The United States has formally completed its withdrawal process from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to an announcement made on Thursday by President Donald Trump’s administration. The move comes one year after Trump signed an executive order initiating the withdrawal. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the State Department jointly confirmed the decision.

An HHS senior official stated that the WHO had deviated from its core mission and acted against U.S. interests in protecting American citizens. The Trump administration’s main criticism centered on the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the organization of delaying the declaration of a global health emergency. The administration also claimed that the WHO unfairly criticized Trump’s early travel restrictions on certain countries.

HHS further argued that countries like China contribute less financially to the WHO than the United States, yet no American has ever held the position of Director-General. Public health experts criticized the withdrawal, warning that it could weaken the U.S. response to future health crises.

Ten bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of an Indonesia Air Transport plane that crashed in the Mount Bulusaraung area of South Sulawesi province. The bodies were found seven days after the aircraft went missing while en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar, the provincial capital. The plane lost contact over Maros district on Saturday, and its debris was located on Sunday.

According to the report, the aircraft was carrying seven crew members and three passengers, all of whom perished in the crash. A joint search and rescue team recovered the plane’s black box from the crash site. The state news agency Antara reported that only two of the victims have been identified so far.

Authorities are expected to use the recovered black box to investigate the cause of the crash, though no official explanation has yet been provided.

A United States delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss President Donald Trump’s draft plan aimed at ending the Ukraine war. According to a Kremlin statement released on Friday, the meeting lasted more than three hours. The delegation included Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.

Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as realistic and constructive, noting that discussions covered not only Ukraine but also the peace board, the Greenland issue, and bilateral relations. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the draft plan was nearly finalized and that he had reached an understanding with Trump on post-war security guarantees.

Russia currently controls about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and demands full control of the eastern Donbas region. Kyiv has warned that no peace deal can involve surrendering territory, arguing that such concessions would only encourage further Russian aggression.

According to data released by the UK Home Office, 901 migrants crossed the English Channel and entered the United Kingdom between January 14 and 21, 2026. The crossings took place in 14 small boats, as reported by Middle East Monitor. Earlier, on January 5, a small boat carrying 32 people reached the UK, marking the first such crossing of the new year. On the following Saturday, 317 migrants arrived in five small boats, the highest single-day total so far in 2026.

The report notes that in 2025, a total of 41,472 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats, about 5,000 more than in 2024. Despite measures taken by the UK government to curb illegal migration, the number of crossings continues to rise.

The data highlights the ongoing challenge for UK authorities in managing irregular migration across the Channel, as numbers show an upward trend despite enforcement efforts.

The United States is reportedly considering withdrawing all its troops from Syria, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Thursday. Citing unnamed U.S. officials, the report said the Syrian government has launched a major offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the country’s north. If the SDF collapses, officials indicated that there would be no further need for U.S. troops to remain in Syria. Currently, between 800 and 1,000 American soldiers are deployed there, and ongoing clashes between the SDF and Syrian forces have increased risks for U.S. personnel.

The offensive is part of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharar’s effort to disarm militias formed during the 14-year civil war and integrate their fighters into the national army. Officials also noted that cooperation with the Syrian military would be problematic, as some of its members are sympathetic to jihadists and have been accused of atrocities against Kurdish and Druze minorities.

The SDF, once a key force against Islamic State militants, is viewed by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist organization linked to the PKK, according to the report.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the newly formed Gaza Peace Board as a historic opportunity to resolve the long-standing suffering of Palestinians and establish lasting peace. In a social media post on Thursday, he said the board would help meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs and lay the foundation for an inclusive and sustainable peace. Fidan emphasized that working alongside the people of Gaza could play a strong role in shaping the valley’s future and ensuring enduring stability.

Reaffirming Turkey’s position on Palestine, Fidan stated that a future is possible where the rights of Gaza’s people are protected and they can live in peace. The White House recently announced the creation of the Peace Board along with a national committee to oversee Gaza’s interim administration. The initiative, proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, was adopted by the United Nations Security Council last November.

The Turkish minister’s remarks highlight Ankara’s continued engagement in regional peace efforts and its support for international mechanisms aimed at stabilizing Gaza.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour has warned the United States and Israel against taking any action against Iran. In a statement broadcast on state television during Iran’s National Day, Pakpour said Iranian forces have their “finger on the trigger” and are fully prepared to follow the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. He urged Washington and Tel Aviv to learn from the experience of a 12-day imposed war against Iran.

Pakpour emphasized that lessons from past conflicts should deter the US and Israel from making what he called “wrong moves” that could lead to painful consequences. His remarks came amid heightened tensions following last June’s Israeli attack on Tehran, which targeted Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United States later joined Israel in that operation, and US President Trump has since kept open the option of further military action against Iran.

The warning underscores Iran’s continued military readiness and signals its intent to respond strongly to any renewed aggression by the US or Israel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to participate in trilateral talks with the United States and Russia aimed at ending the ongoing war. The meeting will take place in the United Arab Emirates. Zelensky made the announcement after meeting US President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, according to BBC reports. Trump said his meeting with Zelensky was excellent and confirmed that US Ambassador Steve Witkoff had traveled to Moscow to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky stated that the unresolved issue of land in eastern Ukraine remains the main obstacle to peace. Under a US proposal, Ukraine’s industrial Donbas region could become a demilitarized and free economic zone in exchange for security guarantees for Kyiv. Ukraine has offered to withdraw troops up to 40 kilometers from about 25 percent of the Donetsk region it controls, provided Russia takes similar steps. However, Russia’s reported desire to control the entire Donbas region remains a major challenge.

