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Iran Protests Over Inflation Leave At Least 16 Dead

Iran Protests Over Inflation Leave At Least 16 Dead

January 4, 2026 9:49 am

At least 16 people have been killed across Iran during a week of nationwide protests, according to rights groups, as demonstrations over soaring inflation escalated into violent confrontations between protesters and security forces.

Deaths and hundreds of arrests have been reported by both Iranian state media and independent rights organizations, though figures vary and could not be independently verified. The unrest marks the largest wave of protests in Iran in three years, emerging amid deep economic strain and rising international pressure on Tehran.

The demonstrations began among bazaar merchants and shopkeepers before expanding to university students and residents in provincial …

Reuters/Myanmar Post-Coup Election Results Show Junta Party Lead

Myanmar Post-Coup Election Results Show Junta Party Lead

January 3, 2026 3:27 am

Myanmar’s military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) emerged as the clear frontrunner in early results from the country’s first general election since the 2021 coup, according to figures released by state media.

Partial tallies from the initial phase of voting show the junta-backed party securing an overwhelming share of seats, underscoring the military’s grip on the political process despite low voter turnout and widespread international criticism.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) announced results from 56 constituencies, revealing that the USDP—led largely by retired military officers—won 38 of the 40 lower house seats counted so far in the Pyithu …

Saudi Arabia Calls Yemen Southern Factions To Riyadh Talks

Saudi Arabia Calls Yemen Southern Factions To Riyadh Talks

January 3, 2026 3:07 am

Saudi Arabia called for urgent talks among Yemen’s southern political and military factions in Riyadh, after a sharp escalation in fighting exposed an unprecedented rift between Riyadh and its longtime ally, the United Arab Emirates.

The appeal followed days of clashes in southern Yemen that have pitted Saudi-backed government forces against UAE-supported separatists, raising fears the conflict could fracture the anti-Houthi alliance and destabilize territory along Saudi Arabia’s border.

In a statement published on social media, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry urged the Yemeni government to convene “a comprehensive conference in Riyadh” bringing together all southern factions to seek “just solutions …

BBC/Trump Warning on Iran Protests Draws Fierce Tehran Response

Trump Warning On Iran Protests Draws Fierce Tehran Response

January 3, 2026 2:39 am

Iran’s foreign minister has condemned a warning issued by U.S. President Donald Trump over the treatment of protesters, calling the remarks “reckless and dangerous” as demonstrations over economic hardship continue across the country.

The comments came after Trump said the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities killed peaceful demonstrators, a statement that sharply escalated rhetoric at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In a brief social media post on Friday, Trump said Washington would “come to their rescue” if protesters were violently targeted, adding that the U.S. was “locked and loaded and ready to go.” …

Bolsonaro House Arrest Ruling Denied After Hospital Discharge

Bolsonaro House Arrest Ruling Denied After Hospital Discharge

January 2, 2026 3:30 am

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was returned to custody in Brasilia after being discharged from hospital, hours after a Supreme Court justice rejected his request to serve his sentence under humanitarian house arrest.

Bolsonaro, 70, had been hospitalized for medical procedures to treat a hernia and persistent hiccups. Once doctors cleared him for discharge, he was transferred to the Federal Police Superintendency, where he is serving a 27 year prison sentence for plotting a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election, according to Reuters.

The decision underscores the court’s firm stance as Brazil continues to reckon with the …

Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak Kills Nine After Water Contamination

Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak Kills Nine After Water Contamination

January 2, 2026 3:04 am

At least nine people have died and more than 200 others have been hospitalized in Indore after a diarrhoea outbreak that local officials say was caused by contaminated drinking water in one neighborhood of the central Indian city.

Health authorities said the outbreak was traced to a leak in a water pipeline in the Bhagirathpur area, where tests later confirmed bacterial contamination. Emergency measures are now underway as officials try to contain the spread and prevent further illnesses.

The situation has drawn attention because Indore, located in Madhya Pradesh state, has been ranked India’s cleanest city for eight consecutive years …

Reuters/Kim Jong Un Daughter Ju Ae Appears At Kumsusan Mausoleum

Kim Jong Un Daughter Ju Ae Appears At Kumsusan Mausoleum

January 2, 2026 2:46 am

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared alongside his wife and daughter at the country’s most sacred mausoleum on New Year’s Day, marking the first time his child, Ju Ae, has been shown paying respects to past leaders in a highly symbolic public setting.

State media photographs released on Friday showed Ju Ae standing between her parents inside the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, where the embalmed bodies of state founder Kim Il Sung and former leader Kim Jong Il lie in state. Analysts say the appearance adds to growing signs that Kim’s daughter is being gradually introduced …

Venus Williams Australian Open Return Confirmed With Wildcard

Venus Williams Australian Open Return Confirmed With Wildcard

January 2, 2026 2:19 am

Venus Williams is set to return to the Australian Open after tournament organizers confirmed she has been awarded a wildcard entry, marking her first appearance at Melbourne Park in five years.

The seven time Grand Slam champion last competed at the Australian Open in 2021, when she was eliminated in the second round by Italy’s Sara Errani. Her comeback at the season’s first major will also see her make history as the oldest woman ever to appear in the Australian Open main draw.

“I am excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the summer,” Williams …

Xi Jinping Hosts South Korean President Amid Regional Strain

Xi Jinping Hosts South Korean President Amid Regional Strain

January 2, 2026 1:45 am

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit beginning Sunday, a move widely seen as Beijing’s effort to tighten ties with Seoul as regional tensions rise over Taiwan and relations with Japan remain strained.

The visit comes barely two months after Xi and Lee last met, an unusually short gap for top level diplomacy that highlights China’s urgency in strengthening political and economic links with South Korea. Analysts say the timing also reflects Beijing’s desire to engage Seoul ahead of Lee’s expected visit to Japan.

China and Japan relations have …

Machu Picchu Train Head-On Collision Kills 1, Dozens Injured

Machu Picchu Train Head-On Collision Kills 1, Dozens Injured

January 1, 2026 6:27 am

A head-on crash between two tourist trains near Machu Picchu has killed one person and injured around 40 others, halting rail service to the famed Inca citadel, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The collision involved Inca Rail S.A. and PeruRail S.A. trains traveling on the single-track line that carries more than 1.5 million visitors each year to the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The victim has been identified as the conductor of one of the trains. Around 40 passengers sustained injuries, with at least 20 reported in serious condition. Foreign tourists were among those hurt, highlighting the international significance of the accident.

Emergency …

Reuters/Keir Starmer New Year Message Promises Change In 2026

Keir Starmer New Year Message Promises Change In 2026

January 1, 2026 3:19 am

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his New Year message to promise that Britain is turning a corner, saying the country will begin to feel tangible improvements in daily life during 2026 after years of strain.

Speaking as his government enters a challenging second year in office, Starmer said his goal was to “defeat the decline and division offered by others” and restore a sense of confidence after what he called a long period of difficulty for many households.

The prime minister acknowledged public frustration with the speed of progress, noting that economic and social pressures did not emerge overnight. …

Russia - Ukraine Peace Deal Is 90% Ready, Ukraine Says

Russia – Ukraine Peace Deal Is 90% Ready, Ukraine Says

January 1, 2026 3:08 am

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a potential peace agreement with Russia is close to completion, telling the nation in a New Year address that negotiations are “90 percent ready” as the war approaches its fourth year.

Speaking from Kyiv, Zelensky said the final phase of any deal would be decisive not only for Ukraine but for Europe as a whole. “The remaining 10 percent will determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine, and the fate of Europe,” he said.

Zelensky used his address to underline that Kyiv wants an end to the war but not at the expense …

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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