National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides

The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS

Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent

India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh

Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?

How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?

Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition

‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal

Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch

Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine

Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states

Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions

Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy

Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS

'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia

Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside

Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift

New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot

RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress

Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'

IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act

Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott

Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances

Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation

New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know

India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims

Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed

US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance

Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built

Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH

Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school

Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report

India firmly countered Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during a General Assembly session, accusing Pakistan of exploiting UN forums to promote what New Delhi termed a 'divisive narrative'. The rebuttal followed remarks by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who referenced Jammu and Kashmir in his address. India dismissed the comments as inappropriate and disconnected from the realities on the ground.&nbsp;Presenting India’s national statement during the UN General Assembly plenary discussion on the Secretary-General’s annual report, Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said Pakistan has made a habit of politicising multilateral platforms, according to news agency PTI. Punnoose remarked that while the international community is expected to rise above narrow national interests, Pakistan continues to misuse UN mechanisms to advance its agenda. He stressed that Pakistan’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir was unjustified, reiterating that the Union Territory is an inseparable part of India.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-takes-all-in-maharashtra-local-body-polls-mahayuti-alliance-dethrones-thackeray-from-bmc-devendra-fadanvis-1768561208172">BJP takes all in Maharashtra local body polls; Mahayuti alliance dethrones Thackeray family from BMC</a>&nbsp;India’s response came amid Pakistan’s repeated efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue at various UN bodies, attempts that New Delhi maintains have consistently failed to attract broader global backing. Addressing the principle of self-determination, Punnoose warned against its distortion to legitimise separatist claims. While acknowledging self-determination as a core UN principle, he emphasised that it should not be weaponised to encourage fragmentation in democratic and pluralistic societies. He added that Pakistan should refrain from making unfounded allegations that misrepresent reality.&nbsp;Beyond bilateral issues, India also drew attention to challenges faced by the Global South. Punnoose said India has actively worked to amplify these concerns across UN platforms and called for concrete follow-up actions to translate collective sentiment into measurable outcomes. He further noted that the United Nations is navigating a pivotal moment, facing mounting expectations across its mandates of peace and security, development, and human rights.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-tests-quantum-cyber-tools-in-frontline-ops-1768558859021/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-tests-quantum-cyber-tools-in-frontline-ops-1768558859021/embed</a>&nbsp;India also expressed concern over the UN’s limited effectiveness in addressing ongoing global conflicts, warning that inaction undermines the organisation’s credibility. With conflicts escalating worldwide, Punnoose said the international community looks to the UN to alleviate human suffering and restore peace.

India slams Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly, accuses Islamabad of exploiting UN bodies

India firmly countered Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during a General Assembly session, accusing Pakistan of exploiting UN forums to promote what New Delhi termed a 'divisive narrative'. The rebuttal followed remarks by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who referenced Jammu and Kashmir in his address. India dismissed the comments as inappropriate and disconnected from the realities on the ground. Presenting India’s national statement during the UN General Assembly plenary discussion on the Secretary-General’s annual report, Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, said Pakistan has made a habit of politicising multilateral platforms, according to news agency PTI. Punnoose remarked that while the international community is expected to rise above narrow national interests, Pakistan continues to misuse UN mechanisms to advance its agenda. He stressed that Pakistan’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir was unjustified, reiterating that the Union Territory is an inseparable part of India. Also Read: BJP takes all in Maharashtra local body polls; Mahayuti alliance dethrones Thackeray family from BMC India’s response came amid Pakistan’s repeated efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue at various UN bodies, attempts that New Delhi maintains have consistently failed to attract broader global backing. Addressing the principle of self-determination, Punnoose warned against its distortion to legitimise separatist claims. While acknowledging self-determination as a core UN principle, he emphasised that it should not be weaponised to encourage fragmentation in democratic and pluralistic societies. He added that Pakistan should refrain from making unfounded allegations that misrepresent reality. Beyond bilateral issues, India also drew attention to challenges faced by the Global South. Punnoose said India has actively worked to amplify these concerns across UN platforms and called for concrete follow-up actions to translate collective sentiment into measurable outcomes. He further noted that the United Nations is navigating a pivotal moment, facing mounting expectations across its mandates of peace and security, development, and human rights. https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-tests-quantum-cyber-tools-in-frontline-ops-1768558859021/embed India also expressed concern over the UN’s limited effectiveness in addressing ongoing global conflicts, warning that inaction undermines the organisation’s credibility. With conflicts escalating worldwide, Punnoose said the international community looks to the UN to alleviate human suffering and restore peace.

India strongly countered Pakistan at the United Nations after Kashmir was raised again, accusing Islamabad of misusing global platforms and reiterating its sovereignty claim

A private celebration at Trump's private Florida club, Mar-a-Lago, in one of its first charitable events of 2026 last week, has fueled criticism and mockery. The event was the American Humane Society’s 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards. What caught attention were pictures of guests and performers in elaborate 18th-century style clothing and dog masks. These went viral on social media, with many terming it as the “decadence” characteristic of the late stages of empire or ruling class. California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “dictator cosplay”. The event was a fundraising gala to generate donations for canine causes. Videos from the event show masked dancers in Rococo-era costumes. Donald Trump reportedly made an appearance and spoke at the event.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/benjamin-franklin-psychology-private-letters-1768543801110">How Benjamin Franklin's private writings reveal a proto-modern psychology?</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“Let them eat cake”— Entertainers wearing dog masks and Rococo-era 18th-century European aristocratic court costumes danced for Mar-a-Lago guests at a party this weekend <a href="https://t.co/lLK9wVDUBq">pic.twitter.com/lLK9wVDUBq</a>&mdash; PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/2011468537060036977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So Squid Games is real? <a href="https://t.co/F5rvoCEwfs">https://t.co/F5rvoCEwfs</a> <a href="https://t.co/wn9MoeiFmw">pic.twitter.com/wn9MoeiFmw</a>&mdash; Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPressOffice/status/2011944075591606775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The event left many online confused, and with many comparing it to a "furry party"- a term associated with people who enjoy anthropomorphic animal costumes. Some people described the visuals as “creepy, weird”, or reminiscent of scenes from a dystopian Stanley Kubrick film, Eyes Wide Shut. While others liken it to the elite moral disinhibition of late Roman aristocracy and French court culture before the French Revolution.&nbsp;While the cause was to celebrate and honour “hero dogs” such as service, therapy, and working dogs, the visuals of Trump's resort and unusual costumed entertainment became unsettling when combined with ritualised power display. California Governor Gavin Newsom posted, “So Squid Games is real?”Months before this furry-themed party, Trump threw a Great Gatsby-themed party at the club as millions of Americans prepared for the possible expiration of their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the historically long government shutdown. The halloween themed party was inspired by F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 classic 'The Great Gatsby', a tragic Jazz Age novel of a millionaire and the American Dream.

Photos from a dog-mask gala at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago spark dystopian comparisons, elite decadence claims, and mockery from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

A private celebration at Trump's private Florida club, Mar-a-Lago, in one of its first charitable events of 2026 last week, has fueled criticism and mockery. The event was the American Humane Society’s 15th Annual Hero Dog Awards. What caught attention were pictures of guests and performers in elaborate 18th-century style clothing and dog masks. These went viral on social media, with many terming it as the “decadence” characteristic of the late stages of empire or ruling class. California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “dictator cosplay”. The event was a fundraising gala to generate donations for canine causes. Videos from the event show masked dancers in Rococo-era costumes. Donald Trump reportedly made an appearance and spoke at the event. Also Read: How Benjamin Franklin's private writings reveal a proto-modern psychology?

Photos from a dog-mask gala at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago spark dystopian comparisons, elite decadence claims, and mockery from California Governor Gavin Newsom.

'Dystopian' and furry-themed gala hosted in Trump's Mar-a-Lago, sparks ridicule

Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, is suing his company over sexually explicit deepfake images of her without her consent. St Clair has alleged that xAI’s chatbot Grok has been used to generate explicit images of her, including one in which she was underage. This comes after California's attorney general launched an investigation into Musk's xAI, the company that developed Grok AI, over sexually explicit material. Similar probes have been launched by other nations, many of which have blocked access to the chatbot.According to the lawsuit filed in New York, “xAI’s product Grok, a generative artificial intelligence (‘AI’) chatbot, uses AI to undress, humiliate, and sexually exploit victims.” the lawsuit, which was filed in New York, reads. St Clair is seeking a jury trial, along with compensation for emotional distress and a loss of privacy.The lawsuit came after xAI on Wednesday (Jan 14) confirmed that Grok would no longer edit “images of real people in revealing clothing” on X following backlash. The chatbot was found to be complying with user requests to generate deepfake nude images of adults, and even children.In the lawsuit, the 27-year-old writer and political commentator stated that Grok generated and distributed “countless sexually abusive, intimate, and degrading deepfake content” of her after complying to users’ requests despite publicly informing Grok that she “did not consent” to being digitally stripped.In one instance, the chatbot allegedly undressed her in an old picture of her in which she was fully clothed at the age of 14 after the user's request, the suit added.On Wednesday, Musk said in an X post that he was “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.” He added that his AI chatbot “will refuse to produce anything illegal, as the operating principle for Grok is to obey the laws of any given country or state.”The two have engaged in public debates over the custody of their child in the past. Earlier this week, Musk said that he plans to seek full custody of their child.Meanwhile, speaking about the sexually explicit deepfakes, St Clair told CNN, “There is really no consequences for what’s happening right now. They are not taking any measures to stop this behavior at scale.”“Guess what? If you have to add safety after harm, that is not safety. That is simply damage control – and that’s what they’re doing right now,” she added.

Ashley St Clair has sued Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging its chatbot Grok generated non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes of her, including as a minor. The lawsuit seeks damages as xAI faces investigations over unsafe AI content and deepfake abuse.

Ashley St Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, is suing his company over sexually explicit deepfake images of her without her consent. St Clair has alleged that xAI’s chatbot Grok has been used to generate explicit images of her, including one in which she was underage. This comes after California's attorney general launched an investigation into Musk's xAI, the company that developed Grok AI, over sexually explicit material. Similar probes have been launched by other nations, many of which have blocked access to the chatbot. According to the lawsuit filed in New York, “xAI’s product Grok, a generative artificial intelligence (‘AI’) chatbot, uses AI to undress, humiliate, and sexually exploit victims.” the lawsuit, which was filed in New York, reads. St Clair is seeking a jury trial, along with compensation for emotional distress and a loss of privacy. The lawsuit came after xAI on Wednesday (Jan 14) confirmed that Grok would no longer edit “images of real people in revealing clothing” on X following backlash. The chatbot was found to be complying with user requests to generate deepfake nude images of adults, and even children. In the lawsuit, the 27-year-old writer and political commentator stated that Grok generated and distributed “countless sexually abusive, intimate, and degrading deepfake content” of her after complying to users’ requests despite publicly informing Grok that she “did not consent” to being digitally stripped. In one instance, the chatbot allegedly undressed her in an old picture of her in which she was fully clothed at the age of 14 after the user's request, the suit added. On Wednesday, Musk said in an X post that he was “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.” He added that his AI chatbot “will refuse to produce anything illegal, as the operating principle for Grok is to obey the laws of any given country or state.” The two have engaged in public debates over the custody of their child in the past. Earlier this week, Musk said that he plans to seek full custody of their child. Meanwhile, speaking about the sexually explicit deepfakes, St Clair told CNN, “There is really no consequences for what’s happening right now. They are not taking any measures to stop this behavior at scale.” “Guess what? If you have to add safety after harm, that is not safety. That is simply damage control – and that’s what they’re doing right now,” she added.

Ashley St Clair has sued Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging its chatbot Grok generated non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes of her, including as a minor. The lawsuit seeks damages as xAI faces investigations over unsafe AI content and deepfake abuse.

‘Grok sexually exploits victims’: Ashley St Clair, mother of Musk’s child, sues xAI over AI deepfakes

Kerala is showcasing its industrial development and investor confidence at the World Economic Forum 2026 being held in Davos on January 19-23. The south Indian state’s greatest asset is its highly skilled, digitally literate workforce. This workforce is being further refined for the Industry 4.0 era, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which involves the digital transformation of manufacturing and industrial processes by integrating smart technologies like AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and Big Data.<h2>Kerala, a hub of global capacity centres</h2>Boosted by its skilled workforce and supportive government policies, Kerala is emerging as a significant hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. The state is leveraging its strong IT infrastructure: the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, Infopark in Kochi and Cyberpark in Kozhikode. &nbsp;Adding to this is India's first AI township at Infopark Phase 3. Kerala's upcoming dedicated GCC policy is set to attract global firms, positioning cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram as key destinations for innovation and investment.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kerala-at-davos-2026-building-a-future-ready-tourism-economy-1768453566190/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/kerala-at-davos-2026-building-a-future-ready-tourism-economy-1768453566190/embed</a><h2>The Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission to give 2 million jobs as state focuses on niche skill development</h2>Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) is a flagship initiative that aims to provide 2 million jobs in the knowledge sector in the state that now has the highest density of tech-ready professionals in India. Kerala has already established systems in place for niche skilled development. One of them is the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), a non‐profit company and nodal agency for facilitating and coordinating various skill development initiatives.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/davos-2026-how-kerala-is-strengthening-brand-image-with-the-motto-responsible-investment-responsible-industry-1768554714220">Davos 2026 | How Kerala is strengthening brand image with the motto ‘responsible Investment, responsible Industry’</a>&nbsp;The other is ASAP Kerala, the Additional Skill Acquisition Programmme, a public-private venture that includes training centres to boost employability by providing industry-relevant skill training. The government initiative bridges the gap between academia and industry through courses, skill parks, internships, and placements for students and youth. The focus is on job-ready skills and tech fields like AI and Machine Learning. &nbsp; Through the KASE and ASAP Kerala, the state has empanelled international skilling partners for sunrise sectors like Graphene, Green Hydrogen, AI, Fintech, BioTech and renewable energy.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-economic-forum-2026-what-to-expect-who-s-coming-and-how-to-follow-the-summit-1768126584794">World Economic Forum 2026: What to expect, who’s coming and how to follow the summit</a><h2>Changing from migrating employees high-value employment, with a ‘plug and play’ talent pool&nbsp;</h2>These initiatives are shifting the state’s labour profile from "outward migration" to "local high-value employment." The idea is to retain talent and boost the State Domestic Product (GSDP) through the service and high-tech manufacturing sectors.With the initiatives, investors in Kerala will gain access to a "plug-and-play" talent pool. Unlike saturated tech hubs in the rest of India, Kerala offers significantly higher retention rates and lower attrition, reducing the long-term costs of recruitment and retraining. &nbsp;

At Davos 2026, Kerala is highlighting its skilled, Industry 4.0-ready workforce. The south Indian state is emerging as a GCC hub with its IT parks, AI focus, skill missions, and a plug-and-play talent ecosystem.


