Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the right to protest in the United Kingdom has been severely restricted in recent years, with state control over peaceful demonstrators intensifying. The warning came through HRW’s report titled “Silencing the Streets: The Right to Protest Under Attack in the UK,” released in London and reported by AFP. The report noted that the UK is adopting strategies similar to countries where democratic safeguards and civil liberties are gradually eroding. Shortly after the report’s release, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained and later released during a protest supporting the banned Palestine Action group. Based on research from 2024 and 2025, HRW found that increasing numbers of people are being arrested, prosecuted, and even imprisoned for participating in peaceful demonstrations or attending planning meetings. The organization criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government for failing to repeal restrictive protest laws introduced by the previous Conservative administration in 2023. HRW’s UK director Yasmin Ahmed said the government’s tough stance on law and order was alarming and warned that such laws could be used against anyone in the future. HRW urged the government to lift certain restrictions on protests and revoke the ban on Palestine Action, noting that at least 2,300 people have been arrested since the group was outlawed in July.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed sending postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters across 121 countries for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. According to EC sources, the process began on December 20 and concluded within three weeks. The Bangladesh Postal Department finalized the dispatch on Thursday using several international airlines, including Biman Bangladesh, Emirates, Malaysian, Singapore, and Saudia Airlines. The large-scale ‘Out of Country Voting’ (OCV) operation was carried out through joint efforts of the EC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Postal Department, Civil Aviation, and the participating airlines. The OCV-SDI project team leader stated that over 3,000 expatriate voters provided incorrect addresses, preventing ballot delivery to them. Within Bangladesh, 761,141 voters have registered for the ‘In-Country Postal Vote’ category, and ballot distribution to them will begin on January 21 after symbol allocation. The EC reported that Saudi Arabia received the highest number of ballots, followed by Malaysia, Qatar, and Oman. In total, 1,533,683 voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, including both expatriate and domestic voters.

Palestinian group Hamas has announced its readiness to hand over administrative responsibilities in Gaza to an independent committee. The group also stated that it does not intend to be part of any future governing structure in the territory. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said on Thursday that they are waiting for the formation of the independent committee to oversee Gaza’s administration and that Hamas will facilitate the transfer process and assist the committee’s work. Qassem emphasized that Hamas has decided to remain outside any administrative framework managing the Gaza Strip. His statement follows the decision made at the emergency Arab summit on Gaza in March 2024, which rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians. The summit’s plan proposed forming a temporary administrative committee for six months to manage Gaza during a transitional period. According to the plan, the interim body will be independent, composed of neutral technocrats, and operate under the Palestinian government’s authority.

Syria’s Defense Ministry has announced a ceasefire in several districts of Aleppo following deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. The truce took effect early Friday after days of violence that forced thousands of civilians to flee. At least 21 people were killed in what observers described as the worst fighting since Islamist authorities took power over a year ago. The clashes, which began Tuesday, pitted the Syrian army against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with both sides blaming each other for the escalation. The ministry said the ceasefire covers Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyeh, and Bani Zeid districts from 3 a.m., aiming to prevent further military tension in residential areas. Kurdish fighters were ordered to withdraw by 9 a.m. local time to allow displaced civilians to return home safely. According to state television, around 16,000 people had already left the affected neighborhoods. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi warned that attacks on Kurdish areas undermine reconciliation efforts, noting that talks on integrating Kurdish structures into the new government remain stalled. Analysts said Aleppo is a vulnerable area for the SDF, and any wider conflict could draw in Turkey and Israel, posing a serious threat to Syria’s stability.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, accusing the American administration of destroying the global order. Speaking at an event in Berlin on Wednesday night, Steinmeier urged the international community to prevent the world from turning into a “den of robbers,” where lawless powers seize whatever they want. He warned that global democracy is under unprecedented attack. Referring to recent U.S. actions such as efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Steinmeier described them as a “historic rupture.” He compared the current behavior of the United States to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling both major threats to the world order. He emphasized that the practice of powerful nations treating other regions as their private property must end immediately. Although the German presidency is largely ceremonial, Steinmeier’s strong remarks have drawn significant attention within Germany, highlighting growing concern over U.S. foreign conduct and its implications for international stability.

