Co-owner of Swiss bar detained after 40 killed in New Year’s Eve party fire

One of the co-owners of a Swiss bar where 40 people died in a fire on New Year’s Eve has been taken into custody, local media report.

Sources told Swiss newspaper 24 Heures that Jacques Moretti, 49, is considered a potential flight risk.

Prosecutors are investigating the French owners of the bar on suspicion of crimes including homicide by negligence, while victims’ families have filed legal complaints over the fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana in the Canton of Valais.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of New Year’s Day, with footage showing crowds escaping the bar engulfed in flames.

Prosecutors have said the fire was likely caused by sparkling candles, which ignited the ceiling of the bar’s basement. Authorities are also looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar.

Earlier, Mr Moretti and his French wife, Jessica, did not respond to reporters’ questions as they entered the prosecutors’ office in the town of Sion for a hearing. Swiss authorities have designated Friday a national day of mourning.

Several French and Italian citizens were among the dead, and Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni called for stern punishment to be meted out to those responsible for the blaze.

“What happened is not a disaster: It’s the result of too many people who didn’t do their job or who thought they were making easy money,” Ms Meloni said during a press conference on Friday. “Those responsible must be identified and prosecuted.”

The Rome prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the blaze, alleging manslaughter and arson, Italian media reported on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the mayor of Crans-Montana ski resort revealed that the bar had not undergone annual safety inspections since 2019.

“We are deeply sorry. We had no indication that the checks had not been done as requested,” Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud told reporters, adding that bars in the town are meant to have such inspections each year.

A video from New Year’s Eve 2019-2020 shared by Swiss broadcaster RTS showed revellers carrying similar sparklers in bottles as a waiter warns: “Watch out for the foam!”

Several businesses linked to Reform London mayor candidate struck off

Reform UK’s candidate for the London mayoral election has had several businesses struck off after failing to file legally required documents.

Laila Cunningham was unveiled as the party’s candidate for the 2028 election in a press conference with Nigel Farage earlier this week.

The Westminster City councillor and former criminal prosecutor vowed to take on Sir Sadiq Khan, promising an “all out war” on crime in the capital.

But it has now emerged that one company which lists the 48-year-old as a shareholder and director, and another of which she was a director, have been struck off by Companies House.

According to the official watchdog, she and her husband, Michael Cunningham, jointly owned Kitchin Table Ltd., of which both were also directors. The company operated an app that organised women’s co-working sessions in their homes, was dissolved in August 2024 after a notice for compulsory strike-off action was issued in June that year.

She and her husband were also directors of a second company, MGIC Ltd, in which Mr. Cunningham owned the majority of shares, and which was struck off in August 2023, a year after a previous strike-off action had been discontinued.

Though failing to file company accounts is a criminal offence under UK law, prosecution is rare and it is more likely to have your company struck off instead.

Speaking to Times Radio in Friday, Ms Cunningham insisted that she “didn’t break companies’ law” and that “there was never any wrongdoing” after she failed to file company accounts.

“So I didn’t break companies’ law. Like many companies, and I don’t really like the insinuation that it was a crime in any way,” she said.

“I tried out different business ideas. Some became inactive. And that happens to thousands. They were all dormant, by the way. Every year. There was never any wrongdoing. No one was defrauded. And I passed all CPS vetting right after that.”

When asked whether failing to file company accounts is a breach of the law, she said: “Companies House routinely strikes off inactive or non-filing companies. It’s a paperwork sanction. The system is designed to clear dead companies out of the register. That’s hundreds of thousands of UK companies that are struck off every year. Overwhelmingly, because they’re dormant and admin has lapsed.

“It’s not wrongdoing. It’s just a way to get rid of dead companies. Lots of people do it.

“And you know what? We should reward that because I was taking risk. All my money went into that. Sadly, it didn’t work out because of Covid. And that’s what happened.”

During the fiscal year April 2024 to March 2025, 726,813 companies were dissolved by Companies House.

A Reform UK spokesman said:“Like many entrepreneurs, Laila has set up small companies over the years to test new business ideas. Some became inactive over time, resulting in a lapse of administration. This is something that happens to hundreds of thousands of dormant companies every year.

“Companies House routinely strikes off inactive companies in order to clear dead companies out of the register. There was never any wrongdoing on Laila’s part, and she has passed all her advanced CPS vetting and background checks.”

