US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed confidence over the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), noting that the two countries are "going to have a good deal", while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a close friend and respected leader. Trump made this comment while speaking to Moneycontrol, following his address at the 56th Annual Summit of the World Economic Forum. "I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He's a fantastic man and a friend of mine, and we are going to have a good deal," Trump said when asked about the India-US trade deal by Moneycontrol. Earlier, India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal asserted that the much-anticipated first tranche of the India-US BTA is "very near", but stopped short of providing a timeline. The BTA, formally proposed in February following directives from the leadership of both nations, seeks to more than double bilateral trade, from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. Talks were first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in February 2025. On January 9, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "India and the United States were committed to negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with the US as far as far back as 13th of February last year. That is, since then, two sides have held multiple rounds of negotiations to arrive at a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement." "On several occasions, we have been close to a deal," the MEA spokesperson added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
22 January,2026 10:46 AM IST | Davos (Switzerland) | ANILandslides hit a campground and a house in New Zealand and emergency crews were trying to rescue people buried in rubble, officials said Thursday. Emergency services were called to the slide at the base of Mount Maunganui on New Zealand's North Island after 9:30 a.m. The rubble hit Beachside Holiday Park in a town named after the extinct volcano. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said the number of people missing was in the "single figures" but didn't say further how many were affected. Another landslide hit a house overnight in the nearby Bay of Plenty community. Two people escaped the house but two others were missing, Anderson said. A rescue operation was underway there Thursday. Further north near Warkworth, a man remained missing after floodwaters swept him from a road Wednesday morning as heavy rain lashed large swathes of the North Island, a police statement said. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon urged residents in affected areas to heed local authorities' safety advice during the extreme conditions. "Extreme weather continues to cause dangerous conditions across the North Island. Right now, the government is doing everything we can to support those impacted," Luxon posted on social media. At Mount Maunganui, no survivor had been recovered three hours after the slide, Fire and Emergency NZ commander William Pike said. "Members of the public tried to get into the rubble and did hear some voices," Pike told reporters. "Our initial fire crew arrived and were able to hear the same. Shortly after our initial crew arrived, we withdrew everyone from the site due to possible movement and slip." No sign of life had been detected since, Pike said. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said emergency crews were continuing a rescue operation at Mount Maunganui. Mayor Mahe Drysdale said those unaccounted earlier had included people who had left the campground without notifying authorities. The campground was closed after the disaster. Australian tourist Sonny Worrall said he was lazing in hot pools within the campground when he heard then saw the landslide. "I looked behind me and there's a huge landslide coming down. And I'm still shaking from it now," Worrall told New Zealand 1News news service. "I turned around and I had to jump out from my seat as fast as I could and just run." He looked back to see the rubble carrying a travel trailer behind him. "It was like the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my life," Worrall said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
22 January,2026 10:17 AM IST | Melbourne | APTaiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it detected two PLA aircraft sorties, five PLAN vessels, and five Chinese balloons operating around Taiwan until 6 am (UTC+8) on Thursday, adding that the situation was monitored and responded to accordingly. In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 PRC ballons were detected during this timeframe. We have monitored the situation and responded." On Wednesday, Taiwan's MND detected four sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Wednesday. All four sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." 2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 PRC ballons were detected during this timeframe. We have monitored the situation and responded. pic.twitter.com/0j4gH4caog — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) January 22, 2026 Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan's MND recorded two PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels. Of the two, a sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded", it wrote on X. Earlier on January 18, an incursion by a Chinese military drone near Taiwan-controlled islands raised renewed concerns over China's expanding pressure campaign in the South China Sea, with Taiwan warning that such actions threaten regional peace and stability. According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, a Chinese surveillance drone entered the southwestern section of Taiwan's air defence identification zone in the early hours of the morning and moved toward the Pratas Islands, also known as Dongsha, as reported by The Taipei Times. According to The Taipei Times, the ministry said the aircraft approached the islands shortly before dawn and briefly entered territorial airspace at an altitude beyond the effective reach of local air-defence systems. The garrison stationed on the islands was immediately instructed to raise alert levels and intensify aerial monitoring. After repeated warnings broadcast through international radio frequencies, the drone withdrew several minutes later. The ministry condemned the manoeuvre as reckless and provocative, stating that it violated international norms and further destabilised the region.
