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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Police: Several Dozen Presumed Dead In Swiss Resort Fire; Trump's Sweeping New Travel an Now In Effect; Anti-Government Protests Erupt In Iran Amid Rising Cost of Living. Aired 5:05-5:30a ET

Aired January 01, 2026 - 05:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[05:05:20]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Our breaking news this hour. Rescue efforts are ongoing after a deadly fire broke out at a ski resort in Switzerland. Police say several dozen people are presumed dead, and a local official says hospitals are facing an influx of injured people.

The fire broke out inside a lounge bar in the town of Crans-Montana early Thursday morning. About 100 people were inside the venue for a New Year's party.

CNN's Nada Bashir is joining me now from London.

What more do you know, Nada?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been getting updates from police officials, as you mentioned. Now, that update on the casualties inside this ski resort bar. According to police officials, several dozen are believed to be dead, presumed dead at this stage. Following that fire, which broke out overnight at this lounge bar. Several others are also believed to be injured.

And as you mentioned, hospitals in the area are facing a huge influx of injured individuals and casualties. As a result, we have seen a heavy presence of emergency forces on the ground responding to this fire. Weve been hearing the details from officials. Some 40 ambulances are said to have been mobilized as a result. As a result, 150 medical personnel.

And we have been getting a bit more detail on the actual fire, which broke out. Police officials say they believe the fire started at around 1:30 a.m. overnight, just after New Year's local time. They believe that the fire actually started within the lounge bar. However, the cause at this stage remains unknown.

It is understood that there were believed to be around 100 people inside at the time of the fire, so you can imagine the scale that we are talking about. And of course, the urgency with which that this is being dealt with at this stage. We know that emergency responders are still there on the scene. And of course, investigators will be there on the scene as well, trying to confirm the cause behind the fire. But the focus at this stage remains. Of course, the casualties, the fatalities and injured in this devastating fire on New Year's.

WHITFIELD: Oh, it's horrible news.

All right, Nada Bashir, keep us posted as you learn more. Thank you.

All right. The U.S. military says it killed at least eight people in strikes on alleged drug boats over the past two days. U.S. Southern Command says at least three people were killed in a convoy of three boats in international waters on Tuesday, and in a separate strike on New Year's Eve. At least five people were killed on two boats. The U.S. coast guard is coordinating search and rescue efforts for survivors in the area. The military has not released details on where the strikes occurred, but officials have shifted their focus from the Caribbean Sea to the eastern Pacific Ocean recently.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions on four more Venezuelan oil companies. It is also designated four oil tankers as blocked property. Two were flying Hong Kong flags and two were flying flags from Guinea and Panama. These are the latest sanctions levied on Venezuela as part of the Trump administrations pressure campaign on Nicolas Maduro's regime.

And peace is the New Years wish for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He says right now, a peace agreement for his country is 90 percent ready. After discussions with his U.S. and European allies and in his New Year's Eve address, he said the remaining 10 percent will, quote, "determine the fate of peace. The fate of Ukraine and Europe".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Ukraine does not need a Minsk style meticulously drafted trap signatures under weak agreements, only fuel war. My signature will be under a strong agreement, and that is exactly what every meeting, every call, every decision is about right now to secure a strong peace for everyone. Not for a day, not for a week, not for two months. Peace for years. Only then will it truly be a success for Ukraine, for America, for Europe, and in truth, for every nation that wants to live, not to fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his own brief New Year's address, telling his troops the country believes in them. And in Russia's victory in Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: After all, we are together. The people of Russia work success and achievements of each of us. Create new chapters in its thousand-year history and the strength of our unity determines the sovereignty and security of the fatherland, its developments, its future.

[05:10:03] We are united in our sincere, selfless and devoted love for Russia. I congratulate all our soldiers and commanders on the coming New Year. We believe in you and our victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And right now, live pictures coming your way right there. Pope Leo is leading New Year's Day mass at the Vatican to mark the world day of peace. In his message, he's calling on people to, quote, encourage and support every spiritual, cultural and political initiative that keeps hope alive, end quote.