King’s White House visit threatens to be overshadowed by Portaloo

A royal visit to the White House is never complete without… a visit to the Portaloo?

When Donald Trump hosts the King in Washington this April, the US is set to roll out the red carpet for His Majesty with an elaborately decorated large tent on the South Lawn – complete with a portable toilet conveniently stationed outside.

The White House secretary Will Scharf set the less-than-ideal scene during a meeting, which set out plans to tear down the White House’s East Wing to build a $400m (£300m) luxury ballroom.

Large state dinners have been hosted by US presidents in ornate tents on the White House grounds for years.

“I think it’s notable that when the president of the United States of America flies to the United Kingdom, he’s hosted at Windsor Castle,” Mr Scharf told the meeting at the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC).

“When next year the, the King… comes to the United States, more likely than not he will be hosted … in a tent on the South Lawn with porta-potties.”

The UK laid on a spectacle full of pomp and pageantry for Mr Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to the country in September.

He was driven around Windsor Castle’s estate in the Irish State Coach, before inspecting an honour guard and watching a Red Arrows flypast, followed by a state banquet at the castle.

Shalom Baranes, the architect who took over the White House ballroom project late last year, told the meeting that the room will be approximately 22,000 square feet and designed to accommodate 1,000 seated guests.

Mr Trump at one point had floated having a ballroom that could fit some 1,300 people, but Mr Baranes said the president’s team was not exploring an option to increase the project’s size.

The total area of the new East Wing, including two floors and the ballroom, would be slightly more than 89,000 square feet, he said. It will include a two-story colonnade that connects the White House’s East Room to the new ballroom.

Mr Baranes said the administration was also considering a one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade “to restore a sense of symmetry” to the overall White House complex.

Opponents of the project have said the extension could dwarf the main mansion and criticised the destruction of the office of the first lady and a movie theatre.

But a federal judge said he was not inclined to order the administration to halt the work.

Britain will not help the US invade Greenland, says defence secretary

Britain will not allow the United States to use its military bases to facilitate an invasion of Greenland, the defence secretary said, after Donald Trump threatened to “make a deal the easy or the hard way”.

Asked if British bases, personnel or equipment could be used to support a US operation, John Healey told ITV News resolutely: “There’s no question of that.”

“Greenland and Denmark are part of Nato. We and the US are part of that alliance with treaty obligations,” he reiterated on Friday, during a visit to Kyiv.

“And so far as the UK’s support for any nation with any military action, we will do so if the purpose is correct and if the legal basis is sound.”

The White House refused to rule out taking the Danish territory by force this week, but Denmark has maintained its position that Greenland is not for sale. On Thursday, the country’s defence minister said Danish forces will ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ if Greenland is invaded.

Trump said on Friday that he would like to make a deal on the island, but would not commit to talking about money at this stage.

He told reporters at the White House that the US needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future.

“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour,” Trump said while meeting with oil company executives in Washington.

Greenland has a population of 57,000 people and is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. The US already maintains a military presence on the island under a 1951 agreement.

Britain and Denmark’s European allies have rebuked Trump in recent days, insisting they would strongly oppose US military action or a sale.

Leaders pledged they would “not stop defending” the island’s territorial integrity in a joint statement seen as a message to the US this week.

Sir Keir Starmer “set out his position” on Greenland in a phone call with Mr Trump on Wednesday evening, described by Downing Street sources as “positive” and “friendly”.

The prime minister has said Greenland’s future must be a matter for the people of the territory and Denmark alone.

The call with Trump was followed by a flurry of diplomatic activity, including conversations with both Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte on the need to “do more to deter Russian aggression” in the High North.

The Trump administration has argued that Denmark has not done enough to ensure that Greenland can uphold global security.

Vice president JD Vance told Fox News this week: “Europe has failed to contend with the fundamental argument the president, and the entire administration, has made.”

“Greenland is critical, not just to our national security, but to the world’s national security,” he added, outlining the territory’s role in missile defence.

How an umbilical cord blood donation saved a young girl’s life

A mother who donated umbilical cord blood after childbirth later saw her own daughter’s life saved by a similar donation years later.

Cord blood is rich in stem cells.

It’s found in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby’s birth and is crucial for treating various cancers, immune conditions, and genetic disorders.

Natasha Kirkpatrick donated her daughter Ellaria’s cord blood following her birth in 2017 at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital.

Poignantly, by 2022, Ellaria herself needed a cord blood donation for blood cancer.

