Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said tariffs “do not serve anyone” as criticism grew in Europe over trade threats linked to Greenland. US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 10% tariff from February 1 on goods from several European countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the move a mistake. Protests have been reported in Greenland and Denmark, where demonstrators opposed any pressure on Greenland’s status. (PC: BBC)

Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 5,000 people, including about 500 security personnel, were killed during protests across Iran. A senior Iranian official said the deaths were verified and claimed terrorists and armed rioters targeted civilians. Protests began on December 28 over economic hardship and later expanded into nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to clerical rule. The unrest is described as the deadliest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed foreign enemies, accusing United States and Israel of fuelling the violence. US President Donald Trump warned of possible intervention. (PC: India Today)

About 1,500 active-duty US Army soldiers have been placed on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis, according to a defence official. The troops are based in Alaska and could be deployed if President Donald Trump authorises their use. The alert comes as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue in the city following the death of a legal observer earlier this month. State officials have urged protesters to remain peaceful. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has placed the National Guard on alert. A federal judge has also limited crowd-control actions by ICE against peaceful demonstrators. (PC: BBC)

At least eight skiers have died in a series of avalanches across Austria’s Alps, officials confirmed after heavy snowfall and unstable snow conditions triggered multiple deadly slides on Saturday, 17 January 2026. Three Czech ski tourers were buried and killed in the Murtal district of Styria, while five others died in the Salzburg Pongau region, where two avalanches struck off-piste areas, including the Gastein Valley and Bad Hofgastein. Rescue teams, including helicopters, mountain rescue units and dog squads, responded amid repeated avalanche warnings issued by authorities, who stressed the severity of current conditions for winter sports enthusiasts. (PC: AP)

A report citing doctors working inside Iran has claimed that at least 16,500 protesters were killed and about 330,000 injured during the recent crackdown on demonstrations. The protests began over economic issues and later expanded into calls for political change. The report says many victims suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds to the head, neck, and chest. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has acknowledged “several thousand” deaths but rejected higher figures. In contrast, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has verified just over 3,000 deaths so far. Independent verification of higher numbers remains difficult due to internet restrictions. (PC: HT)

Iranian protesters say former US President Donald Trump “fooled and deceived” them after hopes of American support during the unrest failed to materialise. Many demonstrators believed Trump’s public warnings to Iran and social media posts showed the US was ready to act. Some said his comment that the US was “locked and loaded” pushed people back onto the streets. Iranian authorities later shut down internet services and used force to crush protests. When Trump later said Iran’s leaders had assured him killings would stop, he ruled out military action. Protesters say the sudden shift left them exposed and led to the collapse of the movement. (PC: X)

The European Parliament has suspended ratification of a trade deal with the United States after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on some European countries. The move followed Trump’s decision to impose extra duties on nations that sent troops to Greenland. EU lawmakers said a zero-tariff pact cannot move forward under such pressure. Leaders warned that countermeasures may be considered under EU anti-coercion rules. The trade deal, agreed last year to ease tensions, aimed to stabilise tariffs and improve transatlantic trade ties. (PC: India Today)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said for the first time that thousands were killed during recent nationwide protests. Speaking on Saturday, he blamed the United States and Israel for the deaths. The unrest began in late December over economic issues and later turned into calls against Iran’s leadership. The Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 3,090 people were killed, though activists believe the toll is higher. A near-total internet shutdown has limited information. US President Donald Trump urged protests to continue and warned of possible action. (PC: BBC)

European Union leaders have strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on several European countries over their opposition to his bid to acquire Greenland. Trump announced 10% tariffs on imports from nations including Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland and Norway from February 1, rising to 25% by June unless the U.S. deal is reached. EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa said such tariffs risk undermining transatlantic relations and could spark a “dangerous downward spiral.” Diplomats plan an emergency meeting to coordinate a collective response, stressing unity and respect for sovereignty. (PC: PTI)

An 11-year-old boy in Duncannon Borough, Pennsylvania, has been charged with criminal homicide after allegedly shooting his 42-year-old father, Douglas Dietz, early on 13 January. The incident occurred around 3:20 a.m. after the boy’s Nintendo Switch had been taken away and his father told him to go to bed. Court documents say the child found the key to a gun safe, unlocked it, and loaded a firearm before shooting his father in bed. When police arrived, the boy reportedly told his mother, “I killed Daddy,” and later admitted he intended to shoot his father. He has been denied bail and is due in court on 22 January. (PC: Getty Images)