22 January,2026 08:40 AM IST | Taipei | ANIPakistan has decided to join the US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, said on Wednesday. "In response to the invitation extended to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803," the statement said. The statement further added, "Pakistan expresses the hope that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, as well as reconstruction of Gaza." Pakistan reiterated its support for Palestinian self-determination and an independent state. Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realisation of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine, through a credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. MoF added that, "Pakistan looks forward to continuing to play a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals, as well as to end the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters." The "Board of Peace" was unveiled as part of phase two of the fragile ceasefire agreement with Hamas to end the Israel-Gaza conflict, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Trump administration sent invites to several world leaders to join the body, which Trump envisages would oversee "governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation" in the region. However, the participation of Netanyahu will add to concerns over the objectivity of the board, which Trump will lead and control the lineup. Netanyahu's acceptance of a place on the board comes despite his office having earlier criticised the makeup of the executive committee, which includes Israel's regional rival, Turkiye. Meanwhile, Trump came down heavily on the United Nations, arguing that its lack of competence led to his decision to establish the "Board of Peace" for Gaza to implement the 20-Point Peace Plan to end conflict in the Middle East. Addressing the press, Trump said, "We just created the Board of Peace, which I think is going to be amazing. I wish the United Nations could do more. I wish we didn't need a Board of Peace. With all the wars they settled, the United Nations never helped me in one war." When asked whether he wants the Board of Peace to replace the United Nations, Trump said they "haven't been very helpful," but believed in the organisation's potential. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 08:37 AM IST | Islamabad | ANIUS President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is dropping his threat to impose tariffs on several European countries, citing what he described as a new framework with NATO on Arctic security. The abrupt about-face comes shortly after he told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the US would not use force to pursue control of Greenland. Asked how long the deal will last, Trump was clear it's long term. "It's a deal that's forever," he said. "It's what's called an infinite deal." In his earlier speech, Trump reaffirmed his ambition to secure "right, title and ownership" of Greenland and urged NATO allies not to stand in the way, warning that refusals would carry consequences for the alliance. Trump's address at the annual meeting of the elite in Switzerland tried to focus on his efforts to tame inflation and spur the economy back home. But his more than 70-minute address focused more on his gripes with other countries. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday called Trump's planned new tariffs on eight EU countries over Greenland a "mistake" and questioned Trump's trustworthiness. French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU could retaliate by deploying one of its most powerful economic tools, known colloquially as a trade "bazooka." US stocks recover half of prior day's plunge after Trump calls off tariffs The US stock market rebounded after Trump called off Greenland-related tariffs that he had threatened to impose on Europe. The S and P 500 rallied 1.2 per cent Wednesday after Trump said he reached the framework of a deal about Greenland. The index recovered about half the ground it lost a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose 1.2 per cent, as did the Nasdaq composite. Treasury yields eased in the bond market. They also got some help from a calming of government bond yields in Japan. Europe relieved after Trump walks back tariff threat: US officials Financial markets aren't the only ones breathing a sigh of relief after Trump rescinded his threat to impose new tariffs on European allies for their defence of Greenland and Danish sovereignty. A number of US officials had also been concerned about Trump's hardline stance and bellicose rhetoric toward Greenland, Denmark and other NATO allies because they feared it could harm other foreign policy goals. These officials thought the fixation on Greenland and taking it at any cost was distracting from and complicating the president's effort to form the Board of Peace, which is supposed to be announced on Thursday in Davos, to oversee the Gaza ceasefire operation. Many European countries, which were already skeptical of the proposed board's broad global mandate, had reacted even more negatively to the concept after Trump's tariff threat. The US officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss concerns being floated inside the administration. Trump says Greenland framework would meet his national security concerns. "The deal is going to be put out pretty soon," Trump said in a brief exchange with reporters on the sidelines of Davos forum. "It gets us everything we needed to get." Trump says deal will last forever As he departed the World Economic Forum for the day, Trump said his newly agreed-upon framework of a deal with NATO's chief is "a great deal for everybody." He told reporters everyone would be happy with the deal, which relates to Greenland and the Arctic. While he said