Kerala is showcasing its industrial development and investor confidence at the World Economic Forum 2026 being held in Davos on January 19-23. The south Indian state’s greatest asset is its highly skilled, digitally literate workforce. This workforce is being further refined for the Industry 4.0 era, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which involves the digital transformation of manufacturing and industrial processes by integrating smart technologies like AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and Big Data. Kerala, a hub of global capacity centres Boosted by its skilled workforce and supportive government policies, Kerala is emerging as a significant hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. The state is leveraging its strong IT infrastructure: the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, Infopark in Kochi and Cyberpark in Kozhikode. Adding to this is India's first AI township at Infopark Phase 3. Kerala's upcoming dedicated GCC policy is set to attract global firms, positioning cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram as key destinations for innovation and investment. https://www.wionews.com/videos/kerala-at-davos-2026-building-a-future-ready-tourism-economy-1768453566190/embed The Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission to give 2 million jobs as state focuses on niche skill development Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) is a flagship initiative that aims to provide 2 million jobs in the knowledge sector in the state that now has the highest density of tech-ready professionals in India. Kerala has already established systems in place for niche skilled development. One of them is the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), a non‐profit company and nodal agency for facilitating and coordinating various skill development initiatives. Also read: Davos 2026 | How Kerala is strengthening brand image with the motto ‘responsible Investment, responsible Industry’ The other is ASAP Kerala, the Additional Skill Acquisition Programmme, a public-private venture that includes training centres to boost employability by providing industry-relevant skill training. The government initiative bridges the gap between academia and industry through courses, skill parks, internships, and placements for students and youth. The focus is on job-ready skills and tech fields like AI and Machine Learning. Through the KASE and ASAP Kerala, the state has empanelled international skilling partners for sunrise sectors like Graphene, Green Hydrogen, AI, Fintech, BioTech and renewable energy. Also read: World Economic Forum 2026: What to expect, who’s coming and how to follow the summit Changing from migrating employees high-value employment, with a ‘plug and play’ talent pool These initiatives are shifting the state’s labour profile from "outward migration" to "local high-value employment." The idea is to retain talent and boost the State Domestic Product (GSDP) through the service and high-tech manufacturing sectors. With the initiatives, investors in Kerala will gain access to a "plug-and-play" talent pool. Unlike saturated tech hubs in the rest of India, Kerala offers significantly higher retention rates and lower attrition, reducing the long-term costs of recruitment and retraining.

At Davos 2026, Kerala is highlighting its skilled, Industry 4.0-ready workforce. The south Indian state is emerging as a GCC hub with its IT parks, AI focus, skill missions, and a plug-and-play talent ecosystem. &nbsp;

Davos 2026 | How Kerala’s skilled manpower is boosting its knowledge economy

US President Donald Trump has once again raised fears of the possibility of cancelling mid-term elections as in an interview to Reuters he said that his administration has accomplished so much in the past years that “we shouldn’t even have an election.” His statement on mid-term elections seems to stem from the fear of polls showing that Democrats are now favored to take back control of the House of Representatives in November.&nbsp;“It's some deep psychological thing, but when you win the presidency, you don't win the midterms,” Trump said.&nbsp;When asked about the interview Trump had with Reuters and what he said about the mid-terms elections to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, she said he was “joking” and “speaking facetiously.”&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-mar-a-lago-dystopian-furry-gala-elite-decadence-1768555729893">'Dystopian' and furry-themed gala hosted in Trump's Mar-a-Lago, sparks ridicule</a>&nbsp;Historically, it has been seen that the ruling party has lost seats in the House during midterm elections. Recent polls also speak the same, giving and edge to the Democrats running for Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, according to The New York Times’ poll aggregator.&nbsp;However, Trump is confident of a victory as earlier this month he said he’s expecting to “break records with the epic midterm victory that we're going to pull off.”&nbsp;Amid statement from Trump about the mid-term polls, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats are prepared for the interference from Trump.&nbsp;“Trump will do whatever it takes, and he has no honor and no credibility and no respect for law. But, we are prepared for it, and we believe we will succeed,” Schumer said this week to the Associated Press.&nbsp;“Trump will do whatever it takes, and he has no honor and no credibility and no respect for law. But, we are prepared for it, and we believe we will succeed,” Schumer said this week.&nbsp;In the 30-minute interview with the outlet he not only spoke of his achievements but host of other issues, including Greenland.&nbsp;

Historically, it has been seen that the ruling party has lost seats in the House during midterm elections. Recent polls also speak the same, giving and edge to the Democrats running for Congress.

US President Donald Trump has once again raised fears of the possibility of cancelling mid-term elections as in an interview to Reuters he said that his administration has accomplished so much in the past years that “we shouldn’t even have an election.” His statement on mid-term elections seems to stem from the fear of polls showing that Democrats are now favored to take back control of the House of Representatives in November. “It's some deep psychological thing, but when you win the presidency, you don't win the midterms,” Trump said. When asked about the interview Trump had with Reuters and what he said about the mid-terms elections to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, she said he was “joking” and “speaking facetiously.” ALSO READ: 'Dystopian' and furry-themed gala hosted in Trump's Mar-a-Lago, sparks ridicule Historically, it has been seen that the ruling party has lost seats in the House during midterm elections. Recent polls also speak the same, giving and edge to the Democrats running for Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, according to The New York Times’ poll aggregator. However, Trump is confident of a victory as earlier this month he said he’s expecting to “break records with the epic midterm victory that we're going to pull off.” Amid statement from Trump about the mid-term polls, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats are prepared for the interference from Trump. “Trump will do whatever it takes, and he has no honor and no credibility and no respect for law. But, we are prepared for it, and we believe we will succeed,” Schumer said this week to the Associated Press. “Trump will do whatever it takes, and he has no honor and no credibility and no respect for law. But, we are prepared for it, and we believe we will succeed,” Schumer said this week. In the 30-minute interview with the outlet he not only spoke of his achievements but host of other issues, including Greenland.

Historically, it has been seen that the ruling party has lost seats in the House during midterm elections. Recent polls also speak the same, giving and edge to the Democrats running for Congress.

'We shouldn’t even have an election': Trump brags about his achievements, sparks worries about mid-term polls

Kerala is showcasing its industrial sector at the World Economic Forum, being held in January 19-23 in Davos. The south Indian sate has&nbsp;rebranded its industrial landscape over the years, shifting the narrative from a traditional base to a hub for sustainable and ethical business.The state has been rebranding its industry as a sustainable sector, while taking an environmenal , &nbsp;social and governnance-driven approach. The state has been regularly topping Ease of Doing Business rankings, and attracting global investments.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-economic-forum-2026-why-the-davos-theme-matters-amid-iran-us-tensions-1768124288406">World Economic Forum 2026: Why the Davos theme matters amid Iran-US tensions</a><h2>Kerala is leading in ease of doing business; global investment summits now a norm</h2>Kerala has achieved the top position in the National Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Rankings in 2024, with a record 99.1 per cent reform implementation score.Keala has been holding global investment summits for some years now. The Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025 was held in Kochi in February 2025, attracting expressions of Interest (EOIs) worth&nbsp;₹1.80 trillion from 449 companies. The construction has already begun for 100 of these projects, including by global giants like Dynimated and Adani Logistics.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/davos-2026-kerala-s-green-tech-and-climate-goals-wion-at-davos-1768540856656/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/davos-2026-kerala-s-green-tech-and-climate-goals-wion-at-davos-1768540856656/embed</a><h2>Developing without hurting ecology:&nbsp;Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focus of Kerala</h2>Kerala has focused on environment-conscious development. The government has undertaken a comprehensive rebranding exercise for all State public sector units (PSUs) and District Industries Centres (DICs).&nbsp;They have adopted a uniform ESG-focused identity, including the implementation of "Mission 1000," aimed at scaling 1,000 medium and small enterprises or MSMEs into&nbsp;₹100 crore turnover.&nbsp;Kerala's rebranding attracts high-value, non-polluting industries like Artificial Intelligence, Space technology and life sciences.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-economic-forum-2026-what-to-expect-who-s-coming-and-how-to-follow-the-summit-1768126584794">World Economic Forum 2026: What to expect, who’s coming and how to follow the summit</a>This ensures economic growth does not compromise Kerala's fragile and precious ecology.Companies today face immense global pressure for ESG compliance. When operating in Kerala, investors automatically align with international sustainability standards. They benefit from a transparent, feedback-linked regulatory system under the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024 (BRAP 2024). Such industries can gain a "Green Premium" for their products.

Kerala is rebranding its industry as a sustainable, ESG-driven hub. The state has been topping Ease of Doing Business rankings, attracting global investments, and promoting non-polluting sectors while protecting ecology


Kerala is showcasing its industrial sector at the World Economic Forum, being held in January 19-23 in Davos. The south Indian sate has rebranded its industrial landscape over the years, shifting the narrative from a traditional base to a hub for sustainable and ethical business.The state has been rebranding its industry as a sustainable sector, while taking an environmenal , social and governnance-driven approach. The state has been regularly topping Ease of Doing Business rankings, and attracting global investments. Also read: World Economic Forum 2026: Why the Davos theme matters amid Iran-US tensions Kerala is leading in ease of doing business; global investment summits now a norm Kerala has achieved the top position in the National Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Rankings in 2024, with a record 99.1 per cent reform implementation score. Keala has been holding global investment summits for some years now. The Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025 was held in Kochi in February 2025, attracting expressions of Interest (EOIs) worth ₹1.80 trillion from 449 companies. The construction has already begun for 100 of these projects, including by global giants like Dynimated and Adani Logistics. https://www.wionews.com/videos/davos-2026-kerala-s-green-tech-and-climate-goals-wion-at-davos-1768540856656/embed Developing without hurting ecology: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focus of Kerala Kerala has focused on environment-conscious development. The government has undertaken a comprehensive rebranding exercise for all State public sector units (PSUs) and District Industries Centres (DICs). They have adopted a uniform ESG-focused identity, including the implementation of "Mission 1000," aimed at scaling 1,000 medium and small enterprises or MSMEs into ₹100 crore turnover. Kerala's rebranding attracts high-value, non-polluting industries like Artificial Intelligence, Space technology and life sciences. Also read: World Economic Forum 2026: What to expect, who’s coming and how to follow the summit This ensures economic growth does not compromise Kerala's fragile and precious ecology. Companies today face immense global pressure for ESG compliance. When operating in Kerala, investors automatically align with international sustainability standards. They benefit from a transparent, feedback-linked regulatory system under the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024 (BRAP 2024). Such industries can gain a "Green Premium" for their products.

Kerala is rebranding its industry as a sustainable, ESG-driven hub. The state has been topping Ease of Doing Business rankings, attracting global investments, and promoting non-polluting sectors while protecting ecology &nbsp;

Davos 2026 | How Kerala is strengthening brand image with the motto ‘responsible Investment, responsible Industry’

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) threatened to invoke the decades-old Insurrection Act against the ongoing anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protests in the northern US state of Minnesota. The act that allows domestic deployment of the US military has not been used in over 30 years. What is the Insurrection Act? All you need to know.<h2>‘Professional agitators,’ Trump says</h2>Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Minnesota leaders of losing control. Accusing Minnesota leaders of failing to control what he called professional agitators, Trump on his social media platform Truth Social repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act. The 19th-century law for quelling insurrection has not been used in more than 30 years, reports AFP."If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-minnesota-with-insurrection-act-as-protests-rage-over-ice-shooting-of-renee-nicole-good-1768527208576">Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as anti-ICE protests rage</a>Trump has issued similar warnings in recent weeks over protests in other Democratic-run states, including California, Illinois and Oregon, all of which have seen federal agent deployments as part of his mass deportation push.<h2>What is the Insurrection Act?</h2>The Insurrection Act allows a US president to deploy the military domestically for civilian law enforcement. That includes activities such as searches, arrests and crowd control, powers normally reserved for police.It gives the White House the authority to use active-duty troops to enforce the law inside the United States.<h2>Can it override Posse Comitatus?</h2>Under normal circumstances, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act bars the US military from carrying out domestic law enforcement. The Insurrection Act serves as a legal override.It allows a president to bypass those limits in cases of what the law describes as "armed rebellion" or "domestic violence," giving the commander-in-chief to use the armed forces "as he considers necessary" to enforce the law.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-day-another-ice-shooting-another-minneapolis-resident-shot-by-federal-agent-just-days-after-renee-good-killing-1768445027063">Another day, another ICE shooting: Federal agent shoots Minneapolis man in leg days after Renee Good killing</a><h2>How often has the Insurrection Act been used in the US?</h2>While Trump's rhetoric has drawn attention, the law itself is old. First enacted in 1792 and revised in 1807, the Insurrection Act has been invoked around 30 times in US history, though rarely in recent decades.America’s first president, George Washington, used it to crush rebellions against federal authority. Abraham Lincoln relied on it at the start of the 1861-65 Civil War.More recently, Lyndon B. Johnson invoked it in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The last time it was used was in 1992, when George H.W. Bush sent troops to Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict, where police officers involved in the beating of a Black motorist were acquitted, sparking riots.<h2>National Guard and legal pushback</h2>Trump has also leaned on a separate authority, known as Title 10, to deploy National Guard troops. Unlike the Insurrection Act, Title 10 allows federal control of the Guard "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion" but does not permit soldiers to act as police.Last month, Trump suffered a setback when the Supreme Court blocked his attempt to deploy troops to Chicago, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom. The court ruled that he "failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois." The decision marked a rare loss for Trump at a court where conservatives hold a 6–3 majority. &nbsp;

Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act against anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, accusing state leaders of losing control to “professional agitators.” Here's all you need to know about this rarely used law that has not been invoked in over 30 years. WION EXPLAINS

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) threatened to invoke the decades-old Insurrection Act against the ongoing anti-ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protests in the northern US state of Minnesota. The act that allows domestic deployment of the US military has not been used in over 30 years. What is the Insurrection Act? All you need to know. ‘Professional agitators,’ Trump says Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Minnesota leaders of losing control. Accusing Minnesota leaders of failing to control what he called professional agitators, Trump on his social media platform Truth Social repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act. The 19th-century law for quelling insurrection has not been used in more than 30 years, reports AFP. "If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote. Also read | Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as anti-ICE protests rage Trump has issued similar warnings in recent weeks over protests in other Democratic-run states, including California, Illinois and Oregon, all of which have seen federal agent deployments as part of his mass deportation push. What is the Insurrection Act? The Insurrection Act allows a US president to deploy the military domestically for civilian law enforcement. That includes activities such as searches, arrests and crowd control, powers normally reserved for police. It gives the White House the authority to use active-duty troops to enforce the law inside the United States. Can it override Posse Comitatus? Under normal circumstances, the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act bars the US military from carrying out domestic law enforcement. The Insurrection Act serves as a legal override. It allows a president to bypass those limits in cases of what the law describes as "armed rebellion" or "domestic violence," giving the commander-in-chief to use the armed forces "as he considers necessary" to enforce the law. Also read | Another day, another ICE shooting: Federal agent shoots Minneapolis man in leg days after Renee Good killing How often has the Insurrection Act been used in the US? While Trump's rhetoric has drawn attention, the law itself is old. First enacted in 1792 and revised in 1807, the Insurrection Act has been invoked around 30 times in US history, though rarely in recent decades. America’s first president, George Washington, used it to crush rebellions against federal authority. Abraham Lincoln relied on it at the start of the 1861-65 Civil War. More recently, Lyndon B. Johnson invoked it in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The last time it was used was in 1992, when George H.W. Bush sent troops to Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict, where police officers involved in the beating of a Black motorist were acquitted, sparking riots. National Guard and legal pushback Trump has also leaned on a separate authority, known as Title 10, to deploy National Guard troops. Unlike the Insurrection Act, Title 10 allows federal control of the Guard "a rebellion or danger of a rebellion" but does not permit soldiers to act as police. Last month, Trump suffered a setback when the Supreme Court blocked his attempt to deploy troops to Chicago, against the wishes of California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom. The court ruled that he "failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois." The decision marked a rare loss for Trump at a court where conservatives hold a 6–3 majority.

Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act against anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, accusing state leaders of losing control to “professional agitators.” Here's all you need to know about this rarely used law that has not been invoked in over 30 years. WION EXPLAINS.

What is the Insurrection Act? The 19th century law Trump wants to use on Minnesota's anti-ICE protests| WION Explains

China on Friday (Jan 16) said that it “resolutely opposes” the trade deal signed by the United States and Taiwan to reduce tariffs on Taiwanese goods and increase the island’s investment into the US. Meanwhile, Taipei has vowed to remain the world’s “most important” AI chipmaker after its government struck a deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration.“China consistently and resolutely opposes any agreement... signed between countries with which it has diplomatic relations and the Taiwan region of China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, urging Washington to abide by the one-China principle.Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has suggested using force to seize the island democracy.Announcing the deal, the US Commerce Department said that the agreement “will drive a massive reshoring of America's semiconductor sector.” Under the deal, Washington will lower the tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent, down from 20 per cent that Trump imposed as part of his “reciprocal” tariffs.Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai hailed the deal, calling it “delivering a well-executed home run” after months of negotiations. “These results underscore that the progress achieved so far has been hard-won,” Cho said.Speaking to CNBC about the deal, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “The objective is to bring 40 per cent of Taiwan’s entire supply chain and production, to domestically bring it into America.” He added, “We’re going to bring it all over, so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors.”Lutnick said Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC, which welcomed the deal between the US and Taiwan, has bought land and could expand in Arizona as part of the deal. “They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property. Now I'm going to let them go through it with their board and give them time,” he said.Taiwanese producers who invest in the United States will be favoured in future semiconductor duties, the US Commerce Department said.A day earlier, US officials postponed imposing wider chip tariffs and instead announced a 25 per cent duty on certain semiconductors meant to be shipped abroad, a significant move allowing US chip giant Nvidia to sell AI chips to China.

China slammed the US–Taiwan trade deal cutting tariffs on Taiwanese goods and boosting chip investment in America, urging adherence to the one-China principle. Taiwan hailed the pact, vowing to stay a global AI chip leader as the US pushes semiconductor reshoring.

China on Friday (Jan 16) said that it “resolutely opposes” the trade deal signed by the United States and Taiwan to reduce tariffs on Taiwanese goods and increase the island’s investment into the US. Meanwhile, Taipei has vowed to remain the world’s “most important” AI chipmaker after its government struck a deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration. “China consistently and resolutely opposes any agreement... signed between countries with which it has diplomatic relations and the Taiwan region of China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, urging Washington to abide by the one-China principle. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has suggested using force to seize the island democracy. Announcing the deal, the US Commerce Department said that the agreement “will drive a massive reshoring of America's semiconductor sector.” Under the deal, Washington will lower the tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent, down from 20 per cent that Trump imposed as part of his “reciprocal” tariffs. Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai hailed the deal, calling it “delivering a well-executed home run” after months of negotiations. “These results underscore that the progress achieved so far has been hard-won,” Cho said. Speaking to CNBC about the deal, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “The objective is to bring 40 per cent of Taiwan’s entire supply chain and production, to domestically bring it into America.” He added, “We’re going to bring it all over, so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors.” Lutnick said Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC, which welcomed the deal between the US and Taiwan, has bought land and could expand in Arizona as part of the deal. “They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property. Now I'm going to let them go through it with their board and give them time,” he said. Taiwanese producers who invest in the United States will be favoured in future semiconductor duties, the US Commerce Department said. A day earlier, US officials postponed imposing wider chip tariffs and instead announced a 25 per cent duty on certain semiconductors meant to be shipped abroad, a significant move allowing US chip giant Nvidia to sell AI chips to China.

China slammed the US–Taiwan trade deal, cutting tariffs on Taiwanese goods and boosting chip investment in America, urging adherence to the one-China principle. Taiwan hailed the pact, vowing to stay a global AI chip leader as the US pushes semiconductor reshoring.

‘Resolutely oppose’: China lashes out after US, Taiwan sign landmark trade deal

Long before Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and self-help books, Benjamin Franklin was experimenting on himself. He developed elaborate programs to modify his own behaviour, noting his impulses, failures, and triumphs in letters no one intended to read. This is consequential because not until two centuries later that this became a discipline in modern psychology.&nbsp;Benjamin Franklin, also known as “The First American", was a printer and publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He was one of the most influential of the Founding Fathers of America and helped draft the “Declaration of Independence” in 1776. Among all his achievements, some of the least known were his private letters.&nbsp;<h2>What were Franklin's private writings?</h2>Franklin was a prolific writer, many believing he wrote more than 8,000 letters, which still survive. Some of them were about scientific experiments, observations about society and politics, personal reflection, habit tracking, moral conditioning and philosophical advice. Some letters also involved communication with a secret society group, “Freemasonry”, a fraternal, intellectual, and moral organisation, which till today embroils in conspiracy theories.Benjamin Franklin treated the self as a malleable subject which can be reshaped and disciplined through systematic observation. His “bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection” can be found in Part II of his Autobiography, which is clearly written as a model that others would do well to imitate. His other private writings, such as personal letters, habit and virtue tracking, notebooks and drafts, have traces of modern behavioural psychology.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jallikattu-history-ban-supreme-court-rules-2026-1768536790747">Jallikattu explained: history, Supreme Court ban and how the bull-taming sport is played in 2026</a><h2>Franklin's Private writings and project of moral perfection</h2>Franklin put together a list of 13 virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity and humility. He then focused on each and repeated the cycle four times a year. He maintained a visual ledger, where he would record "daily integrity report," marking black spots in the grid whenever he failed.Franklin came up with a phenomenon that is now used to manage the cognitive dissonance effect. Cognitive dissonance is the effect when we encounter two mutually exclusive and opposing beliefs, and the discomfort that arises from it. He devised a simple effect that is now known as the Benjamin Franklin effect- “When someone does not like you, ask them for a favour? If they help you, then their brain will rationalise that they must have liked you or why else they would have helped". These are some methods nowadays used in CBT in modern psychology.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/journalist-laura-jedeed-ice-job-offer-without-vetting-1768482436595">Journalist Laura Jedeed claims ICE hired her without vetting despite positive drug test</a>He is also credited with the discovery of the placebo effect or the blind trial. From his private notes and personal letter, it was found that patients' improvements came from themselves rather than external sources, just by the power of suggestion. Something that is the foundation of clinical psychology. In his personal correspondence with family and friends, he mentions identity as a public construct. He would deliberately soften his tone to practice "modest persuasion," and not to trigger defensiveness in others.&nbsp;He was not perfect; he himself owned slaves and engaged in the slave trade. But in later life, he became a vocal advocate of the abolition of slavery. Which shows a pattern of always evolving; in essence, his writing presents a legacy. Through self-actualisation, systematic self-observation, reflection, and structured improvement, he tried to achieve moral perfection. When he sat down, during the last twenty years of his life, to write his autobiography (a work written in four different spurts), he crafted an account of himself and his life which seems intended to serve as a model for every American, then and now: He addressed his audience as “Dear Son”.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Benjamin Franklin’s private letters reveal early ideas about CBT, cognitive dissonance, identity, habit tracking, and moral self-improvement.

Long before Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and self-help books, Benjamin Franklin was experimenting on himself. He developed elaborate programs to modify his own behaviour, noting his impulses, failures, and triumphs in letters no one intended to read. This is consequential because not until two centuries later that this became a discipline in modern psychology. Benjamin Franklin, also known as “The First American", was a printer and publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat. He was one of the most influential of the Founding Fathers of America and helped draft the “Declaration of Independence” in 1776. Among all his achievements, some of the least known were his private letters. What were Franklin's private writings? Franklin was a prolific writer, many believing he wrote more than 8,000 letters, which still survive. Some of them were about scientific experiments, observations about society and politics, personal reflection, habit tracking, moral conditioning and philosophical advice. Some letters also involved communication with a secret society group, “Freemasonry”, a fraternal, intellectual, and moral organisation, which till today embroils in conspiracy theories. Benjamin Franklin treated the self as a malleable subject which can be reshaped and disciplined through systematic observation. His “bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection” can be found in Part II of his Autobiography, which is clearly written as a model that others would do well to imitate. His other private writings, such as personal letters, habit and virtue tracking, notebooks and drafts, have traces of modern behavioural psychology. Also Read: Jallikattu explained: history, Supreme Court ban and how the bull-taming sport is played in 2026 Franklin's Private writings and project of moral perfection Franklin put together a list of 13 virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity and humility. He then focused on each and repeated the cycle four times a year. He maintained a visual ledger, where he would record "daily integrity report," marking black spots in the grid whenever he failed. Franklin came up with a phenomenon that is now used to manage the cognitive dissonance effect. Cognitive dissonance is the effect when we encounter two mutually exclusive and opposing beliefs, and the discomfort that arises from it. He devised a simple effect that is now known as the Benjamin Franklin effect- “When someone does not like you, ask them for a favour? If they help you, then their brain will rationalise that they must have liked you or why else they would have helped". These are some methods nowadays used in CBT in modern psychology. Also Read: Journalist Laura Jedeed claims ICE hired her without vetting despite positive drug test He is also credited with the discovery of the placebo effect or the blind trial. From his private notes and personal letter, it was found that patients' improvements came from themselves rather than external sources, just by the power of suggestion. Something that is the foundation of clinical psychology. In his personal correspondence with family and friends, he mentions identity as a public construct. He would deliberately soften his tone to practice "modest persuasion," and not to trigger defensiveness in others. He was not perfect; he himself owned slaves and engaged in the slave trade. But in later life, he became a vocal advocate of the abolition of slavery. Which shows a pattern of always evolving; in essence, his writing presents a legacy. Through self-actualisation, systematic self-observation, reflection, and structured improvement, he tried to achieve moral perfection. When he sat down, during the last twenty years of his life, to write his autobiography (a work written in four different spurts), he crafted an account of himself and his life which seems intended to serve as a model for every American, then and now: He addressed his audience as “Dear Son”.

Benjamin Franklin’s private letters reveal early ideas about CBT, cognitive dissonance, identity, habit tracking, and moral self-improvement.

How Benjamin Franklin's private writings reveal a proto-modern psychology?

