Iran has imposed sweeping restrictions on communication, shutting down internet services and telephone lines across large parts of the country as protests against economic hardship intensified on Thursday. There are also concerns that authorities may attempt to interfere with satellite signals to prevent footage of the unrest from reaching the outside world.Amid the clampdown, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of deliberately silencing millions of Iranians demanding political and economic change. “Millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication. It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals,” Pahlavi wrote, in a strongly worded post on X.Pahlavi accused the Iranian regime of trying to silence millions of citizens who took to the streets demanding freedom amid worsening economic conditions. He urged the international community to act decisively, calling for the use of “all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication to the Iranian people so that their voice and their will can be heard and seen.”Pahlavi praises Trump, urges Europe to actPahlavi publicly thanked US President Donald Trump for what he described as a firm stance against the Iranian leadership, and called on European leaders to follow Washington’s lead.“I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account. It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran,” he said.Trump warns Tehran against killing protestersTrump issued a sharp warning to Iran’s leadership, threatening severe consequences if security forces use deadly force against protesters.“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots — they have lots of riots — if they do it, we are going to hit them very hard,” Trump said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.In a separate post on Truth Social earlier, Trump wrote: “If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”Trump did not specify what actions Washington might take, though the United States has long imposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran and has historically avoided direct military intervention. However, he ordered airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.US officials voice support for IraniansUS vice president JD Vance reiterated Washington’s support for peaceful protesters, saying the United States stands by those seeking basic freedoms.“We certainly stand by anybody who’s engaged in peaceful protests, anybody who’s trying to exert their rights for free association and to have their voices heard,” Vance said, adding that Iran’s leadership should pursue serious negotiations with the US over its nuclear programme.Meanwhile, the US State Department issued an unusually blunt warning in Persian on its official X account, aimed directly at Iran’s leadership. “President Trump is a man of action. If you didn’t know before, now you do. Don’t mess with President Trump,” the post on X read.Protests spread nationwide The unrest, which began on 28 December, was initially sparked by shopkeepers in Tehran protesting another sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial. The currency has hit record lows over the past year, with inflation soaring to around 40 percent as sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme compound long-standing issues of mismanagement and corruption.University students soon joined the demonstrations, which spread rapidly across provinces. Protesters have been heard chanting slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and in some cases expressing support for Reza Pahlavi.According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency, protests have erupted in 111 cities and towns across all 31 provinces. The group reported that at least 34 protesters and four security personnel were killed, with more than 2,200 arrests.BBC Persian confirmed the deaths and identities of 21 people, while Iranian authorities acknowledged the deaths of five security personnel.The current wave of unrest is the largest seen in Iran since 2022 and comes amid a deepening economic crisis, currency collapse and growing civil disobedience. Violent clashes between protesters and security forces have been reported in multiple locations, with videos circulating online showing gunfire, tear gas and stone-throwing.As communication blackouts tighten and international pressure mounts, the situation inside Iran remains volatile, with no clear indication of how the standoff between protesters and the regime will unfold.

When, in November 2025, the Indian cinema world lost one of its most shining stars, Dharmendra, it felt like someone had stolen the heart and soul from the industry. Thus, when 2026 began with the film ‘Ikkis,’ which featured his last on-screen presence, the industry and fans felt a sense of sentimentality. In the war drama, Dharmendra had a lot of scenes with ‘The Family Man 3’ actor Jaideep Ahlawat. In an exclusive conversation with us, Jaideep shared all the fond memories of the late star from the sets and highlighted that he felt lucky to share the screen with the legend.

Dharmendra’s demise and the emotional impact

“The whole country, I think, all cinema lovers, there was not a soul who didn’t feel bad,” said Jaideep while speaking about Dharmendra’s demise. “I felt a void while promoting Ikkis. I wish he were there, in all these promotions. He should have been with us to watch this film, to see his work,” he added, recalling the late star.“So, anyway, this is a hollow hypothetical thought. It’s destiny, nothing can be done about it,” expressed the actor.

