Prince Harry has said the sacrifices made by NATO troops in Afghanistan must be spoken about “truthfully and with respect” after comments by US President Donald Trump. Trump said allied forces stayed “a little back” from the front lines during the war. Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, said he lost friends in the conflict and paid tribute to those killed, including 457 British personnel. He noted NATO invoked Article 5 after the 9/11 attacks and allies fought alongside the US. His remarks followed criticism from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and leaders from several NATO countries. (PC: X)

Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat has warned Iran of a strong military response if it attacks Israel again. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Barkat said Israel would retaliate “seven times harder.” He accused Iran of backing armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to destabilise the region.   Barkat also ruled out Pakistan from any peacekeeping role in Gaza, saying countries that supported terror were not welcome. He said Israel’s focus remains defence, not regime change, and hoped for peace if Iran changes its path.

Iran has warned US President Donald Trump that any attack on Tehran would be treated as an “all-out war,” after he said American warships were heading toward the region. A senior Iranian official said Iran would use “everything at its disposal” to respond to what it sees as a constant military threat from the US. Trump described the deployment as a large naval force moving toward Iran. Reports said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, three destroyers armed with missiles, and US fighter jets have been sent to the Middle East. Iranian officials said the country is on high alert but did not detail any planned response. (PC: India Today)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised US President Donald Trump over comments suggesting British and NATO troops were not on the front lines in Afghanistan. Starmer said the remarks were “insulting and frankly appalling” and caused pain to veterans and families of the fallen. He said he would apologise if he had made such comments. Trump repeated his view in an interview, saying NATO troops stayed “a little off the frontlines.” Downing Street said Trump was wrong to downplay the role of UK forces. Officials noted British troops served in sustained combat operations alongside allies. The UK lost 457 soldiers in Afghanistan, with many more wounded. (PC: Sky News)

US President Donald Trump has claimed that NATO forces stayed away from the front lines during the Afghanistan war. Official data and military records contradict this. After the 9/11 attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 and deployed troops alongside the US from 2001. NATO troop numbers peaked at about 140,000 in 2011. While the US lost the most soldiers overall, several European nations suffered heavy losses relative to their population size. The UK lost 457 troops, Canada 159, France 90 and Germany 62. NATO forces operated in high-conflict regions such as Kandahar and Helmand, where British, Canadian and Danish troops faced intense combat. (PC: India Today)

Prince Harry has spoken out after US President Donald Trump said Nato allies stayed away from front-line fighting in Afghanistan. Trump’s remarks triggered strong reactions in the UK, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling them insulting and unacceptable. Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan with the British Army, said the sacrifices made by Nato troops deserve to be discussed truthfully and with respect. Britain joined the US-led mission in 2001 after Nato invoked its collective defence clause following the 9/11 attacks. The conflict claimed the lives of 457 British service personnel. The White House later defended US support for Nato and Europe’s security role. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump unveiled his Board of Peace initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, claiming "everybody" wants to join. Trump chairs the Executive Council alongside Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel. While 59 countries are involved in Middle East peace efforts, 35 have agreed to join, with 20 formally becoming members including Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Turkey, and several European nations like Hungary, Belgium, and Bulgaria. However, major European powers icncluding France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Slovenia declined participation. Countries can serve three-year terms or secure permanent seats by contributing $1 billion to a peace-building fund. (PC: AP)

Organisers of the London protest submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlining four key demands over alleged persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. These include suspending UK aid and trade, initiating parliamentary debate, pursuing Magnitsky-style sanctions against perpetrators, and appointing a UK special envoy to monitor the situation. The Bangladesh Hindu Association stressed the protest was not against any nation or faith but against injustice. Organisers said continued advocacy and international pressure are essential to protect minority communities and ensure accountability. (PC: Reuters)

The United States has officially left the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026. The decision was started by President Donald Trump when he returned to office in 2025. The U.S. government said the WHO did not handle the COVID-19 pandemic properly and needs major reforms. With this move, the U.S. has stopped all funding and is no longer part of WHO meetings or programs. The exit also leaves about $260 million in unpaid dues. Health experts around the world worry this step may weaken global efforts to track diseases and respond quickly to health emergencies. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said a “big force” is going toward Iran, but he would “rather not see anything happen” as tensions with Tehran escalate. Speaking after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stressed that the US is closely monitoring Iran while remaining prepared for any scenario. The deployment reportedly includes an aircraft carrier strike group, signaling a show of strength amid ongoing unrest in Iran and global concerns over regional stability. Trump also indicated openness to dialogue with Iranian leadership despite the military buildup. (PC: AP)