Most of the victims of the fire in Crans-Montana are thought to be young people, but identification of the bodies is expected to take several days at least. The fire broke out at roughly 1.30am local time in the Constellation Bar as people celebrated the turn of the year. Read more:What we know about deadly Swiss firePeople 'walking on top of others' trying to escape blaze Emergency services were on the scene minutes later, but it was already too late to save dozens of people, thought to have been trapped in the basement. Authorities warned that naming the victims or establishing a definitive death toll would take time due to the severity of the burns. Experts have been using dental and DNA records to try to identify the dead. Switzerland's President Guy Parmelin described the deadly incident as "one of the worst tragedies our country has ever known", and King Charles called it a "horrific disaster". The cause of the blaze remains unclear, but witnesses reported seeing sparklers or candles in bottles in the basement bar. But Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the charred wreckage of the bar. 'Horror movie' scenes of people with hair and clothes burned off Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as youngsters scrambled to escape the blaze. Samuel Rapp, who had been at a restaurant nearby, said he saw "a lot of people at the entry trying to escape. And it was full and people [were] walking on everybody trying to escape." He saw many "screaming, trying to escape" and others "on the floor". Mr Rapp told Sky News he saw "a lot of people" whose hair had been burned off, and others "without clothes". Video from inside the bar shows a fire breaking out and rapidly engulfing the ceiling, spreading panic through the partygoers, who rushed towards the stairs to escape. Later footage from outside showed lines of ambulances queuing and helicopters arriving to airlift victims to nearby hospitals. Leon Christe, who works in the resort, told Sky News he was one of the first to the scene and tried to help by administering first aid. He said: "It was very chaotic and very sad. Everywhere, there were young people who needed help, some had their clothes burned off. "It was very traumatising." Another witness speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some severely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene to find out what had happened to their children. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames, and likened what he saw from across the street to scenes from a horror movie. Vigil for victims, with many details unknown On New Year's day people gathered to lay flowers and light candles at a memorial near the site. Little information has yet emerged about the victims, and hospitals and emergency services are reeling from the accident. Some are being treated in the local hospital, while others were taken further afield, including to the University Hospital of Lausanne, which treats severe burns, and to France. France said at least three nationals had been injured and eight were still missing. Italian officials said 13 citizens had been injured, and another six are still unaccounted for, although details are still unfolding.

Finding Harmony: A King's Vision will be released on 6 February on Prime Video. The 90-minute documentary will be narrated by Oscar-winner Kate Winslet, with the monarch aiming to encourage a new audience to embrace his environmental philosophy. In the trailer, the King says: "We are nature ourselves. We are a part of it, not apart from it." Filmed across four continents and spanning 75 years of archive footage, the film is being billed as a "sumptuous cinematic experience" that will leave viewers "feeling uplifted and motivated to bring nature back into everything we do". The documentary will chart the story of how the King, as Prince of Wales, pursued early environmentalism and spoke up for the science behind biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change long before these issues became mainstream. The film will also showcase the life-changing work of his charity, The King's Foundation. In the trailer, he says: "We must put nature back at the heart of the equation." The King goes on to urge the world to "follow harmony" to ensure the planet can support so many. With a quick gaze to the sky, he adds: "It's unlikely there's anywhere else." Read more from Sky News:Why UK is in 'extraordinary times' over its climateMillions 'slowly poisoned' with pleas for change being ignored A new photograph of the King captured during filming at Dumfries House in Scotland - the foundation's headquarters - was issued to mark the trailer and release date. The documentary, directed by Nicolas Brown, has been produced by Passion Planet in collaboration with The King's Foundation for Amazon MGM Studios.