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that a conflict over Greenland would "spell catastrophe for the Western world" and "end of the world as we know it". Tensions have been rising rapidly over Donald Trump's constant push to take over the Arctic island, claiming the US needs it for its safety and security. Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and there has been a "fundamental disagreement" between Trump’s administration and its European allies. Soldiers from France and Germany have started arriving in Greenland, with Norway and Sweden set to send their troops as well. However, Tusk has categorically stated that his country would not send soldiers to Greenland, stating that any aggression between NATO allies would shatter the foundations of global security.&nbsp;&nbsp;"An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster," Tusk told reported. "It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression," he added. Denmark has also warned that an attack on Greenland would mark the end of NATO. Trump has suggested that he is open to all options to take control of Greenland. He claims that Russia and China are vying to take control of the island, and so the US has to have control of the land.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-last-days-have-been-tough-greenland-s-fm-breaks-down-on-live-interview-amid-trump-s-threats-watch-1768542822011">‘Last days have been tough...’: Greenland’s FM breaks down on live interview amid Trump’s threats – WATCH</a>&nbsp;White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also said that the presence of European troops in the Danish autonomous territory did not alter his "goal of the acquisition of Greenland". The European forces in Greenland have joined Denmark in a series of exercises aimed at reinforcing the island's security. Russia has also hit back at the scheme, saying Trump is "fulfilling the Pentagon's will".Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-led-security-alliance-in-crisis-as-nato-countries-agree-to-send-troops-to-greenland-here-s-what-we-know-1768474602574">US-led security alliance in crisis as NATO countries agree to send troops to Greenland? Here's what we know</a><h2>Third World War could kick off in Arctic, Russia says</h2>Former Russian deputy minister Dmitry Rogozin says that the US intends to place nuclear strike forces on the Arctic island, which will offer them an upper hand over China and the Kremlin. Commenting on Trump's desire to have the "Golden Dome" missile defence system, he said, “Orbital sensors, ground interceptors, decision-making algorithms - all this requires advantageous geography, and Greenland's position in the Arctic, with it proximity to Russia, and convenience for northern ICBM trajectories, fits perfectly into this architecture." Rogozin added that this would disrupt "the entire system of strategic stability in the world that has prevented the use of nuclear weapons since 1945." He warned that the Arctic could act as the theatre for Third World War, since it will be the "fastest route" for nuclear warheads to go between Russia and the US.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/white-house-says-trump-s-priorities-show-us-interest-in-greenland-1768546259998/embed&nbsp;Rogozin said that they may believe that capturing Greenland would result in nuclear superiority over Russia and China, but that would be "the beginning of the end of the world." He dropped a cryptic hint on the use of nuclear weapons, pointing to Russia's new intercontinental nuclear missile, Sarmat or Satan-2. "In real life, this can only be tested once, but it is not certain that anyone will be left to prepare reports afterwards,” he said. Satan-2 is as tall as a 14-storey building, weighs 208ton and has a speed of 25,556 km/hour.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The controversy over Greenland could spell the end of NATO, be a political disaster, and bring catastrophe to the West, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. Meanwhile, Russia has warned of a Third World War where nuclear weapons could be used. 

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said that a conflict over Greenland would "spell catastrophe for the Western world" and "end of the world as we know it". Tensions have been rising rapidly over Donald Trump's constant push to take over the Arctic island, claiming the US needs it for its safety and security. Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and there has been a "fundamental disagreement" between Trump’s administration and its European allies. Soldiers from France and Germany have started arriving in Greenland, with Norway and Sweden set to send their troops as well. However, Tusk has categorically stated that his country would not send soldiers to Greenland, stating that any aggression between NATO allies would shatter the foundations of global security. "An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster," Tusk told reported. "It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression," he added. Denmark has also warned that an attack on Greenland would mark the end of NATO. Trump has suggested that he is open to all options to take control of Greenland. He claims that Russia and China are vying to take control of the island, and so the US has to have control of the land. Also Read: ‘Last days have been tough...’: Greenland’s FM breaks down on live interview amid Trump’s threats – WATCH White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also said that the presence of European troops in the Danish autonomous territory did not alter his "goal of the acquisition of Greenland". The European forces in Greenland have joined Denmark in a series of exercises aimed at reinforcing the island's security. Russia has also hit back at the scheme, saying Trump is "fulfilling the Pentagon's will". Also Read: US-led security alliance in crisis as NATO countries agree to send troops to Greenland? Here's what we know Third World War could kick off in Arctic, Russia says Former Russian deputy minister Dmitry Rogozin says that the US intends to place nuclear strike forces on the Arctic island, which will offer them an upper hand over China and the Kremlin. Commenting on Trump's desire to have the "Golden Dome" missile defence system, he said, “Orbital sensors, ground interceptors, decision-making algorithms - all this requires advantageous geography, and Greenland's position in the Arctic, with it proximity to Russia, and convenience for northern ICBM trajectories, fits perfectly into this architecture." Rogozin added that this would disrupt "the entire system of strategic stability in the world that has prevented the use of nuclear weapons since 1945." He warned that the Arctic could act as the theatre for Third World War, since it will be the "fastest route" for nuclear warheads to go between Russia and the US. https://www.wionews.com/videos/white-house-says-trump-s-priorities-show-us-interest-in-greenland-1768546259998/embed Rogozin said that they may believe that capturing Greenland would result in nuclear superiority over Russia and China, but that would be "the beginning of the end of the world." He dropped a cryptic hint on the use of nuclear weapons, pointing to Russia's new intercontinental nuclear missile, Sarmat or Satan-2. "In real life, this can only be tested once, but it is not certain that anyone will be left to prepare reports afterwards,” he said. Satan-2 is as tall as a 14-storey building, weighs 208ton and has a speed of 25,556 km/hour.

The controversy over Greenland could spell the end of NATO, be a political disaster, and bring catastrophe to the West, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. Meanwhile, Russia has warned of a Third World War where nuclear weapons could be used.&nbsp;

'Beginning of the end of world': Russia warns of nukes, says third World War will take place in Arctic

With less than six months to go for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, questions are still being raised on the participation of certain teams, such as the USA, one of three hosts, which continues to ban citizens from certain countries. However, those nations and their athletes could be handed a fresh lifeline with the US open to allowing athletes to travel and participate in major events where it is the host. Currently, the US has banned visas for around 40 countries with no inward movement.<h2>U.S. to allow travel for athletes from visa-banned nations?</h2>In a cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates on Wednesday, the State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans that apply to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority.&nbsp;However, the cable made clear that foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors planning to attend the same events would still be banned unless they qualify for another exemption.&nbsp;“Only a small subset of travellers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception,” it said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;The cable lists the events that are covered, including “all competitions and qualifying events” for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games, and Para Pan-American Games; events hosted, sanctioned or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA, football’s governing body, or its confederations.&nbsp;If the above decision is implemented, Iran’s football team will be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iran is placed in Group G alongside New Zealand, Egypt and Belgium.

The State Department of U.S. said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans.

With less than six months to go for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, questions are still being raised on the participation of certain teams, such as the USA, one of three hosts, which continues to ban citizens from certain countries. However, those nations and their athletes could be handed a fresh lifeline with the US open to allowing athletes to travel and participate in major events where it is the host. Currently, the US has banned visas for around 40 countries with no inward movement. U.S. to allow travel for athletes from visa-banned nations? In a cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates on Wednesday, the State Department said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans that apply to citizens of 39 countries and the Palestinian Authority. However, the cable made clear that foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors planning to attend the same events would still be banned unless they qualify for another exemption. “Only a small subset of travellers for the World Cup, Olympics and Paralympics, and other major sporting events will qualify for the exception,” it said. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli The cable lists the events that are covered, including “all competitions and qualifying events” for the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan-American Games, and Para Pan-American Games; events hosted, sanctioned or recognized by a U.S. National Governing Body; all competitions and qualifying events for the Special Olympics; and official events and competitions hosted or endorsed by FIFA, football’s governing body, or its confederations. If the above decision is implemented, Iran’s football team will be able to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iran is placed in Group G alongside New Zealand, Egypt and Belgium.

The State Department of U.S. said athletes, coaches and support staff for the World Cup, the Olympics and events endorsed or run by a long list of collegiate and professional sporting leagues and associations would not be subject to the full and partial travel bans.

US to allow athletes from banned countries to attend major sporting events? Here's what we know so far

Former ally of US President Donald Trump, and ex-Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has alleged “serious H-1B visa fraud” in Texas. She also shared a video of a social media influencer who claimed that about 700,000 H-1B visa applicants were cleared in the state in 2025. The allegations have come after Trump introduced new rules, including a $100,000 payment for a noncitizen to enter the United States with an H-1B visa.&nbsp;The video shared on X was captioned, “North Texas seems to have a serious H1B Visa fraud scam going. One immigration attorney brought in over 700K H1Bs in 2025 alone.”&nbsp;Opposing the visa programme she further wrote, “If Republicans were serious about stopping it, they would pass my bill HR 6937 to eliminate the H1B Visa program.”<h2>"Overrun and overtaken by both Muslims and Indians"</h2>In the video shared by Greene, the influencer claims &nbsp;‘Dallas-based immigration attorney, Chand Parvathaneni’, cleared around 4,00,000 H-1B applicants by 2024, while the number rose to 7,00,000 approvals in Texas in 2025.&nbsp;“Chand Peravanini. He's an immigration lawyer here in Dallas, Texas, and as of 2024 has approved over 400,000 H1B visa applicants, and as of 2025 has approved over 700,000 H1B applicants in Texas. Now, you're probably asking yourself, where do these people work? Do they work at places like this cute little four-bedroom, three bath houses that are registered to 66 H-1B applicants? They apparently run a company out of this house," the influencer is heard saying.&nbsp;The video also shows a map highlighting unusually high numbers of H-1B visas and the influencer says, “Because North Texas has been completely overrun and overtaken by both Muslims and Indians. I passed my first mosque the other day. That was interesting. And you'll be glad to know that there's over 67 of them in the North Texas area.”&nbsp;Marjorie Taylor Greene had a fallout with the US President following her persistence regarding the Epstein files. The US President had called her a "traitor".

Opposing the visa programme Greene further wrote, “If Republicans were serious about stopping it, they would pass my bill HR 6937 to eliminate the H1B Visa program.”

Former ally of US President Donald Trump, and ex-Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has alleged “serious H-1B visa fraud” in Texas. She also shared a video of a social media influencer who claimed that about 700,000 H-1B visa applicants were cleared in the state in 2025. The allegations have come after Trump introduced new rules, including a $100,000 payment for a noncitizen to enter the United States with an H-1B visa. The video shared on X was captioned, “North Texas seems to have a serious H1B Visa fraud scam going. One immigration attorney brought in over 700K H1Bs in 2025 alone.” Opposing the visa programme she further wrote, “If Republicans were serious about stopping it, they would pass my bill HR 6937 to eliminate the H1B Visa program.” "Overrun and overtaken by both Muslims and Indians" In the video shared by Greene, the influencer claims ‘Dallas-based immigration attorney, Chand Parvathaneni’, cleared around 4,00,000 H-1B applicants by 2024, while the number rose to 7,00,000 approvals in Texas in 2025. “Chand Peravanini. He's an immigration lawyer here in Dallas, Texas, and as of 2024 has approved over 400,000 H1B visa applicants, and as of 2025 has approved over 700,000 H1B applicants in Texas. Now, you're probably asking yourself, where do these people work? Do they work at places like this cute little four-bedroom, three bath houses that are registered to 66 H-1B applicants? They apparently run a company out of this house," the influencer is heard saying. The video also shows a map highlighting unusually high numbers of H-1B visas and the influencer says, “Because North Texas has been completely overrun and overtaken by both Muslims and Indians. I passed my first mosque the other day. That was interesting. And you'll be glad to know that there's over 67 of them in the North Texas area.” Marjorie Taylor Greene had a fallout with the US President following her persistence regarding the Epstein files. The US President had called her a "traitor".

Opposing the visa programme Greene further wrote, “If Republicans were serious about stopping it, they would pass my bill HR 6937 to eliminate the H1B Visa program.”

