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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in London.During the meeting, the leaders discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories, reaffirming their strong and continued support for the two-state solution. A statement issued by the British Prime Minister’s Office said that Starmer and Subianto welcomed the strong progress on the Strategic Partnership between the UK and Indonesia. They also noted that the 4 billion pound Maritime Partnership Programme agreed between the two countries in November underlinedآ this progress, supporting thousands of jobs in both nations while also boosting regional and food security. Source link
United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) revealed in a report that three-quarters of the worldâ€s population lives in countries classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure, and about 4 billion experience severe water scarcity for at least one month a year.Lead author Kaveh Madani characterized the current crisis as a ‘global water bankruptcy.’ He attributed this state to a decades of water overuse, and the depletion of natural reservoirs, including wetlands and glaciers, which has left billions of people vulnerable.Madani stressed that recognition of the water bankruptcy is crucial to finally make the difficult choices that will protect people, economies, and ecosystems, noting that “human–water systems are already in a post-crisis state of failure,” due to aquifers, glaciers, soils, wetlands, and river ecosystems, alongside the impact of pollution.Findings from the report indicate that more than 170 million hectares of irrigated agricultural land are under “high” or “very high” water stress, with land degradation, groundwater depletion, and climate change resulting in economic disasters costing around US$307 billion per year.The crisis affects around 3 billion people and more than half of the worldâ€s food production are located in areas where total water storage is already declining or unstable, and salinization has led to the degradation of over 100 million hectares of agricultural land, according to Madani.The report concludes that current approaches to solving water issues are no longer adequate for the scale of the problem. It emphasizes that the priority must shift away from attempting to return to old baselines and toward the establishment of a “new water agenda” aimed at reducing further damage. Source link
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Donald Trump discussed, in a phone call, regional and international developments, in addition to bilateral relations. According to a statement by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications, President Erdogan affirmed that Turkiye is “closely” following developments in Syria, stressing that Syria’s unity, solidarity and territorial integrity are of paramount importance to Turkiye. The two leaders also discussed the fight against ISIS and the issue of ISIS members detained in Syrian prisons. “A peaceful Syria, free from terrorism and developing in all aspects, would contribute to the stability of the region”, President Erdogan said. Regarding the Gaza Strip, Erdogan said that efforts to establish peace in Gaza are continuing, and that Turkiye will continue to coordinate with the United States on this matter. President Erdogan also thanked Trump for the invitation to participate in the Board of Peace for Gaza. Source link
This photo taken on December 2, 2025 shows Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant Unit 6 in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture. The world’s biggest nuclear…
Cebu City truly earns its title as the “Queen City of the South,” showcasing breathtaking sights and a rich, vibrant culture. Cebu, known as the Queen City of the South, is set to take centre stage in regional tourism as the Philippines prepares to host the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026 from January 28 to 30, 2026. The prestigious event will bring together tourism leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, reaffirming Cebu’s growing stature as a premier meetings and events destination. One of the key highlights of ATF 2026 will be the National Tourism Organisation (NTO) briefings, scheduled for January 28 and 29. These sessions will feature updates and strategic presentations from ASEAN member states, including Timor-Leste, the region’s newest member. Delegates can look forward to in-depth insights into new tourism developments, emerging destinations, and collaborative initiatives shaping the future of travel in Southeast Asia. The forum will also showcase a vibrant programme of high-level official functions and networking events. These include a Hosted Luncheon by Tourism Malaysia on January 28 at the Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, the ASEANTA Excellence Awards Night, and the ATF 2026 Opening Ceremony hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines. Other highlights include a Reception and Dinner hosted by the Singapore Tourism Board, welcoming delegates to ATF 2027, as well as the ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards and Closing Ceremony at the NUSTAR Convention Centre. “As a key meeting point for the travel industry in Southeast Asia, TRAVEX plays an important role in strengthening partnerships and driving growth,” said Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines. “Hosting this event is a responsibility we value highly, and we are committed to creating a dynamic platform that highlights the depth, connectivity, and momentum of tourism across ASEAN.” With its forward-looking theme, state-of-the-art venues, and a robust programme of business, networking, and recognition events, ATF TRAVEX 2026 is poised to become a major milestone for ASEAN tourism. The event is expected to further strengthen regional collaboration and reinforce a shared vision as Southeast Asia navigates the future of sustainable and inclusive tourism. The ASEAN Tourism Forum is a long-standing cooperative initiative aimed at promoting ASEAN as a single tourism destination. Hosted on a rotational basis among member countries, ATF serves as a powerful platform for ASEAN nations to enhance their global tourism profile through meaningful collaboration, driving growth while preserving the region’s rich heritage, identity, and culture for future generations. Related Story Source link
