A Russian commander has claimed that his unit shot down a US-made F-16 fighter jet operated by Ukraine. In an interview broadcast on Russia-1 TV, the commander, identified as Sevar, said the aircraft was the most attractive target for his unit. According to him, two missiles were fired at the jet, with the first damaging it and the second delivering the final strike. Sevar stated that the operation took considerable preparation time and that his team had been tracking the aircraft before it entered their target zone. He did not specify when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly carried out separate attacks on three Russian oil extraction facilities in the Caspian Sea and launched drone strikes on the city of Voronezh. The governor of the Voronezh region, Alexander Gusev, confirmed that one woman was killed and three others were injured in the drone attack. Several drones were shot down over the city, but casualties could not be avoided. The extent of damage to the Caspian oil facilities remains unclear.

The developments highlight continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides reporting strikes across multiple fronts.

Israel and Germany have signed a new security cooperation agreement, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released on Sunday. The deal was signed in Jerusalem by Netanyahu and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. The statement described Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, as threats to both regional stability and international security.

The agreement reflects Germany’s deep commitment to Israel’s security, the statement said. It establishes a broad security partnership between the two countries’ agencies in areas such as cyber defense, advanced technology, law enforcement, counterterrorism, and civil protection.

The development follows Germany’s suspension of military equipment exports to Israel in August of the previous year due to concerns that its weapons could be used in the Gaza war. Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier after the United States.

China has declared its firm support for Cuba following recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. On Monday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China stands strongly for Cuba’s national sovereignty and security and opposes any external interference. She urged the United States to end its long-standing blockade, sanctions, and pressure on Cuba, calling for actions that promote regional peace and stability.

Trump had earlier announced on his social media platform that Cuba would no longer receive oil or financial assistance from Venezuela. He claimed that Cuba had been receiving substantial oil and funds in exchange for providing security services to Venezuelan leaders, but that arrangement had now ended. Trump also alleged that many Cubans were killed during recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the United States’ decades-long blockade for his country’s deep economic crisis, asserting that Cuba remains an independent and sovereign nation despite persistent external pressure.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over reports of violence and excessive force used against civilians during ongoing anti-government protests in Iran. In a statement on Sunday, January 11, he called on Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against demonstrators. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said the Secretary-General was deeply saddened by reports of numerous deaths resulting from the crackdown.

Guterres emphasized the importance of fully protecting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association as recognized under international law. He urged that Iranian citizens be allowed to voice their demands and grievances peacefully and without fear. The UN chief also called for the restoration of internet and communication services to ensure the free flow of information across the country.

According to the UK-based monitoring group NetBlocks, Iran’s internet has been cut off for more than 72 hours. The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over the sharp fall of the Iranian rial and worsening economic crisis, later spreading nationwide. The US-based group HRANA reported at least 490 protesters and 48 security personnel killed, with over 10,600 arrests, though the Iranian government has not released official figures.

North Korea has issued a strong condemnation of the United States, calling it 'shameless' and accusing Washington of actions that undermine the dignity of the United Nations. The statement, released Monday by Pyongyang’s mission to the UN, described U.S. behavior as a 'heinous crime' and urged that discussions at the UN should focus on such conduct rather than imposing sanctions on other countries.

According to the statement, North Korea views the United States’ actions as showing contempt for the UN. Although no specific incident was mentioned, analysts cited in the report suggested the reaction may have followed international criticism of the U.S. after the detention of Venezuela’s president. The report noted that North Korea remains under long-standing UN Security Council sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs.

The statement reflects Pyongyang’s continued opposition to U.S. influence in international institutions and its ongoing frustration with global pressure over its weapons development.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said her country is facing a 'critical crossroads' following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to take control of Greenland. Speaking in Washington, D.C., ahead of a meeting on global mineral supply, she stated that the crisis involves not only Greenland’s future but also broader strategic and policy interests. Frederiksen emphasized Denmark’s readiness to defend its values, particularly in the Arctic, and reaffirmed her belief in international law and the right to self-determination.

Germany and Sweden have expressed support for Denmark in opposing Trump’s claim over the autonomous Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson warned that any U.S. attempt to seize Greenland would constitute a serious violation of international law. Several Nordic, Baltic, and European nations have also voiced solidarity with Denmark.

According to The Telegraph, military leaders from the United Kingdom and other European countries are discussing a potential NATO mission in Greenland to counter Russian and Chinese influence. Public opinion polls indicate that most Greenlanders oppose any U.S. takeover, while regional governments are reinforcing cooperation under international legal frameworks.

A Palestinian detainee from Gaza, identified as Hamza Abdullah Abdulhadi Adwan, has died in an Israeli prison, according to a joint statement by the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners Society. The statement said Adwan had long suffered from heart disease and required medical treatment. He was arrested on November 12, 2024, at a military checkpoint in northern Gaza. Adwan was married and the father of nine children, two of whom were killed in Israeli attacks in October 2023.

Rights groups have accused Israel of systematic abuse of Palestinian prisoners, including starvation, medical neglect, sexual assault, humiliation, and detention under degrading conditions. The statement noted that since the start of the Gaza war, more than 100 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli custody, though Israeli authorities have officially confirmed the identities of only 87.

The continuing deaths in custody have drawn attention to the conditions of Palestinian detainees and the lack of transparency surrounding their treatment and deaths.

Iran has summoned the British ambassador in Tehran following an incident in London where protesters removed the Iranian national flag from the country’s embassy. The protest took place on Saturday outside the Iranian embassy, drawing hundreds of participants. At one point, a demonstrator climbed onto the embassy balcony and took down the flag, prompting Tehran’s formal protest.