'Serious H-1B visa fraud in Texas', says ex-trump ally Marjorie Taylor, urges to eliminate visa programme

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) heaped praise on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who presented him "with her Nobel Peace or the work I have done," as the two met at the White House. Machado's Nobel gesture comes as the Venezuelan opposition leader tries to win over the POTUS, who had sidelined her since overthrowing Nicolas Maduro.<h2>'A wonderful gesture'</h2>Following the meeting, Trump on his Truth Social called Machado a "wonderful woman who has been through so much" and said that presenting him with the medal was "such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect." The gesture follows months of Trump insisting that he should have gotten the coveted prize for stopping wars.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-trolls-allies-and-rivals-alike-with-donroe-doctrine-cartoon-after-maduro-capture-1767691813384">Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture</a> Talking to Fox News after meeting Trump, Machado said, "He deserves it," and described it as a "very emotional moment". She added that it was "recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom."It was not immediately clear if Trump kept the award after the closed-door meeting. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee's rules, nobel prize cannot be transferred.<h2>Machado tries to win Trump's favour</h2>Since the Jan 3 military operation in which US troops captured Nicolas Maduro, Trump has refused to back Machado, and the Venezuelan opposition leader's gesture is being seen as a way to win him back.However, Trump says that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans and has instead opted to stick with former Maduro loyalist, current Venezuela interim President Delcy Rodriguez. However, he has been clear that the support exists so long as she toes Washington's line, particularly on access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-swears-in-delcy-rodriguez-as-acting-president-days-after-maduro-abduction-1767674124349">Who is Delcy Rodriguez? Maduro's second-in-command sworn in as Venezuela's acting president</a><h2>Trump-Rodriguez call</h2>Recently, on Wednesday (Jan 14) Trump and Rodriguez had their first call since Maduro's capture. Following the call, White House on Thursday (Jan 15) said that the POTUS "likes what he's seeing" with Venezuela's interim leaders. Rodriguez, meanwhile, said that her government was "not afraid" of a diplomatic clash with Washington. "We know they are very powerful. We know they are a lethal nuclear power...we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue," she said.&nbsp;

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met Donald Trump at the White House and handed him a Nobel Peace Prize medal, calling him deserving for his role in global conflicts. Trump praised the gesture, even as he continues to sideline Machado and back interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) heaped praise on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who presented him "with her Nobel Peace or the work I have done," as the two met at the White House. Machado's Nobel gesture comes as the Venezuelan opposition leader tries to win over the POTUS, who had sidelined her since overthrowing Nicolas Maduro. 'A wonderful gesture' Following the meeting, Trump on his Truth Social called Machado a "wonderful woman who has been through so much" and said that presenting him with the medal was "such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect." The gesture follows months of Trump insisting that he should have gotten the coveted prize for stopping wars. Also read | Trump trolls allies and rivals alike with 'Donroe Doctrine' cartoon after Maduro capture Talking to Fox News after meeting Trump, Machado said, "He deserves it," and described it as a "very emotional moment". She added that it was "recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom." It was not immediately clear if Trump kept the award after the closed-door meeting. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee's rules, nobel prize cannot be transferred. Machado tries to win Trump's favour Since the Jan 3 military operation in which US troops captured Nicolas Maduro, Trump has refused to back Machado, and the Venezuelan opposition leader's gesture is being seen as a way to win him back. However, Trump says that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans and has instead opted to stick with former Maduro loyalist, current Venezuela interim President Delcy Rodriguez. However, he has been clear that the support exists so long as she toes Washington's line, particularly on access to Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Also read | Who is Delcy Rodriguez? Maduro's second-in-command sworn in as Venezuela's acting president Trump-Rodriguez call Recently, on Wednesday (Jan 14) Trump and Rodriguez had their first call since Maduro's capture. Following the call, White House on Thursday (Jan 15) said that the POTUS "likes what he's seeing" with Venezuela's interim leaders. Rodriguez, meanwhile, said that her government was "not afraid" of a diplomatic clash with Washington. "We know they are very powerful. We know they are a lethal nuclear power...we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue," she said.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met Donald Trump at the White House and handed him a Nobel Peace Prize medal, calling him deserving for his role in global conflicts. Trump praised the gesture, even as he continues to sideline Machado and back interim leader Delcy Rodriguez.

'He deserves it': Machado trying to win over POTUS? FINALLY Trump gets ‘Nobel Peace’ medal

A South Korean court on Friday (Jan 16) found former president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of obstructing justice and other charges linked to his attempt to impose martial law in the country last year. The court sentenced him to five years in prison over the charges of obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant related to his martial law declaration in December 2024.Yoon is facing multiple trials for attempting to impose military rule in the country that led to massive protests and a showdown in parliament.Seoul’s Central District Court Judge Baek Dae-hyun said that Yoon was found guilty of obstruction of justice by blocking investigators from detaining him. He was also found guilty of excluding cabinet members from a martial law planning meeting.“Despite having a duty, above all others, to uphold the Constitution and observe the rule of law as president, the defendant instead displayed an attitude that disregarded the... Constitution,” Baek. “The defendant's culpability is extremely grave.”However, Yoon was not guilty of forging official documents due to a lack of evidence, the judge added. He has seven days to appeal. Meanwhile, prosecutors had called for a 10-year prison term. Yoon had insisted no law was broken.In a separate case, prosecutors are demanding that Yoon be sentenced to death for playing a role as the “ringleader of an insurrection” in orchestrating the imposition of martial law. They argued that the former leader had shown “no remorse” for his actions, which threatened the “constitutional order and democracy” and deserved the severest possible punishment.Yoon was seen smiling in the court as prosecutors demanded the punishment. He maintained that his martial law declaration was a lawful exercise of his presidential power. On Tuesday, he defended himself by saying that the “exercise of a president's constitutional emergency powers to protect the nation and uphold the constitutional order cannot be deemed an act of insurrection.”He also accused the then-opposition party of imposing “unconstitutional dictatorship.” He said, “There was no other option but to awaken the people, who are the sovereign.”The court is expected to deliver a verdict on the insurrection charges on February 19. Yoon is also facing charges of assisting the enemy, over allegations that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to bolster his case for declaring martial law.

The court sentenced him to five years in prison over the charges of obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant related to his martial law declaration in December 2024.

A South Korean court on Friday (Jan 16) found former president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of obstructing justice and other charges linked to his attempt to impose martial law in the country last year. The court sentenced him to five years in prison over the charges of obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant related to his martial law declaration in December 2024. Yoon is facing multiple trials for attempting to impose military rule in the country that led to massive protests and a showdown in parliament. Seoul’s Central District Court Judge Baek Dae-hyun said that Yoon was found guilty of obstruction of justice by blocking investigators from detaining him. He was also found guilty of excluding cabinet members from a martial law planning meeting. “Despite having a duty, above all others, to uphold the Constitution and observe the rule of law as president, the defendant instead displayed an attitude that disregarded the... Constitution,” Baek. “The defendant's culpability is extremely grave.” However, Yoon was not guilty of forging official documents due to a lack of evidence, the judge added. He has seven days to appeal. Meanwhile, prosecutors had called for a 10-year prison term. Yoon had insisted no law was broken. In a separate case, prosecutors are demanding that Yoon be sentenced to death for playing a role as the “ringleader of an insurrection” in orchestrating the imposition of martial law. They argued that the former leader had shown “no remorse” for his actions, which threatened the “constitutional order and democracy” and deserved the severest possible punishment. Yoon was seen smiling in the court as prosecutors demanded the punishment. He maintained that his martial law declaration was a lawful exercise of his presidential power. On Tuesday, he defended himself by saying that the “exercise of a president's constitutional emergency powers to protect the nation and uphold the constitutional order cannot be deemed an act of insurrection.” He also accused the then-opposition party of imposing “unconstitutional dictatorship.” He said, “There was no other option but to awaken the people, who are the sovereign.” The court is expected to deliver a verdict on the insurrection charges on February 19. Yoon is also facing charges of assisting the enemy, over allegations that he ordered drone flights over North Korea to bolster his case for declaring martial law.

The court sentenced him to five years in prison over the charges of obstructing authorities from executing an arrest warrant related to his martial law declaration in December 2024.

South Korea’s ousted leader Yoon gets 5 years in prison for failed martial law bid

Greenland’s foreign minister teared up while describing the “intense pressure” of US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over Denmark’s autonomous territory. This amid repeated threats made by the Trump administration, which has not ruled out a military intervention to acquire the Arctic island. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen earlier held talks with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday (Jan 14) that ended in “fundamental disagreement”.“We have been working very hard in our department, even though there are not many of us,” Motzfeldt told national broadcaster KNR following the talks. “I would not normally like to say these words, but I will say them: we are very strong. We are doing our utmost. But the last days, naturally...”Motzfeldt then briefly broke down during the interview as she held back tears and said, “Oh, I am getting very emotional. I am overwhelmed. The last days have been tough. Our preparations and the increasing pressure, that has been intense.”She further stressed that the government of Greenland was “strong” and vowed to work “to ensure the Greenlandic people in our country can feel safe and live securely.” She added, “We are using all our strength to achieve this as we continue the work.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt gets emotional on live TV: “We are doing our utmost. But the last days, naturally… oh, I am getting very emotional. I am overwhelmed.” <a href="https://t.co/UrfnZ8d23M">pic.twitter.com/UrfnZ8d23M</a>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2011757845885436382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

On Thursday (Jan 15), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing that the employment of European troops in Greenland has no impact on Trump’s plans to take over Greenland.“I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” she said.In response, Denmark’s foreign minister told public broadcaster DR, “This is out of the question. It’s not what we want in Denmark, nor in Greenland and it runs counter to all international rules. It infringes on sovereignty.”Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that any attempt by a Nato member to take over another member would be “the end of the world as we know it”.“An attempt to take over [part of] a Nato member state by another Nato member state would be a political disaster,” he told a press conference. “It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on Nato solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression.”

On Thursday (Jan 15), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing that the employment of European troops in Greenland has no impact on Trump’s plans to take over Greenland.

Greenland’s foreign minister teared up while describing the “intense pressure” of US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over Denmark’s autonomous territory. This amid repeated threats made by the Trump administration, which has not ruled out a military intervention to acquire the Arctic island. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen earlier held talks with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday (Jan 14) that ended in “fundamental disagreement”. “We have been working very hard in our department, even though there are not many of us,” Motzfeldt told national broadcaster KNR following the talks. “I would not normally like to say these words, but I will say them: we are very strong. We are doing our utmost. But the last days, naturally...” Motzfeldt then briefly broke down during the interview as she held back tears and said, “Oh, I am getting very emotional. I am overwhelmed. The last days have been tough. Our preparations and the increasing pressure, that has been intense.” She further stressed that the government of Greenland was “strong” and vowed to work “to ensure the Greenlandic people in our country can feel safe and live securely.” She added, “We are using all our strength to achieve this as we continue the work.”

On Thursday (Jan 15), White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing that the employment of European troops in Greenland has no impact on Trump’s plans to take over Greenland.

‘Last days have been tough...’: Greenland’s FM breaks down on live interview amid Trump’s threats – WATCH

Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopaedia, marked its 25th anniversary on 15 January 2026, celebrating a quarter-century of providing information powered entirely by volunteers.The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit behind the platform, launched a global "Wikipedia 25" campaign to highlight the site's journey, honour its contributors, and invite public participation in its future. Amid the festivities, an Indian-origin doctor has emerged as a prominent figure in the celebrations.Dr Netha Hussain, a Kerala-born physician and researcher now based in Sweden, is one of eight volunteers featured in a new video docuseries released by the Foundation. The series offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of Wikipedia editors worldwide, emphasising that knowledge remains fundamentally human even in the age of artificial intelligence.A medical graduate from Calicut Medical College, Dr Hussain began editing Wikipedia in 2010 as a first-year student. She later earned a PhD in clinical neuroscience from the University of Gothenburg and has since specialised in radiology. Over the years, she has made thousands of edits across English, Malayalam, and other language versions, focusing on healthcare, women's biographies, and current affairs.Her most impactful contributions came during the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in mid-2020, Dr Hussain created and updated dozens of articles on the virus, translated critical information into Malayalam, and tackled misinformation head-on. She compiled lists of unproven treatments, strengthened vaccine safety content, and ensured verifiable facts reached millions.Her efforts earned recognition, including a 2020 Women in Open Source Academic Award, a United Nations mention for combating fake news, and a 2021 Wikimedian of the Year honourable mention from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales.The Foundation highlighted Dr Hussain's story to show India's rising role in the global Wikimedia "movement". India ranks fifth worldwide for Wikipedia page views, with around 800 million monthly, and contributes the third-highest number of editors to English Wikipedia after the US and UK.The platform supports more than 25 Indic languages, covering nearly all of India's 22 scheduled languages, making it a vital educational resource for diverse communities. Wikipedia now boasts over 65 million articles in more than 300 languages, viewed nearly 15 billion times monthly, and remains the only top-ten global website run by a nonprofit.

A medical graduate from Calicut Medical College, Dr Hussain began editing Wikipedia in 2010 as a first-year student. She later earned a PhD in clinical neuroscience from the University of Gothenburg and has since specialised in radiology.

Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopaedia, marked its 25th anniversary on 15 January 2026, celebrating a quarter-century of providing information powered entirely by volunteers. The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit behind the platform, launched a global "Wikipedia 25" campaign to highlight the site's journey, honour its contributors, and invite public participation in its future. Amid the festivities, an Indian-origin doctor has emerged as a prominent figure in the celebrations. Dr Netha Hussain, a Kerala-born physician and researcher now based in Sweden, is one of eight volunteers featured in a new video docuseries released by the Foundation. The series offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of Wikipedia editors worldwide, emphasising that knowledge remains fundamentally human even in the age of artificial intelligence. A medical graduate from Calicut Medical College, Dr Hussain began editing Wikipedia in 2010 as a first-year student. She later earned a PhD in clinical neuroscience from the University of Gothenburg and has since specialised in radiology. Over the years, she has made thousands of edits across English, Malayalam, and other language versions, focusing on healthcare, women's biographies, and current affairs. Her most impactful contributions came during the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting in mid-2020, Dr Hussain created and updated dozens of articles on the virus, translated critical information into Malayalam, and tackled misinformation head-on. She compiled lists of unproven treatments, strengthened vaccine safety content, and ensured verifiable facts reached millions. Her efforts earned recognition, including a 2020 Women in Open Source Academic Award, a United Nations mention for combating fake news, and a 2021 Wikimedian of the Year honourable mention from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales. The Foundation highlighted Dr Hussain's story to show India's rising role in the global Wikimedia "movement". India ranks fifth worldwide for Wikipedia page views, with around 800 million monthly, and contributes the third-highest number of editors to English Wikipedia after the US and UK. The platform supports more than 25 Indic languages, covering nearly all of India's 22 scheduled languages, making it a vital educational resource for diverse communities. Wikipedia now boasts over 65 million articles in more than 300 languages, viewed nearly 15 billion times monthly, and remains the only top-ten global website run by a nonprofit.

A medical graduate from Calicut Medical College, Dr Hussain began editing Wikipedia in 2010 as a first-year student. She later earned a PhD in clinical neuroscience from the University of Gothenburg and has since specialised in radiology.

