New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a personal letter to activist Umar Khalid, who is in jail in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots case. The undated note was shared online by Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri. In the message, Mamdani said he often thinks of Khalid’s words about not letting bitterness take over. Khalid was arrested in September 2020 under the Unlawful Activities Act and has been in Tihar jail since then. He was recently given short bail to attend his sister’s wedding. Khalid’s father is reported to have met Mamdani in the United States last month. (PC: X)

Lab tests have found that polluted drinking water caused a vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, killing nine people and sickening over 1,400, officials said. The cases were reported from Bhagirathpura area. Health officers said a leak in the main supply pipe allowed waste to enter the water line. A toilet was built above the damaged section, they added. Authorities have started checking the full pipeline and sent more samples for tests. Clean water was restored on Thursday, but residents were told to boil it first. The National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the state government on the deaths. (PC: India Today)

Search teams are still looking for victims after a major fire at a bar in Switzerland on New Year’s Eve. About 40 people were killed and at least 115 were injured, officials said. Many families are waiting for news as authorities warn that identification may take days or even weeks. Around 60 people are being treated at Sion hospital, with others in nearby centres. Several patients are in critical condition. Swiss President Guy Parmelin said the blaze was among the worst tragedies in the country. Investigators have not confirmed the cause. Some witnesses believe flames spread from candles placed on a champagne bottle. (PC: BBC)

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor just after midnight on the steps of City Hall. He told a large crowd that voters had changed politics in the city. Quoting a supporter in Urdu, he said, “People’s hearts have changed.” Mamdani pledged to serve all residents, including those who did not vote for him. He said New York should belong to people of every language, faith, and background. On his first day, he signed orders to revive the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and set up two task forces to speed up housing projects and cut permit delays. (PC: India Today)

At least seven people were reported dead in clashes between protesters and security forces in several Iranian cities this week. The protests began in Tehran on December 27 after shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and weak growth. They later spread to towns in Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Isfahan provinces. State media said a Basij member was killed in Kouhdasht. Police arrested dozens of people in Tehran and other areas. Videos showed crowds shouting slogans such as “Mullahs must leave Iran.” President Masoud Pezeshkian said people have real economic demands and urged steps to improve living conditions. (PC: India Today)

Myanmar’s 2026 election, orchestrated by the military since the 2021 coup, is widely condemned as a sham designed to entrench junta control. While authorities claim it restores civilian rule, heavy restrictions on freedoms, pervasive surveillance, and widespread intimidation dominate daily life, especially in Yangon. Popular parties like Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy remain banned, leaving voters with little choice. Citizens face pressure to participate amid ongoing civil conflict and economic hardship. Observers argue that true democracy remains impossible under the junta, with genuine political change dependent on sustained resistance and international pressure. (PC: AFP)

Widespread protests have erupted across Iran as shopkeepers, traders and university students demonstrate against sharp inflation, economic stagnation and the plunging rial currency. At least seven people have been killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators since the unrest began, with reports of several buildings — including administrative structures and bazaars — severely damaged amid stone-throwing and confrontations. The demonstrations, which started in Tehran and spread to other cities, reflect deep frustration with soaring prices and deteriorating living standards, intensified by long-standing sanctions and economic mismanagement. Authorities have made multiple arrests as tensions continue. (PC: AFP)

An Indian professional returned to Bengaluru after seven years in the United States, sharing his reverse migration experience on Reddit. The man cited visa uncertainties, aging parents, and inability to envision permanent settlement as reasons for returning. Despite family warnings about regret, he reports no second thoughts and doesn't plan returning soon. He acknowledged India's challenges including poor air quality, littering, and bureaucratic hurdles, but noted the US equally faces homelessness, gun violence, and racism. Significantly, he found traffic congestion and work-life balance comparable between Bengaluru and major American cities like Houston, Denver, and Boston. He described Kannadigas as warm and welcoming, emphasizing the substantial gap between online narratives and lived reality, advising prospective returnees to treat social media commentary skeptically. (PC: X)

Marriage to an American citizen no longer guarantees a US Green Card, warns immigration attorney Brad Bernstein. Under the Trump administration, marriage-based Green Card applications face heightened scrutiny, with officials emphasizing genuine relationships over legal paperwork. Bernstein, with over 30 years' experience, stresses that cohabitation not just marriage is essential for approval. Couples living separately risk immediate application rejection, as US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assesses relationships' totality to determine "good faith" marriages. Immigration officers disregard reasons for living apart, whether work, school, or financial constraints. The development follows Trump's comprehensive Green Card review for permanent residents from 19 "countries of concern" and suspension of the Diversity Visa Lottery program, reflecting stricter immigration pathways and increased marriage fraud investigations. (PC: X)

At least 40 people are presumed dead and approximately 100 injured following a devastating fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a luxury Swiss Alps ski resort, during New Year's celebrations. The blaze erupted shortly after midnight as revellers welcomed 2026. Swiss police have ruled out terrorism but investigations continue into the exact cause, with speculation surrounding pyrotechnics used during a concert. The tragedy represents one of Switzerland's worst peacetime disasters in recent years. Emergency responses overwhelmed local hospital facilities, including intensive care units. Foreign nationals are among the casualties. A temporary no-fly zone was imposed, and the area remains cordoned off. Authorities established a reception center and helpline for victims' families as identification efforts proceed.