Italy has summoned Iran’s ambassador in protest against the Iranian government’s violent suppression of ongoing demonstrations. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he called in Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sabouri to express Italy’s condemnation of the use of force against protesters. Tajani stated that repression of citizens is unacceptable and emphasized that dialogue cannot justify violence against civilians.

According to the report, large-scale anti-government protests have been taking place in Iran since December 28, triggered by a severe economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency. The Iranian government has accused the United States and Israel of instigating the unrest. Iran has also officially acknowledged for the first time that around 2,000 people have died in the security forces’ crackdown on the protests.

The diplomatic move by Italy adds to growing international concern over Iran’s handling of the demonstrations, highlighting tensions between Tehran and Western governments over human rights and internal repression.

Iran may carry out the death sentence of Erfan Soltani today, a 26-year-old arrested last week in Karaj for alleged involvement in ongoing anti-government protests. Soltani was among thousands detained during the demonstrations. Within less than a week, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, according to The Guardian.

Amnesty International expressed concern over Soltani’s case, warning that Iranian authorities might again be using rapid trials and executions to suppress dissent. The organization said officials informed Soltani’s family of his sentence on January 11. Due to widespread protests and internet shutdowns, Soltani has reportedly been unable to contact his loved ones.

Observers note that Iran is the world’s second-highest executor after China. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization reported that at least 1,500 people were executed in Iran last year, highlighting the country’s extensive use of capital punishment.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 17 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Charaldanga border in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj on Tuesday night. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained them early Wednesday near Shibnagar Bazar, about three kilometers from the border. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commanding officer of BGB’s 16th Battalion, confirmed the incident.

According to BGB, the group—comprising eight men, five women, and four children—are residents of Khulna and Jashore. They had previously entered India illegally and were arrested by Indian police. The detainees served three years in Agra jail before being released upon completion of their sentences. After their release, Indian police handed them over to BSF, which then pushed them back into Bangladesh.

Following their detention, BGB handed the 17 individuals over to Gomastapur police for further legal procedures.

Reports from Assam’s Nagaon district describe repeated forced deportations of Bengali-origin Muslims to Bangladesh. A 31-year-old resident, Hasan Ali, told media outlet The Scroll that his father, 58-year-old farmer Taher Ali, was pushed across the border three times in eight months after being declared a ‘foreigner’ by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunal. The tribunal, which has stripped thousands of residents of citizenship, often issued unilateral rulings without hearing the accused. Since May last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has allegedly bypassed legal deportation procedures, using the 1950 law to expel declared foreigners at gunpoint during the night.

Bangladesh has refused to accept these individuals, leaving many trapped in a cycle of pushback and return. At least seven residents were reportedly forced across the border in December, only to be denied entry and later detained by Bangladeshi authorities. Legal experts and observers told The Scroll that Assam’s policy violates both constitutional and international norms. An Oxford researcher described the situation as the creation of statelessness, with people being treated like ‘tennis balls’ between two nations.

The Indian Border Security Force and Home Ministry did not respond to inquiries about the legality or nationality verification process behind these expulsions.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned Israel that it could be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it does not reverse actions taken against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). In a letter sent on January 8 to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Guterres demanded that Israel repeal laws restricting UNRWA’s operations, return seized assets, and restore access to essential services.

Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from engaging with the agency. The law was later amended to cut electricity and water supplies to UNRWA centers. Israeli authorities also seized the agency’s East Jerusalem office, an area the UN considers occupied territory, though Israel claims the entire city as its own.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected Guterres’s letter, saying Israel would not be intimidated and accusing UNRWA of links to terrorism. UN officials and the Security Council have described UNRWA as vital to humanitarian operations in Gaza. The ICJ previously stated that Israel has obligations to ensure Gaza’s civilians’ basic needs, though its opinions are not legally binding.

The United States has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department identified the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists,' while the State Department blacklisted the Lebanese branch as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (FTO). The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in November to blacklist these groups.

According to the Trump administration, the decision was taken due to the Brotherhood’s alleged support for the Palestinian group Hamas and involvement in activities opposing Israeli interests in the Middle East. The Treasury Department stated that although the Brotherhood presents itself as a legitimate social organization, it directly assists terrorist groups like Hamas. The State Department added that the designation would cut off the Brotherhood’s financial sources and bar its members from entering the United States.

Senator Marco Rubio described the action as the first step in a long-term effort to counter the Brotherhood’s violent and destabilizing activities worldwide. The decision effectively freezes the organizations’ financial transactions and imposes a permanent entry ban on their members.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington will take 'very severe measures' if Iran begins executing protesters detained during the ongoing demonstrations. He did not specify what actions the United States might take. The statement, delivered on Tuesday, drew a sharp response from Tehran, which accused Washington of using the warning as a pretext for potential military intervention, according to AFP.

Human rights organizations reported that thousands have been killed during the crackdown on protests, which analysts describe as one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s religious leadership in years. The Iranian mission to the United Nations said on social media that U.S. strategies aimed at regime change have failed before and will fail again, accusing Washington of using sanctions, threats, and unrest to justify intervention.

Iranian authorities claimed they have regained control after several nights of mass protests, while rights groups alleged that security forces shot demonstrators and shut down the internet for over five days to conceal the scale of repression. Tehran prosecutors said some detainees were charged as 'enemies of God' and face possible death sentences.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometers from Bangkok, as the train was traveling from the capital toward the northeast. The crane, used in the construction of a high-speed rail line, suddenly fell onto one of the train’s carriages, causing it to derail and briefly catch fire.

