Iran warned it would retaliate if attacked by the United States as protests continued across the country despite a heavy security response. Verified videos showed clashes in Tehran, Mashhad, Ilam and other cities. Hospital staff told the BBC that dozens of bodies had been brought in over two days, and rights groups say the true toll is far higher. Iran’s parliament speaker said US military and shipping sites, and Israel, would become targets if Washington acted. President Donald Trump said the US “stands ready to help”. Iran’s leaders blamed the unrest on the US and Israel. Authorities have imposed a near total internet shutdown and arrested thousands since late December. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump has warned Cuba that it must strike a deal with the United States “before it is too late,” as Venezuelan oil and financial support to the island is set to stop. Trump said Cuba had long depended on Venezuelan oil and money but added “zero” will go to Havana now. His message, posted on social media, did not explain specific deal terms or consequences. The warning follows a recent US operation in Venezuela that captured leader Nicolás Maduro and has cut off Venezuelan oil shipments. Cuba has not formally replied to Trump’s call to negotiate. (PC: X)

Iran has issued a strong warning to the United States and Israel as nationwide protests continue for a third week. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said US military centres, bases and ships in the region, along with Israel, would be “legitimate targets” if Iran is attacked. Lawmakers chanted “Death to America” during the session. Qalibaf praised security forces and warned protesters of strict punishment. President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of stirring unrest but said peaceful concerns should be heard. Iran says protests began after the rial fell sharply and living costs rose across the country.

Iran’s state media report that over 100 security personnel, including police and special units, have been killed amid nationwide anti-government protests driven by economic hardship and discontent with the clerical regime. Authorities claim fatalities occurred across several provinces during clashes as demonstrators continue to defy government crackdowns. The unrest, among the largest in years, has seen thousands take to the streets, with an ongoing internet blackout restricting communication. Iranian officials have threatened protest participants with death penalty charges, while parliament leaders warn the United States and Israel against intervention. International concern is mounting over rising casualties and the potential for wider instability in the region. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Widespread anti-government protests in Iran, sparked by economic hardship and inflation, have entered their second week, spreading across major cities nationwide. Demonstrators continue to demand political change amidst heavy crackdowns by security forces, with dozens reportedly killed and thousands arrested. The government has imposed a near-total internet and communications blackout, limiting information flow and drawing criticism from artists and rights groups as a tool to suppress dissent. Amid mounting unrest, US President Donald Trump warned of possible intervention if civilians are harmed, prompting Israel to remain on high alert for potential regional escalation. Tehran responded with threats of retaliation against US and Israeli targets should military action occur, further heightening international tensions as the crisis unfolds. (PC: Reuters)

An audio clip attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar claims the group has “thousands” of suicide bombers ready for missions. In the recording circulating online, Azhar says the number of recruits is more than a thousand and that revealing it would shock global media. He adds these recruits seek only martyrdom and not material rewards. The exact timing and authenticity of the message have not been independently verified by authorities. JeM is a Pakistan-based banned terrorist group long accused of plotting attacks in India. Security agencies are analysing the clip and have not issued an official confirmation. (PC: India Today)

Hospitals across Iran are under heavy pressure as protests continue and casualties rise, medical workers said. Staff at a hospital in Rasht said 70 bodies were received in one night and the morgue was full. Bodies were moved to other rooms to make space. Doctors in Tehran said many young protesters arrived with gunshot wounds and died soon after reaching emergency wards. Medics in Kashan and Shiraz reported eye injuries and shortages of surgeons. Reports said more than 110 people have been killed and about 2,600 detained so far. A near-total internet blackout has made independent reporting difficult as unrest has spread to over 100 cities nationwide. (PC: X)

Singer and actor Prashant Tamang, winner of Indian Idol Season 3, died on January 10 at the age of 43, reports said. He was rushed to a hospital in New Delhi after a heart attack and was declared dead. Tamang was from Darjeeling and became a well known name in West Bengal after his reality show win. He later acted in films and was seen in the web series Paatal Lok Season 2. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute, saying his “soulful voice and inspiring journey” touched many lives. His family has not issued a formal statement so far. (PC: HT)

Protesters across Iran returned to the streets on Saturday despite a strong security crackdown, verified videos show. Clashes were reported in Tehran, Mashhad and other cities as the government kept an internet blackout in place. The attorney general warned that protesters could face the death penalty. A rights group said more than 2,500 people have been arrested since late December. BBC sources and HRANA reported over 100 deaths, including protesters and security staff. Hospitals in Tehran and Rasht said they were overwhelmed by the injured. The protests were triggered by high inflation and have spread to over 100 towns, with many now calling for an end to clerical rule. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised “people with a colonial mindset” while speaking at the Somnath Swabhiman Parv in Gujarat. He said some historians and politicians distorted accounts of past invasions in textbooks and tried to hide the history of attacks on the Somnath Temple. Modi said religious invasions were often described only as loot. He recalled that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel faced opposition when he sought to rebuild the temple after Independence. He also said objections were raised to President Rajendra Prasad’s 1951 visit. Modi warned that forces that opposed the restoration were still active, now using “hidden conspiracies” instead of swords.