Indian doctor in Sweden stars in Wikipedia's 25th anniversary celebrations

India and Germany's defence partnership took a significant step forward during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's key visit to India on 12-13 January 2026, marking his first trip to Asia since assuming office.The visit, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations and building on 25 years of the Strategic Partnership, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz endorse deeper military and industrial ties. The leaders signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Strengthening the Bilateral Defence Industrial Cooperation, aiming to shift from episodic arms sales to long-term co-development, technology transfer, and co-production.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-anti-trump-alliances-emerging-netizens-react-as-pm-modi-shares-kite-festival-moments-with-german-chancellor-merz-1768290620281">'Anti-Trump alliances emerging': Netizens react to Modi-Merz festival moments</a>In their joint statement, PM Modi and Chancellor Merz "endorsed the commitment of both sides to deepen military-to-military cooperation through joint exercises, training and exchanges of senior officials, and noted with satisfaction regular reciprocal port calls by the Naval ships of both countries."The statement highlighted specific areas of progress: "Both Leaders lauded the continuing cooperation in submarines, obstacle avoidance system for helicopters and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS)" and "looked forward to enhanced defence industrial collaboration by building a deepened relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany."This convergence reflects India's push for strategic autonomy through diversified suppliers. Germany provides access to cutting-edge European technologies without the entanglements of formal alliances, positioning Berlin as a reliable partner amid New Delhi's efforts to reduce reliance on traditional sources.A key example is the Helicopter Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS), which addresses critical survivability gaps in Indian rotary-wing aviation. These software-driven, safety-critical systems enable safer low-level, night, and degraded-visibility operations in challenging terrains like the Himalayas.The technology represents an ideal test case for trust-based transfer, as it is not merely an add-on but integral to mission success. This intent materialised earlier with a landmark agreement between India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and German firm HENSOLDT at the Dubai Air Show in November 2025.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-german-chancellor-merz-share-car-ride-vow-to-deepen-strategic-ties-india-germany-european-union-car-ride-1768216724311">PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz share car ride; vow to deepen strategic ties</a>The deal includes technology transfer, manufacturing rights, and integration of the advanced OAS on Indian helicopter platforms, paving the way for indigenous capability building and potential exports.The developments signal a maturing partnership, with Germany showing greater openness to defence engagement beyond NATO frameworks.

The visit, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations and building on 25 years of the Strategic Partnership, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz endorse deeper military and industrial ties. 

India and Germany's defence partnership took a significant step forward during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's key visit to India on 12-13 January 2026, marking his first trip to Asia since assuming office. The visit, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations and building on 25 years of the Strategic Partnership, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz endorse deeper military and industrial ties. The leaders signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Strengthening the Bilateral Defence Industrial Cooperation, aiming to shift from episodic arms sales to long-term co-development, technology transfer, and co-production. Also read | 'Anti-Trump alliances emerging': Netizens react to Modi-Merz festival moments In their joint statement, PM Modi and Chancellor Merz "endorsed the commitment of both sides to deepen military-to-military cooperation through joint exercises, training and exchanges of senior officials, and noted with satisfaction regular reciprocal port calls by the Naval ships of both countries." The statement highlighted specific areas of progress: "Both Leaders lauded the continuing cooperation in submarines, obstacle avoidance system for helicopters and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS)" and "looked forward to enhanced defence industrial collaboration by building a deepened relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany." This convergence reflects India's push for strategic autonomy through diversified suppliers. Germany provides access to cutting-edge European technologies without the entanglements of formal alliances, positioning Berlin as a reliable partner amid New Delhi's efforts to reduce reliance on traditional sources. A key example is the Helicopter Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS), which addresses critical survivability gaps in Indian rotary-wing aviation. These software-driven, safety-critical systems enable safer low-level, night, and degraded-visibility operations in challenging terrains like the Himalayas. The technology represents an ideal test case for trust-based transfer, as it is not merely an add-on but integral to mission success. This intent materialised earlier with a landmark agreement between India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and German firm HENSOLDT at the Dubai Air Show in November 2025. Also read | PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz share car ride; vow to deepen strategic ties The deal includes technology transfer, manufacturing rights, and integration of the advanced OAS on Indian helicopter platforms, paving the way for indigenous capability building and potential exports. The developments signal a maturing partnership, with Germany showing greater openness to defence engagement beyond NATO frameworks.

The visit, coinciding with celebrations of 75 years of diplomatic relations and building on 25 years of the Strategic Partnership, saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz endorse deeper military and industrial ties.&nbsp;

India and Germany deepen defence ties with new industrial cooperation framework

The United States and Denmark have locked horns over Greenland &nbsp;- a self-governed island that is territorially part of Denmark. Trump has threatened to take over the Island by force. The US President reportedly also ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland. However, the senior military figures do not seem very convinced with the idea due to its legality and political feasibility.&nbsp;Since the capture of Nicolas Maduro, ex-president of Venezuela by the US recently, Trump has frequently been speaking of taking over Greenland - &nbsp;autonomous territory of ‍the Kingdom of Denmark with a population of 57,000 - despite already having military presence on the island under a 1951 agreement.<h2>Trump's proposal of buying Denmark has a billionaire behind it?</h2>In fact Trump also made a proposal to Demark to purchase Greenland. This was reiterated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the US congress last week.&nbsp;But how did this idea come up? Well, it was billionaire Ronald Lauder who inspired Trump to make the proposal to Denmark. According to John Bolton, national security adviser in 2018, Trump had called him to his Oval office and said to him, "a prominent businessman had just suggested the US buy Greenland,' reported The Guardian.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-claims-trump-stopped-800-executions-in-iran-but-insists-military-action-remains-on-table-1768531827627">White House claims Trump stopped 800 executions in Iran, but insists military action ‘remains on table’</a>&nbsp;Lauder was a longtime friend of the president -over 60 years of knowing each other- &nbsp;who went on to acquire business interests in the Danish Territory.&nbsp;After Trump and Lauder discussed the idea of buying Greenland, a White House team began to explore ways to increase US sway in the vast Arctic territory controlled by Denmark, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;And now in his second term, Trump again floated the idea to Denmark which shows how &nbsp;Bits of information that he hears from friends, he takes them as truth and you can’t shake his opinion," said Bolton.<h2>US, Denmark set up &nbsp;senior-level working group</h2>Meanwhile, The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have agreed to establish a senior-level working group aimed at easing tensions over Greenland’s future, despite ongoing disagreements with the Trump administration. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said talks are intended to explore possible compromises while preserving Denmark’s core positions.&nbsp;Speaking in Washington on Wednesday (January 14), Rasmussen described his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, alongside Greenland’s foreign minister, as candid and constructive, though significant differences remain. According to Rasmussen, all sides agreed that continued dialogue at a high political level could help address US concerns without crossing Denmark’s “red lines.” He emphasised that any proposal undermining Denmark’s sovereignty or Greenlanders’ right to self-determination would be unacceptable.&nbsp;The newly formed working group is expected to hold its first meeting within the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Since the capture of Nicolas Maduro, ex-president of Venezuela, by the US recently, Trump has frequently been speaking of taking over Greenland -  autonomous territory of ‍the Kingdom of Denmark with a population of 57,000.

The United States and Denmark have locked horns over Greenland - a self-governed island that is territorially part of Denmark. Trump has threatened to take over the Island by force. The US President reportedly also ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland. However, the senior military figures do not seem very convinced with the idea due to its legality and political feasibility. Since the capture of Nicolas Maduro, ex-president of Venezuela by the US recently, Trump has frequently been speaking of taking over Greenland - autonomous territory of ‍the Kingdom of Denmark with a population of 57,000 - despite already having military presence on the island under a 1951 agreement. Trump's proposal of buying Denmark has a billionaire behind it? In fact Trump also made a proposal to Demark to purchase Greenland. This was reiterated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the US congress last week. But how did this idea come up? Well, it was billionaire Ronald Lauder who inspired Trump to make the proposal to Denmark. According to John Bolton, national security adviser in 2018, Trump had called him to his Oval office and said to him, "a prominent businessman had just suggested the US buy Greenland,' reported The Guardian. ALSO READ: White House claims Trump stopped 800 executions in Iran, but insists military action ‘remains on table’ Lauder was a longtime friend of the president -over 60 years of knowing each other- who went on to acquire business interests in the Danish Territory. After Trump and Lauder discussed the idea of buying Greenland, a White House team began to explore ways to increase US sway in the vast Arctic territory controlled by Denmark, reported The Guardian. And now in his second term, Trump again floated the idea to Denmark which shows how Bits of information that he hears from friends, he takes them as truth and you can’t shake his opinion," said Bolton. US, Denmark set up senior-level working group Meanwhile, The United States, Denmark, and Greenland have agreed to establish a senior-level working group aimed at easing tensions over Greenland’s future, despite ongoing disagreements with the Trump administration. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said talks are intended to explore possible compromises while preserving Denmark’s core positions. Speaking in Washington on Wednesday (January 14), Rasmussen described his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, alongside Greenland’s foreign minister, as candid and constructive, though significant differences remain. According to Rasmussen, all sides agreed that continued dialogue at a high political level could help address US concerns without crossing Denmark’s “red lines.” He emphasised that any proposal undermining Denmark’s sovereignty or Greenlanders’ right to self-determination would be unacceptable. The newly formed working group is expected to hold its first meeting within the coming weeks.

Since the capture of Nicolas Maduro, ex-president of Venezuela, by the US recently, Trump has frequently been speaking of taking over Greenland - &nbsp;autonomous territory of ‍the Kingdom of Denmark with a population of 57,000.

Trump's proposal of buying Greenland was suggested by billionaire friend. Here's how

The United States said Thursday that it has signed a deal with Taiwan to reduce tariffs on goods from the democratic island, while increasing Taiwanese semiconductor and tech companies' investments in America.The agreement, the US Commerce Department said, "will drive a massive reshoring of America's semiconductor sector."Under the deal, Washington will lower tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent, down from a 20 per cent "reciprocal" rate meant to address US trade deficits and practices it deems unfair.Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai praised negotiators on Friday for "delivering a well-executed home run"."These results underscore that the progress achieved so far has been hard-won," Cho said.Sector-specific tariffs on Taiwanese auto parts, timber, lumber and wood products will also be capped at 15 per cent, while generic pharmaceuticals and certain natural resources will face no "reciprocal" duties, the US Commerce Department added.Meanwhile, Taiwanese chip and tech businesses are set to make "new, direct investments totalling at least $250 billion" in the United States to build and expand capacity in areas like advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence, the department said.Taiwan will also provide "credit guarantees of at least $250 billion to facilitate additional investment by Taiwanese enterprises," the department said, adding that this would support the growth of the US semiconductor supply chain.Taiwan's government said the new tariff will not stack on top of existing duties, which had been a major concern for local industries."Of course it's good that the reciprocal tariff has been lowered to 15 per cent -- at least it puts us on par with our main competitors South Korea and Japan," said Chris Wu, sales director for Taiwanese machine tool maker Litz Hitech Corp.But, given the company's single-digit profit margins, "there is no way we can absorb the tariff" for US customers, he said.The department's announcement did not mention names, but the deal has key implications for Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC, the world's biggest contract maker of microchips used in everything from Apple phones to Nvidia's cutting-edge AI hardware.In an interview with CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said TSMC has bought land and could expand in Arizona as part of the deal."They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property. Now I'm going to let them go through it with their board and give them time," he said.TSMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Taiwanese producers who invest in the United States will also be treated more favourably when it comes to future semiconductor duties, the Commerce Department said.Firms building new US chip capacity may import up to 2.5 times their planned capacity without paying sector-specific duties during construction. The quota lowers to 1.5 times once projects are completed.A day prior, US officials held off imposing wider chip tariffs, instead announcing a 25 per cent duty on certain semiconductors meant to be shipped abroad -- a key step in allowing Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China.Ryan Majerus, a former US trade official, told AFP that although chip tariffs are currently narrowly targeted, Washington "signalled there is certainly potential for it to grow."Majerus, now a partner at law firm King &amp; Spalding, added that the deal had parallels to those with other US partners. The European Union and Japan, for example, both secured a 15-per-cent tariff rate.‘Self-sufficient’"The objective is to bring 40 per cent of Taiwan's entire supply chain and production, to domestically bring it into America," Lutnick told CNBC."We're going to bring it all over, so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors," he added.The agreement comes after months of negotiations.Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had pledged to boost investments in the United States and increase defence spending as his government tried to lower US duties and avoid a toll on its semiconductor chip exports.Taiwan is a powerhouse in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, which are the lifeblood of the global economy, as well as other electronics.But US President Donald Trump previously accused Taiwan of stealing the US chip industry, and his administration had made clear it wants more of the critical technology made on American soil.Taiwan's trade surplus in goods with the United States was around $74 billion in 2024. More than half of its exports to the United States are information and communications technology products -- including semiconductors.

Taiwan's government said the new tariff will not stack on top of existing duties, which had been a major concern for local industries.