No migrants made the journey on New Year's Eve, the Home Office confirmed on Thursday, with the last recorded crossing made on 22 December. It means the overall number of arrivals last year ended up 9% below the all-time high of 45,774 in 2022. The total for 2025 was 13% higher than in 2024, when 36,816 migrants made the journey, and 41% higher than 2023's total of 29,437. The first half of 2025 saw 19,982 people arrive, a record number in that period. However, that pace slowed during the last two months of the year and there were long periods when no migrants arrived, including a 28-day run from 15 November to 12 December. There was an average of 62 people per small boat that arrived in 2025, which is up from 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2023. Charities estimate that at least 36 people died trying to make the journey last year, including an eight-year-old girl and her mother, who were crushed on a boat in May, the Mirror reports. The number of arrivals in 2025 has heaped pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's government, having entered office in July 2024 with a repeated vow to "smash the gangs" and reduce the number of crossings. Almost 65,000 migrants have arrived since then. The UK's Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt, tasked with curbing Channel crossings, told MPs in October that the number of arrivals in 2025 was "frustrating" but that work to stop the smuggling route was "always going to take time". The government has also introduced and announced changes to legislation in a bid to stop Channel crossings, including: The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law in December, that introduces new criminal offences and allows law enforcement agencies to use counter terror-style powers to crack down on people-smuggling gangs.Plans for what Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described as "the most significant changes to our asylum system in modern times" in a bid to deter people from coming to the UK and make it easier to deport them.Making refugee status temporary, with regular reviews of the safety of the person's home country, and a wait of 20 years for permanent status. But the government faces a fight once again with its own MPs to get those measures through, with some Labour parliamentarians branding the measures "shameful" and echoing the rhetoric of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Tap here to read more about the government's planned asylum reforms. Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the measures did not go far enough, adding that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was necessary to address the problem. Both the Conservatives and Reform UK have pressed for quitting the human rights treaty as a way to tackle illegal immigration, but the Labour government has insisted it will not leave the ECHR and instead seeks to adjust how immigration cases are interpreted in UK law. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy met ministers from ECHR member states last month, who agreed to consider reforming the treaty to address illegal migration. International cooperation has also formed part of the government's strategy, such as through the "one in, one out" returns deal with France that came into force in August. On 16 December, border security minister Alex Norris told peers that 193 migrants had been sent back to France and 195 had arrived in the UK under the returns deal so far. But the scheme has drawn criticism as being "no deterrent at all" by shadow home secretary Chris Philp, amid cases of two migrants returning to the UK after being removed to France under the deal, who were then deported again. Reacting to the total number of Channel crossings for 2025, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on X: "Smash the gangs is a complete disaster. One in, one out is a farce and the numbers have been huge. Many of the young men that arrived last year will do us great harm." Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: "Most men, women and children taking these journeys have fled oppressive regimes like the Taliban in Afghanistan and brutal civil wars in countries like Sudan. "No-one risks their life on a flimsy boat in the Channel except out of desperation to be safe in a country where they have family or community connections. "It's right the government wants to stop Channel crossings but plans that will punish people found to be refugees are unfair and not an effective deterrent." He added that there needs to be a "multi-pronged approach", including targeting gangs and international cooperation to ensure refugees can access safe and legal routes - something Ms Mahmood has included in plans to overhaul the asylum system. A Home Office spokesperson said: "The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better. "This government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back. "The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here."

The 24-year-old has scored six tries in eight appearances since signing for the Gallagher Prem title contenders and made his Wales comeback during the autumn internationals. "I'm incredibly happy to have committed my future to Bristol," Rees-Zammit said. Rugby's key dates 2026: Six Nations, Nations Championship, Women's Six NationsWorld Cup 2027: England, Ireland with kind routes? Seeds messed up again?Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW "This is the perfect club for me and I'm excited to see what we can achieve here. "The environment here allows me to express myself and play the game the way I love and that brings out the best in me." On the eve of the 2024 Six Nations, Rees-Zammit announced he was moving to play in the NFL. However, despite earning contracts with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, Rees-Zammit did not play a competitive NFL game. Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said Rees-Zammit has returned from his time in the NFL a better player. He starred at full-back in last week's win over Newcastle, which Lam sees as his best position, while playing on the wing for Wales in November. Lam said: "Louis is a world-class talent and someone who embodies the way we want to play at Bristol. "Since coming back from the NFL, he's shown incredible professionalism and hunger to keep improving. "His speed, power and skill set are obvious, but what really stands out is his willingness to learn, adapt and deliver on the biggest stage. "What's exciting is that he's only just scratching the surface of his ability - at just 24, there's so much more to come from him. "If he keeps progressing on this journey, he has everything it takes to become one of the very best players in the world."

