Nora Rahm

NPR's Carrie Johnson.

A fire broke out at a ski resort in Switzerland early this morning.

Officials say there were several people killed and many others injured.

They were not more specific than that.

The fire started during New Year festivities in a bar in the heart of the Swiss Alps, about 25 miles north of the Matterhorn.

This is NPR News in Washington.

In his New Year's address, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te promised today to defend Taiwan against what he called China's rising expansionist ambitions.

China just completed live-fire military drills around the island.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory.

Bourbon maker Jim Beam is halting production at its flagship plant in Kentucky for all of 2026.

As NPR's Ava Pukach reports, industry analysts say tariffs and changes in people's drinking tastes influence the pause.

The Department of Health and Human Services is freezing a federal program that helps low-income families pay for child care.

Officials say this comes in response to allegations of fraud in Minnesota, but applies to all money distributed under the Child Care and Development Fund.

Some 1.4 million children received assistance in 2019.

I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting at this hour with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Florida, hoping to advance a plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Just before they met, President Trump said they have the makings of a deal that is good for Ukraine, good for everyone.

He said he had a good and very productive telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin today and plans to call him again later.

He said he thinks both presidents want to make a deal that too many people are dying.