WährendWährend diedie NachtNacht überüber Jerusalem Israels geteilter HauptstadtHauptstadt hereinbricht ziehtzieht eineeine GruppeGruppe israelischer Menschenrechtsaktivisten Bilanz.Bilanz. DenDen ganzenganzen TagTag überüber habenhaben siesie GeldGeld undund Sachspenden gesammeltgesammelt fürfür diedie bettelarmebettelarme Beduinenbevölkerung imim SüdenSüden Israels diedie ihrerihrer Einschätzung nachnach besondners harthart vonvon denden AngriffenAngriffen derder Hamas getroffengetroffen wurde.wurde. "Wir"Wir wollenwollen Solidarität fürfür allealle MenschenMenschen hier"Noa Dagoni von Human Rights & Democracy erklärt: "Die BedürfnisseBedürfnisse sindsind enorm.enorm. Tausende vonvon MenschenMenschen sindsind inin PanikPanik undund glaubenglauben dassdass sichsich niemandniemand umum siesie kümmert. Sie habenhaben keinekeine InfrastrukturInfrastruktur keinenkeinen StromStrom undund keinkein WasserWasser undund keinerleikeinerlei Schutzunterkünfte. FürFür unsuns istist eses auchauch einein Statement dassdass wirwir keinenkeinen UnterschiedUnterschied zwischenzwischen JudenJuden undund ArabernArabern machen. Wir wollenwollen Solidarität fürfür allealle MenschenMenschen hierhier diedie jetztjetzt unterunter diesemdiesem schrecklichenschrecklichen KriegKrieg leiden."leiden." "Das"Das EinzigeEinzige waswas unsuns aufrechtaufrecht erhält"Innerhalb kurzerkurzer ZeitZeit konntenkonnten Hunderte vonvon Hilfspaketen fürfür diedie Beduinengemeinden zusammengetragenzusammengetragen werden.werden. DieDie SpendenSpenden kommenkommen sowohlsowohl vonvon Israelis undund Palästinensern alsals auchauch vonvon ausländerischen Wohltätern sagtsagt Noa Dagoni. "In"In denden letztenletzten zweizwei TagenTagen kamenkamen mehrmehr alsals 100 MenschenMenschen umum hierhier freiwilligfreiwillig zuzu helfen.helfen. UndUnd vieleviele vieleviele MenschenMenschen habenhaben GeldGeld gespendet.gespendet. WirWir schickenschicken FreiwilligeFreiwillige diedie mitmit diesemdiesem GeldGeld einkaufeneinkaufen gehengehen undund dasdas Gekaufte danndann hierherhierher bringen.bringen. EsEs istist wirklichwirklich rührendrührend undund dasdas EinzigeEinzige waswas unsuns aufrechtaufrecht erhält.erhält. DennDenn sonstsonst istist eses wirklichwirklich herzzerreißend."herzzerreißend." Euroenws-Korrespondetin Valérie Gauriat sagtsagt dassdass diedie Spendenakion inin denden folgendenfolgenden TagenTagen fortgeführtfortgeführt wirdwird fallsfalls dasdas möglichmöglich ist.ist. "Nur"Nur eineseines derder vielenvielen BeispieleBeispiele dafürdafür wiewie diedie MenschenMenschen versuchenversuchen BedürftigenBedürftigen zuzu helfenhelfen aufauf welchewelche WeiseWeise auchauch immer."immer."

Uganda's PresidentPresident Yoweri Museveni admittedadmitted eveneven hehe hadhad problemsproblems votingvoting asas technicaltechnical issuesissues disrupteddisrupted Thursday'sThursday's election,election, inin whichwhich hehe hopeshopes toto extendextend hishis 40-year rule,rule, amidamid anan internetinternet blackoutblackout andand aa policepolice crackdown.crackdown.

Museveni, 81, isis widely expectedexpected toto winwin aa seventhseventh termterm inin officeoffice thanksthanks toto hishis totaltotal controlcontrol ofof thethe statestate andand securitysecurity apparatus.apparatus.

