The United Nations has announced the formation of a 40-member expert panel to evaluate the global impact of artificial intelligence. The panel includes Nobel Peace Prize-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Canadian AI researcher Yoshua Bengio. According to AFP, the three-year panel also features Joelle Barral, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, and Girmaw Abebe Tadesse, Principal Research Scientist at Microsoft Labs, who focuses on AI applications in sustainable development, humanitarian work, and health.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the panel will be the first fully independent global scientific body dedicated to addressing knowledge gaps about AI and assessing its real effects on economies and societies. Members will serve in their personal capacities, not as representatives of governments or organizations, and their appointments will be submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

The panel, decided by the UN General Assembly in August 2025, will include experts in machine learning, data governance, cybersecurity, public health, child development, and human rights. Its first report is expected during the upcoming UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July.

Ukraine, Russia, and the United States began the second day of talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, aiming to end Moscow’s nearly four-year-long aggression. According to AFP, the discussions, mediated by the US, mark the latest stage of ongoing diplomatic efforts. After the first day, Kyiv described the meeting as “deep and productive,” though no major progress was reported. The war, considered Europe’s deadliest since World War II, has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, devastating Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed. Russian strikes have caused widespread power outages, leaving civilians suffering in freezing temperatures. Ukraine’s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov said the first day focused on “specific steps and realistic solutions,” while the Kremlin reaffirmed its hardline stance. The talks remain stuck on the future of eastern Ukrainian territories, with Russia demanding Kyiv withdraw from Donbas and recognize occupied areas as Russian, which Kyiv rejects.

The US has involved special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the process. Kyiv remains cautious, warning that conceding territory could embolden further Russian aggression.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has voiced concern over what he sees as inconsistency and double standards in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision-making. Speaking on a Sky Sports podcast, he said recent actions by the ICC and some powerful cricket boards suggest unequal treatment that could undermine fairness and balance in world cricket. Hussain acknowledged the ICC’s challenges when teams cancel tours at the last moment but questioned whether the same strictness applies to all nations equally.

He cited a hypothetical scenario where a strong cricketing nation, such as India, might withdraw from a tournament citing government restrictions, asking whether the ICC would respond with the same firmness. Hussain emphasized that rules should be applied consistently to all teams and called for transparency and fairness in cricket governance.

Referring to a recent controversy, he mentioned that the issue began when the BCCI removed Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, citing the current situation between Bangladesh and India. Hussain warned that such board-level decisions are affecting on-field behavior and damaging cricket’s image, urging the ICC to adopt uniform policies for all nations.

Russia announced that its last nuclear arms treaty with the United States has expired, ending mutual obligations on the number of deployed nuclear weapons. Moscow stated on Wednesday that the 2010 agreement, known as the New START treaty, officially expired on Thursday, freeing both sides from previous restrictions. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the United States did not respond to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend the limits on missiles and warheads for another 12 months.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 by then US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, came into force in 2011 and was extended for five years in 2021 under President Joe Biden. The agreement had set specific limits on the number of nuclear weapons each side could deploy.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the treaty’s expiration and called on Moscow and Washington to begin discussions without delay on a new framework for nuclear arms control.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced a major overhaul of cricket’s laws, introducing 73 amendments in a new edition released on Tuesday. The revised laws will take effect from October 1, 2026. Among the most notable changes, play will no longer stop at the fall of a wicket in the final over of a day in multi-day matches, including Tests. The new batter must immediately take the field if conditions permit. MCC explained that the previous rule gave an unfair advantage to the batting side and reduced the drama of the game.

Other key updates include stricter rules for boundary catches, allowing a fielder jumping from outside the boundary to touch the ball only once before completing the catch inside the field. Laminated bats will now be permitted in adult club cricket to reduce costs, with national boards deciding their level of use. The definitions of hit wicket, overthrow, and dead ball have been clarified, and captains will no longer be allowed to declare in the final innings.

