Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

The United States has started releasing Venezuelan funds that were frozen under sanctions, according to interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Speaking on state television from Caracas, Rodríguez said the assets owned by the Venezuelan people are being gradually freed and will be used to purchase medical equipment for hospitals from the United States and other countries. She did not specify the total amount being released.

Venezuela has been under strict US sanctions since 2019, following the disputed 2018 re-election of former president Nicolás Maduro. During Donald Trump’s first term, Washington froze large sums of Venezuelan assets abroad, which Maduro in 2022 claimed totaled about 30 billion dollars. After Maduro was ousted in a US military operation on January 3, Rodríguez’s interim government reached several agreements with Washington. Rodríguez said a framework of mutual respect and courtesy has been established with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As another sign of improving ties, the US announced that former diplomat Laura F. Dogu will serve as chargé d’affaires in Venezuela, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic relations severed in 2019.

Iran has announced the closure of its airspace over the Strait of Hormuz to conduct live-fire military exercises amid escalating regional tensions. According to a notice published on Tuesday, the drills will take place from January 27 to 29 within a circular area of five nautical miles in radius. The notice also stated that airspace up to 25,000 feet above ground level in the designated area will be restricted and considered hazardous during the exercise period.

The United States has said that all options, including military action, remain on the table in dealing with Tehran. In response, Iranian officials warned that any U.S. attack would be met with a “swift and extensive” reaction. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s energy supply passes.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander further cautioned that if neighboring countries allow their territory, airspace, or waters to be used for attacks against Iran, they will be regarded as enemies.

Iran has issued a warning to neighboring countries following the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in Middle Eastern waters. On Tuesday, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander stated that if any neighboring nation allows its territory, airspace, or waters to be used for attacks against Iran, Tehran will consider that country an enemy. The statement was reported by TRT World.

Mohammad Akbarzadeh, the IRGC Navy’s deputy for political affairs, emphasized that while neighboring states are considered friends, any cooperation in hostile actions would change that status. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that another naval fleet is moving toward Iran and expressed hope that Tehran would agree to a deal with Washington.

The increased US military activity in the Gulf region and Trump’s remarks have heightened concerns about potential escalation between Washington and Tehran. Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that any attack on their country would be met with a strong response and urged neighboring states not to allow their territories to be used for military operations against Iran.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the kingdom will not permit the use of its airspace or territory for any military operation against Iran. The statement came during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Saudi state news agency SPA on Tuesday, January 28, 2026. The crown prince emphasized that Saudi Arabia supports dialogue-based solutions to regional disputes and prioritizes diplomacy over conflict.

According to Iranian media, President Pezeshkian told the Saudi crown prince that Tehran welcomes any process under international law that helps avoid war. The United Arab Emirates had earlier announced a similar stance, refusing to allow its airspace or waters to be used for military actions against Iran. The developments come amid heightened regional tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a military armada was moving toward Iran, though he expressed hope it would not be used.

Human rights groups have alleged that thousands were killed in Iran’s recent protest crackdowns, calling it the worst since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, claims denied by Iranian authorities.

More than 1.8 million soldiers from Russia and Ukraine have been killed, wounded, or gone missing during nearly four years of war, according to a report by the U.S.-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The report, published on January 28, 2026, found that Russian forces suffered significantly higher losses, with about 1.2 million affected, including over 325,000 killed and several thousand still missing. CSIS noted that no major military power has faced such heavy losses in any conflict since World War II.

Ukraine has also endured severe casualties, with more than 600,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing between February 2022 and December 2025. The report estimated Ukrainian military deaths between 100,000 and 140,000 during that period. CSIS warned that if the war continues, total casualties could reach around two million by spring 2026.

The conflict began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine following long-standing tensions over Crimea and Ukraine’s efforts to join NATO.

A United States–based human rights organization, Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), reported that more than 6,000 people have been killed in Iran amid a government crackdown on anti-regime protests. According to AFP, HRANA confirmed 5,848 deaths, including 209 security personnel, and warned that the actual toll could be higher, with 17,091 additional cases still under verification. The protests, which began in late December over economic grievances, have evolved into a nationwide movement against Iran’s Islamic governance.

International human rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of using extreme force, including live ammunition against demonstrators. To suppress information, the government imposed an 18-day internet shutdown, which monitoring group NetBlocks described as an unprecedented “internet blackout” in Iran’s history. The unrest has also heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, with U.S. President Donald Trump signaling a tougher stance and deploying a naval fleet to the region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned it would deliver a “crushing response” to any foreign aggression and urged the U.S. not to interfere in its internal affairs. HRANA reported over 41,000 arrests, while Iran’s government claimed 3,117 deaths. AFP noted that casualty figures remain unverified due to restricted access and communication blackouts.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has made multiple attempts to contact Washington to discuss possible negotiations, even as the United States strengthens its military presence in the Middle East. In an interview with Axios on Monday, Trump said a large US naval fleet is stationed near Iran and described the situation as uncertain and changing. He asserted that Tehran wants to make a deal and has called several times to initiate talks.

The United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the region, according to the US Central Command, which stated that the move aims to reinforce regional security and stability. The developments come amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran, following widespread anti-government protests in Iran last month triggered by economic hardship and the sharp fall of the Iranian rial.

Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of supporting armed rioters during the unrest and warned that any US attack would be met with a swift and comprehensive response.