In his final general audience of 2025, the pope urged followers to give thanks for the past and trust in God for the days ahead.

And back in this country, Zohran Mamdani is now the mayor of New York City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK: I.

LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: Zohran Kwami Mamdani.

MAMDANI: Zohran Kwami Mamdani.

JAMES: Do solemnly swear.

MAMDANI: Do solemnly swear.

JAMES: That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

MAMDANI: That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

JAMES: The Constitution of the state of New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: He was sworn in just after midnight during a private ceremony with his wife present there. Thirty-four-year-old Mamdani is making history as the city's first South Asian and Muslim mayor, and the youngest in more than a century. At least 4,000 people are expected to attend the public inauguration ceremony in the coming hours. Mamdani had promised during his campaign to tackle the affordability crisis, and named a new member of his administration to help bring down the high cost of living.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAMDANI: I can think of no better moment to announce our new Department of Transportation commissioner than this, so I would ask Mike Flynn if you would please join me. It is an honor to have Mike here alongside me as we embark on an administration that will take seriously the responsibility and the opportunity we have to make this streetscape and the public transit of the city we call home the envy of the world. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Still to come, citizens from several countries are now officially banned from traveling to the U.S. Details in a live report next.

Plus, President Trump says he is withdrawing all National Guard troops deployed by the federal government for now.

And later, anti-government protests are erupting across Iran. We'll have details on how the country's Islamic regime is reacting to the demonstrations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:47]

WHITFIELD: Our breaking news this hour. Rescue efforts are ongoing after a deadly fire broke out at a ski resort in Switzerland. Police say dozens of people are presumed dead, and a local official says hospitals are facing an influx of injured people. The fire broke out inside a lounge bar in the town of Crans-Montana early Thursday morning. About 100 people were inside the venue for a New Year's party.

President Trump's sweeping new travel ban is now in place. It came into effect just as the New Year began. The new restrictions target mostly African countries.

Nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Syria and Laos are now barred from entering the U.S. Several other countries are facing partial travel restrictions. The White House says the move was made to, quote, protect the nation from national security and public safety threats, unquote.

Mali and Burkina Faso have joined a list of countries that have imposed reciprocal travel bans on Americans.

Let's go now to CNN's Larry Madowo live from London for us today -- Larry.

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, Mali, Burkina Faso are essentially matching the U.S.'s energy, as they say, aura for aura, ban for ban because the U.S. added them to this travel ban. As of today, they can't come to the United States. They have done the same.

They're following the footsteps of Chad, that also banned United States citizens from going to that country after they were added to this travel ban and state media in Niger have said that they too, will be applying similar reciprocal arrangements to block U.S. citizens from going to Niger.

As of today, 1st January 2026, about 12 African countries citizens cannot come to the United States. Another 14 are under partial restrictions. This is one of the largest travel bans to ever affect the African continent. Almost half of all African nations citizens cannot come to the United States without restrictions, and that is a large number.

In the grand scheme of things, 67 percent of all these nations that are under these partial or full travel restrictions are in Africa. And that is why you see this, this criticism that this is a travel ban affecting mostly African and Muslim nations around the world. Part of the some of the nations included in this are Syria, Laos, the Palestinian authority issued passports were under the initial arrangement announced by the White House.

So, it covers around much of the Global South. And it tracks with what President Trump has said that he is interested in permanently passing immigration from third world nations. So many of these countries in Africa, in Asia and Latin America, from coming to the United States, and that's reflected in these continuous bans that affect many of these nations.

But this reciprocal arrangement that these African nations are doing are interesting because Mali and Burkina Faso are ruled by military juntas. They are under military rulers that took over power without a democratic process.

And Niger, which has also reportedly put in a similar reciprocal arrangement, is also under military rule. And they have formed their own alliance called the alliance of Sahel states. And they have been pushing back on any kind of Western influence in their countries.

