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.

At least 18 people were killed and 24 remain missing after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank early Monday off the southern coast of the Philippines. The vessel, named MV Trisha Kerstin-3, sent a distress signal at 1:50 a.m. local time, about four hours after departing from Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island. The three-deck ferry went down roughly five kilometers east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province. The Philippine Coast Guard reported rescuing at least 317 people, while search and rescue operations continue.

Videos released by the Basilan governor showed survivors being carried on stretchers and wrapped in blankets, while bodies were removed in body bags. Coast Guard spokesperson Noemi Cayabyab said the sea was extremely rough at the time of the accident. Local rescue officials reported manpower shortages as they treated the injured, with at least 18 people hospitalized. The Coast Guard has ordered a maritime investigation but said rescue efforts remain the top priority.

The ferry was owned by Aleson Shipping Lines, which also operated a vessel that caught fire on the same route in 2023, killing 31 people. The company said it is coordinating with authorities and expressed concern for all aboard.

Israel announced on Monday that it will reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on a limited basis following the recovery of the last hostage’s body in Gaza. The Rafah crossing, a key route for humanitarian aid into Gaza, will initially allow only pedestrian movement under full Israeli inspection. The reopening decision follows U.S. pressure within the framework of the October ceasefire agreement and will take effect once all living hostages are returned and the bodies of the deceased are identified and repatriated.

Gaza administrator Ali Shaath said the crossing will open this week for limited two-way movement, describing Rafah as a lifeline for Palestinians. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida stated that information about the hostage’s body had been shared with mediators, guiding Israel’s search. The family of the recovered hostage, Ran Givili, opposed the reopening plan, demanding his return first.

The 2023 Hamas attack killed 1,221 people in Israel, while Israeli counterstrikes devastated Gaza, displacing millions and causing over 70,000 deaths, according to Gaza authorities.

Israel has launched new attacks in Gaza, breaking the existing ceasefire agreement. According to Anadolu Agency, three Palestinians were killed and six others injured in separate Israeli strikes on Sunday in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and the Shujaiya-Tuffah area of Gaza City. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces also targeted a building owned by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Jabalia, injuring two people. Earlier, one person was shot dead in the Tuffah neighborhood when Israeli troops opened fire on tents sheltering displaced civilians.

The report added that four pedestrians were injured in a drone strike in central Gaza City. Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that since the ceasefire in October, Israel has violated the agreement hundreds of times, resulting in at least 484 deaths and 1,321 injuries. Since October 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children.

The renewed attacks further undermine the fragile ceasefire and highlight the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where repeated strikes have caused extensive civilian casualties.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the reopening of the Rafah border crossing under the existing ceasefire agreement. He made the appeal during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, according to TRT World.

During the meeting, the two diplomats discussed bilateral relations and regional issues. A statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said they reviewed ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States and to enhance cooperation in political and economic fields. The talks also covered developments in Gaza, Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and Egypt’s water security.

Abdelatty emphasized the importance of implementing the second phase of the Trump peace plan in Gaza and highlighted the need to ensure Israeli troop withdrawal to facilitate rapid recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The Abu Amr family, originally from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, has been displaced more than 17 times since the start of Israel’s offensive. They now live in a tent beside piles of garbage in Gaza City’s Rimal district, struggling daily against pollution, illness, and indignity. Sixty-four-year-old Sayada Abu Amr, who suffers from asthma, said she keeps her inhaler under her pillow to survive the stench. Her daughter-in-law Suraiya described the near impossibility of maintaining hygiene amid water shortages and shared toilets, leading to frequent gastric illnesses.

Suraiya recalled that before the war, cleanliness was central to her life, but now she must live surrounded by filth. Her husband Salem said their children suffer from insects, foul odors, and contaminated floodwater that seeps into their tent during storms. The family has no spare clothes or clean water. Over two years of Israeli attacks have killed more than 71,000 Palestinians and destroyed or damaged nearly all structures in Gaza. Palestinians believe the destruction aims to make Gaza uninhabitable.

A second phase of ceasefire talks is underway under U.S. mediation, but reconstruction remains blocked by Israeli authorities, leaving residents fearful that sanitation and water systems will continue to collapse.