Nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the country's capital and its second-largest city into Sunday, crossing the two-week mark as violence surrounding the demonstrations has killed at least 116 people, activists said. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown, while 2,600 others have been detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Meanwhile, Iran's parliament speaker warned the US military and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if America strikes the Islamic Republic, as threatened by President Donald Trump. Qalibaf made the threat as lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: "Death to America!" Those abroad fear the information blackout will embolden hard-liners within Iran's security services to launch a bloody crackdown, despite warnings from Trump he's willing to strike the Islamic Republic to protect peaceful demonstrators. Trump offered support for the protesters, saying on social media that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!" The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous US officials, said on Saturday night that Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but hadn't made a final decision. The State Department separately warned: "Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he'll do something, he means it." Parliament rallies Iranian state television broadcast the parliament session live. Qalibaf, a hard-liner who has run for the presidency in the past, gave a speech applauding police and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, particularly its all-volunteer Basij, for having "stood firm" during the protests. "The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested," Qalibaf said. He went on to directly threaten Israel, "the occupied territory" as he referred to it, and the US military, possibly with a preemptive strike. "In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets," Qalibaf said. "We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat." It remains unclear just how serious Iran is about launching a strike, particularly after seeing its air defences destroyed during the 12-day war in June with Israel. Any decision to go to war would rest with Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The US military has said in the Mideast it is "postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and US interests." Protests in Tehran and Mashhad Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighbourhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off. Other footage purportedly showed demonstrators peacefully marching down a street and others honking their car horns on the street. In Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, some 725 kilometres northeast of Tehran, footage purported to show protesters confronting security forces. Flaming debris and dumpsters could be seen in the street, blocking the road. Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest in Shiite Islam, making the protests there carry heavy significance for the country's theocracy. Protests also appeared to happen in Kerman, 800 kilometres southeast of Tehran. Iranian state television on Sunday morning took a page from demonstrators, having their correspondents appear on streets in several cities to show calm areas with a date stamp shown on screen. Tehran and Mashhad were not included. They also showed pro-government demonstrations in Qom and Qazvin. Khamenei has signalled a coming clampdown, despite US warnings. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an "enemy of God," a death-penalty charge. The statement carried by Iranian state television said even those who "helped rioters" would face the charge. More demonstrations planned Sunday Iran's theocracy cut off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls on Thursday, though it allowed some state-owned and semiofficial media to publish. Qatar's state-funded Al Jazeera news network reported live from Iran, but they appeared to be the only major foreign outlet able to work. Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who called for protests Thursday and Friday, asked in his latest message for demonstrators to take to the streets Saturday and Sunday. He urged protesters to carry Iran's old lion-and-sun flag and other national symbols used during the time of the shah to "claim public spaces as your own." Pahlavi's support of and from Israel has drawn criticism in the past " particularly after the 12-day war. Demonstrators have shouted in support of the shah in some protests, but it isn't clear whether that's support for Pahlavi himself or a desire to return to a time before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The demonstrations began December 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to USD 1, as the country's economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran's theocracy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 06:25 PM IST | Dubai | APIran's president says officials will listen to protesters, but rioters are trying to "destroy the entire society" as demonstrations sweep across the Islamic Republic. The comments from Masoud Pezeshkian represent a hardening tone from the reformist leader, who so far has been unable to assuage the public, as anger over the country's ailing economy exploded into a direct challenge to the nation's theocracy. "People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns," Pezeshkian said. "But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society." Iranian state television aired an interview with the president on Sunday. It had suggested it would be aired Saturday, but ended up not airing it. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 05:43 PM IST | Dubai | APProtests sweeping across Iran neared the two-week mark on Saturday, with the country’s government acknowledging the ongoing demonstrations despite an intensifying crackdown. United States President Donald Trump says Iran is in “big trouble” and again warned he could order military strikes as videos showed antigovernment protests raging across the country, and authorities blacked out the internet to restrain growing unrest. “Iran’s in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump said on Friday. Trump, who bombed Iran in June and warned Tehran last week the US could come to the protesters’ aid, issued another warning, saying, “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.” “I just hope the protesters in Iran are going to be safe, because that’s a very dangerous place right now,” Trump added. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. But the death toll in the protests has grown to at least 65 people killed and over 2,300 others detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:53 PM IST | Tehran | AgenciesAs US seizures of Venezuela-linked oil tankers surge, concerns grow in Cuba about whether the island’s government and economy will survive. Experts warn that a sudden halt in Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba could lead to widespread social unrest and mass migration following the stunning US military raid that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. Long before the January 3 attack, severe blackouts were sidelining life in Cuba, where people endured long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid the island’s worst economic crisis in decades. The lack of Venezuelan oil could push Cuba over the brink, experts say. “This will take an already dire situation to new extremes,” said Michael Galant, senior research and outreach associate at the Centre for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. “This is what a collapsing economy looks like.” Galant said he believes that’s the goal of the Trump administration, “to cause such an indiscriminate suffering in the civilian population as to instigate some sort of uprising, regime change.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:51 PM IST | Havana | AgenciesThe Bihar Police have busted a cyber fraud gang that allegedly duped men by luring them with fake offers of up to Rs 10 lakh for impregnating childless women. The scam was uncovered by the Nawada Cyber Police. According to the police, the accused used platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to circulate advertisements under names such as “All India Pregnant Job”, “Playboy Service”, and fake loan schemes like “SBI cheap loans” to attract victims. Police said the gang promised men up to Rs 10 lakh for the “job” of impregnating childless women and claimed that even if they failed, they would still receive half the amount. Victims were shown photographs of female models and were enticed with promises of free sex and financial rewards. However, before any meeting could take place, the victims were asked to pay “initial charges” of up to Rs 799 in the name of registration fees, hotel bookings, and other expenses. The demands for money continued until the victims realised they had been cheated. Superintendent of Police Abhinav Dhiman said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested one accused, identified as Ranjan Kumar, a resident of Nawada. A minor has also been taken into custody in connection with the case. Four mobile phones used in the fraud have been recovered. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Officials said many victims did not report the fraud immediately due to fear of social stigma. Several such cyber fraud cases using a similar modus operandi have been reported earlier in Nawada district, in which victims were blackmailed and extorted. “The gang has been active for a year and we believe they have conned hundreds of people, but no one has so far come forward to complain, possibly because of shame,” an official told BBC. Deputy Superintendent of Police and Nawada Cyber Police Station in-charge Nishu Mallik has appealed to the public not to fall for such unusual and tempting offers circulating on social media and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. “Legitimate employers never ask for registration or processing fees,” an official said. Rs 799Registration fees asked from victims for the job This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:49 PM IST | Patna | AgenciesGreenland’s party leaders have rejected President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the US to take control of the island, saying that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people. “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and four party leaders said in a statement on Friday. “As Greenlandic party leaders, we would like to emphasise once again our wish that the United States’s contempt for our country ends,” the statement said. Greenland Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielson Trump said again on Friday that he would like to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region that’s part of NATO ally Denmark, “the easy way.” He said that if the US doesn’t own it, then Russia or China will take it over, and the US does not want them as neighbours. “If we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” Trump said. The White House said it is considering a range of options, including using military force, to acquire the island. In response to US considering military action to take control of Greenland, Denmark warns that it could destroy the NATO alliance. Pic/PTI Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO. The party leaders’ statement said that, “No other country can interfere in this. We must decide the future of our country ourselves, without pressure for quick decision, delay or interference from other countries.” While Greenland is the largest island in the world, it has a population of around 57,000 and doesn’t have its own military. Defense is provided by Denmark, whose military is dwarfed by that of the US. