The World Bank is considering an emergency project for Lebanon, which would provide targeted assistance to areas in need, according to Chami. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has mobilized 145 reconstruction teams with over 1,250 engineers and hundreds of auditors, many of whom are volunteers, to help rebuild the country. The group's efforts have been funded by the Iranian people, although it is unclear if this support comes from the government or private donors. In one example, a 29-year-old architect named Jana is volunteering with Hezbollah teams in her hometown of Nabatiyeh, where much of the city has been destroyed, including an Ottoman-era market.
https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-reconstruction-dea56cbb5e5615b4973fcdb2d7b53de2The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concerns about the global economy due to high uncertainty around trade policy. According to Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF's Chief Economist, this uncertainty is particularly pronounced in regions with integrated supply chains and medium-sized economies, such as Asia. The IMF notes divergent trends across different regions, including a stall in growth for the European Union and weakening growth in India, while Brazil faces higher inflation. In China, the IMF sees deflationary pressure and challenges with domestic demand. Georgieva emphasizes that countries need to adopt reforms to boost growth sustainably and cut fiscal spending after high outlays during the pandemic, warning that borrowing is not a solution to economic problems.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1271175-imf-chief-sees-steady-world-growth-in-2025-continuing-disinflationIndia's influence over the Indian Ocean has been downplayed by successive governments despite being referred to as its "traditional sphere of influence" by Western nations. This shift began a decade before China claimed ownership of the South China Sea, which has sparked protests from neighboring countries. India can now look to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation with regional leaders, particularly after recent state visits, to secure shared waters and counterbalance the presence of non-regional powers like China. With strategic partnerships in place with the US and France, as well as its own naval and air presence in the Andaman and Lakshadweep Island groups, India can potentially set a trap for any adversarial power threatening its security from the sea and challenge its geo-strategic supremacy in the region.
https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/reconverting-the-ior-pond-into-indias-traditional-sphere-of-influence-13852073.htmlCBI director Praveen Sood has stated that the newly introduced Interpol 'Silver Notice' is a more effective tool than Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) for gathering information on illicit assets parked offshore. The Silver Notice, which was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and has now taken shape, aims to locate illicit assets laundered across borders. It is the newest addition to Interpol's suite of eight colour-coded Notices and Diffusions, enabling countries to share alerts and requests for information worldwide. India has MLATs with 45 countries, but Sood believes that the Silver Notice has a higher degree of emphasis and sanctity than MLATs, making it more acceptable to member countries. The Interpol mechanism allows States and central agencies to use the Bharatpol system to send their requests for information through the CBI, which is designated as the National Central Bureau of India for all matters pertaining to the global organisation. A pilot phase of the Silver Notice involving 52 countries and territories was launched on Friday and will run until November 2025.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/silver-notice-more-effective-than-mlats-for-info-on-offshore-illicit-wealth-cbi-director/article69092471.eceIndia and Nepal held an Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting on January 10-11, where India agreed to send 2,00,000 MT of wheat to Nepal. The meeting was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, and was facilitated by the Indian Embassy in Nepal. This move is a continuation of India's support for ensuring the supply of essential commodities to Nepal.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/india-holds-inter-governmental-committee-meet-with-nepal-to-send-200000-mt-wheat/Indonesia has officially become a full member of the influential economic group BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This historic moment in Indonesia's economic diplomacy was announced by Brazil, which currently holds the BRICS presidency. Indonesia's entry into BRICS marks a significant milestone for the country, following its acceptance as a member by consensus among all BRICS members in 2023. The move is seen as mutually beneficial, with Sugiono emphasizing that it will ensure the interests of developing countries and the Indo-Pacific region remain intact.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1962929/foreign-minister-reveals-why-indonesia-is-a-full-member-of-bricsJapanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba concluded a four-day visit to Malaysia and Indonesia on Saturday, aiming to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia as China's influence in the region grows. During his trip, Ishiba met with Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, agreeing to deepen cooperation in areas such as economic investment, energy, and security. The visits were seen as strategic moves by Ishiba, particularly targeting Malaysia as chair of ASEAN this year and Indonesia as the region's largest economy.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/12/japan/politics/ishiba-visit-southeast-asia/Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Qatar, with the goal of securing a ceasefire and releasing Palestinian hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The talks involve exchanging these hostages for Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/940928-four-israeli-soldiers-killed-in-fighting-in-the-northern-gaza-stripJapanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya plans to attend Donald Trump's inauguration as US president, aiming to maintain close ties between Japan and its security ally. This move is part of Tokyo's efforts to build a relationship of trust with the new administration, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.