This article contains details some readers may find distressing Samuel Rapp, who was at a restaurant near Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana when the fire broke out, described the scene as "horrible". About 40 people were killed in the fire, police have confirmed, and 115 others injured - the majority seriously, suffering severe burns. Mr Rapp said he was told of an "explosion" at the venue during the early hours of New Year's Day and went to investigate. He told Sky News: "There were a lot of people at the entry trying to escape. And it was full and people [were] walking on everybody trying to escape. "A lot of people were screaming trying to escape and I saw a lot of people on the floor." Follow latest: Several dozen feared dead in fire Mr Rapp said he witnessed someone place a jacket over a victim's face and saw "a lot of people" whose hair had been burned off. He said: "Some people were without clothes." Asked what kind of people were at Le Constellation, he said: "Everyone in the world comes here." He said a lot of people come from England, from the Netherlands, and from around Switzerland. Mr Rapp added: "The people were between 16 and 18. It's horrible." Sky News' Home Editor Jason Farrell is at the scene and said those he has spoken to have been left traumatised by the tragedy. "It's just an absolute shock," he said, as people were gathering by the cordon closing off the area around the bar. "There's still some waking up to this, this is a real shock to the people of Crans-Montana." Leon Christe, who works in Crans-Montana, told Sky News he was one of the first to the scene and tried to help as many people as possible by administering first aid. He said: "It was very chaotic and very sad. "Everywhere, there were young people who needed help, some had their clothes burned off. "It was very traumatising." Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris who survived the blaze, described "total chaos" inside the bar. Speaking to The Associated Press, he said one of his friends had died and "two or three were missing". The teenager didn't witness the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with champagne bottles with sparklers. Axel said he was suffocating and initially hid behind a table, then ran upstairs and tried to use a table to break a plexiglass window. It fell out of its casing, allowing him to escape. He lost his jacket, shoes, phone and bank card while fleeing, but said: "I am still alive and it's just stuff." "I'm still in shock," he added. Authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities, although the Italian foreign ministry said Swiss authorities had reported at least 40 deaths to it. The fire broke out at around 1.30am local time (12.30am UK time) on Thursday as people were celebrating the start of 2026. A man speaking to BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured. Panicked parents also raced to the scene to see whether their children were trapped inside. The man described seeing about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and compared what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.

