Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has criticized Donald Trump's remarks about potentially expanding the US border to include Canada, calling them "totally unacceptable insults and unprecedented threats" to Canadian sovereignty. In an article published in The Globe and Mail newspaper on his 91st birthday, Chretien expressed his nation's love of independence and questioned why Trump would think Canadians would give up their country to join the US. He also noted that Canada is a significant trading partner with the US, importing approximately 60% of its crude oil from Canada and exchanging over $2.7 billion worth of goods and services across the border each day. Chretien's comments reflect the strong stance taken by Canadian officials in response to Trump's expansionist rhetoric, which has also targeted other US allies such as Denmark and Panama.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/give-your-head-a-shake-canadas-former-leader-chretien-tells-trump/article69091207.eceCroatian President Zoran Milanović has been increasingly outspoken on issues such as his country's relationship with NATO, particularly regarding a potential deployment of Croatian soldiers to Ukraine. Political analyst Viseslav Raos notes that despite the ceremonial nature of the presidency in Croatia, the elected president holds significant authority and is seen as crucial for maintaining political balance in the country, which has been largely governed by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) since its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Milanović's stance on NATO has raised concerns among some, including Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who denies any plans to send troops to Ukraine.
https://apnews.com/article/croatia-election-milanovic-plenkovic-58faa5040751b131edc4b34c03f18e18Ontario Premier Doug Ford has expressed concerns about US President Donald Trump's comments regarding Canada, calling them "a problem". Ford considers Trump a "shrewd operator" and "smart businessperson", but notes that he has not set his sights on other close allies such as the UK and France. The two leaders have met in the past, including when Trump opened the former Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto in 2012. Ford's government is taking steps to address Trump's concerns about border security, including launching "Operation Deterrence" to crack down on illegal crossings and collaborating with the US DEA to identify the source of fentanyl ingredients. Despite Justin Trudeau's resignation as prime minister, Canadian premiers will meet with him next week to discuss the Trump tariff issue.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/influential-leader-canadas-ontario-province-seeks-trump-musk-meeting-us-needs-us-like-we-need-themA delegation from DP World, led by Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, visited Pakistan to finalize commercial aspects of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Project, which aims to improve railway infrastructure in Karachi and reduce freight traffic in the city. The project, launched through a multi-million-dollar investment, is part of Pakistan's Multi-Modal Logistics Framework, positioning the country as a regional hub for transshipment and transit trade. A term sheet was signed between DP World, Pakistan Railways, and National Logistics Cell (NLC) officials, with Mazhar Ali Shah representing Pakistan in the presence of the DG SIFC.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1271284-dp-world-of-uae-and-nlc-sign-agreementThe EU may lift certain sanctions imposed on a country in order to aid its economic recovery. According to Kaia Kallas, the EU's High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, this could include measures such as restrictions on access to banking services. The decision will be made at an upcoming meeting of European foreign ministers scheduled for January 27, contingent on concrete results being achieved.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/941063-saudi-foreign-minister-calls-for-lifting-of-sanctions-on-syriaFinland has announced that it will contribute two warships to a NATO monitoring mission, while the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force plans to increase its surveillance efforts in the region. Sweden's government has also commissioned its military to provide up to three warships and an air and sea surveillance plane to support the effort. The move comes after several incidents of damaged cables linking Finland and Estonia, which are believed to have been caused by a Russian oil tanker called the Eagle S, part of Moscow's "shadow fleet" that operates under opaque ownership or without proper insurance.
https://www.jordantimes.com/news/world/sweden-send-three-ships-aircraft-natos-baltic-patrol-mission-pmThe Lebanese government is working with the World Bank to assess the damage from recent events and establish a multi-donor trust fund for reconstruction efforts. The World Bank is also considering an emergency project focused on targeted assistance, but no concrete plan has been announced. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has mobilized 145 teams, including engineers, data analysts, and auditors, to aid in the recovery process, with some volunteers contributing their time. So far, compensation payments have come from Iranian donors, although it is unclear if this support comes from the government or private individuals.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/lebanons-reconstruction-nightmare-slow-progress-and-uncertain-funding-13852044.htmlThe 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 surrounding trade policy and its impact on countries with integrated supply chains, particularly in Asia. According to Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF's Chief Economist, this uncertainty is reflected in higher long-term interest rates despite lower short-term rates, a trend not seen before. The organization predicts divergent trends across regions, including stalled growth in the European Union and weakening growth in India, while China faces deflationary pressure and Brazil struggles with inflation. Georgieva emphasized 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 their economic problems.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/584895-imf-foresees-steady-global-growth-falling-inflation-for-2025