Before implementation, the ICC Cricket Committee will discuss these changes to decide whether to include them in international playing conditions, while domestic adoption will depend on each country’s board.

A United States F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier deployed in the Arabian Sea, according to a Reuters report cited by the source. A US official said the drone was identified as an Iranian Shahed-139 model and was heading toward the carrier when it was targeted and destroyed.

The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions over increased US military presence near Iran’s coast. It also comes ahead of scheduled talks between Iran and the United States in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday regarding a nuclear agreement. The downing of the drone has drawn renewed attention to the already strained regional situation.

The report suggests that the timing of the drone incident, just days before the planned diplomatic discussions, may influence the tone and focus of those talks, though no official reactions were mentioned in the source.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed opposition to banning Israel from international football competitions, despite ongoing discussions among several European nations advocating such a move in protest of Israel’s actions in Palestine. Speaking about potential changes to FIFA’s rules, Infantino suggested that the organization’s constitution should prevent any country from being excluded due to political leaders’ actions. He emphasized maintaining open channels of connection through sport.

UEFA had earlier prepared to hold a vote on suspending Israel during its executive committee meeting in September, but the discussion was postponed after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas. According to The Athletic, later talks focused on the procedural aspects of implementing a ban. Ireland’s Football Association strongly supported a proposal to temporarily suspend Israel from UEFA competitions.

Infantino also argued that the current ban on Russia, imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, should be lifted, saying it had achieved nothing and only deepened frustration and hatred. He warned that imposing a similar ban on Israel would represent a failure for football diplomacy.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed support for lifting the four-year ban imposed on Russia from international football tournaments. Speaking to Sky Sports, Infantino argued that the sanctions have achieved nothing but created frustration and hatred. He said Russian boys and girls should be allowed to play football across Europe and that no country should be deprived of the sport because of its political leaders’ actions.

Russia’s national and club teams have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since February 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi criticized Infantino’s remarks as irresponsible and childish, saying they detach football from the reality where children are being killed. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stated that Russia’s reintegration should only occur after the war in Ukraine ends.

Infantino also supported FIFA’s decision to award a peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw, saying those who contribute to peace should be recognized.

Former ICC Head of Communications Sami-ul-Hasan Burney has blamed India for the ongoing unrest surrounding the T20 World Cup. He sharply criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for publicly announcing the termination of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s contract with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Burney argued that if the BCCI had handled the matter privately, Bangladesh and Pakistan’s threats to boycott the tournament could have been avoided.

Burney, who also served as media director for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said the ICC’s stance on Bangladesh-related issues has disappointed PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who views it as a “moving the goalposts” policy. Burney warned that Pakistan could face punitive measures, including fines and loss of broadcast revenue, if the ICC enforces disciplinary action. He estimated potential losses of around 250 million US dollars for missing a match, compared to Pakistan’s annual revenue of 35.5 million dollars.

He concluded that India’s public handling of the Mustafizur issue and its perceived double standards are the main causes of the current instability, leaving the cricket world focused on how the ICC’s next steps will affect Pakistan’s future.

Pakistan’s decision not to play against India in the upcoming World Cup has caused a major financial setback for the International Cricket Council (ICC). According to NDTV, the India–Pakistan T20 match alone is valued at around 500 million US dollars, or more than 6,000 crore Bangladeshi taka, making it the single most lucrative fixture in world cricket. The ICC reportedly earns several times more from this match than from all other tournament games combined, and its cancellation has already prompted broadcaster Star to seek financial concessions.

The report notes that advertising rates for the India–Pakistan match reach 25–40 lakh taka per 10 seconds, with total ad revenue estimated at 300 crore taka. Without the match, both cricket boards could each lose about 200 crore taka in direct and indirect revenue. The ICC’s central revenue pool is expected to shrink, reducing distributions to member boards, especially smaller and associate nations dependent on ICC funding.