Zelensky emphasized that US involvement is essential to ensure Ukraine’s security after any peace agreement. He added that any deal would require approval from both the US Congress and Ukraine’s parliament.

US President Donald Trump announced that a large American naval fleet is moving toward the Gulf region to monitor Iran. He made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Trump said the deployment is intended to keep a close watch on Iran, adding that the fleet might not necessarily be used but will remain ready if needed.

According to senior Trump administration officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the fleet includes the aircraft carrier USS Abraham and several guided missile destroyers. These warships are reportedly heading toward Iran and are expected to position themselves near the Iranian coast within the next few days.

The move underscores Washington’s continued military vigilance in the Gulf amid tensions with Tehran, though Trump emphasized that no immediate confrontation is planned.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. President Donald Trump 'will not change' following their one-hour meeting. Zelensky described the meeting as good and very important, thanking Trump for taking the time to speak. After the meeting, held in Davos, Zelensky addressed world leaders, noting that America’s position is changing but no one is certain how. He questioned how Europe would keep pace with such rapid changes.

Zelensky criticized European leaders for avoiding decisive action on Ukraine, saying some leaders, though European, are not acting in Europe’s interest. He added that some powerful leaders still seek direction from others and question how long they must remain firm. According to Zelensky, no great power can function this way, and Europe must learn to defend itself.

He warned that the current challenges facing the continent pose serious threats to the European way of life, emphasizing the need for unity and self-reliance among European nations.

At a regular press briefing on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the United Nations reiterated its emphasis on ensuring accountability for those responsible for the mass casualties during Bangladesh’s July 2024 uprising. The issue arose when a journalist asked whether the UN Secretary-General would urge the Indian government to return Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh, following her conviction by a Bangladeshi court for allegedly ordering killings during the uprising that left at least 1,400 people dead.

In response, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq avoided naming any country but underscored the need for accountability based on objective facts. He stated that those identified as responsible must face justice in accordance with international law. Haq added that the UN itself had provided information on the killings and reaffirmed that accountability must be pursued with fundamental respect for international legal standards.

The UN has maintained its focus on justice for the victims of the July uprising since the beginning of the crisis, emphasizing that due process and adherence to international law are essential in addressing such grave human rights violations.

Since October 2023, nearly 300 journalists have been killed in Gaza amid Israeli military operations. The latest Israeli airstrike in central Gaza killed three more journalists—Anas Gunayem, Abdul Rauf Shath, and Mohammad Keshta—while they were documenting events on the ground. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the same attack also killed at least 11 Palestinians, including two children.

Munir al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said the vehicle carrying the photographers was deliberately targeted. The victims were reportedly working with the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief, which oversees Egyptian aid operations in the enclave. Al Jazeera reported that the strike occurred near Gaza’s so-called Netzarim Corridor, and videos circulating online showed a burned, bomb-damaged car emitting smoke.

Israeli army radio, citing a security source, claimed the car’s occupants were using a drone to gather intelligence on military forces, though this assertion could not be independently verified. Human rights organizations stated that repeated attacks on journalists constitute a direct violation of international law and press freedom.

At least ten Indian Army personnel were killed and ten others injured on Thursday in a road accident in Doda district of India-administered Kashmir. Officials said the soldiers were traveling in a bulletproof Casspir vehicle that plunged into a deep gorge while moving along the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road. The accident occurred near Khanni Top in a mountainous area, and rescue operations began immediately after the crash.

According to reports, the soldiers were en route to an operation when the vehicle lost control on the difficult terrain. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences over the deaths and said the injured were airlifted to a hospital for treatment. The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps confirmed the incident, citing bad weather and treacherous terrain as contributing factors.

India’s Home Minister and Defence Minister issued separate statements expressing sympathy for the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Authorities have launched an investigation into the accident.

Israel has gradually advanced efforts to close the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem, according to Al Jazeera. Since mid-2024, the process has involved a series of legal, administrative, and military actions aimed at removing the agency from the city. On May 9, 2024, the UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem was set on fire, forcing a temporary suspension of operations. Later, on October 28, Israel’s parliament passed a law banning UNRWA activities within what it calls its sovereign territory, including East Jerusalem.

Following the law’s enforcement on January 30, 2025, UNRWA vacated its headquarters for staff safety. Israeli authorities then ordered the closure of six UNRWA-run schools in April, affecting about 800 Palestinian children. In December, police entered the headquarters, removed the UN flag, and seized property, while new legislation allowed cutting utilities and seizing land. On January 12, 2026, police shut a health center for 30 days, and on January 20, Israeli forces began demolishing UNRWA structures.

Analysts cited in the report said the campaign to remove UNRWA undermines Palestinian refugees’ access to education and healthcare and represents a move to entrench occupation in violation of international law.

The Rafah border crossing, closed for a long period due to Israel’s offensive and the war with Hamas, is set to reopen next week. The announcement came from a leader of the Palestinian technocrat administration in Washington, following discussions at the Peace Board. Palestinian technocrat leader Ali Shath stated via video link from Davos, Switzerland, that the crossing will open in both directions, describing it as Gaza’s lifeline and a symbol of hope and opportunity for its people.

Shath added that reopening Rafah signals a shift away from the policy of keeping Gaza completely sealed off. The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to establish a Peace Board aimed at ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. One of the key conditions of the ceasefire, brokered by Trump in October, was the reopening of Gaza’s main entry points.

Since 2024, Israel has controlled the Rafah crossing, but no immediate comment was available from Israeli authorities. More than half of Gaza remains under Israeli control, including the area around the crossing, while the rest is under Hamas control.