A minibus carrying students to school collided with a truck south of Johannesburg yesterday, killing 13 pupils, South African police said. It was the latest in a string of deadly crashes in a country whose modern road network is undermined by rampant speeding, reckless driving and poorly maintained vehicles. The crash happened near the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark, about 60kms south of Johannesburg. Police said the driver of the minibus appeared to have lost control while attempting to overtake other vehicles. The toll rose to 13 after an injured child died of injuries, the provincial education department said in a statement. Several children were also badly hurt. Authorities did not immediately release the ages of the children but provincial education minister Matome Chiloane said they were from primary schools, where pupils are aged from six years. Source link
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died, his foundation said yesterday. Usually known only by his first name, Valentino was 93, and had retired in 2008. Founder of the eponymous brand, Valentino scaled the heights of haute couture, created a business empire and introduced a new colour to the fashion world, the so-called ‘Valentino Red’. “Valentino Garavani passed away at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones,” the foundation said on Instagram. The lying in state will be tomorrow and Thursday, while the funeral will take place in Rome on Friday at 11am (1000 GMT), it added. Source link
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos yesterday said a “significant” discovery of natural gas had been made near the country’s sole producing offshore site. About 98bn cubic feet (2.8bn cubic metres) of natural gas – enough to provide power to 5.7mn homes for a year – has been found east of the Malampaya Field near the island of Palawan, Marcos said. The Philippines has some of the region’s highest energy costs and faces a looming crisis as the Malampaya gas field, which supplies about 40% of power to the archipelago’s main island, Luzon, is expected to run dry within a few years. The discovery – 5kms east of the Malampaya Field – is the first in more than a decade and suggested the potential to produce even more, Marcos said. “This helps Malampaya’s contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come. Initial testing showed that the well flowed at 60mn cubic feet per day,” Marcos said in a statement. Source link
US President Donald Trump has linked his drive to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thought “purely of Peace” as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe. Asked by NBC News in a brief telephone interview yesterday if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump said “No comment,” adding he would “100%” follow through on plans to hit European nations with tariffs without a Greenland deal. Trump has intensified his push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow Nato member Denmark, prompting the European Union to weigh hitting back with its own measures. The dispute is threatening to upend the Nato alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades and which was already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trump’s refusal to protect allies which do not spend enough on defence. Trump’s threat has rattled European industry and sent shockwaves through financial markets amid fears of a return to the volatility of 2025’s trade war, which only eased when the sides reached tariff deals in the middle of the year. In a text message on Sunday to Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Trump said: “Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.” Norway’s government released the messages yesterday under the country’s freedom of information act. Stoere had sent an initial message on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, calling for de-escalation of tensions and suggesting a call, eliciting a response from Trump less than half an hour later. The Norwegian Nobel Committee annoyed Trump by awarding the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize not to him but to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. In his message, Trump also repeated his accusation that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia or China.“… And why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” he wrote, adding: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.” Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs from February 1 on EU members Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway, until the US is allowed to buy Greenland, home to only 57,000 people. “We are living in 2026, you can trade with people, but you don’t trade people,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said during a visit to London yesterday.In a post on Facebook, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory should be allowed to decide its own fate. “We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law,” he said. Denmark’s military said planes carrying Danish soldiers and army commander Peter Boysen would land in Kangerlussuaq, western Greenland, describing it as a “substantial contribution” to the Arctic Endurance military exercise. Norway’s Stoere amended his schedule, announcing that he would attend the World Economic Forum in Davos tomorrow and Thursday, overlapping with Trump’s planned appearance at the annual gathering of the global political and business elite. Trump is expected to deliver a keynote address tomorrow in his first appearance at the conference in six years. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he too would try to meet Trump tomorrow, adding that a trade dispute was not wanted. “But if we are confronted with tariffs that we consider unreasonable, then we are capable of responding,” Merz said. Source link
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan walks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival at the airport in New Delhi, India, yesterday. India yesterday signed a $3bn deal to buy liquefied natural gas from the United Arab Emirates, making it the UAE’s top customer, as the leaders of both countries held talks to strengthen trade and defence ties. The agreement was signed during a very brief two-hour visit to India by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They pledged to double bilateral trade to $200bn in six years and form a strategic defence partnership. Abu Dhabi state firm ADNOC Gas will supply 0.5mn metric tonnes of LNG a year to India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation for 10 years, the companies said. ADNOC Gas said the agreement brings the total value of its contracts with India to over $20bn. “India is now the UAE’s largest customer and a very important part of ADNOC Gas’ LNG strategy,” the company said.The United Arab Emirates is India’s third largest trading partner and Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by a government delegation that included his defence and foreign ministers. The two sides signed a letter of intent to work towards forming a strategic defence partnership, India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters. …