Mrs Kirkpatrick said that without the donation Ellaria “would not be here”.

Ellaria, now eight, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on Christmas Eve in 2019 when she was just two. She relapsed after chemotherapy.

Ellaria was due to have a stem cell transplant in 2022 but it was cancelled at the last minute when the donor caught Covid-19.

Instead she received an emergency cord blood transplant at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Mrs Kirkpatrick, 37, a teacher from Marston Moretaine near Bedford, said: “I knew about cord blood because I’d donated Ellaria’s own cord blood when she was born.

“The actual stem cell transplant is not scary – it’s syringes and the stem cells going into the blood – but it was a very hard time overall, Ellaria had a virus and was an inpatient for a good five months.

“She is still being monitored and she has some after-effects that affected her heart and brain a little. You would not know what she has been through from looking at her, but what she has been through is just incredible.

“She’s now in Year 4 at primary school. She is a typical girl; loves her music like Elvis, K-Pop and the Spice Girls, her dancing. She is funny. She’s quite a girly girl but with a boy’s sense of humour.”

The mum-of-three, who is pregnant with her fourth baby with her husband Jonathan, added: “I cannot thank the mum who donated the cord blood Ellaria received enough.

“Without the doctors and without that transplant, she would not be here.

“There are really no words to express how I feel. I just think it’s great that people do it -and I was proud to do it myself.”

It comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) announced that it has issued its 1,000th unit of baby umbilical cord blood for stem cell transplants.

The NHSBT cord blood bank in Filton, Bristol, which opened in 1996, is the fourth largest cord blood bank in the world and holds nearly 20,000 donations available for clinical use.

The bank sent out its 999th and 1,000th units, for the same young adult with leukaemia to receive, at the start of the year.

Women giving birth at certain hospitals – University College Hospital, Luton and Dunstable Hospital and St George’s Hospital – can opt to donate once the placenta has been delivered.

The cord blood is then frozen and stored at minus 196C until a match is found.

The donation can be used decades after donation.

NHSBT said that the last 20 cord blood transplants have been issued to hospitals in London, Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Canada and the Netherlands, mostly to treat leukaemia but also genetic immunodeficiencies in child patients.

On the 1,000th transplant, Alex Ross, head of NHS Blood and Transplant’s Cord Blood Bank, said: “This was a special moment for our Cord Bank that we’ve been looking forward to for months.

“We thank every generous mum who has donated over the years.

“Cord blood is rich in stem cells. They are extracted from the placenta and umbilical cord after your baby is born.

“The placenta and cord are usually thrown away but when donated they can save lives.

“A transplant from stem cells found in cord blood can be a very effective type of treatment for certain conditions, for example in patients with acute leukaemia or severe immunodeficiencies.

“Stem cells from cord blood can be safely stored for years. Your baby may be grown up by the time they save a life, perhaps even older than the recipient – it’s a very special way to donate.”

Your dream cruise formula: From Caribbean islands to European cities

If your ideal holiday is one that blends fuss-free adventure with great culinary choices and sumptuous relaxation, then book yourself onto a cruise immediately. From experiencing rich cultures, visiting breathtaking beauty spots, and dining on delicious delicacies – cruising has become one of the most luxurious ways to travel.

This dream-holiday formula is something that Virgin Voyages has perfected with its multi-award-winning, adult-only cruises, which sail across Europe, North America and the Caribbean. From entertaining onboard experiences and modern facilities to exciting escapades on land, these are the types of trips that are worth writing home about, and why Virgin Voyages has been named Travel + Leisure ® World’s Best #1 Mega Ship for an impressive three years in a row.

Here’s what would-be Sailors can expect from a Virgin Voyages cruise…

Whichever of the 150-plus destinations you choose to sail to, one thing remains guaranteed, you’ll get an unforgettable journey, and leave with happy stories to share with loved ones back home. Why not make those memories on Virgin Voyages’ impressive Lady Ships, with Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady each offering a distinct personality which is encapsulated in everything from decor to destinations. Expect enough amenities and activities to entertain a small city: from tequila tasting to spa days and over 20 premium eateries serving menus curated by Michelin starred chefs. There’s a whole holiday’s worth of experiences before you’ve even docked at your first port.

