A woman in Canada has become a global symbol of defiance against Iran's regime. A viral video shows her lighting a cigarette from a burning photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Germany condemns the “excessive use of force” against protesters in Iran after authorities used live fire and tear gas to disperse demonstrations sparked by an economic crisis. “It is their right to express their opinion peacefully,” says Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul of the protesters, who have taken to the streets for days.

Protesters gathered in major European cities in solidarity with the ongoing demonstrations in Iran amid a communications blackout. Protests erupted in Tehran and across Iran two weeks ago over dire economic conditions and a worsening food price crisis.

Two men tore down an Iranian flag on the compound of the country's embassy in Berlin, German police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when a group of protesters waving historical Iranian flags repeatedly approached the embassy in south-western Berlin.