People in Iran's capital shouted from their homes and rallied in the street Thursday night after a call by the country's exiled crown prince for a mass demonstration, witnesses said, a new escalation in the protests that have spread nationwide across the Islamic Republic. Internet access and telephone lines in Iran cut out immediately after the protests began. The protest represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fuelling the protests that began over Iran's ailing economy. Thursday saw a continuation of the demonstrations that popped up in cities and rural towns across Iran on Wednesday. More markets and bazaars shut down in support of the protesters. So far, violence around the demonstrations ha
Farmers drove about a hundred tractors into Paris on Thursday morning to protest the European Union's intention to move forward with a free trade deal with five South American nations, the French Interior Ministry said. French farmers for years have denounced the trade deal with the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, arguing that the deal would hurt French farmers' livelihoods. Thursday's protest was staged by the Rural Coordination union to put further pressure on France's government, which has opposed the deal. Jose Perez, President of the Rural Coordination in the Lot-et-Garonne region in southwestern France, said, The goal today is to come to Paris to express our demands closer to those who have the power. It's a strong symbol, he told The Associated Press. The Interior Ministry said about 20 tractors were in the Paris city centre, some at the Arc de Triomphe monument and others in the Eiffel Tower neighbourhood, despite a ban issued by ...
Protests over Iran's worsening economy have spread to more than 100 cities, leaving dozens dead and over 2,000 arrested as inflation surges and the rial hits record lows
Mukesh Awasti was all set leave for Australia to pursue a degree in civil engineering on a sunny day in September, but instead he joined a youth revolt against corruption in Nepal and lost his leg after being shot by security forces. Lying on a hospital bed at the National Trauma Center in the capital Kathmandu where his leg was amputated, 22-year-old Awasti said he regrets giving up so much for the little that has been achieved after the sacrifices of so many people. Violent protests in Kathmandu that began Sept. 8 left 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured before the demonstrations fueled by Gen Z activists forced the appointment on Sept. 12 of Nepal's first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge who has promised fresh elections in March. Since then, the interim government and its leader have come under criticism from many of the people who took part in the protests and expected major changes in the Himalayan nation. I am regretting my decision t
Animal rights activists and volunteers from various animal protection groups gathered for a peaceful demonstration at the Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the Supreme Court reconsider its recent order to remove street dogs from public spaces. The protest, held ahead of a hearing on the matter in the top court next week, saw around 30 participants holding placards with creative visuals to highlight their concerns, with one wearing a dog costume to draw public attention, the organisers said. One of the participants termed the Supreme Court order to relocate street dogs from schools, hospitals and transport hubs both impractical and inhumane, which will result in millions of dogs getting confined to shelters for life. On November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered to remove all stray dogs from railway stations, schools, hospitals, bus stops and other public areas, and relocate them to a designated shelter after due sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth .
Iran warned the US not to interfere in its protests after President Donald Trump's threat; an Iranian official said any US action would lead to 'chaos in entire region' and damage American interests
President Donald Trump warned Iran against killing peaceful protesters, saying US is 'locked and loaded' as protests over inflation, jobs and a currency crash spread across several cities
A Delhi court on Wednesday granted bail to one of the protesters arrested in connection with an agitation against air pollution at the India Gate on November 23, where slogans were allegedly raised in support of slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, saying he was not required for further investigation. Hearing the bail plea of Akshay E R, the court of District Judge Dharmendra Rana said, The applicant (Akshay) was arrested on November 23 and has been in continuous custody since then. It is submitted that the investigation is complete and thus no custodial detention of the applicant is required. The court noted that the co-accused in the case had been granted bail and that the accused had no past criminal antecedents. Considering the nature of the allegations, the period of incarceration, past criminal antecedents and on the ground of parity, the applicant is admitted to bail subject to furnishing of personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount, the court said. The ..
Unidentified gunmen on Monday shot in the head a second leader of Bangladesh's violent student-led 2004 uprising in the country's southwestern Khulna city, days after the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. "The Khulna Division head of NCP (National Citizen Party) and central coordinator of the party's workers front, Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, was shot a few minutes ago," NCP's joint principal coordinator Mahmuda Mitu said in a Facebook post. Mitu, a doctor, said Sarkar was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critical condition. The Kaler Kantha newspaper, quoting hospital sources, said Sarkar was shot on the left side of his head, and he was bleeding profusely when he was brought to the facility, where the doctors started emergency treatment. The attack came days after Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was shot in the head on December 12 by
The demonstration was held at the National Press Club premises, where several organisations that have long campaigned against attacks on minority communities gathered
Bangladesh Police on Sunday said they have no "specific information" on the whereabouts of the prime suspect in the killing of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The remarks came a day after Hadi's Inqilab Mancha party on Saturday issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the interim government, demanding "visible progress" in the arrest of those responsible for his killing. Addressing an emergency press conference at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khandaker Rafiqul Islam said law enforcement agencies are actively trying to locate Faisal Karim Masud, identified as the gunman in the shooting, the UNB news agency reported. We do not have specific information about Faisal's last location. Our forces and intelligence agencies are working to obtain it, he said, adding that there was no reliable information suggesting the suspect had left the country. The IGP cautioned that criminals often spread rumours about their whereabouts. Islam also said no .