[05:20:01]

So many people are supporting them for standing up to the United States. Obviously, they can't stand up economically, but at least they're showing some dignity and respect in trying to stand back and push back on that, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Fascinating. Larry Madowo in London, thank you.

All right. President Trump says he is withdrawing national guard troops from three cities in the U.S. Their presence had sparked protests like this one in California. And this comes after the Supreme Court rejected the president's request to deploy the national guard to Chicago to protect ICE agents involved in the administration's immigration crackdown.

Troops will be withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. President Trump says crime has been greatly reduced, end quote, due to the National Guard's presence and hinted at possible future deployments.

All right. Still to come, what Palestinians in Gaza are hoping for in the New Year, despite the worsening humanitarian situation? We'll have details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:15]

WHITFIELD: Our breaking news this hour. Police say dozens of people are presumed dead after a deadly fire broke out at a ski resort in Switzerland, a local official says hospitals are facing an influx of injured people and rescue efforts are ongoing and the area is closed to the public. The fire broke out inside a lounge bar in the town of Crans-Montana early this morning. We will, of course, give you updates as we learn more.

To Gaza now where displaced Palestinians say they hope the New Year will bring peace to the region, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is largely holding, but 10 countries, including Canada, the U.K. and Japan, warned that Gaza's humanitarian situation remains catastrophic. At least 1.3 million people are still in urgent need of shelter as a harsh winter with heavy rain and plunging temperatures worsens already dire living conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YACOUB AL KAQAMA, DISPLACED PALESTINIAN: We used to live in safety. We are for peace, not against it. We don't like wars or wish for wars. Ask any child here what they like more. We like peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, sources tell CNN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a U.S. demand to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for civilians in the coming days. This would potentially allow Palestinians to enter and leave Gaza for the first time in ten months.

And protests across Iran mark the latest chapter in increasing anti- government sentiments over the rising cost of living and inflation. Meanwhile, the strict Islamic regime appears to be overlooking the growing civil pushback as it focuses on its own survival.

Here now is CNN's Paula Hancocks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are the biggest demonstrations seen in Iran for three years, traders and shopkeepers walk through a Tehran bazaar chanting "Close it down!"

Many shops did this week, shutting their doors in protest, furious at the country's currency plummeting to a record low, pushing inflation and the cost of living to unbearable levels. "This is the year of blood. Seyyed Ali will be toppled," a popular chant by protesters referring to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for the collapse of the regime.

Economic pain is being blamed on government mismanagement. Similar rallies are being seen in cities across Iran. Police deployed tear gas in some areas of Tehran. A lone protester covers his face but refuses to move. A significant act of defiance in a country where dissent has been met with swift and deadly force in recent years.

President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the public anger, stating, the livelihood of the people is my daily concern. Adding, he has tasked the Minister of Interior to hear the legitimate demands of the protesters.

The head of Iran's Central Bank has resigned. Food prices have risen more than 70 percent since this time last year, inflation for December year on year is at more than 40 percent, the regime cannot ignore these protests. Merchants played a crucial role in the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy and brought the Islamists to power.

Students at several universities have staged their own demonstrations calling for economic justice. It is unclear at this point how widespread this dissent might become.

ABAS ASLANI, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES: The average citizens and ordinary public is not joining this, let's say protest, and because there is no bright and clear picture of the day after and there is no, let's say credible alternative to this political system.

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Hundreds of women ran a marathon on Iran's Kish Island in early December without mandatory head scarves. Similar acts in the past have sparked bloody crackdowns.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're earning 15 million tomans a month, so you should understand people's struggle but you don't.

HANCOCKS (voice-over): Those desperate for reforms in Iran are once again this week, testing cracks in the wall of the Islamic regime that they want to see crumble.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Still ahead, French health workers take up a daunting physical challenge while fasting for six straight days. CNN's Melissa Bell joins them on their journey to test the supposed health benefits.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)