The United States said Thursday that it has signed a deal with Taiwan to reduce tariffs on goods from the democratic island, while increasing Taiwanese semiconductor and tech companies' investments in America. The agreement, the US Commerce Department said, "will drive a massive reshoring of America's semiconductor sector." Under the deal, Washington will lower tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent, down from a 20 per cent "reciprocal" rate meant to address US trade deficits and practices it deems unfair. Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai praised negotiators on Friday for "delivering a well-executed home run". "These results underscore that the progress achieved so far has been hard-won," Cho said. Sector-specific tariffs on Taiwanese auto parts, timber, lumber and wood products will also be capped at 15 per cent, while generic pharmaceuticals and certain natural resources will face no "reciprocal" duties, the US Commerce Department added. Meanwhile, Taiwanese chip and tech businesses are set to make "new, direct investments totalling at least $250 billion" in the United States to build and expand capacity in areas like advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence, the department said. Taiwan will also provide "credit guarantees of at least $250 billion to facilitate additional investment by Taiwanese enterprises," the department said, adding that this would support the growth of the US semiconductor supply chain. Taiwan's government said the new tariff will not stack on top of existing duties, which had been a major concern for local industries. "Of course it's good that the reciprocal tariff has been lowered to 15 per cent -- at least it puts us on par with our main competitors South Korea and Japan," said Chris Wu, sales director for Taiwanese machine tool maker Litz Hitech Corp. But, given the company's single-digit profit margins, "there is no way we can absorb the tariff" for US customers, he said. The department's announcement did not mention names, but the deal has key implications for Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC, the world's biggest contract maker of microchips used in everything from Apple phones to Nvidia's cutting-edge AI hardware. In an interview with CNBC, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said TSMC has bought land and could expand in Arizona as part of the deal. "They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property. Now I'm going to let them go through it with their board and give them time," he said. TSMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwanese producers who invest in the United States will also be treated more favourably when it comes to future semiconductor duties, the Commerce Department said. Firms building new US chip capacity may import up to 2.5 times their planned capacity without paying sector-specific duties during construction. The quota lowers to 1.5 times once projects are completed. A day prior, US officials held off imposing wider chip tariffs, instead announcing a 25 per cent duty on certain semiconductors meant to be shipped abroad -- a key step in allowing Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China. Ryan Majerus, a former US trade official, told AFP that although chip tariffs are currently narrowly targeted, Washington "signalled there is certainly potential for it to grow." Majerus, now a partner at law firm King & Spalding, added that the deal had parallels to those with other US partners. The European Union and Japan, for example, both secured a 15-per-cent tariff rate. ‘Self-sufficient’ "The objective is to bring 40 per cent of Taiwan's entire supply chain and production, to domestically bring it into America," Lutnick told CNBC. "We're going to bring it all over, so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors," he added. The agreement comes after months of negotiations. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te had pledged to boost investments in the United States and increase defence spending as his government tried to lower US duties and avoid a toll on its semiconductor chip exports. Taiwan is a powerhouse in the manufacturing of semiconductor chips, which are the lifeblood of the global economy, as well as other electronics. But US President Donald Trump previously accused Taiwan of stealing the US chip industry, and his administration had made clear it wants more of the critical technology made on American soil. Taiwan's trade surplus in goods with the United States was around $74 billion in 2024. More than half of its exports to the United States are information and communications technology products -- including semiconductors.

Taiwan's government said the new tariff will not stack on top of existing duties, which had been a major concern for local industries.

US, Taiwan sign trade deal lowering tariffs to 15%, down from 20%

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping have begun vital talks in Beijing. The Friday (Jan 16) meeting is the first between the two countries' leaders after eight years and has been lauded by both sides as a "turning point" in the traditionally strained relations. The vital talks follow US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariffs on Canadian products, due to which Carney has sought to reduce his country's economic reliance on its main market, the United States. While the US and Canada have been in talks to lower tariffs, an agreement has yet to be reached. Carney, on Thursday, also met with Premier Li Qiang and is scheduled to hold talks with business leaders to discuss trade.<h2>Historic gains</h2>During the bilateral meeting, Carney, as per reports, told Jinping that Canada and China were forging a new strategic partnership that stands to yield "historic" gains by leveraging the strengths of each.&nbsp;(Further details awaited)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Friday (Jan 16), marking the first leaders’ meeting between Canada and China in eight years.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping have begun vital talks in Beijing. The Friday (Jan 16) meeting is the first between the two countries' leaders after eight years and has been lauded by both sides as a "turning point" in the traditionally strained relations. The vital talks follow US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariffs on Canadian products, due to which Carney has sought to reduce his country's economic reliance on its main market, the United States. While the US and Canada have been in talks to lower tariffs, an agreement has yet to be reached. Carney, on Thursday, also met with Premier Li Qiang and is scheduled to hold talks with business leaders to discuss trade. Historic gains During the bilateral meeting, Carney, as per reports, told Jinping that Canada and China were forging a new strategic partnership that stands to yield "historic" gains by leveraging the strengths of each. (Further details awaited)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Friday (Jan 16), marking the first leaders’ meeting between Canada and China in eight years.

‘Turning point’: Canada's Mark Carney meets Xi Jinping for top level talks in Beijing after eight-year freeze

The White House on Thursday (Jan 15) said that Iran halted 800 executions under pressure from US President Donald Trump over its crackdown against nationwide protests, adding that a US military intervention remains an option. This comes amid one of the biggest anti-government protests in the history of the Islamic Republic, which has killed several and led to a week-long internet blackout. Hundreds have been killed amid demonstrations that started weeks ago over the rising cost of living in the country. Meanwhile, Gulf allies are scrambling to pull back Trump from military action over Tehran’s killing of demonstrators.“The president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.“All options remain on the table for the president,” she said, adding that Trump had warned Tehran of “grave consequences” if the killing of protesters continued.On Wednesday (Jan 14), the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, warning that the final toll would be much higher.Trump earlier said that he received assurance from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would not go ahead with the executions.On Thursday, a senior Saudi official told AFP that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman led efforts to talk Trump out of an attack on Iran, fearing “grave blowbacks in the region.”The Gulf nations “led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention,” the official said.Iranian authorities have claimed that the “rioters” were backed by Israel and the US, vowing fast-track justice that activists fear will turn into a spree of executions. The Trump administration had threatened military action in case Iran carried out the death penalty against people arrested over the protests.Speaking to Fox News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that there would be “no hanging today or tomorrow.” Reacting to the statement, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!”Meanwhile, Araghchi said that the Iranian government was “in full control”, adding that an atmosphere of calm remained after what he called three days of “terrorist operation.”

On Wednesday (Jan 14), the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, warning that the final toll would be much higher.

The White House on Thursday (Jan 15) said that Iran halted 800 executions under pressure from US President Donald Trump over its crackdown against nationwide protests, adding that a US military intervention remains an option. This comes amid one of the biggest anti-government protests in the history of the Islamic Republic, which has killed several and led to a week-long internet blackout. Hundreds have been killed amid demonstrations that started weeks ago over the rising cost of living in the country. Meanwhile, Gulf allies are scrambling to pull back Trump from military action over Tehran’s killing of demonstrators. “The president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “All options remain on the table for the president,” she said, adding that Trump had warned Tehran of “grave consequences” if the killing of protesters continued. On Wednesday (Jan 14), the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, warning that the final toll would be much higher. Trump earlier said that he received assurance from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would not go ahead with the executions. On Thursday, a senior Saudi official told AFP that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman led efforts to talk Trump out of an attack on Iran, fearing “grave blowbacks in the region.” The Gulf nations “led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention,” the official said. Iranian authorities have claimed that the “rioters” were backed by Israel and the US, vowing fast-track justice that activists fear will turn into a spree of executions. The Trump administration had threatened military action in case Iran carried out the death penalty against people arrested over the protests. Speaking to Fox News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that there would be “no hanging today or tomorrow.” Reacting to the statement, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!” Meanwhile, Araghchi said that the Iranian government was “in full control”, adding that an atmosphere of calm remained after what he called three days of “terrorist operation.”

On Wednesday (Jan 14), the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO said that Iranian security forces had killed at least 3,428 protesters, warning that the final toll would be much higher.

White House claims Trump stopped 800 executions in Iran, but insists military action ‘remains on table’

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) announced the formation of 'Gaza Board of Peace,' a key pillar of the second phase of a US-backed plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the board had already been formed and that its members would be revealed soon. He offered little detail on its structure or mandate, but claimed it would be unlike anything assembled before.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-says-it-will-immediately-sever-all-contact-with-several-un-bodies-full-list-here-1768358059450">Israel says it will 'immediately sever all contact' with several UN bodies | FULL LIST HERE</a><h2>'Greatest and Most Prestigious Board'</h2>In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "It is my Great Honour to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed". He added that he "can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place."The announcement comes days after a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee was announced. This committee has been tasked with managing Gaza's day-to-day affairs once the war ends. It is expected to operate under the supervision of the new board of peace, which Trump himself is expected to chair.According to the US-backed plan an International Stabilisation Force would also be deployed. The force would be responsible for securing the territory and training vetted Palestinian police units."The ball is now in the court of the mediators, the American guarantor and the international community to empower the committee," said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas leader on Thursday.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-doubles-down-insists-european-troops-don-t-impact-trump-s-goal-of-greenland-acquisition-at-all-1768529366586">Trump hellbent on 'acquiring' Greenland, White House says NATO troops don't faze him 'at all'</a><h2>Gaza peace plan: Phase 2 underway</h2>The US-backed peace plan first came into effect on October 10. The first phase primarily aimed to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip, allow in aid and secure the return of all remaining living and deceased hostages held by Hamas and allied Palestinian militant groups. All hostages have been returned except for the remains of Ran Gvili. Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the handover of Gvili's body, while Hamas claims that widespread destruction in Gaza made locating the remains difficult.Phase two, now formally underway, is proving far more complicated with unresolved disputes between Israel and Hamas over alleged ceasefire violations and issues unaddressed in the first stage. Despite the ceasefire, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says Israeli forces have killed at least 451 people since the ceasefire took effect.

Trump announced the creation of a US-led “Gaza Board of Peace” as part of phase two of Washington’s plan to end the Gaza war. He called it the “greatest and most prestigious” board ever assembled. 

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) announced the formation of 'Gaza Board of Peace,' a key pillar of the second phase of a US-backed plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the board had already been formed and that its members would be revealed soon. He offered little detail on its structure or mandate, but claimed it would be unlike anything assembled before. Also read | Israel says it will 'immediately sever all contact' with several UN bodies | FULL LIST HERE 'Greatest and Most Prestigious Board' In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "It is my Great Honour to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed". He added that he "can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place." The announcement comes days after a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee was announced. This committee has been tasked with managing Gaza's day-to-day affairs once the war ends. It is expected to operate under the supervision of the new board of peace, which Trump himself is expected to chair. According to the US-backed plan an International Stabilisation Force would also be deployed. The force would be responsible for securing the territory and training vetted Palestinian police units. "The ball is now in the court of the mediators, the American guarantor and the international community to empower the committee," said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas leader on Thursday. Also read | Trump hellbent on 'acquiring' Greenland, White House says NATO troops don't faze him 'at all' Gaza peace plan: Phase 2 underway The US-backed peace plan first came into effect on October 10. The first phase primarily aimed to stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip, allow in aid and secure the return of all remaining living and deceased hostages held by Hamas and allied Palestinian militant groups. All hostages have been returned except for the remains of Ran Gvili. Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the handover of Gvili's body, while Hamas claims that widespread destruction in Gaza made locating the remains difficult. Phase two, now formally underway, is proving far more complicated with unresolved disputes between Israel and Hamas over alleged ceasefire violations and issues unaddressed in the first stage. Despite the ceasefire, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says Israeli forces have killed at least 451 people since the ceasefire took effect.

Trump announced the creation of a US-led “Gaza Board of Peace” as part of phase two of Washington’s plan to end the Gaza war. He called it the “greatest and most prestigious” board ever assembled.&nbsp;

Trump unveils 'Greatest and Most Prestigious' Gaza Board of Peace. Who's on it?

The White House on Thursday (Jan 15) doubled down on President Donald Trump’s long-running push to "acquire Greenland," making it clear that recent European military deployments to the Arctic island will not affect the POTUS's plans to take control of the Arctic Island from Denmark. Speaking at a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump "has made his priority quite clear". She reiterated that the president believes acquiring Greenland is essential for US national security.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-minnesota-with-insurrection-act-as-protests-rage-over-ice-shooting-of-renee-nicole-good-1768527208576">Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as protests rage over ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good</a><h2>European troops don't faze Trump</h2>Addressing the press briefing, Leavitt said that Trump "thinks it is in our best national security" to acquire Greenland. She dismissed the significance of European troops arriving on the island, and said, "I don't think troops in Europe impact the president's decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-asks-users-if-they-can-break-grok-ai-moderation-x-responds-by-putting-him-in-bikinis-and-more-1768467434756">Musk asks users if they can ‘break’ Grok AI's moderation — X responds by putting him in bikinis and more</a>Her remarks come as several European NATO members began deploying military personnel into Greenland, a step that has already triggered a sharp response from Russia. The deployments followed a high-level meeting in Washington involving US, Danish and Greenlandic officials, which failed to resolve what Denmark described as a "fundamental disagreement" over Greenland’s future.<h2>Which nations have sent their military to Greenland</h2>France, Germany, Sweden and Norway have announced the deployment of military personnel to Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, as part of a reconnaissance mission. Germany’s defence ministry said the mission was aimed at assessing Arctic security needs in response to what it described as growing "Russian and Chinese threats". French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that French personnel were already en route. In a statement, Greenland’s deputy prime minister, Mute Egede, noted that NATO forces would have a larger presence on the island in the coming days, including more military flights and naval activity. He stressed that the troops would be "training".<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-troops-land-in-greenland-denmark-ramps-up-arctic-defenses-1768499485550/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-troops-land-in-greenland-denmark-ramps-up-arctic-defenses-1768499485550/embed</a><h2>Russia slams NATO troop deployment</h2>Russia reacted strongly. Its embassy in Belgium said the expanding NATO presence in Greenland was "of serious concern". It accused the alliance of using "false pretext" of threats from Moscow and Beijing to justify building up forces.

Trump isn’t backing off Greenland. The White House says European troops on the Arctic island won’t change the POTUS's plan to “acquire” it for US security.

