The White House said the United States is keeping the option of airstrikes against Iran if the country's violent suppression of anti-government protests continues. Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt told reporters on Monday that Washington is deeply concerned about the rising casualties on Iranian streets. She emphasized that while military options remain on the table, diplomatic channels are still open, reflecting President Donald Trump’s stated preference for diplomatic solutions first.

Leavitt noted that President Trump’s leadership style involves keeping all options open, including airstrikes. She also revealed that Iran’s leadership is sending mixed messages, speaking differently in private communications than in public statements. The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations, a secret communication channel exists between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Human rights organizations reported that the death toll in Iran continues to rise, while internet shutdowns have limited information flow from inside the country. Leavitt acknowledged that Trump does not want to see people killed in Tehran’s streets but said that, unfortunately, such violence is ongoing.

Louise Adler, director of Adelaide Writers’ Week, resigned on Tuesday after the festival’s board cancelled the participation of Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah. The decision sparked widespread backlash, with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and many writers and guests boycotting the event. According to local media, around 180 artists and participants have withdrawn their names from the festival.

Adler said she resigned in protest against what she described as extreme and repressive pressure from pro-Israel lobbies. In an open letter published in The Guardian, she wrote that art is being labeled as unsafe and artists are being portrayed as threats to society. She argued that repeated references to “security” were being used to suppress dissent and that such reasoning was applied only to the Palestinian invitee.

The festival board stated that its decision followed the December 14 Bondi Beach shooting at a Jewish festival that left 15 people dead. Abdel-Fattah condemned the move as blatant anti-Palestinian racism and called attempts to link her to the violence “vile and baseless.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday, according to a U.S. administration official cited by AFP. The meeting comes as pressure mounts on Venezuela’s interim government to accelerate the release of political prisoners. Under President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, the Venezuelan government has freed 116 detainees, though human rights groups report that only about 50 of an estimated 800 to 1,200 prisoners have actually been released.

The U.S. administration has expressed support for Machado, and Trump’s meeting is seen as a signal of Washington’s continued involvement in Venezuela’s political crisis. Trump has also warned interim President Delcy Rodríguez that failure to comply with U.S. directives ensuring access to Venezuelan oil could bring consequences.

Observers view the upcoming meeting as significant for the future of Washington–Caracas relations and the broader Venezuelan political situation.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on goods from countries maintaining trade relations with Iran. The declaration was made on January 12 through a post on Truth Social, where Trump said the decision would take immediate effect. Analysts view the move as part of Washington’s strategy to increase pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests in Iran entered their third week.

Trump did not clarify what constitutes 'doing business with Iran,' though China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and India are identified as major trading partners of the country. The White House has yet to specify which nations or products will be most affected. The announcement follows Trump’s earlier warning of possible military intervention if violence against Iranian protesters continues. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that airstrike options remain under consideration.

The protests, driven by Iran’s deepening economic crisis, have resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to human rights monitors. Internet restrictions have made it difficult to verify information from inside Iran, while Trump claimed Iranian officials have reached out for talks but warned that the U.S. may act before any meeting occurs.

Meta has deactivated more than 540,000 Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts in Australia following the country’s new social media ban for users under 16. The U.S. technology company stated that between December 4 and 11, it removed 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts believed to be operated by minors. The action came after Australia implemented the world’s first full prohibition on social media use by children under 16, effective December 10.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Australian government’s decision bars minors from creating, using, or maintaining profiles on major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. In a blog post, Meta said it seeks constructive dialogue with the government to explore safer, privacy-preserving, and age-appropriate online experiences instead of a total ban. The company emphasized that a unified industry standard for age verification is still lacking.

Meta reaffirmed its commitment to comply with Australian law but expressed concern over the absence of clear and consistent age determination standards across the industry.

A Russian commander has claimed that his unit shot down a US-made F-16 fighter jet operated by Ukraine. In an interview broadcast on Russia-1 TV, the commander, identified as Sevar, said the aircraft was the most attractive target for his unit. According to him, two missiles were fired at the jet, with the first damaging it and the second delivering the final strike. Sevar stated that the operation took considerable preparation time and that his team had been tracking the aircraft before it entered their target zone. He did not specify when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly carried out separate attacks on three Russian oil extraction facilities in the Caspian Sea and launched drone strikes on the city of Voronezh. The governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, confirmed that one woman was killed and three others were injured in the drone attack. Several drones were shot down over the city, but casualties could not be avoided. The extent of damage to the Caspian oil facilities remains unclear.

The developments highlight continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides reporting strikes across multiple fronts.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed special forces commanders to prepare a plan for a possible attack on Greenland, according to a report by the UK-based Daily Mail published on Sunday. The report states that Trump issued the order to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as part of an effort to secure the island before China or Russia could take control of it.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reportedly opposed the move, arguing that such an action would be illegal and unlikely to gain congressional approval. Meanwhile, leaders of Greenland’s political parties said on Friday that they do not wish to become part of either the United States or Denmark, emphasizing their desire to remain Greenlandic.

At a White House event on Friday, Trump said the United States would act in Greenland regardless of local approval, asserting that inaction could allow Russia or China to seize the island. He added that the U.S. would not accept either country as a neighbor.

The Trump administration has become divided over how to respond to ongoing protests in Iran, with discussions reportedly covering options such as sanctions, cyber measures, and potential military action. According to reports from TRT World and The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump is expected to be briefed on Tuesday by senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Kane.

