India has not yet decided whether to join US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace. The signing ceremony is planned on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Officials said New Delhi is studying the proposal due to sensitive issues linked to its open mandate. The board is aimed at peace efforts in Gaza, but its charter does not mention Gaza directly and appears to bypass the United Nations. Several countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have accepted the invite. India supports peace and a two-state solution but remains cautious. China and Russia are also undecided. (PC: Reuters)

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.

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.

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)

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)

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)

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)

An eight-year-old Hindu student has changed schools in London after alleged discrimination over wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a religious mark on the forehead. The incident took place at Vicar’s Green Primary School, according to advocacy group Insight UK. The group said school staff asked the child to explain his religious practice, which it described as inappropriate for his age. It also alleged the headteacher closely watched the child during breaks, leading him to avoid playtime and isolate himself. The student was also removed from school roles, allegedly due to his faith. Insight UK said such actions may breach the Equality Act 2010. At least four Hindu children have reportedly left the school. (PC: AI Image)

Japan’s Ambassador to India, ONO Keiichi, shared a video of himself eating biryani by hand at Delhi’s Andhra Bhavan, drawing wide attention online. In the video, canteen staff guide him on how to mix and eat the dish the traditional Indian way. Smiling, the ambassador says the biryani tastes better when eaten by hand. He later compared the experience to eating sushi by hand and said it made him feel closer to his Indian friends. He also posted a short message in Telugu praising the taste. Social media users welcomed the gesture, calling it a warm moment of cultural exchange.

Seven senior Indian business leaders have been invited to a high-level reception hosted by US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump will return to the forum this week for the first time in six years and is due to deliver a keynote address on Wednesday. The invited executives include Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Bharti Enterprises founder Sunil Bharti Mittal, Wipro CEO Srini Pallia, Infosys CEO Salil S Parekh, Bajaj Finserv chairman Sanjiv Bajaj, Mahindra Group CEO Anish Shah, and Jubilant Bhartia Group co-chairman Hari S Bhartia. Their presence comes as India and the US hold talks on trade, supply chains, and investment ties. (PC: NDTV)