The White House on Thursday (Jan 15) doubled down on President Donald Trump’s long-running push to "acquire Greenland," making it clear that recent European military deployments to the Arctic island will not affect the POTUS's plans to take control of the Arctic Island from Denmark. Speaking at a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump "has made his priority quite clear". She reiterated that the president believes acquiring Greenland is essential for US national security. Also read | Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as protests rage over ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good European troops don't faze Trump Addressing the press briefing, Leavitt said that Trump "thinks it is in our best national security" to acquire Greenland. She dismissed the significance of European troops arriving on the island, and said, "I don't think troops in Europe impact the president's decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all." Also read | Musk asks users if they can ‘break’ Grok AI's moderation — X responds by putting him in bikinis and more Her remarks come as several European NATO members began deploying military personnel into Greenland, a step that has already triggered a sharp response from Russia. The deployments followed a high-level meeting in Washington involving US, Danish and Greenlandic officials, which failed to resolve what Denmark described as a "fundamental disagreement" over Greenland’s future. Which nations have sent their military to Greenland France, Germany, Sweden and Norway have announced the deployment of military personnel to Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, as part of a reconnaissance mission. Germany’s defence ministry said the mission was aimed at assessing Arctic security needs in response to what it described as growing "Russian and Chinese threats". French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that French personnel were already en route. In a statement, Greenland’s deputy prime minister, Mute Egede, noted that NATO forces would have a larger presence on the island in the coming days, including more military flights and naval activity. He stressed that the troops would be "training". https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-troops-land-in-greenland-denmark-ramps-up-arctic-defenses-1768499485550/embed Russia slams NATO troop deployment Russia reacted strongly. Its embassy in Belgium said the expanding NATO presence in Greenland was "of serious concern". It accused the alliance of using "false pretext" of threats from Moscow and Beijing to justify building up forces.

Trump isn’t backing off Greenland. The White House says European troops on the Arctic island won’t change the POTUS's plan to “acquire” it for US security.

Trump hellbent on 'acquiring' Greenland, White House says NATO troops don't faze him 'at all'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) once again floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act, an emergency law that allows the domestic deployment of the military. The warning came as protests spread across Minnesota after two separate incidents involving federal immigration agents, one shooting that injured a man this week and another that left a woman dead days earlier. Speaking to reporters, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that she had discussed invoking the insurrection act with Trump, and said: "It's his constitutional right," to invoke it.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-day-another-ice-shooting-another-minneapolis-resident-shot-by-federal-agent-just-days-after-renee-good-killing-1768445027063">Another day, another ICE shooting: Federal agent shoots Minneapolis man in leg days after Renee Good killing</a><h2>What did Trump say?</h2>Accusing Minnesota leaders of failing to control what he called professional agitators, Trump on his social media platform Truth Social repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act. The 19th-century law for quelling insurrection has not been used in more than 30 years, reports AFP."If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/shot-dying-then-insulted-disturbing-video-shows-ice-agent-mutter-crude-slur-after-killing-renee-nicole-good-fucking-bitch-jonathan-ross-1768018859463">'Fu**ing b***h': Disturbing video shows ICE agent mutter crude slur after killing Renee Good</a>Noem, speaking to reporters outside the White House, declined to say whether Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act. She said the decision rested with the president. "It's his constitutional right, and it's up to him if he wants to utilise it to do it," Noem said.<h2>Walz slams ICE's ‘campaign of organised brutality’</h2>Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, meanwhile, has pushed back hard. In a video posted Wednesday night, he accused federal agents of carrying out what he described as "a campaign of organised brutality against the people of Minnesota". He cited multiple incidents, including "breaking windows, dragging pregnant women down the street," and the January 7 killing of 37-year-old Renee Good.Walz urged residents to "protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully". He also asked Minnesotans to record every interaction with ICE, saying accountability would come later. He called on Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "end this occupation, you've done enough."

US President Donald Trump has once again threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act amid rising protests in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement and recent shootings by ICE agents.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Jan 15) once again floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act, an emergency law that allows the domestic deployment of the military. The warning came as protests spread across Minnesota after two separate incidents involving federal immigration agents, one shooting that injured a man this week and another that left a woman dead days earlier. Speaking to reporters, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that she had discussed invoking the insurrection act with Trump, and said: "It's his constitutional right," to invoke it. Also read | Another day, another ICE shooting: Federal agent shoots Minneapolis man in leg days after Renee Good killing What did Trump say? Accusing Minnesota leaders of failing to control what he called professional agitators, Trump on his social media platform Truth Social repeated threats to invoke the Insurrection Act. The 19th-century law for quelling insurrection has not been used in more than 30 years, reports AFP. "If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote. Also read | 'Fu**ing b***h': Disturbing video shows ICE agent mutter crude slur after killing Renee Good Noem, speaking to reporters outside the White House, declined to say whether Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act. She said the decision rested with the president. "It's his constitutional right, and it's up to him if he wants to utilise it to do it," Noem said. Walz slams ICE's ‘campaign of organised brutality’ Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, meanwhile, has pushed back hard. In a video posted Wednesday night, he accused federal agents of carrying out what he described as "a campaign of organised brutality against the people of Minnesota". He cited multiple incidents, including "breaking windows, dragging pregnant women down the street," and the January 7 killing of 37-year-old Renee Good. Walz urged residents to "protest loudly, urgently, but also peacefully". He also asked Minnesotans to record every interaction with ICE, saying accountability would come later. He called on Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to "end this occupation, you've done enough."

US President Donald Trump has once again threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act amid rising protests in Minneapolis over federal immigration enforcement and recent shootings by ICE agents.

Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as protests rage over ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good

After completing her meeting with President Donald Trump, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado left the White House and briefly greeted a group of supporters gathered near the gate, exchanging hugs as they cheered her arrival. “We can count on President Trump,” Machado told the crowd in Spanish, prompting loud cheers. She did not respond to questions in English about how the meeting went or whether she had given Trump her Nobel Peace Prize, leaving it unclear whether she did not hear the questions or chose not to answer. Machado was seen wearing a white suit as she walked toward a private entrance of the White House.&nbsp;Machado then walked to a waiting SUV, pausing again to hug supporters who called out her name, waved Venezuelan flags, and chanted the country’s name. She responded by saying, “Gracias.” Machado then later headed to the US Capitol, where she met with a bipartisan group of senators in Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin’s office. She was greeted by supporters as she entered the Capitol before moving upstairs for the meeting. The senators in attendance included Republicans Rick Scott, Ted Cruz, Bernie Moreno, and John Curtis, along with Democrats Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen, Peter Welch, Tim Kaine, Ruben Gallego, Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, and Jacky Rosen. Independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, is also participating.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-gravely-concerned-g7-countries-condemns-iran-s-crackdown-on-protest-warns-of-new-sanctions-1768498108827">Trump administration imposes new sanctions on Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, senior IRGC officials</a><h2>Five Americans released in Venezuela this week: WH</h2>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday (January 15) that five Americans were released from detention in Venezuela this week. &nbsp;Leavitt said the release of political prisoners was among several favourable actions taken by the interim government in Venezuela. She also praised Delcy Rodriguez’s cooperation on the sales of oil. “The president likes what he’s seeing and will expect that cooperation to continue,” she was quoted as saying. “We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela,” a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday. “This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities.”

‘We can count on President Trump,’ says Maria Corina Machado outside the White House; meets senators on Capitol Hill

After completing her meeting with President Donald Trump, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado left the White House and briefly greeted a group of supporters gathered near the gate, exchanging hugs as they cheered her arrival. “We can count on President Trump,” Machado told the crowd in Spanish, prompting loud cheers. She did not respond to questions in English about how the meeting went or whether she had given Trump her Nobel Peace Prize, leaving it unclear whether she did not hear the questions or chose not to answer. Machado was seen wearing a white suit as she walked toward a private entrance of the White House. Machado then walked to a waiting SUV, pausing again to hug supporters who called out her name, waved Venezuelan flags, and chanted the country’s name. She responded by saying, “Gracias.” Machado then later headed to the US Capitol, where she met with a bipartisan group of senators in Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin’s office. She was greeted by supporters as she entered the Capitol before moving upstairs for the meeting. The senators in attendance included Republicans Rick Scott, Ted Cruz, Bernie Moreno, and John Curtis, along with Democrats Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen, Peter Welch, Tim Kaine, Ruben Gallego, Alex Padilla, Chris Murphy, and Jacky Rosen. Independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, is also participating. Also Read: Trump administration imposes new sanctions on Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, senior IRGC officials Five Americans released in Venezuela this week: WH White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday (January 15) that five Americans were released from detention in Venezuela this week. Leavitt said the release of political prisoners was among several favourable actions taken by the interim government in Venezuela. She also praised Delcy Rodriguez’s cooperation on the sales of oil. “The president likes what he’s seeing and will expect that cooperation to continue,” she was quoted as saying. “We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela,” a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday. “This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities.”

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met with US President Donald Trump on Thursday (January 15) at the White House

The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv on Thursday urged all nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Israel and those already there to remain vigilant. The advisory comes amid the ongoing protests in Iran against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led regime and heightened tensions in the Middle East. On Wednesday, the Indian government had urged all its nationals currently in Iran to leave by available means. New Delhi also advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran.&nbsp;“In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals currently in Israel are advised to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and protocols issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command,” the advisory said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-prepares-to-evacuate-citizens-from-iran-first-flight-tomorrow-say-sources-1768494850997">India prepares to evacuate citizens from Iran, first flight tomorrow, say sources</a>&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ADVISORY In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals currently in Israel are advised to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and protocols issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command (<a href="https://t.co/033m9pwvDj">https://t.co/033m9pwvDj</a>)… <a href="https://t.co/VcxeN6DQEi">pic.twitter.com/VcxeN6DQEi</a>&mdash; India in Israel (@indemtel) <a href="https://twitter.com/indemtel/status/2011828678452187626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;“Indian nationals are also advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Israel. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India’s 24x7 helpline at: Telephone: +972-54-7520711; +972-54-3278392,” it added.&nbsp;After President Donald Trump issued stern warnings of military action if protesters are killed in Iran, Tehran also warned that the US military bases in the region will be legitimate targets of its strikes in case America attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-sickening-repression-uk-working-with-allies-on-new-sanctions-against-iran-says-starmer-1768406707779">‘Sickening repression’: UK ‘working with allies’ on new sanctions against Iran, says Starmer</a>&nbsp;Amid the heightened tensions, there have also been concerns in Tel Aviv, an arch rival of Tehran in the region.Several areas in southern and central Israel have ordered the opening of public shelters amid heightened regional tensions, local media reports said.Turkey’s Anadolu agency reported that the mayor of Dimona in southern Israel ordered the shelters to be opened across the city because “it is better to be prepared than surprised.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-labels-muslim-brotherhood-branches-in-egypt-lebanon-jordan-as-terrorists-egypt-saudi-arabia-hail-action-1768400130903">US labels Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan as ‘terrorists’; Egypt, Saudi Arabia hail action</a>&nbsp;The advisory comes even as India is making preparations to evacuate Indians from Iran in view of the precarious situation in the country.&nbsp;The Indian embassy in Iran had also advised all Indian citizens and PIOs (persons of Indian origin) to exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Iran and monitor local media for any developments.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-more-positions-than-kama-sutra-pm-starmer-mocks-tories-on-repeated-policy-u-turns-1768486324555">‘More positions than Kama Sutra’: PM Starmer mocks Tories, defends digital ID U-turn</a>&nbsp;The protests began in Tehran late last month amid economic woes, including high inflation and the Iranian currency plummeting to new lows.

After President Donald Trump issued stern warnings of military action if protesters are killed in Iran, Tehran also warned that the US military bases in the region will be legitimate targets of its strikes in case America attacks. 

The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv on Thursday urged all nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Israel and those already there to remain vigilant. The advisory comes amid the ongoing protests in Iran against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led regime and heightened tensions in the Middle East. On Wednesday, the Indian government had urged all its nationals currently in Iran to leave by available means. New Delhi also advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran. “In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals currently in Israel are advised to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and protocols issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command,” the advisory said. Also Read: India prepares to evacuate citizens from Iran, first flight tomorrow, say sources

After President Donald Trump issued stern warnings of military action if protesters are killed in Iran, Tehran also warned that the US military bases in the region will be legitimate targets of its strikes in case America attacks.&nbsp;

Indian Embassy advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel, be vigilant if in Israel

world

World, News on World, stories on World, articles on World, World stories at Wion, World news, World latest news

world news

India slams Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue at United Nations General Assembly, accuses Islamabad of exploiting UN bodies

'Dystopian' and furry-themed gala hosted in Trump's Mar-a-Lago, sparks ridicule

‘Grok sexually exploits victims’: Ashley St Clair sues Musk’s xAI over deepfakes

Davos 2026 | How Kerala’s skilled manpower is boosting its knowledge economy

'We shouldn’t even have an election': Trump brags about his achievements

Davos 2026 | Kerala's new brand: ‘Responsible Investment, responsible Industry’

What is Insurrection Act? Trump threatens to use 19th century law on Minnesota

‘Resolutely oppose’: China lashes out after US, Taiwan sign landmark trade deal

How Benjamin Franklin's private writings reveal a proto-modern psychology?

'Beginning of end of world': Russia warns of nukes, third World War in Arctic

US to allow athletes from banned countries to attend major sporting events?

Serious H-1B visa fraud in Texas, says ex-trump ally Marjorie Taylor

Why did Venezuela’s Maria Corina Machado hand Trump a ‘Nobel Peace’ medal?

South Korea’s ousted leader Yoon gets 5 years in prison for failed martial law bid

Greenland’s FM breaks down on live interview amid Trump’s threats – WATCH

Indian doctor in Sweden stars in Wikipedia's 25th anniversary celebrations

India and Germany deepen defence ties with new industrial cooperation framework

Trump's proposal of buying Greenland was suggested by billionaire friend

US, Taiwan sign trade deal lowering tariffs to 15%, down from 20%

‘Turning point’: Canada, China restart top-level talks after eight-year freeze

Trump ‘halted’ 800 executions in Iran, but military action ‘remains on table’

Trump unveils 'Greatest and Most Prestigious' Gaza Board of Peace. Who's on it?

Trump hellbent on 'acquiring' Greenland, WH says NATO troops don't faze him

Trump threatens Minnesota with Insurrection Act as anti-ICE protests rage

‘We can count on President Trump,’ says Maria Corina Machado outside White House

India urges citizens to avoid non-essential travel, be vigilant if in Israel