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President Donald Trump outlined a “framework of a future deal” on Greenland following talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at Davos, though details were not disclosed and Danish and Greenlandic leaders said sovereignty was not discussed and remains non-negotiable.

This comes as France seized an oil tanker suspected of links to Russia’s sanctions-evasion network, the United States confirmed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, and US officials presented a phased “New Gaza” reconstruction plan contingent on demilitarisation.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇬🇱 Trump outlines Greenland “framework”: President Donald Trump said a “framework of a future deal” on Greenland was agreed after talks with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at Davos, without providing details. Rutte said Danish sovereignty was not discussed, while Danish and Greenlandic leaders said sovereignty is non-negotiable and that Greenland does not know the framework’s contents. 

2️⃣🇫🇷🇷🇺 France seizes tanker linked to Russia sanctions evasion: France seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of belonging to Russia’s sanctions-evasion “shadow fleet,” citing alleged false flag use and international sanctions violations following a naval boarding. Russia said it was not informed of the seizure, while French, British and Ukrainian officials said the action aimed to enforce sanctions tied to the war in Ukraine.

3️⃣🇺🇸🇵🇸 US outlines “New Gaza” reconstruction plan: US officials presented a phased “New Gaza” plan at Davos featuring large-scale housing, industrial zones, transport infrastructure and demilitarisation under oversight of Trump’s Board of Peace. The plan assumes Hamas will disarm, though fighting, humanitarian shortages and political disputes over governance and sovereignty continue despite a fragile ceasefire.

4️⃣🇺🇸 US completes withdrawal from WHO: The Trump administration confirmed the United States has ended all funding and participation in the World Health Organization, leaving around $260m in unpaid dues that legal experts say are unlikely to be settled. Officials cited dissatisfaction with WHO’s handling of Covid-19, while public health experts warned the move could weaken global disease surveillance.

5️⃣🇺🇦🇪🇺 Zelenskyy urges European defence action: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised European countries at Davos for what he described as insufficient defence efforts and called for a united European armed force. He said the remarks followed a positive meeting with President Trump and preceded expected trilateral talks.

Major Story

🇺🇸🌍 Trump launches Board of Peace

US President Donald Trump formally announced the charter of a new “Board of Peace” at a signing ceremony in Davos, describing it as a body for resolving international conflicts and setting a $1bn contribution requirement for permanent membership. The initiative was initially conceived to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, but its published 11-page charter makes no reference to Gaza, while Trump said the board could expand its remit to other global crises traditionally addressed by the United Nations.

Trump said the board would work with other institutions, including the UN, and claimed it would be successful in Gaza, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating its immediate focus was ensuring the Gaza ceasefire holds. 

Several countries have agreed to join, others — including multiple European states — have declined, and there is no Palestinian representative on the board, while questions remain over its scope, membership, and relationship with existing international bodies.

Other News

1️⃣🇺🇦🇷🇺🇺🇸 Zelenskyy says trilateral talks expected: Zelenskyy said Ukraine, Russia and the United States are expected to hold trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi this weekend, which would be the first such meeting since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Attendance remains unconfirmed, with Moscow yet to confirm participation and US officials saying talks would continue at a technical level.

2️⃣🇺🇸🇨🇦 Trump withdraws Canada from peace board: President Trump withdrew Canada’s invitation to join his proposed Board of Peace after Prime Minister Mark Carney declined to commit to the $1bn permanent membership fee. The move followed public exchanges in Davos in which Carney criticised disruption to the rules-based order and Trump questioned Canada’s reliance on the US.

3️⃣🇬🇧🇺🇸 UK declines to join Board of Peace: The UK said it would not join President Trump’s Board of Peace at its Davos launch, citing concerns over its legal scope and the possible involvement of Vladimir Putin. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said questions remain over the board’s structure and mandate amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

4️⃣🇺🇦 Ukraine energy system in “survival mode”: Ukraine’s largest energy provider DTEK said Russian strikes have left the energy system in “survival mode,” causing widespread power and heating outages during one of the war’s harshest winters. Officials reported large-scale infrastructure damage, displacement from Kyiv and rising cases of hypothermia.

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