TheThe formerformer bushbush fighterfighter facesfaces aa concertedconcerted challengechallenge fromfrom singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine,Wine, 43, whowho stylesstyles himselfhimself thethe "ghetto"ghetto president"president" afterafter hishis strongholdstronghold inin thethe slumsslums ofof thethe capital,capital, Kampala.

WineWine accusedaccused thethe governmentgovernment ofof "massive"massive ballot-stuffing" andand arrestingarresting officialsofficials inin hishis partyparty underunder covercover ofof anan internetinternet blackoutblackout imposedimposed byby thethe governmentgovernment thisthis weekweek despitedespite repeatedrepeated promisespromises notnot toto dodo so.so.

InIn manymany pollingpolling stationsstations aroundaround thethe country,country, votingvoting waswas delayeddelayed byby severalseveral hourshours asas ballotballot boxesboxes werewere slowslow toto arrivearrive andand biometricbiometric machinesmachines -- usedused toto verifyverify voters'voters' identityidentity -- werewere malfunctioning,malfunctioning, whichwhich somesome blamedblamed onon thethe internetinternet blockage.blockage.

"Everything"Everything theythey areare doingdoing isis aa shamsham andand itit isis deliberate,"deliberate," David Lewis Rubongoya, secretarysecretary generalgeneral ofof thethe oppositionopposition NationalNational UnityUnity Platform,Platform, toldtold AFP, addingadding thatthat "no"no voting"voting" tooktook placeplace inin thethe morningmorning acrossacross muchmuch ofof Kampala.

Museveni acknowledgedacknowledged eveneven hehe hadhad troubletrouble andand promisedpromised toto investigate.investigate.

"I"I putput mymy right...right... thumbprint.thumbprint. TheThe machinemachine diddid notnot acceptaccept it.it. II putput mymy left,left, itit diddid notnot acceptaccept it,"it," hehe toldtold journalists,journalists, addingadding thatthat thethe machinemachine finallyfinally acceptedaccepted aa scanscan ofof hishis face,face, allowingallowing himhim toto vote.vote.

AtAt aa pollingpolling stationstation onon thethe outskirtsoutskirts ofof Kampala, votingvoting beganbegan fourfour hourshours latelate afterafter officialsofficials hadhad toto switchswitch toto manualmanual verification.

"They"They areare tryingtrying toto stealsteal thethe poll,"poll," saidsaid Respy, aa womanwoman inin herher 20s. "They"They areare tryingtrying toto makemake usus getget tiredtired andand gogo home."home."

- RepressionRepression -

ThereThere waswas aa heavyheavy securitysecurity presencepresence inin manymany areasareas andand policepolice havehave warnedwarned thethe votevote isis "not"not aa justificationjustification forfor criminalcriminal acts",acts", determineddetermined toto preventprevent thethe anti-government protestsprotests seenseen inin neighbouringneighbouring Kenya andand Tanzania inin recentrecent months.months.

JournalistsJournalists havehave beenbeen harassedharassed andand HumanHuman RightsRights WatchWatch hashas denounceddenounced thethe suspensionsuspension thisthis weekweek ofof 10 NGOs,NGOs, includingincluding electionelection monitors.monitors.

AsAs withwith hishis 2021 campaign,campaign, hundredshundreds ofof Wine'sWine's supporterssupporters havehave beenbeen arrestedarrested inin thethe run-uprun-up toto thethe vote.vote. HeHe worewore aa flakflak jacketjacket atat rallies,rallies, describingdescribing thethe electionelection asas aa "war""war" andand Museveni asas aa "military"military dictator".dictator".

"We"We areare holdingholding electionselections inin thethe dark,"dark," WineWine saidsaid afterafter castingcasting hishis vote.vote.

"This"This isis donedone inin orderorder toto facilitatefacilitate thethe intendedintended riggingrigging ofof thethe regime,"regime," hehe said.said. "We"We wouldwould encourageencourage thethe peoplepeople ofof Uganda toto resist."resist."

