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Anti-government protests continue to escalate across Iran, driving international tensions to a boiling point. U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 17th that Iran should put an end to the 37-year rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and seek “new leadership” to achieve regime change.

Protests erupted across Iran late last month over severe economic hardship and have since evolved into large-scale anti-government demonstrations. Protesters are demanding an end to the current regime, while authorities have deployed security forces and opened fire on demonstrators. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), verified data show that 3,090 people have been killed, including 2,885 protesters, and more than 22,000 people have been arrested.

Although the United States has temporarily refrained from launching military strikes against Iran, tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high. Trump further lashed out at Khamenei, calling him a “sick person” who should govern his country properly and stop killing his own people. Trump said true leadership is about earning respect, not consolidating power through violence and the killing of citizens. He added that due to disastrous leadership, Iran has become one of the worst places in the world to live.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro went even further, predicting that Trump could order a “decapitation strike” against Supreme Leader Khamenei in the coming days. Shapiro noted that U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups are set to deploy to the Middle East, and argued that Trump’s increasingly hardline stance toward the Iranian regime, combined with Khamenei’s provocative rhetoric on social media, points to the possibility that Washington may resort to extreme measures.

While Trump has confirmed that his national security team has presented him with a range of hardline policy options, including military ones, he has yet to publicly confirm whether he has signed a specific order to assassinate Khamenei. Nevertheless, Trump has already canceled all planned contacts with Iranian officials, making Washington’s strategy of using military pressure to force political change increasingly clear.

Shapiro stressed that even if Khamenei were removed, regime change in Iran would not occur immediately, and that genuine political transformation must ultimately be driven by the Iranian people themselves.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have temporarily eased after U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 16th that he welcomed Iran’s decision to cancel the execution of more than 800 people. In a post on social media, Trump thanked Tehran for the move, saying it had a “very significant impact” on his decision-making. He stressed that his decision to hold off on attacking Iran was not the result of persuasion by allies, but rather a conclusion he reached on his own. A White House spokesperson, however, underscored that in response to Iran’s various threats, the United States continues to keep “all options on the table.”

Over the past three weeks, Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests, followed by a sweeping government crackdown. At least several thousand demonstrators are reported to have been killed across the country. Trump had repeatedly warned that if the Iranian regime continued killing protesters, the United States would launch military strikes against Iran. He had earlier urged the Iranian people to keep resisting, saying that “help is on the way.”

Not long afterward, however, Trump abruptly shifted his tone, saying he had been informed by the Iranian government that the killing of protesters had stopped. The streets of the capital, Tehran, also appeared to be gradually returning to calm.

Despite the lull, the war of words between the two sides has continued. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Trump on social media of being responsible for the violence and unrest inside Iran. In response, Trump told Politico in an interview on the 17th: “It’s time to find new leadership for Iran.”

Trump went on to condemn Khamenei’s system of governance in harsher terms, saying: “This man is sick. He should govern his own country properly and stop killing his people. Because of terrible leadership, that country has become one of the worst places in the world to live.”

Observers speculate that Trump called off military action against Iran after consultations with U.S. allies in the Middle East and Israel, and amid concerns over how to stabilize the situation should the Iranian regime collapse, in order to prevent wider chaos in the region. Even so, the United States continues to deploy additional military forces and equipment to the area, and the risk of conflict remains.

FOWPAL President Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, center, Belizean Minister of State Ramiro Ramirez, left, and Belize CityMayor Bernard Wagner formally endorse the Declaration of Transparency and Integrity, underscoring the importance of these principles in ethical governance and global peace.

Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado visited the White House on the 15th and met with U.S. President Donald Trump. After the meeting, Machado stated that she had presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in an effort to gain his support, saying that the gift was meant to recognize Trump’s contributions to the freedom of the Venezuelan people.

Trump later confirmed on social media that he had accepted the medal, describing Machado as an extraordinary woman who has endured many hardships. He said that her decision to pass on the Nobel Peace Prize medal in recognition of his efforts was a beautiful gesture of mutual respect.

