Demonstrations held in major European cities in solidarity with protests in Iran
Protesters gathered in major European cities on Saturday in solidarity with ongoing protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran, against worsening economic conditions and a devastating food price crisis.
People gathered in Malieveld, in The Hague, to demonstrate against Iran's theocratic government, after reports emerged that security forces were using force against demonstrators.
Protest participants are concerned about the unrest in the country and about their families and friends, who have been difficult to contact after the country was hit by a communications blackout.
Another demonstration was also held in Berlin, in support of the two-week protests, which they say have become one of the biggest challenges to Iranian authorities since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Why the next few hours in Iran are critical and why silence is not an option
Iran has been under a near-total internet blackout for more than two days, making it difficult for Iranian citizens to communicate with the outside world and leaving many of the events happening inside the country out of the spotlight.
Only a limited number of images and videos have been shared with a global audience, yet these fragments prove that, despite the lockdown, the protesters' determination remains.
In several videos that circulated before the connection was cut, a slogan repeatedly appeared: “We are no longer afraid. We will fight.”
Many Iranians have said that the sense of fighting did not arise overnight, but rather is the product of 47 years of oppression, humiliation, economic hardship, and silencing of dissent.
At least two people were killed and 15 injured in overnight Russian airstrikes across Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia launched a large barrage of drones and missiles overnight Saturday, targeting at least 15 locations across Ukraine.
Officials say the barrage consisted of over 100 drones and missiles, including the deadly Iskander ballistic variant.
According to Kiev, air defenses have blocked 94 drones from the air, but the other 27 have hit their targets.
DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy firm, reported that around 100,000 households are experiencing electricity and gas outages following the attacks in the region, and this comes as temperatures are expected to drop to 10 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
US urges its citizens to leave Venezuela due to reports of paramilitaries
The United States has urged its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, amid reports that armed paramilitaries are trying to track down American citizens, a week after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
In a security alert sent out on Saturday, the State Department said there were reports of armed members of pro-regime militias setting up checkpoints and checking vehicles to see if the people inside were American citizens or supporters of the country.
"US citizens in Venezuela should remain vigilant and exercise caution when traveling by land," the alert said, urging citizens to leave immediately now that some international flights from Venezuela have resumed.
Meanwhile, journalists and activists in Caracas have seen armed members in the Venezuelan capital on motorcycles and setting up checkpoints around the city.
