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)

India and the United Arab Emirates have signed a long-term liquefied natural gas agreement worth over $2.5 billion. The deal was sealed between ADNOC Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Under the agreement, ADNOC Gas will supply 500,000 tonnes of LNG to India each year for ten years. ADNOC said the contract makes India its largest natural gas customer. From 2029, Indian firms are expected to take over 20% of ADNOC Gas’s annual output. The agreement was signed during UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed’s visit to New Delhi, where both sides also discussed trade and defence cooperation. (PC: X)

India has advised the families and dependents of its diplomats posted in Bangladesh to return home due to security concerns. The decision comes weeks ahead of Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections amid reports of increased extremist activity. Sources said the step is a precautionary measure and applies to officials at the high commission in Dhaka and other diplomatic posts. India’s missions in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet will remain open and operational. Such non-family postings are usually ordered in unstable situations. India-Bangladesh ties have remained tense since the interim government took charge in 2024, with security tightened around diplomatic missions. (PC: NDTV)

Assistant Commandant Simran Bala, 26, will lead an all-male Central Reserve Police Force contingent at the Republic Day Parade on January 26 in New Delhi. She will command more than 140 male personnel, becoming the first woman officer to do so in the force’s history. Bala hails from Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district and is the first woman officer from her district in the CRPF. She cleared the UPSC CAPF examination in her first attempt in 2023 with an All India Rank of 82. Senior officers selected her after parade rehearsals, citing her drill accuracy, confidence, and leadership. (PC: India Today)

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.