The news sparked strong criticism from various quarters. Norwegian figures said that Machado had disrespected and harmed the Nobel Committee and the Nobel Peace Prize, accusing her of treating the Nobel Peace Prize as a commodity and using it as a bargaining chip with Trump, thereby politicizing the Peace Prize to gain her own influence in Venezuela.

On the 16th, the Nobel Committee issued a statement saying that it does not restrict how laureates handle their medal, diploma, or prize money. While Machado gave the medal to Trump, the honor itself still belongs to her. According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, once an award is conferred, the decision is final and permanent, and the Foundation will not comment on the actions or statements of laureates.

According to media reports, Iranian authorities have used force to suppress nationwide protests, with the death toll exceeding 2,000. On the 14th, countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and India successively urged their citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible to avoid being drawn into potential military conflict. At the same time, the situation continues to attract intense international attention. The European Parliament has called on EU leaders to increase pressure on the Iranian government in order to demonstrate the international community’s support for the Iranian people.

The report noted that a spokesperson for the British government said the UK embassy in Tehran has been temporarily closed and all staff have been evacuated from Iran. The Spanish government advised its citizens to use any means necessary to leave Iran as soon as possible. Italy stated that there are approximately 600 Italian citizens in Iran and urged them to depart promptly, while also condemning Iran’s violent crackdown on demonstrations and its serious human rights violations.

The report also quoted European Parliament President Roberta Metsola as saying that Iranian authorities continue to suppress the people’s fundamental freedoms through violence, repression, and abuse, and that the international community cannot stand by and do nothing. Whether through imposing sanctions on Iran or designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, the European Union should not wait for the United States to finalize its plans regarding Iran before taking action.

The Most Honorable John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize, rings the Bell of World Peace and Love, wishing Belize and the world love and peace.

The Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) arrived in Belize on January 13, 2026, to promote the universal values of conscience, love, and peace. The following day, January 14, FOWPAL hosted a solemn Bell of World Peace and Love ceremony in Belize City.

Russia recently (on the 12th) carried out its second large-scale drone and missile assault on Ukraine, once again targeting the power grid. The attacks intensified strikes on energy and other critical infrastructure amid harsh winter conditions. As Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor approaches its fourth year, the move appears to openly disregard U.S.-led efforts toward peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched nearly 300 drones, 18 ballistic missiles, and seven cruise missiles at eight regions overnight. Russia also used a new hypersonic missile for the second time in the war, striking western Ukraine—apparently sending a “no backing down” warning to NATO. One wave of attacks killed four people at a postal warehouse facility in Kharkiv Oblast in the northeast, while hundreds of thousands of households in Kyiv Oblast were left without electricity.

Water utility pumping stations have switched to generator power, and water supply continues, though pressure issues may occur. The full extent of the damage remains unclear, and Russia has not responded to the incident. Throughout the four-year war, Russia has repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure, disrupting heating and water supplies for Ukrainian civilians in an apparent attempt to wear down public morale. Ukrainian officials have described this strategy as “weaponizing winter,” with civilians far from the front lines suffering collateral harm.

The central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih has also been repeatedly attacked, resulting in civilian deaths and damage to homes and industrial facilities. The city is a major steel and mining hub and the hometown of President Zelenskyy. Located not far from the southern front line, Kryvyi Rih’s factories, logistics networks, and workforce are vital to Ukraine’s economy and serve as a key rear support center for the war effort. The head of the local military administration, Oleksandr Vilkul, urged residents to remain vigilant, store water, and charge electronic devices as much as possible, warning that difficult times lie ahead.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has repeatedly struck power plants, substations, and transmission lines with missiles and drones, aiming to cripple electricity and heating systems and disrupt industrial operations. These attacks have forced rolling blackouts and emergency power rationing across Ukrainian cities, while repair crews work under fire to restore services. Ukraine has had to rely on air defense systems and imported electricity to stabilize its power grid.