Iran’s state television reported that authorities also accused a specific terrorist organization of spreading false information through media and encouraging violence and terrorism. The report noted that the BBC Persian Service and Iran International, both based in the United Kingdom, have long faced accusations from Iranian officials. Meanwhile, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that two protesters were arrested and that officers were searching for another individual involved in the intrusion.

Many demonstrators reportedly carried images of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, whose regime was overthrown in the 1979 revolution. Some protesters called for his return to Iran.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute has reiterated that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it cannot be transferred, shared, or revoked under any circumstances. The clarification came following recent comments by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who said she wished to give her Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump as a gesture of gratitude for a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela.

According to the Institute’s statement, the decision to award a Nobel Prize is final and irreversible, as explicitly stated in the Nobel regulations. Machado received the Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts to defend democratic rights and promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela. Her remarks sparked international discussion after the U.S. military detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3.

Responding to Machado’s comments, Trump said he would consider receiving the prize a “great honor.” The Nobel Committee emphasized that the prize cannot be altered or transferred based on political decisions or personal wishes, reaffirming that this principle is central to the award’s credibility and prestige.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun a landmark trial against Myanmar over allegations of genocide against the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority. The hearing, which started on Monday at 10 a.m. local time, will continue for three weeks. Myanmar has denied the genocide accusations. This is the first full genocide trial to be held at the ICJ, and due to sensitivity and confidentiality, the proceedings will remain closed to the public and media.

The case was filed in 2019 by the West African nation of The Gambia, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide in Rakhine State. The complaint was based on a 2017 UN fact-finding mission report that described Myanmar’s military operations as “genocidal acts.” The UN’s independent investigative mechanism chief, Nicholas Koumjian, said the case could set an important precedent for defining and proving genocide and determining remedies for violations.

The outcome of this trial may have implications beyond Myanmar, potentially influencing other genocide-related cases, including South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ over the Gaza conflict.

Cuba has issued a strong response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning that the country must immediately come under a deal or face unspecified consequences. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said no one has the right to speak on behalf of Cuba. In a post on social media platform X, he asserted that Cuba is an independent and sovereign nation and that no one can dictate its actions. He added that the Caribbean island is ready to defend its homeland to the last drop of blood.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez stated that Cuba has the right to import fuel from any country willing to export to it, noting that most of its energy imports come from Venezuela and Mexico. Rodríguez accused the United States of engaging in “criminal” acts that threaten global peace. The report also mentioned that Trump has recently issued threats to Colombia, Mexico, Iran, and Greenland.

The exchange underscores renewed tensions between Washington and Havana, with Cuba emphasizing its sovereignty and trade independence in the face of U.S. pressure.

The Australian government has advised its citizens currently in Iran to leave the country immediately due to fears that the situation could deteriorate rapidly amid ongoing protests. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued an updated travel advisory warning that while commercial flights out of Iran are still available, they are becoming increasingly limited. The advisory cautioned that airspace closures and flight cancellations could soon make departure impossible.

According to the DFAT notice, anyone choosing to remain in Iran despite the government’s advice will be responsible for their own safety. Citizens were urged to prepare for extended sheltering by securing adequate supplies of water, food, and essential medicine. The advisory was issued in response to the uncertainty surrounding the protests and the broader security environment in Iran.

Authorities emphasized that the warning reflects the unpredictable nature of the current unrest and the potential for further disruption to travel and safety conditions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the American military is considering tough measures against Iran, including the possibility of military intervention. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump stated that the issue is being taken very seriously and that strong options are under review. He added that Iranian leaders have called for talks following the threat of military action, and a meeting is being arranged, though action could occur before any talks take place.

Trump’s latest warning comes as Iranian leaders have issued stern cautions against any foreign military intervention. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if Iran is attacked, both Israeli-held territories and all U.S. bases and ships would become legitimate targets. The tensions follow widespread protests that began on December 28 when Tehran’s Grand Bazaar merchants shut their shops over the falling value of the rial.

According to Iranian state media, at least 109 security personnel have been killed in the unrest. Authorities have not confirmed the number of civilian casualties, but opposition activists abroad claim the death toll is much higher and includes hundreds of protesters.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to send Starlink equipment to Iran to help restore internet connectivity disrupted during ongoing anti-government protests. He said he would discuss the initiative with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, describing Musk as highly capable in implementing such technological measures. Trump made the remarks on Sunday, January 11, while speaking to reporters, following widespread internet shutdowns across Iran since Thursday, January 8.

The internet blackout has left Iran largely cut off from the outside world, making communication and access to reliable information extremely difficult. The shutdown came as protests that began on December 28 over rising commodity prices quickly escalated into a broader anti-government movement. Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of inciting the unrest.

The proposed Starlink deployment, if realized, could provide alternative internet access to Iranians despite government restrictions, though no timeline or official plan has yet been confirmed.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague began the final hearing on Monday in Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar. The three-week proceedings mark a critical stage in the international effort to hold Myanmar accountable for atrocities against the Rohingya. In Bangladesh’s refugee camps, displaced Rohingya expressed hope that the verdict will ensure justice and allow them to return home with dignity, citizenship, and security. Analysts noted that recent tensions along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border may be part of Myanmar’s attempt to divert global attention from the trial.

The case, filed by Gambia in 2019, accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya. Although Gambia sought Bangladesh’s cooperation, previous governments provided limited support. Experts and rights workers criticized Bangladesh’s earlier inaction, saying it missed the chance to strengthen the case. Current officials say Bangladesh is monitoring the hearings and that Gambia has presented substantial evidence. If the ruling favors Gambia, experts believe it could increase international pressure on Myanmar and accelerate Rohingya repatriation.

Meanwhile, border skirmishes have raised security concerns in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban, prompting calls for stronger surveillance and border protection by Bangladesh.