people are still working out the details, he emphasized it would be "really fantastic for the USA." Asked how long the deal will last, Trump was clear it's long term. "It's a deal that's forever," he said. "It's what's called an infinite deal." Trump declines to name a price for Greenland Trump declined to name a reasonable price for the United States to buy Greenland during a meeting with the NATO secretary general. "There's a bigger price, and that's the price of safety and security and national security and international security having to do with many of your countries," Trump responded when asked by The Associated Press how he would calculate a reasonable offer for the strategic land mass. "That's really the price. It's a big price." Trump responded ambiguously when asked to elaborate on his earlier comment that "we will remember" if Denmark refuses to sell Greenland to the US "You'll have to figure that out for yourself," he told a reporter. Sweden's deputy PM calls for Europe to toughen up' against Trump Ebba Busch, the deputy prime minister of Sweden, said she heard "a mix of irrational and rational arguments at the same time" from Trump. "Europe needs to toughen up. We need to hold the line," she told reporters in Davos. "We will not be bullied or blackmailed into letting go of territory that is, in this case, Greenland's and Denmark's." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 08:34 AM IST | Davos | APU.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday described Chinese President Xi Jinping as an "incredible man" who has achieved "amazing" things and is "highly respected by everybody," while reaffirming his longstanding positive rapport with both leaders Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump added that he initially called COVID-19 the "China virus" but decided to change it, saying there was no reason to make an issue over the name. Speaking at the 56th Annual Summit of the World Economic Forum, Trump said, "I've always had a very good relationship with President Xi and with President Putin. President Xi of China is an incredible man. What he's done is amazing. He's highly respected by everybody. It was very severely interrupted by COVID. I used to call it the China virus, but he said, do you think you could use a different name and I decided to do that because why should we have a problem over that?" Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump confirmed his plans to visit China in April, TASS reported. "I get along very well with President Xi. I'm going to go over to China in April," he said, quoted by TASS at a meeting with oil executives on the situation in Venezuela. Following an October phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he plans to travel to China in April 2026. He added that President Xi would subsequently undertake a state visit to the United States. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in early November that Trump and Xi could hold four meetings in 2026. Apart from the two state visits, the leaders may hold talks on the sidelines of the Group of Twenty events in Doral, Florida, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in China's Shenzhen. In November 2025, President Trump had also said that he would host the Chinese leader on a state visit to the United States later in 2026, describing the US-China relationship as "extremely strong." This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 08:29 AM IST | Davos | ANIUS President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland and slap tariffs on its backers pose a challenge to Europe’s security, principles and prosperity, a top EU official said on Wednesday. “All these three dimensions are being tested in the current moment of transatlantic relations,” European Council President Antonio Costa said. He has convened an emergency summit of the EU’s 27 national leaders in Brussels today. Trump’s determination to “acquire” the mineral-rich island in the Arctic region, for what he claims are security reasons, has undermined trust in the US among allies in Europe and Canada. Denmark angered Trump after sending a military “reconnaissance” force to Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory. A small number of troops from several European nations joined, and Denmark is weighing a longer-term military presence there. Costa said EU leaders are united on “the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” something the bloc has underlined in defending Ukraine against invasion by Russia, and which is now threatened in Greenland. In a speech to EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, he also stressed that only “Denmark and Greenland can decide their future.” Trump appeared on Wednesday with other high-profile government and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a day after the elite event produced contentious statements and economic threats arising from tensions between the US and Europe. Nearly 3,000 high-level participants from 130 countries, plus an untold number of activists and observers, are expected to converge on the annual event scheduled to last through Friday. Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he “would not speculate” on whether the NATO alliance has shattered beyond repair in the wake of Trump’s threats. Kristersson said Europeans are willing to beef up security in Greenland and across the Arctic but “we will not accept being blackmailed”. Sweden joined NATO in 2024. Air Force One with trump aboard faces issue US President Donald Trump’s plane — Air Force One — on the way to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum had to return to Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC after a “minor electrical issue” was detected onboard. Trump and his entourage subsequently boarded a new aircraft.
