Major General Amir Hatami, Chief of the Iranian Army, responded to what Tehran perceives as hostile statements from abroad, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that the United States is “locked and loaded” to act if Iranian forces violently suppress civilian protesters. Speaking to military academy students, Hatami framed such remarks as a direct threat to Iran’s national security, according to Fox News. He stated that the “intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation… will not be left without a response,” highlighting that Iran’s military is now better prepared than in previous conflicts. “If the enemy makes a mistake, it will face a decisive response, and we will strike any aggressor,” he said, as reported by Fox News.

Hatami’s warning comes amid widespread domestic unrest fueled by economic difficulties, inflation, and public dissatisfaction with government policies, with protests spreading across much of Iran. Authorities have introduced limited economic measures, including new subsidies, but unrest has continued for over a week. Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, wrote to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, calling for condemnation of what he described as Trump’s “unlawful threats” against Tehran.

Additionally, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, cautioned that U.S. interference could lead to “chaos across the entire region and the destruction of American interests.” International concern is growing, with Australia advising its citizens to leave Iran immediately due to the heightened risk of escalation from both internal unrest and external threats, according to Fox News. Trump’s earlier statements on Truth Social, warning of U.S. intervention if Iranian forces harmed peaceful protesters, appear to have prompted Hatami’s remarks.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Federal prosecutors said on Tuesday (Jan 6) that they had released transcripts of video recordings in which the man responsible for last month’s deadly shooting at Brown University acknowledged planning the attack months in advance before later taking his own life. According to prosecutors, four videos made by the suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, were discovered inside a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Valente was found dead there on Dec 18 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing an end to a six-day manhunt.

Valente, 48, a Portuguese national and former Brown University doctoral student in physics, entered an engineering building on the campus on Dec 13 and opened fire with a handgun, killing two students and wounding nine others, police said. After fleeing the scene in Providence, Rhode Island, authorities determined that he later killed an MIT physics professor at the professor’s home near Boston in a separate attack.

Investigators revealed that Valente and the slain MIT professor, Nuno Loureiro, had been classmates years earlier in Lisbon, though a motive for either shooting has not yet been established. The newly released transcripts, obtained by the FBI from an electronic device and translated from Portuguese, are the first statements attributed to Valente since his death. While they confirm long-term planning of the Brown University shooting, they provide little additional insight into the reasons behind the violence.

In the recordings, which prosecutors described as disorganized and rambling, Valente said he had been planning the attack for more than six academic semesters. He spoke vaguely about events without directly mentioning firing a weapon or killing anyone and offered no explanation for what led to the violence. He expressed no remorse, stating that he did not regret his actions and refused to apologize, citing grievances he felt were never acknowledged during his life. Prosecutors said the investigation has found no indication of any ongoing public safety threat connected to the shootings, though efforts to determine Valente’s motive are continuing.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

The District Administration Office (DAO) of Parsa has extended the curfew in Birgunj city following ongoing religious tensions sparked by a TikTok video. The local administration issued a prohibitory order in certain parts of the district, but both sides defied it by holding simultaneous protests, prompting authorities to enforce a curfew. Initially, the curfew was set from 6 PM on Monday to 8 AM on Tuesday. However, with the situation remaining volatile and the threat ongoing, the curfew has now been extended until 1 PM on Tuesday.

According to the latest order, issued under Section 6(a) of the Local Administration Act, 2028, the curfew applies to four key areas of Birgunj Metropolitan City: Bus Park, Nagwa, Inarwa in the east; Sirsia River in the west; Gandak Chowk in the north; and Shankaracharya Gate in the south. During this period, residents are prohibited from leaving their homes or organizing any gatherings, processions, demonstrations, or meetings.

Authorities warned that security personnel have the authority to shoot on sight if the curfew is violated. People are urged to remain indoors except for essential purposes, and if movement is necessary, they should coordinate with nearby security personnel or call 100. Essential service vehicles—including ambulances, fire engines, hearses, health workers’ vehicles, media, tourist vehicles, vehicles of human rights and diplomatic missions, and air travelers—will be allowed to operate with prior coordination.

The unrest in Birgunj, near the Indian border state of Bihar, began on Sunday following a dispute between two groups triggered by religiously sensitive comments on TikTok. The controversy started when two youths, Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari, posted a video in Janakpur, Dhanusha, which locals claimed hurt religious sentiments, leading to their detention by police.

Tensions escalated after a mosque was vandalized in ward 6 of Kamala Municipality, prompting demonstrations in and around Birgunj, including tyre-burning and slogan-chanting rallies. The situation, initially confined to Dhanusha and Parsa, quickly spread on social media, with both communities taking to the streets over issues tied to religious and communal sentiments.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.

Cuba on sunday announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during a U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife in Caracas. The Cuban government declared two days of national mourning on January 5 and 6, with funeral arrangements to be announced later. According to Cuba’s state-run news agency, Prensa Latina, the deceased were Cuban military personnel deployed in Venezuela on official missions at the request of the Venezuelan government. They were killed either in direct clashes with attacking forces or as a result of airstrikes, and reportedly offered resistance before dying.

Cuba has long been a close ally of Venezuela, providing military and police support to Maduro’s government. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump issued warnings about Cuba, suggesting that the country was on the verge of collapse after losing major income from Venezuelan oil. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump also issued cautions to Colombia, Mexico, and Denmark.

Following the operation, Maduro and his wife were flown to New York to face U.S. drug-related charges. Images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed circulated widely, shocking many Venezuelans. Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez condemned the operation as a “kidnapping” and demanded their immediate release. Reports indicate that at least 40 people may have died during the operation, which U.S. officials described as a “large-scale strike.” Trump noted that only minor injuries occurred on the U.S. side and praised the armed forces for the operation’s professionalism.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was controversially taken into custody by US special forces and appeared in a Manhattan courtroom. The arrest followed months of US pressure on Maduro, including strikes against “narco-boats” and oil tanker blockades. Donald Trump has since asserted that the US plans to “take over” Venezuela—but how exactly would that happen?
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Jonathan Freedland and the Politics Weekly America team are on a break this week, so we’re revisiting a special summer series focused on the Trump family and the question of whether the president intends to hand over the political reins when his term ends. In the first episode, author Gwenda Blair along with reporters Rosie Gray and Ashley Parker introduce the family members who played key roles in Donald Trump’s rise to the White House and his tenure in office.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, and Philippe Auclair to discuss the major stories from European football as winter breaks get underway. Listeners can rate, review, and share the podcast on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast, and Stitcher, or join the conversation via email. In today’s episode, Raúl Jiménez maintained his perfect penalty record to help Fulham secure all three points against Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage, concluding the Premier League’s long weekend. The podcast also provides updates from Europe’s top leagues, including Xabi Alonso’s continued tenure at Real Madrid, the tight race at the top in Italy, and the surprising team leading Ligue 1 at Christmas—who isn’t PSG. Additionally, the hosts cover the latest from AFCON and answer listener questions. Support for The Guardian is welcome, and Football Weekly is also available on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian

Every Monday and Friday throughout December, we are republishing some of our most loved audio long reads of 2025 for those who may have missed them, each introduced by our editorial team to explain the choice. From September, this piece explores how rising sea levels are forcing much of the population to face the possibility that their homeland could disappear. The question remains where they will go. By Atul Dev. Narrated by Mikhail Sen.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.