Provincial police chief Thachaporn Chinnawong confirmed the death toll and said the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities reported that the fire was quickly brought under control and rescue operations began immediately after the incident.

Thai officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. The total number of passengers on board at the time of the accident remains unclear, according to police.

France and Canada have advised their citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing a rapidly deteriorating political and security environment. Both governments warned that the situation has become increasingly dangerous for foreigners as tensions rise within Iran and across the region.

According to a statement from the Canadian government, ongoing anti-government protests, regional instability, and the risk of arbitrary detention make travel or stay in Iran unsafe. Canada also acknowledged that its ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is severely limited. France’s foreign ministry issued a similar alert, noting that internal unrest and tensions involving the United States and Israel have heightened security risks. French nationals were urged to avoid non-essential travel, stay away from demonstrations, and follow guidance from the French embassy in Tehran.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to continue their protests, while Iran accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest, claiming that initially peaceful demonstrations were later infiltrated by armed groups.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen is scheduled to visit the White House on Wednesday to address rising tensions between Denmark and the United States over Greenland. The situation escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his intention to bring the autonomous Arctic island under American control, calling it essential for U.S. strategic interests. Rasmussen initiated the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, later joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, aiming to clear what he described as “misunderstandings.”

Trump recently dismissed Greenland’s wish to remain under Danish sovereignty, saying it was “their problem,” and declared that the U.S. would take Greenland “whether they like it or not.” Analysts noted that his stance hardened after a U.S. operation in Venezuela earlier this month. Both Denmark and Greenland have firmly opposed the plan, with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirming that the island does not want to be owned, governed, or integrated by the United States.

The meeting’s format remains uncertain, though experts suggested a closed session could reduce the risk of public confrontation if discussions turn tense.

Iran’s government has for the first time officially acknowledged that nearly 2,000 people have died during ongoing anti-government protests and subsequent security operations. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that both protesters and security personnel were among the dead, though no breakdown was provided. The official blamed individuals described as “terrorists” for the violence and resulting casualties.

Exiled media outlet Iran International disputed the government’s figure, reporting that at least 12,000 people were killed in recent crackdowns. It alleged that authorities shut down internet access nationwide and restricted information flow to conceal the true scale of casualties. The outlet said communication networks were disrupted, media outlets closed, and journalists and witnesses intimidated, making verification difficult.

According to Iran International, the dead were mostly under 30, and many were allegedly shot by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces. The report claimed the operations were planned under direct orders from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorization for lethal force issued by the National Security Council.

The United Nations has reported that at least 100 children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire began three months ago. The information was shared by UNICEF spokesperson James Elder during a press briefing in Geneva, according to AFP. He stated that since the ceasefire agreement was reached in early October, an average of one child per day—boy or girl—has died due to violence.

Elder explained that the deaths resulted from suicide drones, shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks. Despite the ceasefire, he said, the data clearly shows that children’s lives in Gaza remain in grave danger. The report underscores the continuing humanitarian risks faced by civilians, particularly children, even under a declared truce.

The United Nations’ findings highlight that the ceasefire has not brought full security to Gaza’s population, with ongoing violence continuing to claim young lives.

Qatar has warned that any further military escalation between the United States and Iran would not remain confined to the two countries but could have devastating consequences for the entire Gulf region. The warning came after Washington threatened military intervention in response to Iran’s harsh crackdown on ongoing anti-government protests. The statement was reported by AFP and delivered by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari at a press conference in Doha.

Al-Ansari said that any form of regional tension could have severe local and international repercussions, adding that Qatar is making every effort to prevent such a situation. He recalled that in June of the previous year, Iran attacked the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar following a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Qatar had mediated a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington after those unprecedented incidents.

Meanwhile, protests have spread across Iran since last Thursday, posing one of the biggest challenges to the country’s religious leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Human rights groups report rising casualties, with Iran Human Rights confirming at least 648 deaths and warning the actual toll could exceed 6,000.

Bangladesh has begun observing 'World Al-Quds Week' to express solidarity with the Palestinian liberation struggle and the oppressed people of Gaza. The weeklong program was formally announced on Tuesday at a seminar held at Jami'a Islamia Lalmatia Madrasa in Dhaka. The event began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and included the reading of a special message marking International Quds Week. The initiative in Bangladesh, titled 'Al-Quds Global Week Bangladesh,' is part of the international call by the Palestine Ulema Council and supported by Intifada Foundation Bangladesh.

Speakers at the seminar emphasized that the protection of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the liberation of Palestine are not merely regional issues but moral responsibilities for Muslims worldwide. The special message highlighted the need for unity among the global Muslim community and the active role of religious scholars in addressing the ongoing crisis in Palestine and Gaza.

The program concluded with prayers for peace and freedom for the oppressed Muslims in Palestine, Gaza, and across the world, led by the principal of Jami'a Islamia Lalmatia Madrasa, Maulana Mohammad Ismail.

Bangladesh has advanced five positions in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, ranking 95th globally. The index, published annually by London-based citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), shows that Bangladeshi citizens can now travel visa-free to 37 countries. In the previous edition, Bangladesh was ranked 100th. Singapore topped the list, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227 worldwide.

According to the report, Asian countries dominate the top positions. Japan and South Korea share second place, each allowing visa-free entry to 188 countries. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland jointly hold third place with access to 186 destinations. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway follow in fourth place with a score of 185. Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates share fifth place with a score of 184.

The index notes that the United Arab Emirates has shown the most progress in the past 20 years, adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 and moving up 57 ranks. Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with visa-free access to only 24 countries.