22 January,2026 07:53 AM IST | Brussels | AgenciesA South Korean court ruled on Wednesday that the 2024 imposition of martial law by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol constituted an act of rebellion as it sentenced his prime minister to 23 years in prison for his involvement. Ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the first Yoon administration official convicted of rebellion charges in relation to Yoon’s martial law imposition in December 2024. The verdict is expected to set the stage for upcoming rulings involving Yoon and his other associates, who also face rebellion charges. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 07:50 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesA Japanese court sentenced a man who admitted assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life imprisonment on Wednesday. The case has revealed decades of cozy ties between Japan’s governing party and a controversial South Korean church. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, earlier pleaded guilty to killing Abe in July 2022 during his election campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was serving as a regular lawmaker after leaving the prime minister’s job when he was killed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 January,2026 07:48 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesUS President Donald Trump, while speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) during the Davos Summit 2026 in Switzerland, said that the United States will not use force to take Greenland. Trump stated that only America can protect the mineral-rich island, which is at the centre of escalating geopolitical tensions with Europe. Speaking at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the US President also said that we are booming but Europe is "not heading in the right direction", as per the PTI. Trump, in his 70-minute-long speech at the WEF, asserted, "I have tremendous respect for the people of Greenland and Denmark, but only the US can secure Greenland." Trump launches attack on NATO allies President Trump also launched a blistering attack on NATO allies on a range of issues, including tariffs, the environment and immigration, reported PTI. While staking claims over the region, the US President emphasised, "We fought for beautiful Denmark, which is not a land but a big piece of ice, cold and poorly located. It is a very small task compared to what we have given them for many, many decades. We were stupid to give it back," as per PTI. "People thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force," he added. Trump said that Greenland, which is a Danish territory, has a strategic location between the US, Russia, and China. Trump further remarked, "The US needs it for strategic reasons, not for rare earth minerals." Donald Trump says, ‘Only US can protect Greenland’ While putting out a strong yet a very controversial remark, the US President said that only the US can protect Greenland, and many European nations have also acquired territories; there is nothing wrong with it. He asserted, "We were a powerful force when we saved Greenland and gave it to Denmark after World War II, but we are much more powerful now," as per PTI. Trump also called for immediate negotiations for the US to acquire Greenland from Denmark, describing the country as ungrateful, during his speech at Davos. Donald Trump also spoke on the US' economic strength and global prosperity, saying "the USA is the economic engine of the planet,” as per PTI. While ending his speech at WEF 2026, he added, "When America booms, the entire world booms". (With inputs from PTI)
21 January,2026 10:00 PM IST | Davos | mid-day online correspondentPakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently found himself inaugurating not a defence facility or a development project, but a US-based multinational pizza outlet in Sialkot’s cantonment area. With cameras flashing and floral bouquets being presented, the event initially appeared like a routine official function. However, what seemed like a regular day on the minister’s calendar soon turned into a subject of public ridicule. Within hours of the inauguration, social media users began mocking the spectacle, questioning why the country’s defence minister was presiding over the launch of a fast-food outlet inside a military cantonment. Images and videos from the event quickly went viral, triggering sharp reactions and memes, and fuelling criticism over priorities at a time when Pakistan faces serious economic and security challenges. The incident has since sparked a broader debate on social media about symbolism, optics and the role of senior government officials at public events, turning what was meant to be a routine inauguration into an episode of widespread mockery. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) Just a few hours after Khawaja Asif cut the ribbon at the Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot, social media users went into investigative mode. While the outlet prominently displayed Pizza Hut’s iconic red-roof branding, familiar fonts and taglines, netizens soon noticed something odd. Users quickly discovered that the recently inaugurated Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot’s cantonment area was not listed on the official website of the US-based pizza chain. Within hours, social media was flooded with posts mocking the Defence Minister for inaugurating what was being described as a “fake Pizza Hut store”. Incident unfolds after Pizza Hut issues clarification Pizza Hut Pakistan soon issued a public statement on social media, clarifying that the outlet inaugurated by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was unauthorised. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pizza Hut Pakistan (@pizzahutpakistan) “Pizza Hut Pakistan would like to inform our valued customers that an unauthorised outlet falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding has opened in Sialkot Cantonment,” the company said. Clarifying further, the company added, “This outlet is not affiliated with Pizza Hut Pakistan or Yum! Brands and does not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, or food safety standards. We have formally reported this matter to the relevant authorities for immediate action.” Social media reaction Video (facepalm): pic.twitter.com/RYuPY0OyLr — MD Umair Khan (@MDUmairKh) January 21, 2026 The clarification itself went viral, giving social media users fresh ammunition. Memes and jokes flooded X, Facebook and Instagram, with quips ranging from “national security now includes pizza security” to “defence minister defending fake franchises". Some users remarked that it was perhaps the first time an international brand had issued a counter-response within hours of an inauguration.
21 January,2026 08:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1769058322877_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "India-US economic ties strengthen with upcoming BTA. File Pic")
-1769055481537_d.png "A landslide smashed into a campsite in rain-swept northern New Zealand on January 22 leaving multiple people missing. PIC/AFP")
