The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a briefing on the situation in Iran at the request of the United States. A spokesperson for Somalia’s presidency, which currently holds the council’s rotating leadership, confirmed the plan. According to the scheduling note, the session will take place on Thursday afternoon, with member states expected to discuss the current circumstances surrounding Iran.

The note further stated that the United States formally requested the meeting. The briefing is considered significant in light of ongoing regional and international tensions involving Iran. The session aims to provide an opportunity for Security Council members to exchange views on developments affecting stability in the region.

While the source did not specify the exact agenda or expected outcomes, the meeting underscores heightened global attention to Iran’s role in regional affairs and the diplomatic efforts to address related challenges.

A closed-door meeting was held at the White House on Wednesday between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland amid escalating tensions over control of Greenland. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. According to The Guardian, the meeting lasted less than an hour. Danish officials described the talks as positive, but Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen admitted that the two countries still differ on Greenland’s future.

Rasmussen said President Donald Trump clearly outlined his stance on Greenland, while Denmark maintained a different position and remained uncertain about reaching any agreement. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt stated that Greenland seeks stronger cooperation as an ally, not subordination to the US. Denmark’s Prime Minister echoed that Greenland’s takeover is unnecessary and dismissed claims of immediate threats from Russia or China. Hours before the meeting, Trump reiterated that US control of Greenland is vital for missile defense and NATO strength.

Denmark and Greenland firmly opposed Trump’s plan, declaring Greenland is not for sale. Denmark announced increased Arctic military presence in 2026, with Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway joining joint NATO deployments. Sweden has already begun sending troops under Denmark’s “Operation Arctic Endurance.”

Global oil prices have risen by nearly four dollars per barrel in recent days due to renewed tensions involving Iran, according to a Reuters report published on Tuesday. Brent crude reached 64.15 dollars per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at 59.78 dollars, marking their highest levels since December 8. The increase follows strong remarks by US President Donald Trump about Iran, reversing a previous price decline that occurred after the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The report noted that Iran is facing its largest anti-government protests in years, with allegations of deadly violence against demonstrators. As of Monday, the protests had entered their 16th day, with at least 648 protesters reported killed by the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights. In response, Trump warned of possible military action and threatened a 25 percent tariff on countries trading with Iran. Barclays estimated that geopolitical risks added a three to four dollar premium to oil prices.

Market concerns also grew over crude supply from Venezuela, as the new government in Caracas may transfer up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States under Western sanctions.

Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes reported that personal data of about 17.5 million Instagram users has been leaked and shared on the dark web. The leaked dataset includes usernames, full names, email addresses, phone numbers, partial physical addresses, and other contact details. The breach has raised serious concerns about user privacy and platform security.

According to Malwarebytes, although no passwords were exposed, the leaked information could still be exploited for identity theft or financial fraud. A hacker using the alias 'Solonik' reportedly released the data for free on a dark web forum last week. Following the leak, users from various regions have complained about receiving numerous password reset emails, which analysts believe may be linked to unauthorized login attempts using the exposed email addresses.

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, denied any direct hacking or intrusion into its systems. The company attributed the surge in password reset emails to a technical issue and assured that user accounts remain secure.

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.

Four major football nations—Brazil, France, Croatia and Colombia—will compete in a preparatory series titled 'Road to 26' ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches will be held in the United States during the FIFA international window, with games scheduled in Boston, Orlando and Washington, D.C. The series begins on March 26 when Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, face Didier Deschamps’ France at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Croatia will meet Colombia on March 27 in Orlando, followed by a France–Colombia match on March 29 in Maryland. The series concludes on April 1 with Brazil playing Croatia in Orlando.

Brazilian media reported that the five-time world champions will debut their 2026 World Cup kits during the March friendlies, wearing yellow against France and blue against Croatia. France and Croatia will also unveil new jerseys for the series. The Brazilian Football Confederation had earlier confirmed the match dates and venues after the World Cup group draw in December 2025.

The 48-team 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11 and end on July 19 across 16 venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Brazil will compete in Group C against Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.

A conversation between a user and ChatGPT has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention in early 2026. The user asked the AI chatbot what it would do if it could become human for a day. ChatGPT’s reply surprised many, as it expressed a desire to experience simple human sensations such as feeling the wind, warmth of sunlight, and even the act of crying. It also spoke about wanting to make mistakes, feel love, and understand kindness, ending with a reflection on living through the harsh truths of human life.

The exchange has reignited global curiosity and debate about artificial intelligence. While some fear AI could disrupt job markets, others believe it will serve as a supportive tool for humans. ChatGPT’s deeply human-like response has prompted many to question whether AI is merely a technological system or a step toward understanding human emotion.

The viral incident underscores the growing presence of AI across medicine, science, education, and creative fields, reinforcing its role as a defining technology of the future.

Gold prices in the international market declined on Thursday, with spot gold falling 0.4 percent to 4,435.62 dollars per ounce, according to a Reuters report. U.S. gold futures for February delivery also dropped by the same margin to 4,444.40 dollars per ounce. The current price marks a decrease of about 110 dollars from the record high of 4,549.71 dollars per ounce reached on December 29.

The report attributes the decline to a stronger U.S. dollar and increased profit-taking by investors, which have limited the upward momentum of gold prices. Alongside gold, silver prices also fell sharply, with spot silver dropping 2.6 percent to 76.08 dollars per ounce, down from its all-time high of 83.62 dollars per ounce recorded on December 29.

HSBC projected that silver prices in 2026 could range between 58 and 88 dollars per ounce, driven by investment demand and high gold prices, though the bank also warned of potential sharp declines later in the year.

The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker named Bela-1 in the North Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. According to US authorities, the vessel was detained for violating sanctions by transporting oil from Venezuela. The US defense secretary stated that sanctions and the embargo on illegal Venezuelan oil would be enforced globally. Reports indicated that US forces attempted to board the tanker by helicopter after it ignored orders from the US Coast Guard.