TheThe governmentgovernment saidsaid thethe internetinternet shutdownshutdown waswas neededneeded toto preventprevent thethe spreadspread ofof "misinformation""misinformation" andand "incitement"incitement toto violence",violence", butbut thethe UnitedUnited NationsNations calledcalled itit "deeply worrying".worrying".

TheThe otherother majormajor oppositionopposition figure,figure, Kizza Besigye, whowho ranran fourfour timestimes againstagainst Museveni, waswas abductedabducted inin Kenya inin 2024 andand broughtbrought backback toto aa militarymilitary courtcourt inin Uganda forfor aa treasontreason trialtrial thatthat isis ongoing.ongoing.

ManyMany UgandansUgandans stillstill praisepraise Museveni asas thethe manman whowho endedended thethe country'scountry's post-independence chaoschaos andand oversawoversaw rapidrapid economiceconomic growth,growth, eveneven ifif muchmuch waswas lostlost toto aa relentlessrelentless stringstring ofof massivemassive corruptioncorruption scandals.scandals.

"Peace"Peace andand securitysecurity inin thethe countrycountry isis veryvery good.good. TheThe partyparty isis well-organised," saidsaid Angee Abraham Lincoln, 42, aa Museveni supportersupporter waitingwaiting toto castcast hishis votevote inin Kampala.

WesternWestern countriescountries havehave oftenoften givengiven Museveni leewayleeway afterafter hehe swallowedswallowed theirtheir demandsdemands forfor neoliberal reformsreforms inin thethe 1980s andand mademade himselfhimself aa usefuluseful partnerpartner inin thethe US-led "war"war onon terror"terror" inin thethe 2000s, especiallyespecially throughthrough trooptroop contributionscontributions toto Somalia.

TheThe presidentpresident saidsaid hishis vote,vote, whenwhen itit waswas finallyfinally cast,cast, waswas forfor anyoneanyone "who"who believesbelieves inin Uganda... whowho believesbelieves inin Africa."

Washington's ambitionambition toto taketake controlcontrol ofof Greenland remainedremained intact,intact, Denmark saidsaid onon Thursday,Thursday, asas aa EuropeanEuropean militarymilitary missionmission arrivedarrived onon thethe mineral-rich strategicstrategic ArcticArctic island,island, drawingdrawing aa sharpsharp rebukerebuke fromfrom Russia.

TheThe developmentsdevelopments camecame aa dayday afterafter aa high-level meetingmeeting atat thethe WhiteWhite HouseHouse failedfailed toto resolveresolve "fundamental"fundamental disagreement"disagreement" overover Greenland, aa DanishDanish autonomousautonomous territoryterritory thatthat PresidentPresident Donald TrumpTrump hashas repeatedlyrepeatedly saidsaid Washington needsneeds toto seizeseize toto ensureensure USUS security.security.

TheThe foreignforeign ministersministers ofof Denmark andand Greenland metmet withwith USUS ViceVice PresidentPresident JD Vance andand SecretarySecretary ofof StateState Marco Rubio inin Washington onon Wednesday.Wednesday.

DanishDanish PrimePrime MinisterMinister Mette Frederiksen saidsaid inin aa statementstatement ThursdayThursday thatthat "a"a workingworking group"group" waswas beingbeing setset upup toto discussdiscuss howhow ArcticArctic securitysecurity couldcould bebe improved.improved.

"However,"However, thisthis doesdoes notnot changechange thethe factfact thatthat therethere isis aa fundamentalfundamental disagreement,disagreement, becausebecause thethe AmericanAmerican ambitionambition toto taketake overover Greenland remainsremains intact,"intact," Frederiksen said.said.

"This"This isis obviouslyobviously aa seriousserious matter,matter, andand wewe areare thereforetherefore continuingcontinuing ourour effortsefforts toto preventprevent thisthis scenarioscenario fromfrom becomingbecoming aa reality,"reality," sheshe added.added.

TheThe headhead ofof government'sgovernment's commentcomment camecame asas EuropeanEuropean militarymilitary personnelpersonnel hadhad begunbegun arrivingarriving inin Greenland.