A senior U.S. military official told The New York Times that any potential strike would require more time for troop deployment and defensive preparations against possible Iranian retaliation. Officials have warned that military action could produce unintended consequences, including uniting the Iranian public behind their government or triggering regional escalation. Lawmakers from both major U.S. parties have also questioned whether military action is the best course, with some senators expressing caution in recent interviews.

The protests in Iran began in late December over the sharp devaluation of the rial and worsening economic conditions. Trump has publicly warned Tehran against suppressing demonstrators, while Iranian officials have dismissed his comments as reckless interference.

The Australian government has advised its citizens currently in Iran to leave the country immediately due to fears that the situation could deteriorate rapidly amid ongoing protests. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued an updated travel advisory warning that while commercial flights out of Iran are still available, they are becoming increasingly limited. The advisory cautioned that airspace closures and flight cancellations could soon make departure impossible.

According to the DFAT notice, anyone choosing to remain in Iran despite the government’s advice will be responsible for their own safety. Citizens were urged to prepare for extended sheltering by securing adequate supplies of water, food, and essential medicine. The advisory was issued in response to the uncertainty surrounding the protests and the broader security environment in Iran.

Authorities emphasized that the warning reflects the unpredictable nature of the current unrest and the potential for further disruption to travel and safety conditions.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Cuba to come under a deal immediately or face unspecified consequences. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he announced the suspension of all oil and financial flows from Venezuela to Havana, declaring that Cuba would receive “zero” oil or money. Trump strongly advised the Cuban authorities to reach an agreement without delay.

The warning came a week after a U.S. military operation in Caracas aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York. Reports said several members of Venezuelan and Cuban security forces were killed in that operation. Trump also reposted a message suggesting that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio could one day become president of communist-run Cuba, commenting that the idea “sounded good” to him.

Trump further claimed that Cuba had long received large amounts of oil and money from Venezuela in exchange for providing security assistance to its leadership, but stated that this arrangement would now end. He added that most Cuban members guarding Maduro were killed in the recent operation, asserting that Venezuela no longer needed such support.

Tens of thousands of people marched through Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The demonstration was part of more than 1,000 rallies planned across the United States opposing President Donald Trump’s militarised anti-immigration campaign. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Abolish ICE” and “No justice, no peace,” while Minnesota leaders urged participants to remain peaceful. The protests followed video evidence that appeared to contradict official claims that Good had threatened the officer who shot her.

The social movement group Indivisible said hundreds of demonstrations were held in states including Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida. The rallies, many under the banner “ICE Out for Good,” aimed to mourn lives lost to ICE actions and demand accountability. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reported 29 arrests overnight and reiterated that while most protests were peaceful, property damage would not be tolerated. Three Minnesota congresswomen—Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig—were denied access to an ICE facility in Minneapolis, accusing agents of obstructing congressional oversight.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of Trump’s immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities, with local officials calling for ICE’s removal from Minneapolis.

A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said on Sunday. Governor Alexander Gusev reported that a young woman died overnight in hospital after debris from a drone fell on a house. More than ten apartment buildings, private homes, and a high school were damaged. Gusev added that air defences shot down 17 drones over the city, describing the incident as one of the heaviest drone attacks since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the Voronezh attack but has previously said it targets sites inside Russia to disrupt Moscow’s war effort and respond to repeated missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The assault followed Russia’s launch of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile on Friday at a site in Ukraine near NATO member Poland, which European allies viewed as an attempt to discourage continued support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations with the United States were ongoing. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russia launched 154 drones overnight into Sunday, with 125 intercepted by Ukrainian defences.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signaled a willingness to use force regarding Greenland, disregarding Denmark’s sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic island. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said he preferred to reach an agreement on Greenland “the easy way,” but warned that if that failed, the United States would proceed “the hard way.” He described control of the resource-rich island as vital to U.S. national security, citing increased Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic.

Trump stated that the United States would not allow Russia or China to take over Greenland, asserting that if Washington did not act, those powers would. His remarks drew surprise from Denmark and other European allies. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that any aggression in Greenland would end “everything,” including NATO and the post–World War II security framework.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and Greenlandic representatives to discuss the issue.

Thousands of people across the United States took to the streets on Saturday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. Demonstrators demanded the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, with protests spreading from Minneapolis to major cities including New York, Los Angeles, El Paso, Washington DC, Boston, and others.

In Minneapolis, about a thousand people gathered outside a hotel on Friday night, where some threw ice and stones at police officers, slightly injuring one officer. Several protesters were detained but later released. In Austin, Texas, demonstrators rallied outside a federal building carrying placards calling for an end to ICE and its alleged abuses. Similar protests were held outside the White House and in Philadelphia, where participants voiced fears that such incidents could recur and urged legislative reform of ICE.

The widespread demonstrations reflect growing public anger over immigration enforcement practices and calls for systemic change within the agency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to safeguard funds from Venezuelan oil sales held in U.S. Treasury accounts following the ouster of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The White House said the order, signed on Friday, declares a national emergency to prevent the oil revenues from being seized by courts or creditors, describing the move as necessary to advance U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.

The decision followed a meeting in Washington where Trump urged top oil executives to invest in Venezuela. However, executives responded cautiously, with ExxonMobil’s chief calling the country “uninvestable without major reforms.” ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips had previously withdrawn from Venezuela in 2007 after refusing nationalization demands by then-president Hugo Chávez and are still pursuing legal claims against the country. Chevron remains the only U.S. company licensed to operate there.

According to the White House, the protection of Venezuelan oil revenues aims to prevent disruptions to U.S. efforts supporting Venezuela’s economic and political stability. The order came a week after U.S. forces reportedly captured Maduro in a nighttime raid in Caracas that left several Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel dead.