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)

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.

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)

Indian mountaineer Rohtash Khileri has reportedly become the first person to stay for 24 continuous hours on the summit of Mount Elbrus without using supplemental oxygen. Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 m (18,510 ft), is the highest peak in Europe. Khileri’s effort came after eight years of training and perseverance. On reaching the summit, he remained there without oxygen support for a full day, a feat described as a world record. The achievement highlights his high-altitude endurance and mountaineering skill. Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano in the Caucasus Mountains and is recognised as Europe’s tallest summit.

US President Donald Trump arrived at the World Economic Forum in Davos amid rising tensions with European allies over Greenland. Trump said the world would “find out” how far he is willing to go on the issue, signalling no retreat from his stance. European leaders have said they hope to ease tensions through dialogue. Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that countries now use trade and economic ties as “leverage”, calling the old global order an “illusion”. US officials also criticised allies, including the UK, during Davos meetings. NATO said discussions on Greenland are under way but must remain private. The dispute has dominated the forum, affecting talks on Ukraine, trade and security. (PC: Sky News)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the US-led global order has ended, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition. The old order is not coming back,” he said. Carney warned that major powers now use trade, finance and supply chains as tools of pressure. He said the idea of a fair rules-based system was “partially false” and applied unevenly. Carney said deep global integration has become a risk for many countries. He urged Canada to build domestic strength and diversify trade ties. He also called on middle powers to work together in a more divided world. (PC: India Today)

A train driver was killed and at least 37 people were injured after a commuter train derailed near Barcelona on Tuesday night. Officials said the Rodalies train hit a retaining wall that collapsed onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní. Five passengers were seriously injured. The crash happened during heavy storms in north-eastern Spain. Fire crews evacuated all passengers, and some injured people were taken to nearby hospitals. Rail officials said the wall struck the driver’s cab first. Services across Catalonia’s Rodalies network were suspended for safety checks. The crash came two days after a deadly high-speed train collision in southern Spain. (PC: BBC)

Indian-origin FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam has publicly addressed controversy over alleged bias in the company’s H-1B visa hiring practices, sparked by reports that FedEx increased hiring of foreign workers after winning a major federal contract, even as U.S. job cuts drew criticism. Subramaniam emphasized that FedEx follows merit-based hiring and stressed his belief in legal immigration, sharing his own journey from India to the U.S. as an example of opportunity. He reiterated that employment decisions are based on skills and business needs, countering claims of favoritism. (PC: X)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU is "on the cusp" of signing a historic trade agreement with India, calling it the "mother of all deals" that would create a two-billion-person market representing nearly a quarter of global GDP. Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend India's Republic Day celebrations and co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27, when the deal is expected to be signed. The agreement, decades in the making after negotiations relaunched in July 2022, gains urgency amid US tariff threats and shared concerns about China's dominance. India seeks market access for textiles and gems; the EU wants entry for automobiles and beverages.

The European Parliament plans to suspend approval of a US tariffs deal agreed last year. Sources said the move may be announced in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The decision follows fresh tariff threats by US President Donald Trump over Greenland. The standoff has hit global markets, with stocks and the dollar falling. European leaders warned against US pressure on sovereignty. French President Emmanuel Macron urged the EU to consider retaliation. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asked Europe not to retaliate. The deal needs EU approval to take effect. (PC: Bloomberg via Getty Images)