Be gone any thoughts of pokey, old-fashioned interiors and get ready to embrace charming cabins with a super-yacht aesthetic. No matter which of the Virgin Voyages sleeping quarters you choose from, you’ll be met with super comfortable beds, a roomy rainshower, mood lighting, free Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen HDTV. Want to really push the boat out? Opt for luxury suites that promise five-star comfort and opulence, with champagne tables, sun loungers, handwoven terrace hammocks and in-room bars. Virgin Voyages ‘RockStar’ Sailors can also enjoy everything from VIP entrances to private access to rooftop terraces.

Whether your spirit is one of a dancing queen or a sophisticated theatre-goer, Virgin Voyages has nightlife and entertainment options to suit every taste – developed with the help of the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists. Choose from 80s parties, festival acts or classic stories like Romeo and Juliet – reinvented with a circus twist. Each ship offers something different, so if you’re a Virgin Voyages regular, you’ll never see the same thing twice. Save your vocal chords for the private karaoke rooms, while the casinos and gaming arcades could elevate an already winning mood even further.

Don’t want to leave your full-on fitness regime behind when you go on holiday? Or are you just curious to try a new healthy group class? Whatever your wellness wishes, there’s plenty to keep you busy onboard with workouts for every level. There’s yoga, HIIT, weight training, boxing, meditation and more, plus running or walking the signature 255-metre-ish Virgin red running track, which curves around the top of the ship in a halo shape. If relaxation is your main goal, head to the spa for everything from steam room and sauna to hot stone massage and seaweed wrap. The beauty salon offers a range of professional treatments, from manicures, pedicures and nail art to IV therapy, Botox and fillers.

While you’re free to enjoy port cities at your own leisure, Virgin Voyages also curates an array of land excursions or ‘Shore Things’ for those who want to immerse themselves in local culture. Why not enjoy a barefoot fish cookout on the Mexican island of Cozumel, a late night party on the Greek Island of Mykonos or visit the historic halls of Harvard University when sailing through Boston, Massachusetts. If you’re cruising the Caribbean, choose from a beach day in St Vincent and The Grenadines; explore the private island of Mustique or visit the colourful buildings of the capital Kingstown. Do as much or as little as you like – you’re always in charge!

Proving that there really is a cruise for everyone, Virgin Voyages’ child-free cruises visit almost endless destinations that span Europe, North America and the Caribbean. Choose a five-night cruise from New York to Bermuda, taking in the paradise pink-sand beaches, maritime history and cafe culture of the island, or maybe a seven-night voyage starting in Los Angeles and sailing to Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan in Mexico. For a trip closer to home, soak in the Mediterranean sunshine while visiting Europe’s most famous cities and islands starting in the homeports of Greece and Spain. Tick off an array of bucket list destinations with the Idyllic Ibiza cruise aboard the Valiant Lady; set sail from Rome to Barcelona with stop offs at the superluxe Amalfi Coast, Cannes and Ibiza – now, that’s what you call an A-list adventure.

With so many incredible destinations to visit and on-board luxury to explore, a cruise with Virgin Voyages is a holiday you’ll never stop talking about.

Discover Virgin Voyages luxury range of cruises and plan your next adventure today

Trump: I don’t need international law – only one thing limits my power

Donald Trump has insisted he doesn’t need to abide by international law and the only constraint keeping his power in check is his own morality.

In a wide-ranging defence of a week of global provocation, the U.S. president laid out the motivation behind his actions.

In the last six days alone, he has launched strikes on Venezuela and captured its president Nicolas Maduro, repeatedly voiced his intention to take over Greenland and claimed that Colombia could be next on his list.

“I don’t need international law,” Trump told The New York Times in an interview in the Oval Office. “I’m not looking to hurt people.”

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has successfully tested many of the constitutional and legal limits to his authority – firing the heads of independent agencies, attempting to rewrite the 14th Amendment and punishing federal judges who insist on giving immigrants due process.

But the president’s more recent decision to conduct aggressive military operations without congressional consent and threaten to take over allies’ territory has worried international leaders.

When asked if there were limits to his power, Trump replied: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

The president added that his administration did need to follow international law, but contended that following it “depends what your definition of international law is.”

The president also explained how he uses his reputation for unpredictability and his readiness to deploy military action, such as the bombing of Iran, as tools to get other nations to do what he wants.

His comments indicate that he believes his use of the U.S. military, economy and political authority to assert dominance over foreign countries could take precedence over following international law or treaties to maintain civility with allies and adversaries.

This past week, his administration ramped up rhetoric about the U.S. using military forces to take over Greenland, a Danish territory.