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:45 PM IST | Nuuk, Greenland | AgenciesA Los Angeles-based nonprofit is bringing virtual reality headsets to California prisons to expose inmates to real world scenarios to help them reenter society, and provide a brief escape to the outside world. Last month, incarcerated men at Valley State Prison near Fresno, California enjoyed experiencing this technology in a weeklong program. Some prisoners were transported to exotic destinations like Bangkok, while others were exposed to job interviews, which will help them in finding employment once they’re released. Volunteers also helped inmates process any emotions or traumas which may have bubbled up. They use 100 Oculus headsets donated by Meta, across general inmates, youth offenders, and those in solitary confinement. Sabra Williams, founder of the nonprofit Creative Acts which runs this programme, calls the VR devices a “hope machine” and hopes to expand the programme nationwide. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:40 PM IST | Chowchilla, California | AgenciesMyanmar resumed voting Sunday in the second round of its first general election in five years, expanding polling to additional townships, including some areas affected by the civil war between the military government and its armed opponents. Polling stations opened at 6 am local time in 100 townships across the country, including parts of Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago and Tanintharyi regions, as well as Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Kayin states. Many of those areas have seen clashes in recent months or remain under heightened security, underscoring the risks surrounding the vote. The election is being held in three phases due to armed conflicts. The first round took place on Dec 28 in 102 of the country's total 330 townships, followed by the second phase on Sunday. A final round is scheduled for Jan 25, though 65 townships will not take part because of fighting. Myanmar has a two-house national legislature, totalling 664 seats. The party with a combined parliamentary majority can select the new president, who can name a Cabinet and form a new government. The military automatically receives 25 per cent of seats in each house under the constitution. Critics say the polls organised by the military government are neither free nor fair and are an effort by the military to legitimise its rule after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. On Sunday morning, people in Yangon, the country's largest city, and Mandalay, the second-largest, were casting their ballots at high schools, government buildings and religious buildings. While more than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats in national and regional legislatures, only six parties are competing nationwide with the possibility of gaining political clout in parliament. The first phase left the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, or USDP, in a dominant position, winning nearly 90% of those contested seats in that phase in Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of parliament. It also won a majority of seats in regional legislatures. The military government claimed more than 6 million people " about 52% of the more than 11 million eligible voters in the first phase of elections " cast ballots, calling the turnout a decisive success. Suu Kyi, Myanmar's 80-year-old former leader, and her party aren't participating in the polls. She is serving a 27-year prison term on charges widely viewed as spurious and politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under new military rules. Other parties also refused to register or declined to run under conditions they deem unfair, while opposition groups have called for a voter boycott. Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur working with the UN human rights office, urged the international community Thursday to reject what he called a "sham election," saying the first round exposed coercion, violence and political exclusion. "You cannot have a free, fair or credible election when thousands of political prisoners are behind bars, credible opposition parties have been dissolved, journalists are muzzled, and fundamental freedoms are crushed," Andrews said. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation's political conflicts, more than 22,000 people are detained for political offences, and more than 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since 2021. The army's takeover triggered widespread peaceful protests that soon erupted into armed resistance, and the country slipped into a civil war. A new Election Protection Law imposes harsh penalties and restrictions for virtually all public criticism of the polls. The authorities have charged more than 330 people under new electoral law for leafleting or online activity over the past few months. There were no reports of major interference with the polls on Sunday morning, though opposition organisations and armed resistance groups had vowed to disrupt the electoral process. During the first phase, attacks were reported in 11 of the 102 townships holding polls, according to the military government. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:38 PM IST | Yangon | AP | PTINationwide protests challenging Iran's theocracy reached the two-week mark Sunday, as the death toll in violence surrounding the demonstrations reached at least 116 people killed, activists said. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency gave the new figure, saying arrests had reached more than 2,600 people as well. The agency has been accurate in multiple rounds of unrest previously. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signalled a coming clampdown, despite US warnings from President Donald Trump that America could intervene to protect peaceful demonstrators. Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iran's attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered an "enemy of God", a death-penalty charge. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:32 PM IST | Dubai | AP | PTITaiwan's Ministry of National Defence said on Sunday that it recorded the presence of 4 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 1 official ship around its territory on Sunday. It also mentioned that 1 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "4 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." 4 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded pic.twitter.com/FCiEFK40za — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) January 11, 2026 MND detected the presence of three sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Saturday. Of the three, a sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "3 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 3 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." Earlier, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said that he would continue safeguarding Taiwan and would not allow China to reach into, Focus Taiwan reported. It mentioned that President Lai said as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he was pledging to protect the country and safeguard the lives and property of all citizens. "I will certainly safeguard the nation and absolutely not allow Chinese pressure or China's hand to reach into Taiwan," President Lai said. He also said on Thursday that China's "cross-border pressure" against the people of Taiwan proves that Beijing's authority does not extend to Taiwan and confirms that Taiwan is not part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Focus Taiwan reported Lai cited the recent visit to Taiwan by China-born Japanese lawmaker Hei Seki, who has been sanctioned by China and barred from entering PRC, saying that the visit demonstrated how the Republic of China (ROC) -- Taiwan's official name -- and the PRC are not subordinate to each other. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:30 PM IST | Taipei (Taiwan) | ANIAs Venezuelan detainee Diogenes Angulo left a prison in San Francisco de Yare after a year and five months behind bars, his family appeared to be in shock. He was detained two days before the 2024 presidential election after he posted a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chavez. As he emerged from the jail in San Francisco de Yare, approximately an hour's drive south of the capital Caracas, he learned that former President Nicolas Maduro had been captured by US forces Jan 3 in a nighttime raid in the capital. Angulo told The Associated Press that his faith gave him the strength to keep going during his detention. "Thank God, I'm going to enjoy my family again," he said, adding that others still detained "are well" and have high hopes of being released soon. Families with loved ones in prison gathered for a third consecutive day Saturday outside prisons in Caracas and other communities, hoping to learn of a possible release. On Thursday, Venezuela 's government pledged to free what it described as a significant number of prisoners. But as of Saturday, only 11 people had been released, up from nine a day prior, according to Foro Penal, an advocacy group for prisoners based in Caracas. Eight hundred and nine remained imprisoned, the group said. It was not immediately clear if Angulo's release was among the 11. A relative of activist Rocio San Miguel, one of the first to be released and who relocated to Spain, said in a statement that her release "is not full freedom, but rather a precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty." Among the prominent members of the country's political opposition who were detained after the 2024 presidential elections and remain in prison are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, former governor Juan Pablo Guanipa, and Perkins Rocha, lawyer for opposition leader María Corina Machado. The son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez also remains imprisoned. One week after the US military intervention in Caracas, Venezuelans aligned with the government marched in several cities across the country demanding the return of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The pair were captured and transferred to the United States, where they face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism. Hundreds demonstrated in cities including Caracas, Trujillo, Nueva Esparta and Miranda, many waving Venezuelan flags. In Caracas, crowds chanted: "Maduro, keep on going, the people are rising." Acting president Delcy Rodríguez, speaking at a public social-sector event in Caracas, again condemned the US military action on Saturday. "There is a government, that of President Nicolás Maduro, and I have the responsibility to take charge while his kidnapping lasts... We will not stop condemning the criminal aggression," she said, referring to Maduro's ousting. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said on social media: "I love the Venezuelan people and I am already making Venezuela prosperous and safe again." After the shocking military action that overthrew Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would govern the South American country and requested access to oil resources, which he promised to use "to benefit the people" of both countries. Venezuela and the United States announced Friday that they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations, broken since 2019, and the reopening of their respective diplomatic missions. A mission from Donald Trump's administration arrived in the South American country on Friday, the State Department said. Amid global anticipation over the fate of the South American country, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil responded to Pope Leo XIV, who on Friday called for maintaining peace and "respecting the will of the Venezuelan people." "With respect for the Holy Father and his spiritual authority, Venezuela reaffirms that it is a country that builds, works, and defends its sovereignty with peace and dignity," Gil said on his Telegram account, inviting the pontiff "to get to know this reality more closely." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
11 January,2026 12:28 PM IST | San Francisco de Yare (Venezuela) | AP | PTIADVERTISEMENT