France, Sweden, Germany andand Norway announcedannounced WednesdayWednesday thatthat theythey wouldwould deploydeploy militarymilitary personnelpersonnel asas partpart ofof aa reconnaissancereconnaissance missionmission toto Greenland's capitalcapital Nuuk.

"Soldiers"Soldiers ofof NATONATO areare expectedexpected toto bebe moremore presentpresent inin Greenland fromfrom todaytoday andand inin thethe comingcoming days.days. ItIt isis expectedexpected thatthat therethere willwill bebe moremore militarymilitary flightsflights andand ships,"ships," Greenland's deputydeputy primeprime ministerminister MuteMute Egede toldtold aa newsnews conferenceconference onon Wednesday,Wednesday, addingadding theythey wouldwould bebe "training"."training".

Germany's defencedefence ministryministry saidsaid ThursdayThursday thatthat thethe reconnaissancereconnaissance missionmission toto Greenland byby severalseveral EuropeanEuropean NATONATO membersmembers aimsaims "to"to exploreexplore optionsoptions forfor ensuringensuring securitysecurity inin lightlight ofof RussianRussian andand ChineseChinese threatsthreats inin thethe Arctic".Arctic".

"The"The firstfirst FrenchFrench militarymilitary personnelpersonnel areare alreadyalready onon theirtheir way.way. OthersOthers willwill follow,"follow," FrenchFrench PresidentPresident Emmanuel Macron saidsaid onon X.X.

TrumpTrump hashas arguedargued thatthat ifif thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates doesdoes notnot taketake Greenland, "China"China oror Russia will".will".

TheThe RussianRussian embassyembassy inin Belgium, wherewhere NATONATO isis headquartered,headquartered, saidsaid thethe arrivalarrival ofof NATONATO forcesforces toto Greenland waswas concerning.concerning.

"The"The situationsituation unfoldingunfolding inin thethe highhigh latitudeslatitudes isis ofof seriousserious concernconcern toto us,"us," thethe embassyembassy saidsaid inin aa statementstatement publishedpublished latelate Wednesday.Wednesday.

NATONATO isis "building"building upup itsits militarymilitary presencepresence therethere underunder thethe falsefalse pretextpretext ofof aa growinggrowing threatthreat fromfrom Moscow andand Beijing," thethe embassyembassy added.added.

- 'Good'Good relationship'relationship' -

AfterAfter leavingleaving thethe WhiteWhite HouseHouse onon WednesdayWednesday DanishDanish ForeignForeign MinisterMinister Lars Lokke Rasmussen saidsaid aa USUS takeovertakeover ofof Greenland waswas "absolutely"absolutely notnot necessary."necessary."

"We"We didn't managemanage toto changechange thethe AmericanAmerican position.position. It'sIt's clearclear thatthat thethe presidentpresident hashas thisthis wishwish ofof conqueringconquering overover Greenland," Lokke toldtold reporters.reporters.

HeHe alsoalso notednoted thatthat "there"there areare nono ChineseChinese warshipswarships alongalong thethe coastcoast ofof Greenland".

"Nor"Nor areare therethere anyany massivemassive ChineseChinese investmentsinvestments inin Greenland," hehe toldtold thethe DanishDanish presspress afterafter thethe meeting.meeting.

Trump,Trump, speakingspeaking afterafter thethe meetingmeeting whichwhich hehe diddid notnot attend,attend, forfor thethe firstfirst timetime soundedsounded conciliatoryconciliatory onon Greenland, acknowledgingacknowledging Denmark's interestsinterests eveneven ifif hehe againagain saidsaid hehe waswas notnot rulingruling outout anyany options.options.

"I"I havehave aa veryvery goodgood relationshiprelationship withwith Denmark, andand we'llwe'll seesee howhow itit allall worksworks out.out. II thinkthink somethingsomething willwill workwork out,"out," TrumpTrump saidsaid withoutwithout explainingexplaining further.further.

