H-1B work visas to US$100,000. Recruiting foreign talent will face an extremely high barrier for the U.S. technology sector, with Silicon Valley bearing the brunt of the impact.

The H-1B visa is the primary channel through which Silicon Valley tech companies hire foreign professionals. The United States issues 85,000 H-1B visas each year through a lottery system, about three-quarters of which go to applicants from India. Taiwanese technology professionals also rely heavily on this visa to work in the U.S.

Trump argues that the H-1B system has been abused, allowing foreign workers willing to accept lower wages to replace American jobs. As a result, he imposed the hefty fee as part of a broader crackdown on immigration.

The ruling has triggered strong backlash from the U.S. business community. Opponents contend that affected foreign workers make enormous contributions to U.S. productivity and innovation. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also warned against targeting the H-1B visa program, stating bluntly that the U.S. does not have enough domestic talent to fill critical technology positions.

At least two additional lawsuits challenging the US$100,000 visa fee are still ongoing, and whether the tech industry can reverse the situation remains uncertain.

According to foreign media reports, President Lee Jae-myung decided, after taking office to relocate the presidential office from Yongsan back to the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae). The relocation work began on December 8 and is expected to complete the main phase of the move around December 25, before Christmas, marking the official return of the “Blue House era” after an absence of three years and seven months.

On the 22nd, the South Korean Presidential Office confirmed that most staff units have already moved in. To facilitate the administrative transition, the Blue House has been temporarily closed to the public since August. As the residential facilities were damaged during the previous period of public access, repair work is currently being accelerated. President Lee Jae-myung is therefore still commuting from Hannam-dong for the time being.

The presidential office emphasized that the return to the Blue House is a transitional arrangement. The ultimate goal remains fulfilling the pledge to relocate the presidential office to the administrative capital, Sejong City, by 2030. This move reverses former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s 2022 decision to relocate to Yongsan, ushering in a new chapter for South Korea’s administrative center.