Massive protests in Iran: Widespread shutdowns; govt building attacked – 10 key points

Protesters march in downtown Tehran (AP image) Iran’s unrest entered its fourth day on Wednesday as large parts of the country ground to a standstill under a government-ordered shutdown. According to news agency AFP, members of Iranian security forces were killed during the protests. Businesses, universities and government offices were closed across 21 of Iran’s […]

Meet the first babies of 2026: UAE welcomes the new year with tiny stars born at midnight | World News

First cries of 2026 echo across UAE / AI Generated Illustrations As 2026 officially began, hospitals across the country heard the sound that matters most: a newborn’s first cry. From Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, babies born in the very first minutes of the year turned January 1 into an unforgettable moment for families, doctors and […]

UAE announces petrol and diesel prices for January 2026 | World News

Petrol and diesel prices announced for January 2026/Representative Image The UAE has reduced petrol and diesel prices for January, reversing the increases seen in December and marking a notable drop across all fuel categories. The UAE fuel price committee announced the new rates on Wednesday, 31 December 2025. These rates will apply from 1 January […]

Bangladesh health adviser resigns from Yunus-led interim govt; second official to exit in a week

Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus Bangladesh’s special assistant to the chief adviser for the health ministry, Sayedur Rahman, has resigned, becoming the second senior official to exit the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt within a week. […]

Female MPs in Japan seek to flush out sexism with call for more toilets

Nearly 60 women lawmakers in Japan, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have submitted a petition calling for more toilets in the parliament building to match their improved representation. Although the number of women politicians rose at the last election – and despite Takaichi becoming the first female prime minister in Oct – Japanese politics remains […]

Can Indian citizens apply for H-1B renewal from the UAE? Here’s what Reddit post read

Indians can now apply for the H-1B renewal from a third country. Yes, this is what a Reddit user claimed. Indian H-1B visa holders can now opt to apply from third countries such as the United Arab Emirates amid long appointment backlogs at US consulates in India, provided they hold valid residency permits.One Indian citizen […]

‘Rot in hell’: Trump unleashes fury on Jared Polis, Dan Rubinstein over Tina Peters’ imprisonment

US President Donald Trump ripped Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein and said that they should “rot in hell” over the incarceration of former election clerk Tina Peters.“God Bless Tina Peters, who is now, for two years out of nine, sitting in a Colorado Maximum Security Prison, at the age […]

Zohran Mamdani to use Quran at swearing-in: First NYC Mayor to do so; will feature 3 unique Qurans

Zohran Mamdani will make history on January 1 as the first New York City mayor to place his hand on the Quran during his swearing-in ceremonies. Mamdani, who represents a range of demographics not seen before in the mayor’s office—South Asian, millennial, and Muslim—will use at least three unique Qurans for his ceremonies, according to […]

Explained: Who is Alaa Abd el-Fattah, and why is his return to the UK making headlines | World News

For years, Alaa Abd el-Fattah was one of the West’s most familiar symbols of Arab Spring idealism crushed by authoritarian rule. A blogger jailed for dissent, a hunger-striking political prisoner, and a cause taken up by foreign ministers and human-rights groups, his name came to stand for Egypt’s long democratic winter.That story was meant to […]

‘A new era’: Zohran Mamdani appoints al Qaeda detainee’s lawyer Ramzi Kassem as NYC chief counsel – who is he?

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced the appointment of lawyer Ramzi Kassem as New York City’s chief counsel, the city’s top legal position. Kassem, whose past legal work includes representing Ahmed al-Darbi in an al–Qaeda–related terrorism case, will assume the role when Mamdani takes office on January 1.“Welcome to A New Era, Ramzi […]