Large crowds marched in Tehran and other Iranian cities on Thursday night, videos verified by BBC Persian showed. Demonstrations were seen in Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz and several western towns. Protesters shouted slogans against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and in support of exiled royal Reza Pahlavi. Human rights groups said the unrest has spread to more than 100 cities during 12 days of protests. The US-based HRANA group said at least 34 protesters and eight security personnel have died, while Iran Human Rights reported 45 deaths. NetBlocks said Iran faced a nationwide internet blackout during the rallies.

Multiple district court complexes in Punjab — including Ludhiana, Ropar (Rupnagar), Ferozepur, Mansa and Moga — were evacuated on Thursday after anonymous bomb-threat emails were received on official judicial addresses, prompting panic and suspension of court proceedings. Security forces, including bomb disposal squads and police, conducted thorough searches, but no explosives were found. Punjab Police cybercrime units traced the threatening emails’ origin to Austria and Germany, with suspects masking identities using VPNs and Tor networks. Officials have sought international cooperation for further investigation amid heightened alert in court complexes. (PC: The Tribune)

Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil has slammed the Centre’s repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), calling the newly enacted Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act “draconian” and harmful to rural workers’ rights. The state cabinet unanimously decided not to accept the VB-G RAM G Act and to challenge it in court, accusing it of violating the right to work and livelihood and undermining panchayat authority. Patil said the repeal strips rural labourers of guaranteed work and decentralised decision-making, prompting legal and public opposition. (PC: ANI)

Minneapolis Public Schools canceled classes for the rest of the week as safety concerns escalate after a 37-year-old woman, Renee Nicole Good, was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a federal enforcement operation in the city. The decision to halt in-person learning, including activities and community education, was made “out of an abundance of caution” amid widespread protests and tensions following the incident. The shooting has sparked national debate over immigration enforcement tactics, with conflicting accounts from federal officials and local leaders and demonstrations continuing in Minneapolis and other cities. (PC: Reuters)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a major protest rally in Kolkata on January 9 against Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the I-PAC office and the home of its chief, Pratik Jain, part of a money-laundering probe. Banerjee has angrily criticised the central agency, accusing it of attempting to seize Trinamool Congress internal data, hard disks and strategy documents linked to election campaigning, and labelled the action politically motivated ahead of upcoming state polls. Thousands of TMC workers are expected to join the demonstration, marking an escalation in the political standoff with the central government. (PC: ANI)

Denmark’s Defence Ministry has warned that its troops are prepared to “shoot first and ask questions later” if the United States attempts to invade Greenland, responding to renewed interest from US President Donald Trump in gaining control of the strategically vital Arctic territory. The directive, dating back to a 1952 rule of engagement, mandates Danish forces to immediately counter any invasion without waiting for orders. Trump has suggested purchasing or even using military force to acquire Greenland, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a NATO territory, saying it’s critical for US security. Denmark insists the island is not for sale and such action would jeopardize NATO unity amid growing diplomatic tensions. (PC: NDTV)

Iran has been plunged into a nationwide internet blackout as widespread economic protests intensify across the country, with connectivity dropping to nearly zero in major cities including Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan. Authorities appear to have cut internet and phone services in an apparent bid to curb communication and suppress expanding unrest triggered by soaring living costs, currency collapse and job losses. Demonstrators have taken to the streets chanting anti-government slogans, while markets and bazaars have shut in solidarity. The blackout coincides with ongoing demonstrations entering their 12th day, with reported dozens of deaths and thousands detained.

India and **Iran are set to inaugurate a diplomatic calendar of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations, marking the milestone of formal ties established in 1950. The initiative will feature high-level engagements, cultural exchanges and strategic dialogues aimed at strengthening cooperation across trade, energy, connectivity and cultural ties as both nations emphasize their millennia-old historical and civilizational linkages. Iranian and Indian officials have reaffirmed their mutual commitment to expanding collaboration and deepening partnership based on shared heritage and interests. (PC: AP)

India’s Reliance Industries Ltd has announced it will consider buying Venezuelan crude oil if regulations allow sales to non-U.S. buyers, signaling potential re-entry into Venezuelan supply after halting imports due to U.S. tariffs. The company, which operates the world’s largest refining complex in Gujarat, has awaited clarity on access for Venezuelan oil following a deal that allows Caracas to export up to $2 billion of crude to the United States. Reliance stopped Venezuelan oil purchases in March 2026 after a 25% U.S. tariff was imposed on countries buying Venezuelan crude. Approval for compliant purchases will guide future decisions. 

India batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20 Internationals against New Zealand, starting January 21, after undergoing surgery for an abdominal/groin issue in Rajkot, confirmed by the BCCI. He was discharged from hospital and is now stable and recovering, but will resume training only after full symptom resolution and healing. The board said his availability for the final two matches of the five-game series will be assessed based on his progress during return-to-training and skill phases. His absence is a setback for India’s T20I plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (PC: PTI)