HeHe againagain saidsaid Denmark waswas powerlesspowerless ifif Russia oror ChinaChina wantedwanted toto occupyoccupy Greenland, butbut added: "There's"There's everythingeverything wewe cancan do."do."

- LiveLive 'in'in peace'peace' -

OnOn thethe streetsstreets ofof Nuuk, redred andand whitewhite Greenlandic flagsflags flewflew inin shopshop windows,windows, onon apartmentapartment balconies,balconies, andand onon carscars andand buses,buses, inin aa showshow ofof nationalnational unityunity thisthis week.week.

SomeSome residentsresidents describeddescribed anxietyanxiety fromfrom findingfinding themselvesthemselves atat thethe centrecentre ofof thethe geopoliticalgeopolitical spotlight.spotlight.

"It's"It's veryvery frighteningfrightening becausebecause it'sit's suchsuch aa bigbig thing,"thing," saidsaid Vera Stidsen, 51, aa teacherteacher inin Nuuk.

"I"I hopehope thatthat inin thethe futurefuture wewe cancan continuecontinue toto livelive asas wewe havehave untiluntil now: inin peacepeace andand withoutwithout beingbeing disturbed,"disturbed," Stidsen toldtold AFP.

Iran vowedvowed onon ThursdayThursday toto defenddefend itselfitself againstagainst anyany foreignforeign threat,threat, afterafter USUS PresidentPresident Donald TrumpTrump saidsaid hehe wouldwould "watch"watch itit andand see"see" aboutabout militarymilitary actionaction overover thethe crackdowncrackdown onon protesters.protesters.

Iran's judiciaryjudiciary saidsaid aa protesterprotester whowho thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates andand rightsrights groupsgroups fearedfeared facedfaced imminentimminent execution wouldwould notnot bebe sentencedsentenced toto death,death, afterafter TrumpTrump hadhad warnedwarned ofof strikesstrikes shouldshould peoplepeople arrestedarrested forfor demonstratingdemonstrating bebe killed.killed.

TheThe protestsprotests werewere sparkedsparked byby economiceconomic grievancesgrievances butbut evolvedevolved rapidly intointo aa nationwidenationwide movementmovement thatthat hashas constitutedconstituted thethe greatestgreatest threatthreat toto thethe IslamicIslamic republicrepublic sincesince itsits inceptioninception inin 1979.

RightsRights groupsgroups saysay thethe crackdowncrackdown byby authorities,authorities, whowho exerciseexercise zerozero tolerancetolerance forfor dissent,dissent, hashas leftleft atat leastleast 3,428 peoplepeople dead.dead. TheyThey alsoalso accuseaccuse thethe country'scountry's theocratictheocratic leadersleaders ofof usingusing anan internetinternet blackoutblackout toto covercover upup thethe brutalitybrutality ofof theirtheir crackdown.crackdown.

InIn telephonetelephone talkstalks onon Thursday,Thursday, IranianIranian ForeignForeign MinisterMinister Abbas Araghchi toldtold SaudiSaudi ArabianArabian counterpartcounterpart Faisal binbin Farhan ofof thethe importanceimportance ofof "global"global condemnationcondemnation ofof foreignforeign interferenceinterference inin thethe internalinternal affairsaffairs ofof regionalregional countries".countries".

TheThe developmentsdevelopments camecame hourshours aheadahead ofof aa UNUN SecuritySecurity CouncilCouncil meetingmeeting onon Iran laterlater onon Thursday,Thursday, whichwhich waswas requestedrequested byby thethe US.US.

OnOn Wednesday,Wednesday, SaudiSaudi Arabia informedinformed Iran itit wouldwould notnot allowallow itsits airspaceairspace oror territoryterritory toto bebe usedused toto attackattack it,it, twotwo sourcessources closeclose toto thethe kingdom'skingdom's governmentgovernment toldtold AFP.

UpUp untiluntil Wednesday,Wednesday, thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates waswas threateningthreatening militarymilitary actionaction againstagainst Iran shouldshould itit carrycarry outout thethe deathdeath penaltypenalty againstagainst peoplepeople arrestedarrested overover thethe protests.protests.

