Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to speed up defence and energy cooperation during a three-hour meeting in New Delhi. The two sides announced plans to finalise a strategic defence partnership and a 10-year LNG supply deal of 0.5 million tonnes annually. They set a target to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032. Both leaders also identified innovation, space, civil nuclear energy and small modular reactors as future focus areas. They reviewed progress under the trade pact signed in 2022 and discussed regional and global issues.

US President Donald Trump said he will “100%” follow through on threats to impose new tariffs if no agreement is reached over Greenland. He declined to comment when asked if the US would use force to take control of the island. Greenland’s prime minister said the territory will not give in to pressure, adding that tariff threats will not change its position. The remarks come after messages from Trump to Norway’s prime minister were released, linking foreign policy to his Nobel Peace Prize criticism. Trump has also warned of tariffs on several NATO allies. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised the plan. (PC: BBC)

An Indian-origin man charged over his wife’s death told an Australian court that he accepts responsibility but denies murder. Vikrant Thakur appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on January 14. “I killed my wife, but it wasn’t murder,” he said, entering a plea for manslaughter on legal advice. His wife, Supriya Thakur, 36, was found unconscious at their home in Adelaide’s northern suburbs on December 21. Police attempted CPR, but she died at the scene. Prosecutors are awaiting DNA and post-mortem reports. The matter is scheduled to return to court in April.

A vehicle in Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s convoy was involved in a road accident in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Monday night. Police said a Mercedes car hit an auto rickshaw, which then crashed into the convoy vehicle, an Innova. Akshay and his wife, Twinkle Khanna, were travelling in a separate car ahead of the convoy. Their vehicle suffered a minor impact and both were reported safe. The accident occurred around 9 pm. Police reached the spot and began inquiries. The auto driver and a passenger were taken for medical care. No deaths were reported. (PC: India Today)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered a stern message to Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, urging Poland to display "zero-tolerance" for terrorism and avoid fueling terrorist infrastructure in India's neighborhood. The statement references Poland's October joint declaration with Pakistan mentioning Kashmir following Sikorski's Islamabad visit. Jaishankar also criticized "unfair and unjustified selective targeting" of India over Ukraine-Russia energy ties. Sikorski agreed about the unfairness regarding tariffs. The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, defense, and technology. India-Poland bilateral trade stands at $7 billion with 200 percent growth over a decade. Indian investments in Poland exceed $3 billion, creating numerous Polish employment opportunities. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Delhi's Palam airport on Monday, sharing a car ride together in a significant diplomatic gesture. The brief two-hour visit comes amid volatile Middle East tensions involving Iran-US relations, Saudi-UAE disputes over Yemen, and Gaza instability. Modi emphasized the visit illustrates Al Nahyan's commitment to strong India-UAE friendship. The leaders will hold wide-ranging discussions covering trade, investment, defence cooperation, energy initiatives, and regional security. This marks Al Nahyan's third official India visit since becoming president and fifth in a decade. Bilateral ties have strengthened significantly since the 2022 comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Japanese YouTuber Ikechan sparked controversy after posting an Air India flight vlog titled "packed with Indians" with a caption reading "bad Air India." The January 17 video drew widespread criticism for appearing to reference last year's Air India crash tragedy in its original thumbnail. While the YouTube vlog garnered 122,000 views, the X post received 15 million views and intense backlash. Users accused Ikechan of trivializing the tragedy and holding preconceived notions about India. Fellow Japanese creator Tomomura publicly criticized her approach as disrespectful. Ikechan later claimed no ill intent, stating she slightly altered the thumbnail after criticism and encouraged viewers to watch the complete video before judging. 

Pakistan's Chief of Defence Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, stated the country stands at a juncture where it can achieve its founding purpose. Speaking at Junaid Safdar's wedding reception attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials, Munir emphasized Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and now enjoys special status among Islamic nations. A Hafiz-e-Quran, Munir has reshaped Pakistan's armed forces with religious symbolism, framing military roles as defending Islam. He invoked the Two-Nation Theory, emphasizing irreconcilable Muslim-Hindu differences. Munir referenced defence agreements with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, meetings with Trump, and economic improvements, suggesting Pakistan's growing Islamic ummah influence despite recent military setbacks. (PC: India Today)

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conducted a brief but substantive visit to India on Monday amid heightened West Asian tensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Al Nahyan at the New Delhi airport, sharing a ride together in a notable diplomatic gesture. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized the visit's substance despite its few-hour duration. The leaders held discussions in restricted and expanded formats, with multiple documents exchanged. This marks Al Nahyan's third official India visit since becoming UAE President and fifth in a decade. Modi gifted traditional presents including a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula, Pashmina Shawl, and Kashmiri Saffron, symbolizing the strong India-UAE friendship and bilateral ties.

At least seven people were killed and 13 injured in an explosion targeting a hotel in Kabul's commercial Shahr-e-Naw neighborhood on Sunday. The Italian NGO Emergency, operating a hospital in Afghanistan's capital, confirmed receiving 20 casualties, with seven dead on arrival. Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani acknowledged the incident, stating preliminary reports indicated fatalities and injuries, with detailed information to follow. Shahr-e-Naw, considered one of Kabul's most secure areas, houses large office buildings, shopping complexes, and embassies. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. The attack represents a significant security breach in what is typically regarded as one of the safest districts in the Afghan capital.