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” Trump told reporters Sunday.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, echoed the president’s remarks later on CNN, claiming the U.S. would use its military “unapologetically” and that “nobody is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”

Other administration officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, downplayed the reality of a military invasion.

The administration’s unabashed bid to take over the island has raised global concerns, especially after Venezuela.

When asked whether the U.S. allegiance to NATO outweighed the desire to take over Greenland, the president responded, “It may be a choice.”

Explaining why he felt the need to own the island, he told NYT: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do with, you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”

Trump insisted that his actions in Venezuela would not embolden Chinese president Xi Jinping or Russian leader Vladimir Putin to take further action in their own regions.

He said the situation in Venezuela was different to China: “You didn’t have the jails of Taiwan opened up and the people pouring into China.”

When asked if he thought Xi might now make a move on Taiwan, he replied: “He may do it after we have a different president, but I don’t think he’s going to do it with me as president.”

Starmer takes on Musk and Trump over ‘insulting’ Grok changes on sexualised images

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is squaring up for a fight with Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s administration as the row over the creation of sexualised images on X escalates.

Downing Street warned that changes to Mr Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which turned off image generation for all but paid subscribers after it was used to remove clothing from children, were “insulting” to victims of misogyny and sexual violence and had made creating deepfakes a “premium service”.

The Grok tool began replying to image requests by indicating the service is only available to “paying subscribers” on Friday, following global backlash over reports it has been used to generate sexualised images of women and children.

Sir Keir indicated that the social media platform could be completely blocked in the UK after “unlawful” and “disgusting” images were generated.

The regulator Ofcom said it was carrying out an “expedited assessment” of the response it had received after contacting X and Grok’s creator xAI about fake images following calls for it to take urgent action.

Earlier, the prime minister’s spokesperson criticised changes to limit the use of Grok to paying users.

The spokesperson said: “That move… that simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service.

“It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting the victims of misogyny and sexual violence. What it does prove is that X can move swiftly when it wants to do so.”

Ramping up the pressure for action in a broadcast interview on Friday afternoon, tech secretary Liz Kendall demanded that Ofcom “uses the full powers of the law” against the platform.

She said: “I think the images being produced are despicable and abhorrent, and sexualising images of children is one of the worst crimes imaginable. And I think it is insulting to say that you can still access this service if you pay for it. So, Ofcom should use the full powers of the law that parliament has given it.

“X needs to get a grip and get this material down. And I would remind them that in the Online Safety Act, there are backstop powers to block access to services if they refuse to comply with the law for people in the UK. And if Ofcom decides to use those powers, they would have the full backing of the government.”

She added: “The government, and more importantly the public, will expect to see next steps from Ofcom in days, not weeks. It is absolutely essential that they abide by the law and get those images down.”

The intervention comes after an 18-month-long war of words between Mr Musk and Sir Keir, with the X owner using his platform to attack the prime minister and level insults at him, including suggesting he is “complicit in crimes”, is “tyrannical” and a “national embarrassment”.

Mr Musk has also openly supported far-right activist Tommy Robinson, suggesting that when he was in jail, most recently for contempt of court, he was a political prisoner, and he has pursued the prime minister on the issue of the Asian grooming gangs.

The row has widened to include the Trump administration, with Vice-President JD Vance among others, highly critical of the Online Safety Act, which he said he regarded as an attack on the US economy and free speech.

Recently, a UK activist for online safety, Imran Ahmed, the British founder and CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), was refused an entry visa into the US. And there have also been rows over the number of arrests in the UK for the misuse of social media.

The Independent previously revealed that Mr Vance was pushing for the US’s trade deal with the UK to include guarantees on free speech and rolling back online safety laws.

The tensions on free speech now seem set to resurface over Mr Musk’s X.

Leading domestic abuse charity Refuge warned that the move to block all but Grok subscribers from accessing image generation represented the “monetisation of abuse” and allowed X to “profit from harm”.

“While limiting AI image generation to paid users may marginally reduce volume and improve traceability, the abuse has not been stopped,” Emma Pickering, head of technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment at Refuge, said.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) also confirmed the tool had been used to create “criminal imagery of children aged between 11 and 13”.

An Ofcom spokesman said: “We urgently made contact on Monday and set a firm deadline of today to explain themselves, to which we have received a response.

“We’re now undertaking an expedited assessment as a matter of urgency and will provide further updates shortly.”