InIn anan announcementannouncement atat thethe WhiteWhite House,House, TrumpTrump saidsaid hehe hadhad nownow receivedreceived assurancesassurances fromfrom "very"very importantimportant sourcessources onon thethe otherother side"side" thatthat executionsexecutions wouldwould notnot gogo ahead.ahead.

"They've saidsaid thethe killingkilling hashas stoppedstopped andand thethe executionsexecutions won'twon't taketake placeplace -- therethere werewere supposedsupposed toto bebe aa lotlot ofof executionsexecutions todaytoday andand thatthat thethe executionsexecutions won'twon't taketake placeplace -- andand we'rewe're goinggoing toto findfind out,"out," TrumpTrump said.said.

AskedAsked byby anan AFP reporterreporter inin thethe OvalOval OfficeOffice ifif USUS militarymilitary actionaction waswas nownow offoff thethe table,table, TrumpTrump replied: "We're"We're goinggoing toto watchwatch itit andand seesee whatwhat thethe processprocess is."is."

TheThe commentscomments sentsent oiloil pricesprices plungingplunging onon Thursday,Thursday, asas concernsconcerns easedeased ofof aa loominglooming supplysupply shockshock inin energyenergy markets.markets. Iran makesmakes upup aroundaround threethree percentpercent ofof globalglobal oiloil production.production.

AllAll eyeseyes werewere onon protesterprotester Erfan Soltani, 26, inin prisonprison inin Karaj outsideoutside Tehran sincesince hishis arrest,arrest, whowho isis facingfacing chargescharges ofof propagandapropaganda againstagainst Iran's IslamicIslamic systemsystem andand actingacting againstagainst nationalnational security.security.

OnOn Thursday,Thursday, thethe IranianIranian judiciaryjudiciary saidsaid Soltani hashas "not"not beenbeen sentencedsentenced toto death"death" andand ifif hehe isis convicted,convicted, "the"the punishment,punishment, accordingaccording toto thethe law,law, willwill bebe imprisonment,imprisonment, asas thethe deathdeath penaltypenalty doesdoes notnot existexist forfor suchsuch charges".charges".

- 'No'No hanginghanging todaytoday oror tomorrow'tomorrow' -

Iran's judiciaryjudiciary chiefchief hadhad vowedvowed fast-trackfast-track trialstrials forfor thosethose arrested,arrested, andand prosecutorsprosecutors havehave saidsaid somesome detaineesdetainees willwill faceface capitalcapital chargescharges ofof "waging"waging warwar againstagainst God".God".

StateState mediamedia reportedreported hundredshundreds ofof arrestsarrests andand thethe detentiondetention ofof aa foreignforeign nationalnational forfor espionage,espionage, withoutwithout givinggiving details.details.

InIn anan interviewinterview withwith USUS networknetwork FoxFox News,News, IranianIranian ForeignForeign MinisterMinister Abbas Araghchi saidsaid therethere wouldwould bebe "no"no hanginghanging todaytoday oror tomorrow",tomorrow", whilewhile accusingaccusing USUS allyally Israel ofof orchestratingorchestrating violenceviolence inin Iran, withoutwithout providingproviding evidence.evidence.

Araghchi contendscontends thethe protestsprotests devolveddevolved intointo widespreadwidespread violenceviolence betweenbetween JanuaryJanuary 7 andand 10 becausebecause theythey werewere infiltratedinfiltrated byby externalexternal "elements"elements whowho hadhad aa planplan toto createcreate aa bigbig numbernumber ofof killingskillings inin orderorder toto provokeprovoke PresidentPresident TrumpTrump toto enterenter intointo thisthis conflictconflict andand startstart aa newnew warwar againstagainst Iran".