Jaideep Ahlawat’s emotional account of his time with Dharmendra on the sets of ‘Ikkis’

“You feel lucky to be part of a project where the legend is there,” he said as we started the conversation. “I had a lot of fun working with him. Being with him, I never feel that you are working with such a great legend. He makes you feel like family,” the actor continued before adding, “He was constantly cracking good jokes, making small one-liner jokes, reciting very beautiful poems, telling stories.”“Working with him has made me feel amazing,” said Jaideep.

What’s next for Jaideep Ahlawat?

“Every actor wants to be a part of a good story, to get to play good characters, to keep surprising himself, and not get bored with the art form. So, the aspiration is to keep working, to keep doing good work, to keep surprising myself,” said Jaideep, shedding some light on his dreams as an actor.“There is always an effort. It is not necessary to do it every time. To get a chance to work with good people, to get a chance to be a part of good stories,” concluded the ‘Ikkis’ star.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami

NEW DELHI: Pushing for expansion of NDA in Tamil Nadu, BJP is crafting a high-pitched campaign to position the alliance as a natural choice for anti-DMK voters amid emergence of actor Vijay-led TVK as the third force in the state’s traditionally bipolar politics. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami’s meeting with home minister Amit Shah, a keen votary of widening the NDA tent in the poll-bound state, on Wednesday covered a range of issues related to the alliance’s growth and agenda. That the PMK faction led by Anbumani Ramadoss was welcomed into NDA by EPS, as Palaniswami is commonly known, in Chennai hours before he met Shah in Delhi was as much about timing as about consolidating the alliance. However, EPS, the declared leader of NDA, has drawn a red line on including O Panneerselvam and Sasikala back into AIADMK or the alliance. In comments to media on Thursday, he reiterated his stand against them but offered no direct answer on TTV Dhinakaran, another former AIADMK functionary being spoken of as a prospective NDA member. BJP has long been of the view that the return of those once associated with AIADMK and its late leader J Jayalalithaa will send out a message of unity after the reverses it has suffered in elections. However, people familiar with the issue said BJP will ultimately go with EPS as it has already named him as leader of the alliance and believes an AIADMK-led front remains the best bet to defeat the DMK-Congress-Left combine. What has thrown up an imponderable in the poll equation is the emergence of TVK, which has gained in attraction for local satraps disaffected with their parent party or drawn by higher profiles on offer. With AIADMK under EPS ceding some space over the years, some functionaries have crossed over to TVK amid buzz that Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran may also move to the new outfit. A BJP functionary likened the attention and crowds Vijay is drawing to the buzz poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor had generated in Bihar, before his party came a cropper in the polls. Sources added that BJP would like to bring together all political forces, including TVK, opposed to the DMK-led front, but Vijay’s projection of himself as the CM candidate and criticism of BJP’s ideology have made such a prospect improbable. In fact, TVK has called Congress a natural ally amid a section of the national party openly indicating their unhappiness with DMK’s refusal to share power and warm up to TVK. With issues far from settled in the state’s governing alliance, NDA is planning to tie up the loose ends and shape the poll agenda by building a high-octane campaign around alleged corruption and misgovernance.

WASHINGTON: In a sweeping overhaul of America’s global footprint, President Donald Trump has authorised the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations, marking one of the most significant retreats from multilateralism in modern history.The move, announced on January 7 via a presidential memorandum, affects 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN groups, including key bodies focused on climate, health, and education. This action coincides with Trump’s call for a $1.5 trillion defence budget in fiscal year 2027, a staggering 50% increase over current levels, fueling debates about a shift toward a “Fortress America” doctrine that prioritises domestic strength and protectionism over global engagement.

