Abhishek Sharma produced a stunning knock as India beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I in Nagpur. The opener smashed 84 off 35 balls, hitting eight sixes and five fours. India posted 238 for 7.   Rinku Singh added an unbeaten 44 off 20 balls. Suryakumar Yadav scored 32 during a key partnership.   New Zealand’s chase was led by Glenn Phillips, who hit 78. But wickets fell regularly. Varun Chakravarthy took 2 for 37 as New Zealand finished on 190 for 7. (PC: AP)

3 Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders said on Wednesday. Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence said their car was hit in the al-Zahra area. The journalists were identified as Mohammed Salah Qeshta, Anas Ghunaim, and Abdul Raouf Shaat.   The Israeli military said it struck suspects operating a drone linked to Hamas and said the incident is being examined. A humanitarian group said the vehicle was clearly marked and on a relief mission.   The Committee to Protect Journalists said Gaza remains the deadliest conflict for journalists. At least 466 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began in October. (PC: EPA)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed confidence about a strong trade deal with India and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Trump called Modi a “fantastic leader” and said, “We will have a great deal with India.”   His remarks come despite recent trade tensions and high US tariffs on Indian goods. Officials said both sides remain in active talks. India and the US aim to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Discussions continue on trade, energy, defence, and technology.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a landmark speech at Davos declaring the US-led "rules-based international order" is experiencing "a rupture," not a transition. The career economist warned middle powers that "compliance will not buy safety" and urged them to act together, stating "if we're not at the table, we're on the menu." Carney, who entered politics less than a year ago, emphasized the old order won't return and "nostalgia is not a strategy." He characterized the new reality as "intensifying great power rivalry" where powerful nations use economic integration as coercion. Canada declared firm support for Greenland and Denmark against Trump's annexation plans. His speech received a standing ovation. (PC: X)

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired after a remarkable 27-year career, with her retirement effective December 27, 2025. The Indian-origin astronaut accumulated 608 days in orbit second-highest among NASA astronauts across three missions since joining in 1998. Williams holds the world record for most spacewalks by a female astronaut with nine totaling 62 hours. Her final mission aboard Boeing Starliner, initially planned for one week, extended to nine-and-a-half months due to technical problems. Williams also achieved historic firsts including running a marathon and completing a triathlon in space. NASA Administrator praised her as a trailblazer whose contributions advanced science and paved the way for Artemis lunar missions and Mars exploration. (PC: X)

The ICC Board has rejected Bangladesh's request to relocate T20 World Cup matches from India, with the proposal defeated 14-2 in a board vote. The ICC warned the Bangladesh Cricket Board that if the team refuses to travel to India for scheduled fixtures starting February 7, it will be replaced by Scotland. Bangladesh has one day to convey its final position. Currently, Bangladesh is scheduled to play three league matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Only Pakistan's PCB supported Bangladesh's request citing security concerns. The BCB proposed a group swap to play all matches in Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected this. The dispute escalated after BCCI removed Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026. (PC: AP)

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)