TheThe authoritiesauthorities imposedimposed anan unprecedentedunprecedented internetinternet blackoutblackout onon JanuaryJanuary 8, asas protestsprotests explodedexploded inin sizesize andand intensity, severely hamperinghampering thethe demonstrators'demonstrators' abilityability toto communicatecommunicate withwith eacheach otherother andand thethe outsideoutside world.world.

Iran's MinisterMinister ofof JusticeJustice Amin Hossein Rahimi echoedechoed Araghchi's allegation,allegation, tellingtelling statestate newsnews agenciesagencies thatthat afterafter JanuaryJanuary 7, "those"those weren't protestsprotests anyany longer"longer" andand anyoneanyone whowho waswas arrestedarrested onon thethe streetsstreets thenthen "was"was definitelydefinitely aa criminal".criminal".

- 'Full'Full control'control' -

Araghchi saidsaid thethe IranianIranian governmentgovernment waswas "in"in fullfull control"control" andand reportedreported anan atmosphereatmosphere ofof "calm""calm" afterafter whatwhat hehe calledcalled threethree daysdays ofof "terrorist"terrorist operation".operation".

Iran alsoalso struckstruck aa defiantdefiant tonetone aboutabout respondingresponding toto anyany USUS attack,attack, asas Washington appearedappeared toto drawdraw downdown staffstaff atat aa basebase inin Qatar thatthat Tehran targetedtargeted inin aa strikestrike lastlast year.year.

Iran targetedtargeted thethe Al Udeid basebase inin JuneJune inin retaliation forfor USUS strikesstrikes onon itsits nuclearnuclear facilities.facilities.

Ali Shamkhani, aa seniorsenior adviseradviser toto SupremeSupreme LeaderLeader AyatollahAyatollah Ali Khamenei, warnedwarned TrumpTrump thethe strikestrike showedshowed "Iran's willwill andand capabilitycapability toto respondrespond toto anyany attack".attack".

FearsFears ofof possiblepossible USUS militarymilitary actionaction continuedcontinued toto rilerile thethe region,region, andand TurkeyTurkey onon ThursdayThursday saidsaid itit opposedopposed aa militarymilitary operationoperation againstagainst Iran.

- 'Zero'Zero protests'protests' -

G7 nationsnations saidsaid WednesdayWednesday theythey werewere "deeply alarmedalarmed atat thethe highhigh levellevel ofof reportedreported deathsdeaths andand injuries"injuries" andand warnedwarned ofof furtherfurther sanctionssanctions ifif thethe crackdowncrackdown continued.continued.

MonitorMonitor NetBlocks saidsaid Iran's internetinternet blackoutblackout hadhad lastedlasted overover 156 hours.hours.

DespiteDespite thethe shutdown,shutdown, newnew videos,videos, withwith locationslocations verifiedverified byby AFP, showedshowed bodiesbodies linedlined upup inin thethe Kahrizak morguemorgue southsouth ofof Tehran, wrappedwrapped inin blackblack bagsbags asas distraughtdistraught relativesrelatives searchedsearched forfor lovedloved ones.ones.

TheThe US-based InstituteInstitute forfor thethe StudyStudy ofof War,War, whichwhich hashas monitoredmonitored protestprotest activityactivity amidamid thethe shutdown,shutdown, saidsaid itit hadhad recordedrecorded "zero"zero protests"protests" onon Wednesday.Wednesday.

ButBut itit added: "The"The regimeregime isis sustainingsustaining repressiverepressive measuresmeasures thatthat imposeimpose aa significantsignificant costcost onon thethe regime.regime. ThisThis suggestssuggests thatthat thethe regimeregime doesdoes notnot perceiveperceive thatthat thethe threatthreat fromfrom protestsprotests hashas subsided."subsided."

Iran HumanHuman Rights,Rights, basedbased inin Norway, saidsaid securitysecurity forcesforces hadhad killedkilled atat leastleast 3,428 protestersprotesters andand arrestedarrested moremore thanthan 10,000.

burs/sjw-ser/axn

TheThe collapsecollapse ofof aa highwayhighway constructionconstruction cranecrane killedkilled twotwo peoplepeople nearnear Bangkok onon Thursday,Thursday, withwith Thailand's leaderleader vowingvowing toto blacklistblacklist thethe buildingbuilding firmfirm whichwhich waswas alsoalso involvedinvolved inin aa cranecrane failurefailure thethe dayday beforebefore thatthat leftleft 32 dead.dead.