According to data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, intensified Russian airstrikes behind the front lines have made 2025 the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.

The United States has also accused Russia of carrying out “dangerous and unjustified escalation” while the Trump administration is pushing for peace talks. At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Tammy Bruce said the White House deeply regrets the “staggering number of casualties” in the conflict and condemned Russia for targeting energy systems and escalating attacks on Ukraine’s energy and other critical infrastructure.

A recent incident in Minnesota in which a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed volunteer Renee Good has ignited demonstrations in major cities across the United States. On January 11, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that **“hundreds” of additional federal personnel** would be deployed to Minneapolis to ensure frontline law-enforcement safety and support ongoing operations.

On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Good, who had long volunteered documenting ICE activities, was shot and killed during a confrontation. Federal authorities claimed Good attempted to use her vehicle as a weapon against officers, forcing the agent to act in self-defense. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey wrote in The New York Times that video evidence shows Good was turning her vehicle away from, not toward, officers at the time of the shooting — contradicting the federal account. Frey criticized the federal government for spreading misleading information and attempting to “demonize” the victim.

Protests have spread across the country, including in cities such as Los Angeles and New York, with hundreds of demonstrations reported nationwide over the weekend. Federal authorities have maintained a firm stance, emphasizing that any violence against government operations or law-enforcement officers is a crime and will be prosecuted.

In the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, about 2,000 federal agents are now stationed, marking one of the largest deployments in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) history. Noem stressed that enforcement actions will not be halted due to protests and criticized local governments for failing to maintain public order.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at DHS, also stated firmly that enforcement operations will continue despite the protests and that local officials have not done enough to uphold security.

As video of the shooting continues to circulate widely online, demonstrations remain intense. The federal government is investigating the case, but no decision has been made yet on whether additional evidence will be released publicly.

Uganda, an East African nation, will hold a presidential election on the 15th. President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has been in power since 1986, is almost certain to extend his nearly four-decade rule. His main challenger is 43-year-old opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, running for president for the second time. A former popular singer, Bobi Wine’s last bid in 2021 ended in bloodshed and disappointment.

Despite widespread expectations that Museveni will win re-election, human rights groups and international observers have accused authorities of arrests, abductions, and media intimidation ahead of the vote. Bobi Wine has been repeatedly detained during the campaign and has even appeared at rallies wearing a bulletproof vest, describing the election as having turned into “a war.” Speaking at a rally of his National Unity Platform (NUP) party, he said: “They cannot abduct all of us. The prisons are already full, and there are still millions of Ugandans who want change.”

Many citizens, however, fear a repeat of the violent crackdown seen in 2021. Winnie Promise Nantume, a resident of the capital, said that election left “people losing their lives and their belongings, and that makes us very afraid.” Concerns about democratic backsliding in the region also persist. Violence and allegations of fraud marred Tanzania’s election last year, with security forces killing hundreds of protesters, while a series of protests in Kenya since 2024 have left dozens of demonstrators dead, with perpetrators going unpunished.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said recently that it has carried out multiple “large-scale” airstrikes against the militant group Islamic State (IS) in Syria, describing the operations as a “direct response” to an attack on U.S. and Syrian forces near Palmyra on December 13. That attack killed two U.S. service members and one civilian interpreter.

In recent months, the U.S.-led coalition has continued to conduct airstrikes and ground operations against suspected IS militants inside Syria, with Syrian security forces also taking part. In a statement, CENTCOM said the operations are intended to counter terrorism and protect U.S. and partner forces in the region, warning that anyone who harms American personnel will be found and eliminated, regardless of where they attempt to hide or how they seek to evade justice.
CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out early Saturday afternoon U.S. Eastern Time as part of “Operation Hawkeye Strike.” The statement did not specify whether there were any casualties from the attacks.

Syria has maintained cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State. Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in Syria. Late last year, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House, where the two sides reached agreements on related cooperation.