World News: Turkiye ski hotel fire kills 66

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe.

In Turkiye, a fire at a ski resort hotel in the northwestern province of Bolu has killed at least 76 people and injured 51 others.

The fire at the Kartalkaya Ski Resort reportedly started early on Tuesday, local time on the restaurant floor of the 12-story hotel, which had 238 guests at the time.

Emergency response teams were delayed due to the hotel's remote location and adverse weather conditions.

The fire was eventually put out after approximately 10 hours.

An investigation is underway to figure out the exact cause of the fire and police have detained nine people, including the hotel's owner.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared Wednesday a day of mourning and vowed that those responsible will be held accountable for the tragedy.

In Israel, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, submitted a letter of resignation on Tuesday, acknowledging his responsibility for the shortcomings during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. In his resignation letter, the military chief said the IDF had "failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel."

The October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the abduction of some 250 individuals.

It has been described as one of the most significant security failures in Israel's history.

Halevi's resignation is set to take effect on March 6.

General Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF's Southern Command, also stepped down, citing similar reasons.

In the U.S., the southern region was hit by a rare snowstorm on Tuesday. Heavy snowfall and icy conditions were seen in cities including Houston, and New Orleans, with New Orleans expecting snowfall potentially matching a record set back in 1895.

The rare weather conditions led to disruptions in air travel as well, with over 2,000 flight cancellations and 10,000 delays. Operations were also suspended at Houston's major airports.

In response to the storm, several Gulf Coast states declared states of emergency, recommending residents to stay indoors and avoid travel.

In London, the 71st annual Toy Fair is underway at the Olympia exhibition hall. The fair runs until January 23 and showcases toys from over 250 exhibitors including Spin Master, The LEGO Group, and Gibsons.

This year's exhibition includes themes such as the booming kidult category catering to adults who collect or play with toys.

The kidult market accounted for 25% of U.K. toy sales in 2024.

The fair also highlighted an increase in affordable "pocket money" toys, which accounted for nearly 30% of U.K. toy sales last year.