Sir Idris, 53, who is known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is knighted for services to young people, having founded the Elba Hope Foundation. He said: "I receive this honour on behalf of the many young people whose talent, ambition and resilience has driven the work of the Elba Hope Foundation. "I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence." Torvill and Dean say honour is 'wonderful and humbling' Dame Jayne and Sir Christopher, who took home the Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games and saw success at the World, European and British Champions, are made a Dame and Sir for services to ice skating and to voluntary service. They said the honour is "wonderful and humbling at the same time". They are joined by Paul Elliott, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, who is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and Matt Lucas, half of the Little Britain comedy duo with David Walliams, who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Lionesses and Red Roses The Lionesses feature heavily on the list after their Euros win in the summer. Captain Leah Williamson is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), while Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone become MBEs. The team's Dutch manager, Sarina Wiegman, who has won the Euros twice with England and once with the Netherlands, is awarded an honorary damehood, the Cabinet Office said. Wiegman said: "I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this honour. When I first arrived in England, I could never have imagined the respect and warmth I've experienced from the English people. I deeply thank the fans for their support." Members of England Women's Rugby World Cup winning squad are also featured, with Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft becoming OBEs, along with coach John Mitchell. Their teammates Ellie Kildunne, Sadia Kabeya and Megan Jones are made MBEs after the Red Roses defeated Canada in the final in September. Three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, who held the women's marathon record for 16 years, is made an OBE. 'Best thing that's ever happened to me - and I've been in Star Wars' Also made OBEs are presenter and author Richard Osman, actor Warwick Davis and broadcaster Gabby Logan. The Kumars At No 42 actress Meera Syal, 64, becomes a Dame. Osman, 55, author of The Thursday Murder Club book series, said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the honour, while Davis, also 55, said: "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me and I've been in Star Wars." Wicked star Cynthia Erivo is made an MBE for services to music and drama, while football commentator Clive Tyldesley becomes an OBE for services to sports broadcasting and to charity. Writer Roy Clarke, who created the sitcoms Last Of The Summer Wine, Open All Hours and Keeping Up Appearances, becomes a knight. Oldest Horizon IT scandal victim and D-Day veteran honoured A woman thought to be the oldest victim of the Horizon IT scandal, 92-year-old Betty Brown, has said it was a "shocker" to have been made an OBE for seeking justice for subpostmasters. D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh, 101, said it was a "wonderful thing" to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Holocaust remembrance and education. The oldest person on the list is 102-year-old John Hearn, one of four centenarians included, who receives a BEM for services to Judo and to the community in northeast England. The youngest recipient is 20-year-old Olympic gold medal-winning sports climber Toby Roberts, from Elstead in Surrey, who becomes an MBE. 'The very best of Britain' Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "This year's Honours list celebrates the very best of Britain - people who put the common good ahead of themselves to strengthen communities and change lives. "Their quiet dedication speaks to the decent, compassionate country we are proud to be. On behalf of the whole nation, thank you - and congratulations to everyone recognised today."

For a prime minister who made "smashing the gangs" such a central pledge during the general election campaign, the numbers are politically toxic. Although, frankly, given the trajectory of the statistics in the first part of the year, the situation could have been even worse - with the figures tracking largely above the record number of migrant arrivals in 2022 until bad weather hit in the late autumn. But after 18 months in power, Sir Keir Starmer's entering another year without making any real progress on an issue which is hugely important to many voters. This seeming impotence - from successive governments - to stop the small boats and close asylum hotels has certainly fuelled the rapid rise in support for Reform UK. Not surprisingly, Nigel Farage has leapt on today's data to claim "smash the gangs is a complete disaster. One in, one out is a farce and the numbers have been huge." In a recent hardening of mainstream policy positioning, both Reform UK and the Conservatives now argue that anyone who arrived in the country illegally should be barred from claiming asylum - and that the UK needs to leave the European Convention on Human Rights in order to deliver that, and increase the number of deportations. "Small boat crossings are the inevitable product of a system that guarantees entry and obstructs removal," said Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp. "As long as the ECHR sits at the centre of our asylum system, illegal immigration is effectively hardwired in." As we saw with the PM's New Year's message on the economy, his approach has been to argue he understands people's anger - but to insist that new policies only just coming to fruition will soon start to make a big difference. The Home Office sent us a strident statement saying "the number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better. This Government is taking action." It's certainly true that many of the catalogue of measures announced by ministers have only just come into force - or are yet to do so. The borders bill, finally passed in December, gives the police new counter-terror-style powers to try and tackle the gangs. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's Danish-inspired asylum reforms, announced in November, aim to make the asylum system less generous - and therefore less of an incentive to migrants. Read more: UK looking at Denmark model to cut illegal migrationAngola and Namibia agree to take back illegal migrants and criminals She wants to deter people from coming to the UK with plans to make refugee status temporary, not permanent, to restrict asylum seekers' benefits, and to require 20 years' residency before granting permanent settlement. The plans also seek to make deportations easier. Rather than leaving the ECHR, the government is working with other European countries to try and reform it from within. The one in one out deal with France began over the summer, and sees the UK sending back small boat migrants back across the Channel in exchange for people already in the French system. Thus far it's been small scale - with fewer than 200 people deported, and several attempting to get back to the UK even after being returned. And while ministers regularly celebrate the fruits of closer working with their European partners - a long-awaited French promise to allow the police to intervene to stop the boats in the water looks to be on ice once again, with unions reportedly resisting the order over health and safety concerns. After so many false promises and failed schemes - the most notorious of which, the Rwanda plan, cost £700 million and deported just four volunteers - it's not surprising the British electorate are sceptical about government policies in this area. Sir Keir and Shabana Mahmood are hoping their multi-faceted, internationally collaborative approach will finally start to pay dividends in the new year. Frustrated voters expect resolutions - and they're prepared to punish politicians who don't deliver on their promises.