The United States military confirmed on Monday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying warships have arrived in the Middle East, strengthening the country’s military presence and capabilities in the region. The deployment was ordered amid Iran’s harsh crackdown on widespread protests that began in late December over economic grievances and later turned into a major anti-government movement.

President Donald Trump initially considered but later withdrew a decision for direct military action against Iran, while maintaining that all options remain open. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X that the carrier strike group was deployed to reinforce regional security and stability. Trump told Axios that a powerful US naval fleet is positioned close to Iran and claimed Tehran has shown interest in dialogue. A senior US official also said Washington is ready to engage if Iran reaches out.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei warned against US interference, asserting confidence in Iran’s own capabilities and saying that such military displays cannot weaken the nation’s resolve.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that Europe cannot ensure its own security without the United States. Speaking before European lawmakers in Brussels, Rutte urged NATO members to increase military spending, strengthen nuclear defense, and maintain the ultimate guarantee of freedom. His remarks followed recent tensions over Greenland, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to seize the autonomous Danish territory but later withdrew the threat following discussions with Rutte.

Rutte praised Trump for pressing European nations to raise defense budgets and rejected proposals for a separate European defense force, arguing such a move would complicate matters and please Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said NATO would take greater responsibility for Arctic defense but emphasized that Greenland’s security remains a matter for Greenland and Denmark.

Referring to NATO’s sacrifices in Afghanistan, Rutte reminded that for every two U.S. soldiers lost, one allied or partner soldier also did not return home, underscoring America’s gratitude for allied contributions.

Nearly 50 migrants are feared dead after a boat carrying them sank in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a report by Malta’s Times of Malta on January 27, 2026. One survivor was rescued and taken to Malta for medical treatment. The Maltese military said the man had floated in the sea for about 24 hours before being rescued by a commercial ship heading toward Tunisia. He estimated that around 50 people on board drowned.

The boat had departed from the coast of Tunisia in North Africa, a common starting point for risky sea journeys toward Europe. Such incidents occur frequently as migrants from Asia and Africa attempt to cross the Mediterranean in small, unsafe boats. The nationalities of the rescued person and other passengers remain unknown.

According to the organization Missing Migrants, 33,326 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. So far this year, 26 people have been reported dead or missing, compared with 1,873 in 2025.

India has not yet responded to an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly formed Peace Board, which was launched in Davos, Switzerland. The country was notably absent from the charter signing ceremony, prompting speculation that New Delhi fears the board might intervene in the Kashmir dispute. The board was introduced by Trump as a global initiative extending beyond the Gaza ceasefire to address conflicts in other regions.

The Peace Board’s creation comes as the United States withdraws from several United Nations bodies, raising concerns that Trump aims to diminish the UN’s global relevance. Pakistan, India’s long-time rival, has already joined the board, which Indian media described as a warning signal for New Delhi. Analysts and former diplomats noted that if Trump includes Kashmir in his peace agenda, India could face difficulty opposing international peacekeeping involvement.

Former Indian envoys and UN officials cited in local media confirmed that Trump’s peace plan might be applied beyond Gaza, suggesting potential diplomatic challenges ahead for India.

The Israeli military announced that the body of Ran Gavili, the last hostage held in Gaza, has been recovered. Gavili, an Israeli police officer, was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and his body had remained in Gaza for over 840 days. The army said the body will be returned to Israel for burial. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recovery as an “incredible achievement” for the state and called Gavili a “national hero.”

The recovery fulfills a key condition in the initial phase of a U.S.-proposed plan to end the Gaza war, potentially paving the way for a limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. A U.S.-supported Palestinian technocrat committee indicated the crossing could reopen this week, though Israel has not commented. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group provided information that aided the recovery and reaffirmed its commitment to uphold all aspects of the agreement.

Gaza’s health authorities reported that more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during nearly two years of Israeli attacks. Israeli officials had previously opposed reopening Rafah until the last hostage’s body was returned.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Monday that it will not permit the use of its airspace, land, or waters for any hostile military action against Iran. The UAE’s foreign ministry also reaffirmed that it will not provide logistical support for any such attack. The statement, reported by Anadolu, emphasized dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for state sovereignty as the most effective means to address the current regional crisis.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran following anti-government protests in Iran triggered by the country’s worsening economic situation. U.S. media reported that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three destroyers have moved toward the Gulf of Oman amid fears of a potential strike on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a naval fleet is heading to the Middle East and that the situation is being closely monitored.

The U.S. administration has stated that all options, including military action, remain on the table, while Iran has warned of a swift and extensive response to any attack.

The United States has announced that citizens of Bangladesh and several other countries will now be eligible for single-entry visas valid for up to three months under a new visa bond pilot program. The US Embassy in Dhaka released details of the program on Monday, explaining that applicants deemed eligible after their visa interview will be instructed to pay a refundable bond through pay.gov within 30 days of visa approval.

According to the embassy, the program requires travelers to enter the US through designated airports—Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy, or Washington Dulles—and comply with all visa conditions, including not working and leaving the country on time. Failure to meet these conditions could result in forfeiture of the bond, which may be as high as 15,000 US dollars. The US State Department previously suspended immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, on January 7, and added Bangladesh to the visa bond list.

Analysts cited in the report noted that the new rule could make obtaining a US visa more expensive and complicated for Bangladeshi travelers.