Malaysia’s former army chief Hafizuddin Zantan has been arrested along with his two wives and two other individuals on corruption charges linked to a military procurement project. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) detained them and presented them before the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court, which approved remand orders of seven days for Hafizuddin, six days for one wife, and three days for the other. The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the army’s procurement process. MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said the investigation is continuing. The agency stated its commitment to conducting the probe with transparency and professionalism. Authorities have also raided several companies since late last year and frozen six bank accounts belonging to a suspect and family members. The identity of that suspect has not been disclosed. According to state news agency Bernama, MACC foiled an attempt to launder 2.4 million ringgit in cash related to the case. Hafizuddin had been placed on mandatory leave last December when the investigation began.

Russia carried out airstrikes on Kyiv and its outskirts on Friday, killing at least three people and injuring thirteen, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Residential buildings were damaged, and a doctor was killed in a second drone strike on one of the buildings. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the doctor is included in the official casualty list. Regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk urged residents to remain in shelters until air raid sirens stop. Ukraine’s Air Force warned that the presence of Russian bombers in the sky means the entire country remains under missile threat. In the western city of Lviv, a ballistic missile struck infrastructure sites just before midnight. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said the military is determining whether a nuclear-capable missile was used, though radiation levels remain within normal limits. The attack followed a warning from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Thursday, which had cautioned of possible severe airstrikes in the coming days.

Pakistan has stated that it does not want hostile relations with neighboring Afghanistan. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a press conference on Thursday that meaningful progress in bilateral relations depends on Afghanistan’s stance against terrorism. Islamabad has asked Kabul to provide a specific, verifiable, and written assurance that Afghan territory will not be used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan. Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan’s only concern is security and that there are no political or ideological disputes with Kabul. He noted that, unlike its bilateral disputes with India, Pakistan has no such issues with Afghanistan. The spokesperson added that Pakistan welcomes Kabul’s recent positive statements but insists they must be concrete, verifiable, and documented. He confirmed that diplomatic channels remain open between the two countries, with embassies and consulates operating normally.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump have agreed to launch joint operations against guerrilla groups involved in cocaine trafficking along the Venezuela border. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed the agreement on Thursday, following the first phone conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday. The discussion aimed to ease tensions after Trump’s military threats and efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to Benedetti, both leaders committed to taking coordinated action against the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s remaining major armed rebel group, which Bogotá accuses of seeking refuge in Venezuela after attacks and kidnappings. Petro reportedly asked Trump for cooperation in taking tougher measures along the 2,200-kilometer border, where multiple armed groups compete over drug trafficking, illegal mining, and smuggling routes. The report noted that despite recent tensions—Trump having labeled Petro a drug trafficker—Petro accepted an invitation to meet Trump in Washington. The two countries have long maintained security cooperation, though relations have cooled since the start of Trump’s second term.

Interim government adviser on power, energy and mineral resources Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan has said that the upcoming national parliamentary election will determine Bangladesh’s fate for the next 50 years. He made the remarks on Friday morning at Sena Maidan in Dinajpur during a campaign event for election vehicles. He emphasized that the February 12 election will not be a conventional one but a decisive moment for the nation’s long-term future. Khan explained that a referendum will be held alongside the election, allowing citizens to vote on proposed reforms. He urged voters who support reforms, parliamentary democracy, and a balanced distribution of power to vote “yes,” while those opposed could vote “no.” He stressed that no one would be forced to vote. The adviser said that 1,400 people had sacrificed their lives and around 30,000 had been injured for these reforms, which the interim government aims to implement. Referring to a past July uprising, Khan said people were previously denied fair voting opportunities. He assured that the upcoming election would be different, open to all candidates regardless of party, religion, or background.