Hood was 11 out of 11 in finishing on doubles at 3-0 up in sets and 2-0 ahead in legs, and was one dart from a perfect match, only to miss a shot at double 16. Nevertheless, he broke the PDC record previously held by Jonny Clayton when he beat James Wade at the 2021 World Masters final with 10/11 doubles. World Darts Championship: Schedule, draw and results🏆Join our live blog for all the latest from Ally Pally ✍Got Sky? Watch on the Sky Sports app 📱Not got Sky? Get instant access with NOW 📺 "It's not a fairytale. I know what I can do and it's nice to prove it up here," Alexandra Palace debutant Hood told Sky Sports Darts after wrapping up the win. "I was thinking about it [the doubles]. It was on the screen! The only time I had a bit of nerves was when I was throwing to win it in the penultimate leg. "It's very overwhelming. I'm not used to this. I usually get hate messages. This is mad." Rock watched on in disbelief for most of the match as Hood just could not miss. But the Northern Irishman took the opening two sets to deciding legs, losing them both as the crowd began to realise they were witnessing something special. Hood raced through the third set 3-1 in legs then won the next two legs at the start of set four to be on the verge of darting perfection. However, he missed D16 on a 143 checkout and actually lost the leg after three more misses before winning the next leg to continue his remarkable run, finishing with a 12/16 record on doubles. The 32-year-old, who lives in Somerset, will face Michael van Gerwen or Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals, with the two former world champions playing on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports Darts. Clayton avoids upset against spirited Harrysson Fifth-seed Jonny Clayton avoided an upset with a 4-2 last-16 victory over Swedish debutant Andreas Harrysson, who pushed his opponent hard. The opening four sets were shared with three deciding legs which underlined the closeness of the contest. However, Harrysson dug deep and moved 2-0 up in the fifth set before missing three darts to whitewash Clayton in that set. Clayton broke back, held throw, then pounced on four more missed set darts from Harrysson to steal the set in the last leg. All five legs went on throw in the sixth and, ultimately, last set so Clayton got over the line to book a place in the last eight against Ryan Searle. "There's a lot of things on my mind, obviously moving to world No 4 was one of them, and to be fair to Andreas, every time I looked up he was hitting doubles," Clayton, who currently holds a guaranteed spot in the Premier League Darts as he is in the top four on the PDC rankings, told Sky Sports Darts. "That was tough. Ok, I didn't play my best, there were a lot of loose darts, but that's what pressure does to you. And that's what Andreas did, kept me under pressure the whole time." Poland No 1 Krzysztof Ratajski will make his second quarter-finals appearance after beating Luke Woodhouse 4-2 to set up a clash against Luke Littler. Woodhouse became the second player after Gary Anderson to get within one dart of a nine-darter in the third set, but ended up losing the leg and the set. Although he pulled a set back to make it 2-2, he never seemed to fully recover from that burst of adrenaline as Ratajski won six legs out of eight to get over the line. Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until this Saturday on Sky Sports' dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.