British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a "landmark" 100-year partnership agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an unannounced visit to Ukraine, pledging to strengthen defence ties between the two countries. The agreement comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues and ahead of US President Donald Trump's return to the White House next week. Starmer stated that any deal to end the fighting must "guarantee" Ukraine's security and independence, and vowed to work with allies to ensure a settlement is robust enough to deter future aggression.
https://www.news18.com/world/uks-starmer-signs-landmark-100-year-accord-with-ukraines-zelenskyy-9191533.htmlKenyan President William Ruto attended the opening ceremony of the ADSW Summit, where he is scheduled to speak. This event comes after Kenya and the UAE signed a historic economic partnership deal known as CEPA, which is the first agreement of its kind between the UAE and a mainland African country. The two countries have also agreed to conduct a feasibility study on extending the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Kenya to South Sudan.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/business/2025-01-15-kenya-banks-on-trade-pact-with-uae-to-grow-exports-attract-fdisThe Trudeau government has been criticized for allowing individuals listed as criminals by India, who are supporters of Khalistani separatism in Punjab, to travel to Canada freely. These individuals have used their freedom to spread anti-India and anti-Hindu propaganda, with some even threatening physical violence against Indian mission functionaries in Canada.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/trudeau-risked-india-canada-relations/Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with representatives of the Saeima of Latvia, led by Speaker Daiga Mierina, to discuss support for Ukraine's defense industry and military training programs. The Ukrainian government received over 501 million euros in military aid from Latvia, including weapons, ammunition, and military goods. The two parties agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting its nuclear industry and "shadow fleet". They also discussed the creation of a reliable transportation corridor between Ukraine and the Baltic States through the Rail Baltica project.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3948505-shmyhal-latvian-speaker-discuss-training-of-ukrainian-military-support-for-defense-industry.htmlMarco Rubio, Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, has expressed concerns about China's rise as a superpower and its implications for the US. He described China as "the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever faced" and warned that if the US fails to respond effectively, it could face significant consequences. Rubio also pledged to ramp up support for Taiwan to prevent a potential Chinese invasion and emphasized the need for the US to reconsider its role in NATO, suggesting that European countries should take on more responsibility. He distanced himself from Trump's criticism of NATO allies but aligned with his "America First" approach, rejecting the idea of a rules-based liberal world order. Rubio also expressed support for Ukraine and Israel, while criticizing Hamas as a group of "savages."
https://www.firstpost.com/world/united-states/trumps-pick-for-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-vows-to-confront-dangerous-china-deter-taiwan-invasion-13853224.htmlMark Carney, a former head of Canada's central bank and the first non-Brit to lead the Bank of England since its founding in 1694, has announced his candidacy for Canada's next prime minister. He made the announcement in Edmonton, Alberta, criticizing the current government for losing focus on the economy and launching an attack on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is currently leading in polls. Carney also highlighted the challenges posed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, including his threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, and argued that a career politician like Poilievre would be ill-equipped to negotiate with him.
https://apnews.com/article/mark-carney-canada-prime-minister-liberal-party-84b89e724e1673b23d60508de9b45ac4US envoy Brett McGurk is confident that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas will be implemented on Sunday after resolving remaining disputes with Qatari friends. The Israeli cabinet is set to convene on Friday morning to ratify the deal, which was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US. The agreement includes a six-week initial ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. A vote on the deal had been slated for Thursday but was delayed due to last-minute demands from Hamas.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-confident-gaza-ceasefire-will-start-as-planned-on-sunday-israeli-cabinet-to-vote-on-deal-on-friday-13853561.htmlA last-minute dispute has emerged over a ceasefire agreement for hostages in Gaza, with US envoys working to resolve the issue. The disagreement centers on the identities of several prisoners Hamas demands to be released. US President Joe Biden's envoy Brett McGurk and President-elect Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff are working with Qatari and Egyptian negotiators to address the issue. The agreement, overseen by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, includes provisions for a six-week initial phase involving the withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. Hamas is set to release 33 Israeli hostages in stages, prioritizing women, children, and men over 50, while Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for each civilian hostage and 50 detainees for each Israeli female soldier.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-last-minute-dispute-could-delay-deal-implementation-us-envoy-says-working-to-solve-it-13853544.htmlItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed optimism that the incoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump will maintain support for Ukraine and avoid pressuring it into premature negotiations with Russia. This sentiment was echoed by other European allies of Ukraine, who believe that abandoning the country would be a mistake.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3948578-ukraine-not-pressured-into-peace-with-russia-ukraines-fm.html