Amnesty Condemns ‘Escalation’ in Iran Death Sentences

People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
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Amnesty Condemns ‘Escalation’ in Iran Death Sentences

People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)

Amnesty International condemned on Tuesday an "escalation" in executions by Iranian authorities, hours after Tehran said two protesters had been hanged. 

Iran's judiciary announced the hanging of the two men on charges relating to anti-government protests that peaked in January, with media reporting they were executed in public. 

"The death sentences of Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari were carried out this morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. 

Amnesty said in a statement that their execution, "following the arbitrary execution of at least three other protesters last week, marks a further escalation in the authorities' use of the death penalty to quash dissent". 

"The organization fears that at least 60 others, including three arrested as children, remain at risk of execution after being sentenced to death, while many others are facing prosecution on capital charges in relation to the protests." 

Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the hangings took place in "a square in the city of Malekshahr" in the central Isfahan province, with people present. 

The two were found guilty of "attacking police officers with machetes and knives, tying them to road signs, pulling them on the ground, dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire" on January 8, Mizan said. 

It added that they had faced charges of "moharebeh", or waging war against God, and "corruption on earth for committing acts that severely disrupted public order and security", among others. 

UN experts called on Iran on Monday to cancel death penalties given to 12 men -- two of whom were executed on July 19 -- over the protests. 

"Sentencing 12 people to death in one hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity as to each defendant's individual responsibility violates established fair trial standards," the experts said. 

In late December, a protest movement initially sparked by the high cost of living rapidly evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations. 

Rights groups based abroad say thousands were killed in the ensuing crackdown, with security forces firing on protesters. 

Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths, but attributed the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. 

The US and Israel launched a joint attack on the country weeks later, on February 28, triggering the Middle East war. 

Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in the country, linked to both the conflict and the protests. 

According to Amnesty, Iran conducts the second most executions of any country, after China. 



Erdogan Says He Conveyed Türkiye's Concerns on Potential Attacks on Iran to Trump

Erdogan pledged to continue investigations into the investment funds scandal until its eradication and to prevent its recurrence (Turkish Presidency)
Erdogan pledged to continue investigations into the investment funds scandal until its eradication and to prevent its recurrence (Turkish Presidency)
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Erdogan Says He Conveyed Türkiye's Concerns on Potential Attacks on Iran to Trump

Erdogan pledged to continue investigations into the investment funds scandal until its eradication and to prevent its recurrence (Turkish Presidency)
Erdogan pledged to continue investigations into the investment funds scandal until its eradication and to prevent its recurrence (Turkish Presidency)

Türkiye does not want to see a new wave of attacks against Iran, President Tayyip Erdogan said, adding that ‌he conveyed ‌his concerns ‌to ⁠US President Donald Trump ⁠in a recent phone call.

"We emphasize at every opportunity that ⁠it is possible ‌to resolve ‌these issues ‌through dialogue and ‌diplomacy. Unfortunately, we see a negative shift once again. ‌We are doing our utmost to prevent ⁠this," ⁠Erdogan told reporters on a return flight from Azerbaijan, according to a transcript shared by his office on Monday.


World Entering ‘Age of Climate Extremes’, Warns UN Chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the UN headquarters, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the UN headquarters, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP)
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World Entering ‘Age of Climate Extremes’, Warns UN Chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the UN headquarters, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the UN headquarters, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (AP)

The world is entering a new reality where climate extremes are the norm, the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Monday, urging leaders at the COP31 climate conference in Türkiye to "get serious".

"A supersized El Nino is colliding with a planet already superheated by manmade climate change," the UN secretary general said in a statement.

"We have entered a new age of climate extremes."

As leaders gathered in Antalya for the UN climate summit, Guterres called on them to "get serious by cutting emissions faster, accelerating a just transition from fossil fuels and delivering the finance and protection vulnerable countries need".

His statement came as the UN's World Meteorological Organization released a report indicating that 2026 has continued a streak of exceptional global temperatures, melting ice and rising sea levels.

Each of the past 12 years have been among the hottest 12 years on record, the agency said, with this year expected to be among the hottest ever.

- 'Off the charts' -

"What we are seeing gives new meaning to the phrase off the charts," WMO chief Celeste Saulo told reporters in Geneva, cautioning that the current exceptionally strong El Nino could unleash more heat and extreme weather well into next year.

"We should prepare for another record-breaking year in 2027."

The global average surface temperature between January and September this year was around 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average, the WMO said.

And this year's El Nino -- expected to be the strongest since 1950 at least -- could push the figure higher by the end of the year.

Houses damaged by recent flash floods stand amid thick layers of sludge, mud and debris in Nepal's Nuwakot district, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (AP)

Preliminary data shows 2026 figuring among the four hottest years on record, WMO climate information chief John Kenned told reporters, adding though that "with the El Nina developing, we might see when the final numbers come in that we're close to the top".

The naturally occurring weather phenomenon releases heat from the ocean, which this year has been the warmest ever measured, Saulo pointed out.

El Nino is declared when the sea surface temperature is half a degree above average in the tropical Pacific, but from now through January, WMO forecasts "it may be 3.8C above average", she said.

The WMO also reported that the global sea level was the highest on record, freshwater was dwindling and glaciers were continuing a long-term retreat.

In 2025, the annual mass loss of ice was enough to fill five Olympic pools every second that year, it said.

At the same time, "we are supercharging our weather and El Nino will be a risk multiplier", Saulo said, warning that "heatwaves, tropical cyclones, and rainstorms are intensifying faster than our historical baselines prepared us for".

On a positive note, the WMO hailed a significant increase of countries with essential multi-hazard early warning systems in place, from 55 in 2015 to 136 last year.

It urged the COP31 to ensure more investment in the sustained global observations, data-gathering and forecasting needed for such systems to work.

"We cannot afford to fly blind," Saulo said.


China Urges Return to Stability in Middle East

Iranians wave flags during an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Tehran's Enqelab Square on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians wave flags during an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Tehran's Enqelab Square on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
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China Urges Return to Stability in Middle East

Iranians wave flags during an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Tehran's Enqelab Square on November 4, 2026. (AFP)
Iranians wave flags during an anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Tehran's Enqelab Square on November 4, 2026. (AFP)

China is willing to pursue stronger ties with Iran, China's special envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun said in talks with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

Zhai met Kani in Iran, according to ‌a readout ‌from China's foreign ministry on ‌Monday. ⁠He is visiting ⁠Iran and Oman this month, as China steps up efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.

There needs to be a "focus on ⁠political solutions with a rational ‌and pragmatic ‌spirit, and promote the early restoration of ‌stability and development in the ‌region," Zhai said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said all parties in the Middle East conflict ⁠should ⁠focus on political solutions rather than resorting to arms again.

President Xi Jinping has also previously said China was willing to work with African countries to address the spillover effects of the Middle East conflict.