CarCar dashcam footagefootage verifiedverified byby AFP showedshowed thethe momentmoment thethe massivemassive cranecrane fellfell onon Thursday,Thursday, unleashingunleashing cloudsclouds ofof dustdust asas wellwell asas rubblerubble acrossacross thethe area,area, asas severalseveral vehiclesvehicles pulledpulled overover oror reversedreversed toto avoidavoid fallingfalling debris.debris.

Motorcycle-taxi driverdriver Booncherd La-orium saidsaid hehe nono longerlonger feltfelt safesafe drivingdriving inin thethe area.area.

"I"I hadhad goosebumps justjust thinkingthinking aboutabout howhow riskyrisky itit isis toto bebe here.here. ItIt couldcould havehave happenedhappened toto me,"me," thethe 69-year-old toldtold AFP.

TransportTransport MinisterMinister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn linkedlinked firmfirm Italian-Thai DevelopmentDevelopment toto thethe country'scountry's secondsecond deadlydeadly cranecrane collapsecollapse inin twotwo days,days, accordingaccording toto locallocal media.media.

"We"We havehave toto findfind outout thethe facts,"facts," Phiphat toldtold aa locallocal outlet.outlet.

Italian-Thai DevelopmentDevelopment waswas alsoalso contractedcontracted toto buildbuild aa sectionsection ofof aa China-backed high-speed railrail projectproject wherewhere aa hugehuge cranecrane fellfell onon Wednesday,Wednesday, inin Nakhon Ratchasima province,province, derailingderailing aa passengerpassenger traintrain belowbelow andand killingkilling 32 ofof nearlynearly 200 peoplepeople onon board.board.

InIn aa notenote toto Thailand's stockstock exchange,exchange, Italian-Thai expressedexpressed condolencescondolences toto thethe victims'victims' ofof thethe cranecrane accidentaccident onon Thursday,Thursday, sayingsaying itit wouldwould provideprovide compensation.compensation.

TheThe firmfirm alsoalso pledgedpledged toto "review"review andand improveimprove safetysafety measuresmeasures toto bebe moremore thoroughthorough andand stringentstringent movingmoving forward",forward", thethe notenote said.said.

Italian-Thai earlierearlier promisedpromised compensationcompensation toto victimsvictims ofof Wednesday'sWednesday's cranecrane collapsecollapse andand traintrain derailment.derailment.

TheThe companycompany -- oneone ofof Thailand's biggestbiggest constructionconstruction firmsfirms -- hashas seenseen severalseveral deadlydeadly accidentsaccidents atat itsits sitessites inin recentrecent years.years.

TheThe cranecrane thatthat fellfell ThursdayThursday atat thethe under-construction Rama II ExpresswayExpressway inin Samut Sakhon province,province, outsideoutside Bangkok, leftleft twotwo peoplepeople dead,dead, aa policepolice officialofficial toldtold AFP fromfrom thethe scene.scene.

ThaiThai PrimePrime MinisterMinister Anutin Charnvirakul toldtold reportersreporters hishis governmentgovernment wouldwould terminateterminate thethe contractscontracts withwith thethe contractorcontractor ofof thethe twotwo projectsprojects wherewhere thethe accidentsaccidents occurred,occurred, withoutwithout specifyingspecifying aa firmfirm byby name.name.

Anutin saidsaid legallegal actionaction wouldwould bebe takentaken andand thethe contractorcontractor wouldwould bebe blacklisted.blacklisted.

"It"It hashas happenedhappened threethree oror fourfour timestimes byby oneone contractor.contractor. TheThe governmentgovernment isis notnot comfortablecomfortable lettingletting thisthis kindkind ofof companycompany workwork forfor thethe government,"government," hehe said.said.