US President Donald Trump expressed strong confidence in India-US trade relations during an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol on Wednesday at Davos. Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him "a fantastic man and a friend of mine," and voiced optimism about reaching a favorable bilateral trade agreement. The US President said he held Modi in high esteem and described him as a trusted personal friend. Trump's comments indicate positive prospects for the proposed India-US trade deal currently under negotiation. This statement comes amid ongoing trade discussions between the two nations and follows Trump's earlier imposition of tariffs on Indian goods since August last year.

US President Donald Trump ruled out using force to acquire Greenland during his World Economic Forum speech in Davos on Wednesday, stating "I won't use force" despite earlier speculation. Trump called Denmark "ungrateful" and described Greenland as a "small ask" over a "piece of ice," seeking immediate negotiations for acquisition. He argued no nation except the US can secure Greenland, linking his push to Arctic security concerns. Trump's threats have frayed transatlantic ties and worried NATO leaders about alliance stability. During the hour-long speech, he mistakenly referred to Greenland as Iceland multiple times. Denmark and Greenland have offered alternatives for increased US presence on the 57,000-population territory.

Canadian man Dallas Pokornik, 33, was arrested in Panama after allegedly posing as a commercial pilot and flight attendant to obtain hundreds of free flights between January and October 2024. The former Canadian airline flight attendant, who worked from July 2017 to October 2019 but was never a pilot, used a fake Air Canada employment badge and requested cockpit jump seats despite lacking an airman's certificate. The four-year fraudulent scheme involved three different airlines and exploited travel benefits reserved for airline personnel. If convicted on wire fraud charges in Hawaii federal court, Pokornik faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A similar Florida case convicted Tiron Alexander for 34 fraudulent flights. (PC: NDTV)

Azerbaijan hosted an international conference titled "Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other National Minorities in India," organized by government-affiliated Baku Initiative Group, marking a strategic move by the Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkey axis to globalize the Khalistan narrative. The event featured Pakistani officials, including Punjab's Human Rights Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, and Khalistani representatives from Canada and UK. It began with silence for Hardeep Singh Nijjar, killed in Canada in 2023. Participants strategized engaging the UN Human Rights Committee to investigate alleged "extrajudicial executions" in India. Azerbaijan's alignment follows India's support for Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Azerbaijani media adopting Pakistan's "IOJK" terminology for Kashmir. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump again claimed that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan last year. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump said he helped end military tensions before they escalated.   He claimed to have settled eight wars since returning to office and said India and Pakistan were “going to go big”. Trump also said he played a role in ending the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.   India has repeatedly rejected any third-party role in the India-Pak ceasefire, saying the decision was taken through direct military talks. (PC: AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to join US President Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace. Netanyahu will get a renewable three-year term, his office said.   The board is made up of world leaders and is linked to Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. However, its charter does not mention Gaza directly and appears to bypass the UN.   Countries like the UAE and Bahrain have joined, while France, Sweden, and Norway have refused. The board will be chaired by Trump and funded by member states. Major challenges remain as the Gaza ceasefire stays fragile. (PC: Reuters)

The International Cricket Council has confirmed there will be no change to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule. Bangladesh’s matches will be played in India as planned.   The decision was taken during an ICC Board meeting after the Bangladesh Cricket Board requested a shift of venues to Sri Lanka.   The ICC said security reviews found no credible threat to players, officials, media, or fans. It added that changing the schedule so close to the tournament was not feasible and could set a bad precedent. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump said no country other than the United States is capable of securing Greenland. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said Denmark had failed to protect Greenland during World War II.   “No nation is in a position to secure Greenland other than us,” he said. Trump also called Denmark “ungrateful” for criticising US claims.   His remarks drew concern from European leaders, who warned that such statements threaten regional security. Trump later said he respects the people of Denmark and Greenland but insisted US involvement is necessary.

Veteran NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired after a stellar 27-year career. Her retirement took effect on December 27, 2025. She spent 608 days in space, the second-highest by a NASA astronaut. During her visit to Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Williams spoke to students and faculty about life in space. “It is a very exciting time in human space exploration,” she said. She recalled her deep connection to India and shared a lighter moment from orbit. “Opening a packet of Indian food in space was unforgettable,” she said. Williams completed nine spacewalks and also became the first person to run a marathon in space. (PC: x/iitdelhi)

Japan has restarted a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest by capacity, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. Reactor No. 6, located northwest of Tokyo, was brought back online on Wednesday after a brief delay caused by an alarm issue. Commercial operations are expected to begin next month. The plant once had seven reactors with a total capacity of 8.2 gigawatts. Only one reactor is restarting for now, while others may remain offline or be decommissioned. Japan has been gradually reviving nuclear power to reduce energy imports and meet its clean energy targets by 2050. (PC: BBC)