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For years under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s opposition had little presence on the streets during elections, either boycotting polls or being sidelined by mass arrests of senior leaders. Now, ahead of Thursday’s vote, the roles have reversed, Reuters reported. 

Hasina’s Awami League is banned, but many young people who helped oust her government in a 2024 uprising say the upcoming vote will be the Muslim-majority nation's first competitive election since 2009, when she began a 15-year-rule.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely expected to win, although a coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami is putting up a strong challenge. A new party driven by Gen-Z activists under the age of 30 has aligned with Jamaat after failing to translate its anti-Hasina street mobilisation into an electoral base, according to Reuters. 

Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been handed further prison sentences of seven-and-a-half years by an Iranian court, her lawyer has said, BBC reported. 

The human rights activist was sentenced to six years for "gathering and collusion", and one-and-a-half years for "propaganda activities" by a court in the north-eastern city of Mashhad, Mostafa Nili announced on social media on Sunday.

Mohammadi was arrested in December for making "provocative remarks" at a memorial ceremony, Iranian authorities said at the time. Her family said she was taken to hospital after being beaten during the arrest, according to BBC. 

Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has claimed victory in Thailand's general election, with preliminary vote counts putting his ruling conservatives well ahead of their rivals, BBC reported. 

Anutin said his success belonged to "all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not", after his party's expected result defied opinion polls that had placed the reformist People's Party ahead.

With 90% of the votes counted, Anutin's Bhumjaithai party is projected to win 194 seats in Bangkok's 500-seat parliament, with the People's Party in second place on 116, according to BBC. 

Six people were arrested in Milan after clashes between police and protesters on the first day of the Winter Olympics. AP wrote that thousands marched over issues like the cost of living, with some throwing flares and stones. Police responded with water cannon.

The protests follow new security laws after violent demonstrations in Turin last weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called those involved in Milan “criminals” and praised the strengthened police powers.

According to AP, officials also reported suspected sabotage on northern Italy’s railways. Fires, severed cables, and a small explosive device disrupted travel near Bologna, Venice, and Pesaro. Services have since returned to normal.Organizers and protesters highlighted concerns over the cost and environmental impact of the Games. Despite the disruptions, authorities said to AP, Italy’s image and the Olympics’ success remain intact.