Apple TV+ will release new seasons of popular series in January 2026. Shows like "Tehran," "Hijack," "Drops of God," "Shrinking," and "Yo Gabba GabbaLand!" are among the featured titles.
Key Facts
"Tehran" Season 3 starts on January 9, featuring a Mossad agent navigating new challenges.
"Hijack" Season 2 releases on January 14, focused on a hostage crisis in Berlin.
"Drops of God" Season 2, available from January 21, involves a quest to discover the world's greatest wine.
"Shrinking" Season 3, beginning January 28, follows a therapist who tells his clients exactly what he thinks, causing life changes.
"Yo Gabba GabbaLand!" Season 2 debuts on January 30, combining kids' entertainment with music and learning.
The new seasons will continue to grow Apple TV+'s library of original content.
The Trump Media and Technology Group plans to give digital tokens to its shareholders through a partnership with the cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com. These digital tokens will be linked to the number of shares each investor owns and will offer benefits such as discounts on Trump's platforms. This initiative ties into President Donald Trump's efforts to boost the cryptocurrency sector during his second term.
Key Facts
Trump Media and Technology Group will provide digital tokens to shareholders, collaborating with Crypto.com.
The tokens will be distributed based on the number of shares an investor holds.
Benefits for token holders will include discounts on Trump's platforms like Truth Social.
Trump Media's shares went up by 5% after the announcement.
President Trump promotes cryptocurrency and aims to make the U.S. a global leader in this area.
Trump’s administration has eased regulations on the cryptocurrency industry since his second term began.
The U.S. Treasury has started a reserve of Bitcoin and digital assets.
Critics warn that lack of regulation could make cryptocurrency investments risky.
Netflix is adding a wide range of new shows and movies in January 2026. This includes all "James Bond" films, a new season of a WWE docu-series, and a live climbing event with Alex Honnold. The popular series "Bridgerton" will also release new episodes.
Key Facts
All "James Bond" movies will be available on Netflix starting January 15, 2026.
"WWE: Unreal Season 2" will be added on January 20, 2026.
Alex Honnold will attempt to climb Taipei 101 in "Skyscraper Live" on January 23, 2026.
"Bridgerton Season 4 – Volume 1" will release on January 29, 2026, followed by Volume 2 on February 26, 2026.
Other new additions include various films and series such as "12 Years A Slave," "Despicable Me," "District 9," and many more throughout the month.
Netflix is introducing several Netflix Original series and content in January 2026.
Netflix is taking down all five seasons of the TV series "Prison Break" on January 29, 2026. The show, which first aired on Fox in 2005, follows the story of brothers trying to escape prison. Although it's leaving Netflix, viewers can still watch it on Disney+.
Key Facts
Netflix will remove "Prison Break" seasons 1-5 on January 29, 2026.
The series originally aired on Fox in 2005.
"Prison Break" features characters Michael and Lincoln, who are brothers trying to escape prison.
Season 1 was very popular, averaging ten million viewers each week.
The show's initial 13-episode run was extended to 22 episodes due to its success.
There is no information on whether Netflix will bring the show back in the future.
"Prison Break" is available for streaming on Disney+.
Disney+ announced the list of movies and TV shows that will be available on their streaming platform in January 2026. The list includes classic movies like the "Indiana Jones" series and new episodes of popular shows such as "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."
Key Facts
Disney+ will add several "Indiana Jones" movies starting January 1, 2026.
New episodes of the show "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" will continue to be released in January.
The show "Incredible Northern Vets" will have its second season available starting January 4.
A new season of "Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends" will begin on January 10.
The movie "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" will be available starting January 22.
A new show, "Wonder Man," will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on January 27.
Several Hulu Originals, like "I AM BOXER," will have new episodes available on Disney+.
In 2025, most of the top-streamed TV shows came from previous years, not new releases. The most-watched show, Squid Game, had 18.6 billion minutes of viewing time. Other popular shows included Netflix's Wednesday, Love Island, and Reacher.
Key Facts
The most-streamed shows in 2025 were older, popular series rather than new ones.
Squid Game was the top-streamed show with 18.6 billion minutes watched.
Wednesday, a Netflix series, was the second most popular with 16.4 billion minutes viewed.
The reality dating show Love Island ranked third with 11.4 billion minutes of streaming.
Amazon’s Reacher had 10.2 billion minutes of view time and ranked fourth.
Netflix's Ginny & Georgia and Love Is Blind also ranked in the top six.
The analysis used data from Nielsen over about six years, ending in November 2025.
Familiar shows continue to be popular with audiences, indicating a preference for established titles.
A woman used her iPhone 17 Pro's camera to zoom in on the timer for her oven pizza from another room, and her TikTok video of this moment has gone viral. The video highlighted the phone's impressive zoom capabilities, amusing viewers and sparking a discussion about smartphone technology.
Key Facts
The woman used an iPhone 17 Pro to zoom in on her oven timer from the living room.
She shared the video on TikTok, where it became very popular, with over 1.2 million views.
The video gained more than 167,000 likes on the platform.