NDTV warns that future global tournaments could face reduced broadcast valuations and sponsorship interest if such high-profile fixtures are deemed risky assets, potentially weakening cricket’s overall financial ecosystem.

Reports in Indian and Pakistani media suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would hold an emergency board meeting to address Pakistan’s potential boycott of its World Cup match against India. However, cricket websites Cricinfo and Cricbuzz confirmed that the meeting did not take place. As a result, it remains unclear whether the ICC will take any action if Pakistan proceeds with the boycott. Earlier, the ICC had expressed dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s stance in an official statement.

According to the ICC, it has not yet received any formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding a boycott decision. The council emphasized that such a move would contradict the fundamental spirit of a global sporting event, which is based on fairness, integrity, and equal competition. The ICC urged the PCB to consider the long-term impact of its decision on domestic cricket and the broader cricket ecosystem.

The ICC reiterated that its current priority is to ensure the successful completion of the World Cup and called on all member nations, including Pakistan, to work toward a mutually acceptable solution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.

Several world leaders’ X (formerly Twitter) accounts were hacked ahead of major elections, highlighting growing misuse of social media. The report notes that U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were among those targeted. In 2020, four months before the U.S. presidential election, a large-scale cyberattack compromised verified accounts of Biden, Obama, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates. Hackers used these accounts to post fraudulent cryptocurrency offers before X regained control after about three hours.

Donald Trump’s X account was breached differently when Dutch cybersecurity researcher Victor Gevers claimed to have accessed it without complex tools, prompting the activation of two-factor authentication. Before the 2016 U.S. election, Russian hackers infiltrated the Democratic National Committee’s emails and leaked data, while accounts of Republican figures were also targeted.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accounts were hacked multiple times, including in 2020 and 2021. One incident falsely claimed that the Indian government had legalized Bitcoin, after which the account was quickly secured and officials urged the public not to be misled.

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has won his first Grammy Award in the audiobook, narration, and storytelling category. The award was announced at the Grammy ceremony held in Los Angeles, recognizing the audio version of his book 'Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama'. Currently living in exile in India, the 90-year-old leader expressed gratitude, calling the honor a recognition of shared human values rather than a personal achievement.

In a social media message, the Dalai Lama said he accepted the award with humility and gratitude, emphasizing peace, compassion, care for the environment, and unity as essential for the collective well-being of humanity. The audio project featured artists including Rufus Wainwright and Maggie Rogers, with Wainwright accepting the award on his behalf.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a Chinese military crackdown and has since lived in India. The Chinese government labels him a separatist and claims authority over his succession, a claim he rejects, asserting that the decision rests solely with his office in India.

Global oil prices declined on Monday following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing optimism about reaching a deal with Iran. In early Asian trading, West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 3.4 percent to 62.99 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude fell 3.2 percent to 67.09 dollars.

The price movement followed weeks of heightened tension between Washington and Tehran. After anti-government protests in Iran were met with a crackdown, Trump had threatened military action and ordered an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. He has been pressing for a new agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei compared the protests to an “uprising” and warned that any military intervention would lead to a regional war.

Responding to Khamenei’s comments, Trump told reporters he hoped for a deal but said time would determine whether Khamenei’s stance was right or wrong.

Barcelona defeated Elche 3-1 in a La Liga match on Saturday night, extending their lead over Real Madrid to three points. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for coach Hansi Flick’s side. With 18 wins and one draw from 22 matches, Barcelona remain top of the table with 55 points, while Real Madrid sit second with 51 points from one game fewer.

In the English Premier League, Liverpool returned to winning form by beating Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield. Hugo Ekitike scored twice, while Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate added one goal each. The win marked Liverpool’s first league victory of the new year after a run of four draws and one defeat in their previous five matches. Chelsea also edged West Ham 3-2 in another league fixture.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw by Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Despite goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz, Bayern conceded late and dropped points for the second consecutive match, leaving their title defense under pressure.