The withdrawals build on an Executive Order issued shortly after Trump’s inauguration in February 2025, which directed a review of US participation in international bodies deemed contrary to national interests. Prominent targets include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signaling a complete US exit from global climate pacts; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), from which the US had briefly rejoined under the previous administration; and potentially the World Health Organization (WHO), echoing Trump’s first-term defunding over alleged biases toward China.Other entities span trade, human rights, and environmental forums, with the State Department citing a total of 66 as “wasteful, ineffective, or harmful.” In some cases, Washington has formally withdrawn; in others, it has suspended funding, reduced diplomatic engagement or signalled an intention to exit when legal timelines allow.Administration officials say these organisations “no longer serve American interests” and often promote policies seen as hostile or inefficient. For instance, climate-related bodies are criticised for imposing undue burdens on US business and industry without reciprocal commitments from “major emitters” like China and India, even though their per capita emission is a fraction of American emissions. UNESCO and similar groups face accusations of waste and mismanagement, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighting redundancy and a lack of tangible benefits for US taxpayers.Trump himself has framed the decisions as part of his “America First” agenda, arguing that funds previously allocated to these entities—estimated at billions annually—should be redirected domestically to address border security, infrastructure, and economic recovery. Supporters, including Republican lawmakers, applaud the move as a correction to decades of overcommitment, freeing resources amid a national debt nearing $40 trillion.Foreign policy experts point to the December 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), which critiques US allies in Europe and Asia for insufficient burden-sharing while prioritising unilateral actions. The document, released under Trump’s direction, describes an “America First” framework that sceptics label as neo-isolationist, though administration officials insist it avoids outright withdrawal from core alliances like NATO, which is also under siege from Washington over the Greenland issue.This approach is straining U.S ties across the globe: European leaders have decried the US exits as a blow to collective security, while adversaries like Russia and China are relishing the perceived vacuum. Partners like India, Japan, and Australia have been hung out to dry. Analysts argue the policy fosters adversity by undermining multilateralism, with some of them warning that Trump’s strategy risks damaging US power, economy, and security through hostility toward global cooperation.The proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget, unveiled on January 7, underscores this pivot. Trump justified the hike—up from the current $1 trillion as essential for building a “dream military,” with allocations for nuclear modernisation, missile defence, and cyber capabilities. “After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 trillion, but rather $1.5 trillion. This will allow us to build the “Dream Military” that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday.But even at $ 1 trillion, the U.S already spends more on its military than the next ten countries combined. The $1.5 trillion figure would add an estimated $5.8 trillion to the national debt – already at a record $ 38 trillion – if sustained over a decade. Defence stocks surged in response, reflecting investor confidence in a build-up of the military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower had warned about.Detractors contend the budget epitomises “Fortress America”—a term evoking pre-World War II isolationism—by channelling resources inward at the expense of diplomacy, and perhaps even democracy. Fiscal watchdogs, meanwhile, highlight the irony: While slashing international funding, the proposal inflates military spending – already considered profligate – despite Trump’s campaign promises to curb waste.

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday announced that it has asked its key diplomatic missions in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi, to temporarily suspend visa services citing “security concerns”.“What I have done is that I have asked our three missions (in India) to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue,” Foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain told reporters at a media briefing.The remarks came after Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata overnight restricted visa services, following similar steps taken earlier in New Delhi and Agartala.However, business and work visas have been kept outside the scope of the restrictions. Bangladesh also has diplomatic missions in Mumbai and Chennai, where visa services continue to operate normally.Hossain also said Bangladesh has approached the United States seeking a reversal of a recently imposed visa bond requirement. Dhaka will pursue diplomatic channels to seek an exemption, calling the move “certainly unfortunate and painful for us,” PTI reported.At the same time, he noted that the US decision was “not abnormal”, as it was not applied only to Bangladesh and several other countries were facing similar immigration-related measures.Ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained since the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in violent, student-led protests in July–August 2024. Relations have since hit another roadblock following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, which triggered anti-India protests. Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s July uprising, was killed amid rising political tensions, sparking widespread unrest. Protests also broke out after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu factory worker who was lynched in Mymensingh after being falsely accused of religious defamation.Hindu religious organisations and minority rights groups held a protest outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday, describing the incident as part of a wider pattern of religious extremism, attacks on minorities and official inaction.India too raised concerns over the safety of minorities, the security of diplomatic missions and what it calls “misleading narratives” emerging from Bangladesh. New Delhi further urged Dhaka to bring those responsible for the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das to justice and said it remained “vigilant about the safety of minorities.”From exile in India, Sheikh Hasina blamed interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus for Bangladesh’s instability, accusing the interim government of empowering extremists, failing to protect minorities and undermining ties with India.