Las Luminarias, a centuries-old festival in San Bartolomé de Pinares, Spain, lit up the village on January 16, 2026, with riders guiding horses through blazing bonfires to purify the animals and invoke protection from Saint Anthony.


Horses Leap Through Flames in Spain's Fire Festival

Vaishno Devi Blaze in Trikuta Mountains Near Ardhkuwari, Yatra Safe 

U.S. FAA issued advisories on January 16, 2026, urging airlines to exercise caution over Mexican airspace and parts of Central/South America due to potential "military activities" and GPS interference risks, amid Trump's cartel strike threats.


 U.S. Cautions Airlines Over 'military Activities' in Mexican Airspace

President Donald Trump expressed newfound fondness for Venezuela on January 16, 2026, stating "Now I like Venezuela very much" on Truth Social after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's meeting with interim leader Delcy Rodríguez signaled warming ties post-Maduro.


Trump: "Now I Like Venezuela Very Much"

World powers are advancing global trade initiatives amid U.S. tariff threats, with China-Canada resetting ties and India-EU accelerating strategic pacts for supply chain resilience.



Global Trade Push: China-Canada Reset, India-EU Surge

Heavy rains have killed at least 30 in South Africa's Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, with over 100 deaths across the region including Mozambique and Zimbabwe; authorities issue high alerts for more deluge.


South Africa Flood Toll Climbs to 30, Red Alert Issued

Islami Andolan Bangladesh announced its exit from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance on January 16, 2026, citing unfair seat-sharing and deviation from Islamic ideals ahead of general elections.


Islami Andolan Quits Jamaat Alliance Pre-Polls

President Donald Trump vowed on January 16, 2026, to impose tariffs on countries opposing U.S. control of Greenland, citing Arctic security threats from Russia and China during White House remarks.


U.S.-Greenland: Trump Tariff War Over Greenland Control

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism for concrete U.S. security guarantees during upcoming Miami talks on January 17, 2026, amid delays in ammunition supplies straining the frontline.


Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky Eyes Security Guarantees in Upcoming Talks With U.S. 

China's PLA is developing over 10 experimental quantum cyber warfare tools, including systems for rapid battlefield data analysis, stealth detection, and jam-proof navigation, as reported in January 2026 by state media.


China Unleashes 10+ Quantum Weapons Onslaught

Venezuela's opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed strong confidence on January 16, 2026, in a smooth democratic transition, crediting U.S. support under President Trump despite his backing of interim leader Delcy Rodríguez.


Machado Confident: Venezuela Transition On Track

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced reforms centralizing oil dollar revenues into two sovereign funds on January 15, 2026, to stabilize the bolivar and fund reconstruction amid post-Maduro recovery.


Venezuela Pools Oil Dollars in Stability Funds

Nepal's Election Commission officially recognized Gagan Thapa's faction as the authentic Nepali Congress on January 16, 2026, days after a party split triggered by a special general convention that elected the 49-year-old reformist as president. This leadership shift, backed by over 60% of delegates, ousts veteran Sher Bahadur Deuba ahead of March 5 polls amid youth-driven demands for change.


Nepal Congress Splits: Thapa Elected Prez via Convention

Pakistan PM adviser Rana Sanaullah urged PTI on January 16, 2026, to pursue dialogue and rejoin parliamentary committees ahead of the party's planned February 8 protests, claiming PTI leaders favor talks but jailed founder Imran Khan blocks them.


Sanaullah: PTI Leaders Want Talks, Imran Blocks Dialogue

Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared no concessions in U.S. talks on January 12, 2026, vowing not to be intimidated by Trump's threats post-Venezuela intervention, with thousands rallying outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana to affirm sovereignty.


Cuba vs U.S.: Cuba Rejects US Deal: 'No Concessions' Amid Threats

India has agreed to provide 60 million dollars to renovate the Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna district. A major boost for post-war infrastructure and tourism in the Tamil-majority region. Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the announcement on Friday while addressing a public gathering near Jaffna, saying the funding will help unlock the region’s economic potential.


India to Give $60 Million to Renovate Sri Lanka's Kankesanthurai Port

President Donald Trump praised his "great relationship" with Venezuela's interim government under Delcy Rodríguez following CIA Director John Ratcliffe's meeting with her in Caracas on January 15, 2026. The talks focused on intelligence sharing, anti-narcotics cooperation, and economic stabilization after Maduro's ouster, signaling a U.S. pivot toward collaboration.


Trump Hails 'Great Ties' After CIA Meets Venezuela Leader

The world is entering what the world economic forum calls an ‘age of competition,’ where rising power rivalries, trade tensions, and strategic standoffs are reshaping global stability. In its global risks report 2026, the WEF warns that Geoeconomic confrontation has become the single biggest threat facing the world this year.


World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026: Key Findings

Canada and China announced a major reset in trade relations. The announcement came from Beijing after talks between Canadian prime minister mark carney and Chinese president Xi Jinping.


China to Open Its Market for Canada's Agri Products

China has cut its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds to the lowest level since 2008, even as global foreign ownership of U.S. Debt hit a record high. That marks a nearly 10 percent decline since January last year, and confirms a long-term trend of China steadily reducing its exposure to American government debt.


 China Cuts U.S. Debt to Lowest Level Since 2008 

 U.S. President trump has announced a 25 percent tariff on any country trading with Iran. India is closely tracking developments in Iran, not just as a regional crisis, but as a strategic test with direct implications for its connectivity and foreign policy.


Instability in Iran Raises Long-term Questions for India 

At the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Kerala is set to showcase its next frontier,  healthcare, life sciences, and biotech-led growth. From telemedicine and digital care to biotech, genomics, and AI-driven diagnostics, Kerala is building a future-ready health ecosystem.

Davos 2026 | How Kerala is Building the Future of Healthcare | WION at Davos 

From tourism and hospitality to Medicare and wellness, Kerala has emerged as a global destination. As leaders prepare for the Davos 2026 summit from January 19, discover why Kerala stands out at India’s pavilion at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Kerala' Power-packed Delegation at Davos 2026 | Invest in Kerala 

Indian equities ended the week largely unchanged as optimism around corporate earnings helped offset global headwinds and sustained foreign investor selling.

Cues to Watch in Indian Markets Next Week

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