Viewers found the video both funny and impressive in terms of camera quality.
The iPhone 17 Pro features upgraded optical zoom technology, allowing for clear images even at a distance.
Many TikTok users compared the iPhone's capabilities with other smartphone brands in the comments.
Apple designed the iPhone 17 Pro with improved camera features for better long-distance photography.
Streaming has changed how people watch TV by offering new original shows that attract large audiences. According to Bloomberg's analysis of Nielsen data, Netflix's "Ozark" is the most-watched show of the 2020s, followed by "Stranger Things" and "Love Is Blind."
Key Facts
Netflix leads in streaming with the most popular original shows.
"Ozark" is the most-watched show of the decade with 55.3 billion minutes viewed.
"Stranger Things" is second with 51.2 billion minutes viewed.
"Love Is Blind," a reality TV show, is third with 50.6 billion minutes viewed.
"Wednesday," based on the Addams Family, ranks fourth with 41.1 billion minutes viewed.
"Virgin River" is the fifth most-watched show, with 40.4 billion minutes viewed.
Data analysis was based on six years of Nielsen data up to November 2025 and conducted by Bloomberg.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is appealing a federal court decision that upheld President Donald Trump's $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas. This fee increase impacts technology companies that depend on skilled foreign workers and could lead to fewer employers being able to hire such workers. The case is moving to the United States Court of Appeals for further review.
Key Facts
President Trump set a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is appealing the court's decision to uphold the fee.
The fee is much higher than the previous cost range of $960 to $7,595.
The appeal involves the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Critics argue the fee could hurt innovation and competitiveness in fields like AI and cybersecurity.
Proponents say the fee will protect American jobs and improve border security.
A coalition of 20 states is also challenging the fee's legality, claiming proper procedures were not followed.
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) advanced significantly across various fields, leading to breakthroughs in healthcare, robotics, and weather forecasting. AI tools are helping with disease diagnosis, drug discovery, and making robots more capable, while also improving weather prediction and finding sustainable alternatives for materials like cement. Both private companies and the U.S. government are investing heavily in AI to drive further innovation.
Key Facts
AI has made diagnosing Alzheimer's and finding treatments faster and cheaper.
Google's AlphaGenome model helps understand diseases and aids in drug discovery.
AI advancements are improving the abilities of humanoid robots for potential use in homes and healthcare.
AI-enhanced weather models are better at predicting rare extreme weather events.
A team at MIT used AI to find new, eco-friendly materials for concrete.
Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are leading AI-driven scientific innovation.
President Trump signed an executive order to boost AI research through "the Genesis Mission."
The federal government invested $3.3 billion in AI research in 2025; private sector investment exceeded $109 billion in 2024.
In January 2026, Paramount+ will expand its content library by adding over 120 new films and several new TV series. Notable titles include popular movies like "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and original series such as "Harlan Coben's Final Twist" and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy."
Key Facts
Paramount+ will add over 120 movies in January 2026.
Movies like "50 First Dates," "The Da Vinci Code," and "Zero Dark Thirty" will be available.
New series include "Harlan Coben's Final Twist" on January 7 and "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" on January 15.
Additional original series and TV show seasons will also debut throughout the month.
Notable TV content additions include "SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 15" and "Bar Rescue: Season 9."
A TikTok user shared a theory about the finale of the Netflix series "Stranger Things" that has sparked wide discussion online. The theory suggests that viewers have been unknowingly manipulated by a character in the show, leading to missing scenes and altered perceptions. This idea has gained significant attention, with millions of views and likes on TikTok.
Key Facts
A TikTok video proposed a theory about the "Stranger Things" finale, suggesting viewers are manipulated like characters in the show.
The theory claims that some scenes were not deleted but hidden, due to viewers' memories being altered.
The video received over 10.4 million views and 1.9 million likes shortly after being posted.
The theory involves Will Byers being a spy for the villain Vecna without realizing it.
TikTok user @in_the_west_7 posted the video containing these ideas.
Fans have signed a petition demanding the release of allegedly missing scenes from the series.
The petition has over 367,000 signatures.
The video claims a wormhole plays a role in the altered viewer perceptions.
YouTuber MrBeast reacted to a fake AI-generated image of himself being used to promote an OnlyFans account. The image, shared by a creator known as Akira, is an example of the growing challenge in distinguishing between real and AI-generated content. This issue is significant due to the potential for misinformation.
Key Facts
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, is a popular content creator with 458 million subscribers on YouTube.
An OnlyFans creator named Akira shared a fake AI image of MrBeast on social media.
The image shows MrBeast with Akira, which is not a real photo.
MrBeast publicly asked creators not to use AI images of him for promotion.
A community note on the post confirmed the image is AI-generated.
A University of Waterloo study found only 61% of people could identify AI images correctly.
AI-generated fake content can lead to misinformation, especially affecting celebrities.
Google's DeepMind study indicated fake visual content creation is now widespread.