Venezuela began releasing a large number of political prisoners, including several foreign nationals, last Thursday. The move is being viewed as part of efforts to ease tensions with the United States and establish a new political understanding following the ouster of former leader Nicolás Maduro. The initiative, led by Delcy Rodríguez, marks the first such large-scale release and has received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed satisfaction with the decision. According to the report, Trump stated that Rodríguez would be allowed to govern as long as Washington retains access to Venezuelan oil. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly described the release as an example of the president using his full authority to uphold the rights of both American and Venezuelan people. Jorge Rodríguez, the Venezuelan parliament speaker and brother of Delcy Rodríguez, said the release aims to ensure peaceful coexistence, though he did not specify the number or locations of those freed. Opposition leader María Corina Machado welcomed the announcement on social media, calling it a sign that injustice cannot last forever and that truth ultimately prevails.

The United States has threatened to use military force to take control of Greenland, a territory under Denmark’s sovereignty in the Arctic region. The White House issued the warning on Tuesday, prompting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to announce a meeting with Danish officials next week to discuss the escalating situation. Rubio said President Trump’s threat to seize Greenland has created a serious crisis among NATO member states. Following Trump’s remarks, the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark requested an emergency meeting with Rubio. When asked whether Trump would risk dividing NATO by pursuing military control of Greenland, Rubio declined to answer, stating only that every U.S. president keeps military options open to address national security threats. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Inter radio that France is coordinating with allies on how to respond if the U.S. attacks Greenland. Rubio added that Trump has been interested in acquiring Greenland since his first term, though he is not the first U.S. president to explore such a possibility.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on Wednesday that Israel’s policies in the occupied West Bank have created a suffocating environment for Palestinians. The report stated that Israel has systematically implemented discriminatory measures targeting Palestinians, including severe restrictions on their movement, disrupting normal life across the territory. It called on Israel to withdraw all Jewish settlements from the West Bank, comparing the situation to apartheid-era racial segregation in South Africa. The report highlighted that two separate legal systems are applied to Jewish settlers and Palestinians, resulting in land confiscation and deprivation of resources for Palestinians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Palestinians’ rights in the West Bank are being systematically suppressed, and that Israel’s discriminatory laws and practices have imposed control over all aspects of life in the occupied territory. The report also noted that since Israel’s military actions in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has intensified, leaving over 1,100 Palestinians dead and at least 21,000 arrested. Israel has also approved plans for 19 new Jewish settlements in December.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck several regions of Pakistan on Friday, January 9, 2026, with tremors felt in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Swat, Shangla, and Buner. According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre under the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the quake originated 159 kilometers deep near the China-Tajikistan border. Buildings reportedly shook, prompting residents to rush outdoors, but no casualties or major damage were reported. The report noted that Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan frequently experience seismic activity due to their location at the junction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In October of the previous year, a 5.3-magnitude quake hit Islamabad and surrounding areas, while a 5.6-magnitude tremor was recorded just days earlier. The region also witnessed a devastating 6.0-magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan last September that killed over 2,200 people. Authorities have not issued any immediate warnings, but the frequent tremors highlight the region’s ongoing vulnerability to seismic hazards.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared that no one in her country had surrendered following the U.S. military attack on January 3. Speaking at a memorial event on Thursday for those killed in the assault, she emphasized that Venezuela remains independent and that its people fought for their homeland during the attack. Her remarks came after former U.S. president Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that the United States would run Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. In a recent interview with NBC, Trump said he was currently in charge of the country and suggested that direct U.S. control over Venezuela could last for years. When asked by The New York Times how long the U.S. would remain there, Trump avoided a direct answer, implying that American dominance would depend on time. Rejecting Trump’s assertions, Rodríguez reaffirmed that Venezuela is not under foreign rule and that its government alone governs the nation.