More than 2,000 detained as Delhi protests demand India election chief’s resignation
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation o...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least 47 people were killed and more than 110 injured after a fire tore through a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations. The blaze broke out just after midnight at Le Constellation, triggering panic among revellers. Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation, ruled out terrorism and warned the death toll may rise as victims are identified, with several European countries taking in injured survivors.
Several people have been killed as nationwide protests in Iran over a collapsing currency and soaring prices escalated into violence across multiple provinces. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces were reported in western and central regions, with authorities and rights groups giving conflicting accounts of the deaths. The unrest, fuelled by inflation above 40% and the rial’s sharp fall, poses a growing challenge to Tehran despite government pledges of dialogue.
Zohran Mamdani has officially taken office as New York City’s mayor following a public swearing-in ceremony at City Hall, becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor and its first immigrant leader in decades. The 34-year-old democratic socialist pledged to tackle cost-of-living pressures, outlining priorities such as universal childcare, rent stabilisation and expanded public transport, as progressive leaders hailed his election as a historic shift for the city.
Venezuela has released 88 more people detained after protests over last year’s presidential election, marking the second mass release in two weeks as pressure mounts from Washington. The government says at least 187 detainees have now been freed, though rights groups dispute the figures and estimate around 900 political prisoners remain in custody, a claim Caracas denies.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of targeting civilians during New Year attacks, with Moscow reporting at least 24 deaths from a Ukrainian drone strike in Russian-controlled Kherson, while Kyiv said Russia launched more than 200 drones overnight, hitting energy infrastructure across seven regions. The renewed fighting comes as U.S.-led efforts intensify to push both sides toward ending the nearly four-year war.
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over disputed changes to voter lists.
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel exports, questioning why Moscow was granted an economic benefit without an apparent concession towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed surprise after Donald Trump mediated the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement in 2025, the U.S. President said at a rally in New York state on Friday.
The United Nations has condemned a sharp rise in attacks on civilians in Ukraine, reporting that more than 100 people were killed and at least 429 injured in a single week as Russian strikes hit residential areas, passenger buses and critical infrastructure.
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