The article discusses changing trends in 2026 that could affect various aspects of life, from work and travel to technology and food. It highlights shifts toward slower living, authenticity, and wellness, with technology playing a key role. Trends include remote work, increased importance on mental health, and the personalization of artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
People may work in more flexible hours, merging work and personal life.
More individuals from younger generations are choosing freelance or creative work over traditional corporate jobs.
Companies might use new tools to monitor employee well-being, similarly to how they track productivity.
Small, short vacations, called "micro-cations," are expected to become popular for quick relaxation.
Traveling to smaller, local destinations could appeal to more people over crowded tourist spots.
A focus on fiber-rich foods is rising as part of a health-conscious shift.
Social media might see a rise in informative creators, not just entertainers.
Artificial Intelligence could become more personalized, assisting in healthcare decisions and diagnostics.
Mercedes-Benz is updating the design of its GLB SUV to align with a new "one Mercedes" style plan. Both electric and gas versions of the GLB will share the same name and many design features, such as the grille and lighting, to make them look similar. This change is part of a bigger move by Mercedes-Benz to unify the look and features of its vehicles.
Key Facts
Mercedes-Benz's GLB SUV is getting a new design for both its electric and gas versions.
The electric and gas models will no longer be called different names (EQB for electric); they will be identified by model numbers instead.
The SUV's front design includes styling from the CLA sedan, including a body-wide light bar and star-shaped headlights.
The rear of the GLB features handlebar mustache-like taillights that are different from other Mercedes models.
The GLB shares design elements with the larger GLS SUV, which will be updated in 2026.
Technology like a panoramic roof and an AI-powered infotainment system are features in the new GLB.
Mercedes-Benz aims to have a consistent design and technology approach across its vehicle lineup.
Dan Richards became paralyzed after a swimming accident in 2023. Despite being told he might remain bed-bound, with the help of AI technology, he is now able to move his arms, fingers, and even walk with assistance. AI and advanced physiotherapy have played a key role in his recovery journey.
Key Facts
Dan Richards had a severe neck injury from a wave accident on New Year's Eve in 2023.
Initially, doctors said he could be bed-bound for life.
Two years later, Dan uses a wheelchair and has regained movement in his arms and fingers.
AI technology has helped Dan walk again in Wales and Germany.
Dan underwent specialized physiotherapy that uses robots and stimulation suits to aid movement.
His recovery involved private treatments funded through family and friends.
A neurophysiotherapist from Morello clinic in Newport described Dan as highly motivated.
The AI-based therapy involves a robotic system and a special suit with sensors and electrodes.
In 2026, several important video game releases are expected, including Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6), which might break records if it comes out as planned on November 19. Other major games set to release include Resident Evil Requiem, a new James Bond game, and a superhero game featuring Wolverine. The year is expected to bring significant developments, with impacts from studio actions and new technologies influencing the industry.
Key Facts
Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to release on November 19, 2026, after several delays.
There are concerns about further delays due to recent staff layoffs at developer Rockstar.
Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth in the horror series, is set to release in February 2026.
Sony plans to release exclusive games like Saros and Wolverine in 2026.
A new James Bond game, 007 First Light, is scheduled for May 2026.
Nintendo and Microsoft have plans for significant game releases and announcements in 2026.
Indie game surprises, such as the game Raccoin, may play a prominent role in 2026.
RAM (random-access memory) prices are increasing, affecting various electronic devices.
A company called Space Forge has launched a small factory into space to make semiconductors. The space environment allows them to create extremely pure materials, which are used in technologies like phones and electric vehicles.
Key Facts
Space Forge is based in Cardiff and is working on manufacturing semiconductors in space.
They launched a small factory, about the size of a microwave, into orbit on a SpaceX rocket.
The factory can reach temperatures around 1,000 degrees Celsius to make semiconductors.
Semiconductors made in space can be up to 4,000 times purer than those made on Earth.
These materials will improve electronic devices used in 5G towers, car chargers, and planes.
The company plans to build a larger factory to produce materials for 10,000 semiconductor chips.
They need to test a heat shield to ensure they can safely bring materials back to Earth.
Other companies are exploring making different products, like pharmaceuticals, in space.
The "Tech Life" episode recaps significant technology stories from 2025, including advancements in AI and efforts to bring back extinct species. The program also features people sharing how technology has impacted their lives during the year.
Key Facts
The episode is titled "Tech Life" and aired on the World Service on December 30, 2025.
The program highlights technology stories from 2025.
One story focuses on using AI at a royal palace.
Another story discusses efforts to bring back extinct species.
People share personal stories of how technology affected their lives in 2025.
Chris Vallance is the presenter of the episode.
The producers of the episode are Tom Quinn and Imran Rahman-Jones.
The private space industry is rapidly growing, with upcoming plans for new commercial space activities. Rocket Lab, a space start-up from New Zealand, is gaining attention as it competes with larger companies.
Key Facts
The private space industry is seeing significant growth.
A private space station is planned to launch next spring.
New commercial space flights are set to become available.
SpaceX is thinking about offering its stock to the public.
Rocket Lab is a space company based in New Zealand.
Rocket Lab is competing against bigger space companies.
