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"Zohran Mandani sworn in as mayor of New York City."

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By Bridget Brown January 02, 2026

In the news today: Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as mayor of New York City; Venezuela’s president says he is open to negotiating an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking; and dozens are dead from a fire at a New Year’s party in Switzerland. Also, a boat belonging to a pharaoh is being reassembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, administers the oath of office to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, right, as Rama Duwaji, center, holds the Quran during Mamdani's inauguration ceremony, Thursday, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) POLITICS Zohran Mamdani promises to govern ‘expansively and audaciously’ in inaugural speech as NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class. Read more.

What to know: Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall just after midnight, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath as the city’s first Muslim mayor.   Mamdani returned to City Hall in a taxi cab around midday Thursday for a grander public inauguration where U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor’s political heroes, administered the oath for a second time.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders speak at Mamdani’s inauguration Health subsidies expire, launching millions of Americans into 2026 with steep insurance hikes Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent Trump says he’s dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA and Portland, Oregon, for now Trump and top Iranian security official exchange threats over protests now roiling Iran Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress Department of Justice is reviewing more than 5.2 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein Chief Justice says Constitution remains ‘firm and unshaken’ with major Supreme Court rulings ahead Trump delays increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year Trump administration orders a Colorado coal-fired power generator to stay open Federal ruling blocks Hawaii’s climate change tourist tax on cruise ships Trump administration terminates lease for Washington’s 3 public golf courses Appeals court says Medicaid funding cuts for Planned Parenthood can stand while lawsuit proceeds Federal employees file complaint against Trump administration’s ban on gender-affirming care Mississippi man serving an illegal sentence granted clemency, weeks after his brother WATCH: Longest-serving White House chief usher reflects on decades of service WORLD NEWS Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike Venezuela is open to negotiating an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking, the country’s President Nicolás Maduro said in an interview that aired Thursday on state television. However, he declined to comment on a CIA-led strike last week at a Venezuelan docking area that the Trump administration believed was used by cartels. Read more.

What to know: Maduro reiterated that the U.S. wants to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through the monthslong pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.   The interview was taped on New Year’s Eve, the same day the U.S. military announced strikes against five alleged drug-smuggling boats. The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration. Venezuelans are among the victims.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: The strikes on five alleged drug boats, killing 8 and possibly leaving survivors US imposes sanctions on 4 Venezuelan oil firms and 4 more tankers in Maduro crackdown WORLD NEWS A fire in a Swiss ski resort bar has left about 40 people dead A New Year’s party turned into a tragedy after about 40 people died in a fire and roughly 115 were injured, many in their teens to mid-20s. The death toll made the disaster one of Switzerland's worst tragedies in its history. Read more.

What to know: Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. “At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said. Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased, but are working to identify the dead and inform their families, according to Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Lausanne hospital with specialist burns unit treating victims of Swiss bar fire A look at some of the worst fires in bars, nightclubs and music venues ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ North Korea: Kim’s daughter visits family mausoleum, promoting her potential status as heir Murder trial: Prominent California farmer pleads not guilty to killing estranged wife in Arizona Speaking out: UK’s Queen Camilla recalls assault in 1960s as she campaigns against domestic violence Anthony Joshua: Former heavyweight champion initially staying in Nigeria to recuperate after crash Copyright lifted: Betty Boop and ‘Blondie’ enter the public domain in 2026, accompanied by a trio of detectives Today in History: In 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched, becoming the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity WATCH Afghanistan: At least 17 dead after heavy rain and snow cause flash floods First 2026 Mass: Pope Leo says a new year represents an ‘open journey’ World Heritage Site: Stone Age rock art in Malawi receives conservation and tourism boost A CHANGE OF PACE People film archeologists as they reassemble the second solar boat of King Khufu, at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) Ancient Egyptian pharaoh’s boat is being reassembled in public at the Grand Egyptian Museum A boat belonging to Egyptian pharaoh King Khufu is being assembled in full view at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s exhibition hall. The assembly of the 137-foot-long vessel is expected to take around four years and contains 1,650 wooden pieces. King Khufu ruled ancient Egypt more than 4,500 years ago and built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

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