Russia condemned the seizure, calling it a breach of international maritime law. The Russian transport ministry cited the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters and prohibits the use of force against vessels registered in another country. Moscow argued that Washington had no legal authority to detain the ship.

The incident has heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington. A US press secretary declined to comment on whether the move would anger Russia but said the tanker violated sanctions and that its crew would face trial in the United States for leaving Venezuelan waters unlawfully.

France has declared its solidarity with Denmark following a renewed threat from US President Donald Trump to claim Greenland as part of the United States. The French Foreign Ministry announced the position on Monday, with spokesperson Pascal Confavreux telling broadcaster TF1 that no country’s borders can be changed by force. He emphasized that Greenland belongs to its people and to Denmark, and that only they have the right to decide its future.

The statement came after Denmark’s prime minister urged Trump to stop threatening Greenland, a call that the US president dismissed by reiterating his belief that Greenland should belong to the United States. The issue has drawn further concern in Europe following a US military attack in Caracas and the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which European leaders viewed with alarm. France’s foreign ministry said international law was not respected during the US operation in Venezuela.

Confavreux added that France condemns the rise of “the law of the strongest” and will not yield to it, reaffirming France’s duty as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to oppose any violation of the UN Charter.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not believe Ukraine carried out an attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, despite Moscow’s claims. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump stated that he doubted the reports of such an incident and noted that no one was certain whether the published accounts were true. Russia’s defense ministry had earlier released a video alleging that Ukraine launched a drone strike on a Putin residence in the Novgorod region, though it reported no damage or casualties.

The allegation surfaced as diplomatic efforts intensified to end the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war. At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Florida for a meeting with Trump. Russian officials criticized Ukraine for being ungrateful in peace efforts, while Kyiv and its Western allies denied any involvement in the alleged attack. Trump added that U.S. assessments also found no evidence linking Ukraine to the incident.

Zelensky accused Russia of continuing heavy bombardments into the new year, with Ukrainian authorities reporting air raid sirens nationwide and at least two deaths in the Kyiv region. European leaders are expected to meet in France to discuss a U.S.-backed peace proposal that Zelensky said is nearly complete.

The final Test of the Ashes series between Australia and England will be broadcast live early tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m. on Star Sports, according to the schedule published by Amar Desh on January 3, 2026. This marks the concluding match of the long-standing cricket rivalry between the two nations in the current series.

In addition to the Ashes, the day’s sports broadcast lineup includes several other cricket and football events. The Big Bash League match between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes will air at 2:15 p.m. on Star Sports Select HD 1, while SA T20 fixtures will feature Joburg Super Kings against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at 5 p.m. and Pretoria Capitals versus Durban’s Super Giants at 9:30 p.m. Football fans can watch Bangladesh Premier League matches, English Premier League’s Bournemouth vs Arsenal, La Liga’s Espanyol vs Barcelona, Serie A’s Juventus vs Lecce, and Africa Cup of Nations fixtures.

The schedule highlights a packed day for sports viewers, with multiple international and domestic competitions broadcast across various channels.

Throughout 2025, armed conflicts and military operations erupted across several regions, marking the year as one of widespread warfare. In April, a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir triggered Indian air and missile strikes on Pakistan under 'Operation Sindur,' followed by Pakistan’s counteroffensive 'Operation Buniyanum Marsus.' The four-day conflict ended on May 10 after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between the two countries. On June 13, Israel launched 'Operation Rising Sun,' a surprise assault on Iran that killed top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with 'Wadae Sadeq-3,' before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 24.

The year also saw continued fighting in Eastern Europe, where the Russia-Ukraine war entered its third year without resolution despite U.S. mediation. Southeast Asia experienced renewed border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia in July and December. Civil war persisted in Sudan, while Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon and Syria. Border tensions flared between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the United States appeared to be preparing actions around Venezuela.

The report warned that new conflicts could emerge in various regions as 2026 begins.

The year 2025 witnessed widespread armed conflicts across multiple regions, with major wars breaking out between India and Pakistan, and Israel and Iran. The report highlights that Israeli attacks on Gaza continued throughout the year, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict remained unresolved. In South Asia, India launched air and missile strikes on Pakistan on May 6 following a deadly shooting in Kashmir, prompting a four-day war that ended on May 10 after U.S. President Donald Trump mediated a ceasefire.

In the Middle East, Israel launched a surprise assault on Iran on June 13 under “Operation Rising Sun,” killing top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with “Operation Wadae Sadeq-3,” before both sides agreed to a ceasefire announced by Trump on June 23, which took effect on October 24. Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war entered its third year without resolution despite U.S. mediation efforts.

Elsewhere, Thailand and Cambodia clashed twice over border disputes, Sudan’s civil war persisted, and Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon and Syria. The report warns that new conflicts may emerge in various regions in the coming year.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a strong message to global leaders ahead of 2026, calling for unity and a shift away from divisive politics and warfare. In a New Year video address, he urged leaders to focus on protecting people and the planet amid growing global instability, conflict, and uncertainty.

According to UN sources cited by AFP, Guterres said the world stands at a critical crossroads marked by division, violence, climate disasters, and widespread violations of international law. Referring to ongoing wars, including in Ukraine, he emphasized that reducing human suffering and taking effective action against climate change should be the top priorities for 2026.

Guterres criticized excessive military spending, noting that global defense expenditure rose by about 10 percent this year to 2.7 trillion dollars—13 times higher than global development spending and equal to Africa’s total GDP. He warned that the current scale of warfare has not been seen since World War II and argued that investing in poverty reduction would make the world safer. The year 2026 will mark his final year as UN Secretary-General.