Bangladesh is set to hold the funeral of a prominent youth leader on Saturday amid tight security following unrest in the country triggered by his death. The funeral prayer will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building at 2 pm, the press wing of the interim government of Bangladesh has announced. The government imposed a ban on flying drones in and around the Sangsad Bhaban during janaza, Prothomalo news portal reported. Those wishing to attending the funeral have been asked not to carry any bags or heavy objects with them, it added. In a social media post on Friday, Inqilab Mancha said, "Upon the family's wishes, a decision has been taken to bury Hadi beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and to hold his funeral prayer after Zuhr tomorrow at Manik Mia Avenue." The party also announced that there will be no public viewing of the body, and people were requested to pray for Hadi while maintaining order. Bangladesh's interim government on Friday u
Nepal's Gen-Z protests, a fragile Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump's return reshaped global politics in 2025, as nations grappled with unrest, wars and shifting alliances
The "Gen Z" protests and subsequent unrest killed 77 people and injured more than 2,000 in September
A clean sweep by any single political party is unlikely in Nepal's forthcoming elections, which could mark a return to the politics of loaves and fishes
More than 30 police personnel were injured when a group of villagers protesting against the expansion of an open-cast coal mine clashed with them and hurled stones in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, officials said. Some villagers were also injured in the face-off which occurred on Wednesday. Residents of Parsodi Kala village in the Bishrampur area have been opposing the extension of the Amera coal project of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, despite the land acquisition process being completed long back, the officials said. The SECL claimed in a statement that the villagers were instigated by a few persons who have vested interests and indulge in illegal activities like coal pilferage. After pacifying the villagers, mining activities resumed in the mine on Wednesday evening, the officials said. On learning about the protest, district officials along with police reached the site, which falls under the jurisdiction of Lakhanpur police station, ...
A Delhi court on Tuesday reserved its order on the bail pleas of seven accused persons in the Kartavya Path protest case for December 4. The protest took place outside the India Gate on November 23 over rising air pollution levels in the national capital. The protesters largely comprised students associated with the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) and Himkhand, an environmental research and action collective. They were accused of raising controversial slogans and using pepper spray on cops during the protest, which injured some police personnel trying to control the situation. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Aridaman Singh Cheema, reserved the order on the bail pleas after hearing the submissions by the investigating officer and the counsels for the accused. Delhi Police had earlier opposed the bail arguments and requested more time for custodial interrogation to uncover the conspiracy behind the controversial political slogans raised in support of slain Maoist ...
Scores of protesters took to the streets in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra town on Tuesday against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, demanding an immediate rollback of the proposed ropeway project, officials said. Locals of Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, have been opposing the Rs 250-crore ropeway project, which is proposed to connect Tarakote Marg with Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre steep track to the cave shrine in Reasi district. They claim the ropeway would adversely impact the livelihoods of over 60,000 families, particularly hoteliers, shopkeepers, pony operators, pithus and labourers who depend on the pilgrimage for daily income. Carrying placards, scores of men, women and children staged a protest march in Katra under the banner of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti. They raised slogans against the shrine board, demanding the rollback of the project. Leaders of the agitation claimed the project would severely affect local ponywalas, ..
A Delhi court on Monday remanded three protesters to three days of police custody in a case relating to the alleged use of pepper spray on police personnel during a demonstration at the India Gate over pollution last month. The trio was identified as Ravjot, Gurkirat and Kranti. The court also remanded seven other accused protesters to seven-day judicial custody. While Delhi Police requested 10 days of police custody for Ayisha Wafiya and three other women, the court granted them only three days of judicial custody. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Aridaman Singh Cheema passed the order, directing that the women be interrogated only by female investigating officers. The decision followed arguments from the defence counsel, who claimed the women had been subjected to rape threats and sexual harassment by male police officers. While arguing for police custody, Delhi Police said that some of the arrested students had attended a conference of the banned Radical Students' Union
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will intensify her offensive against the EC's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls with rallies in Malda and Murshidabad this week, followed by a major mobilisation in Cooch Behar next week, TMC sources said. This marks Banerjee's second phase of anti-SIR mobilisation after her Bongaon rally last week in the refugee-dominated Matua belt, where she alleged the revision drive was being misused to intimidate borderland families. The TMC is positioning her district-wise campaign as a counter to the BJP's "infiltrator-cleansing" narrative. The TMC leaders said the decision to hold consecutive rallies in Malda, Murshidabad on December 3, 4 and Cooch Behar on December 9, in three politically sensitive border districts with sizeable minority, migrant and displaced populations, signals a deliberate attempt to reclaim the narrative ahead of 2026, especially as the SIR exercise fuels unease over scrutiny of documents, identity and ...