Global Pulse

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  • Look: UAE President touches down in India, welcomed by PM Narendra Modi during visit

    Look: UAE President touches down in India, welcomed by PM Narendra Modi during visit

    In a significant diplomatic engagement, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on January 19, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral relations between the two nations. The distinguished leader was received with full state honors by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Palam Air Force Station, where ceremonial guards flanked the red carpet in a display of mutual respect and diplomatic protocol.

    The high-level delegation accompanying the UAE President includes prominent figures such as Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, alongside key government ministers and senior officials. This composition underscores the strategic importance both nations place on this diplomatic exchange.

    Prime Minister Modi characterized the visit as emblematic of the robust friendship and growing strategic partnership between India and the UAE. The leaders are scheduled to engage in comprehensive discussions covering bilateral cooperation, economic partnerships, and regional security matters. This meeting follows previous successful summits that have substantially strengthened economic and security ties between the two nations.

    The timing of this state visit holds particular significance as both countries continue to expand their collaboration in energy security, digital infrastructure, and technological innovation. Recent years have witnessed substantial Emirati investment in Indian infrastructure projects, while India remains a crucial partner for the UAE’s food security initiatives and technological development.

  • Giorgio Armani launches new era with iridescent colors and a star-studded front row

    Giorgio Armani launches new era with iridescent colors and a star-studded front row

    MILAN — The fashion world witnessed a significant transition as Giorgio Armani’s first menswear collection since the iconic designer’s passing debuted under the sole creative direction of his longtime collaborator Leo Dell’Orco. The showcase, which closed Milan Fashion Week, attracted celebrity attendees including Ricky Martin and Hudson Williams in the front row.

    The collection masterfully balanced Armani’s heritage with contemporary innovation, maintaining the brand’s signature soft tailoring while introducing sharper, modern elements. The presentation opened with a fresh color narrative, featuring a loden green top paired with a textured jacket and gray trousers. Iridescent jewel tones in calming purples and lapis blues created striking contrasts against luxurious velvet, cashmere, and chenille fabrics.

    Archival Armani aesthetics emerged through blouson bomber jackets and belted trench coats complemented by simple white shirts with ties, alongside the brand’s trademark pleated trousers. The ensembles were completed with slightly crumpled fedora hats, adding a touch of casual sophistication.

    In a departure from Armani’s usual presentation style, the new collection received a full walk-through finale, with Martin capturing the moment from his front-row seat as the audience applauded enthusiastically. Fashion experts noted the collection’s heightened energy and joyful spirit, with WWD’s Fashion and Style Director Alex Badia observing, ‘There is something about joy. It is not a new beginning but you can sense something new is happening.’

    Carlo Capasa, head of Milan’s fashion chamber, praised the collection as ‘very modern’ while maintaining ‘the true spirit of Armani.’ Dell’Orco, who collaborated with Armani for four decades, received extended applause when he took his bow, notably dressed in a double-breasted suit without a tie—a subtle but meaningful departure from Armani’s signature dark T-shirt and blazer combination.

  • ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Review: A smaller, smarter return to Westeros

    ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Review: A smaller, smarter return to Westeros

    The fantasy landscape of Westeros returns with a refreshingly intimate approach in HBO’s latest spinoff ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ now streaming weekly on OSN+ in the UAE. Departing from the epic scale of its predecessors, this series adapts George R.R. Martin’s novella ‘The Hedge Knight’ with a deliberate focus on character development and grounded storytelling.

    Set approximately a century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ the narrative follows Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a knight-for-hire determined to prove his worth through tournaments and small missions, accompanied by his young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Unlike the dragon-filled skies and throne-room conspiracies of previous iterations, this installment explores Westeros at human scale, where honor and personal identity carry equal weight to political power.

    The series demonstrates structural intelligence through its concise format—six episodes of approximately thirty minutes each—creating tightly paced storytelling that avoids narrative bloat. While the weekly release schedule may challenge binge-conditioned audiences, the deliberate pacing allows for meaningful character development without unnecessary padding.

    Performance excellence elevates the production, with eleven-year-old Dexter Sol Ansell delivering a remarkably nuanced portrayal of Egg that consistently captivates. Peter Claffey physically embodies the towering knight while bringing emotional depth to a character who frequently misreads social situations, generating authentic humor through awkward interactions and class disparities.

    The production maintains visual sophistication despite its smaller scope, with cinematography reaching particular brilliance in episode five—a sequence that also reaffirms the series’ commitment to maintaining Westeros’ signature edge despite its lighter tone. Familiar house names like Targaryen and Baratheon emerge organically, satisfying franchise enthusiasts while remaining accessible to newcomers.

    This character-driven approach proves Westeros needs neither ice zombies nor dragons to maintain compelling storytelling, offering a refreshing alternative to the increasingly complex mythology of ‘House of the Dragon.’ With season two already greenlit, the series establishes a promising new direction for Martin’s fantasy universe.

  • Ninth policeman dies in Guatemala gang riots, attacks

    Ninth policeman dies in Guatemala gang riots, attacks

    Guatemala has plunged into a state of emergency following a devastating surge in gang-related violence that has resulted in the deaths of nine police officers. President Bernardo Arevalo enacted the 30-day emergency measure on Sunday in response to coordinated riots across three prisons and a subsequent wave of targeted attacks on law enforcement personnel.

    The crisis ignited when gang-affiliated inmates seized 45 guards and a psychiatrist as hostages on Saturday. Their demands centered on the transfer of gang leaders from maximum-security facilities to institutions with more lenient conditions. Guatemalan security forces, with military support, executed a successful operation on Sunday to reclaim control of the prisons and liberate all captives.

    In retaliation for the government’s crackdown, criminal networks launched aggressive assaults on police stations and patrol units. These attacks claimed the lives of eight officers immediately and left another critically wounded. The ninth fatality, Officer Frayan Medrano, succumbed to his injuries on Monday after being shot during a motorcycle patrol south of Guatemala City. The violence also left a dozen additional officers wounded and resulted in the death of one suspected gang member.

    Authorities have attributed much of the violence to the Barrio 18 gang, alongside their rivals MS-13. Both organizations are recognized by the United States as terrorist entities and are held responsible for significant drug trafficking and criminal operations throughout Central America. In a significant development, security forces captured Aldo Dupie, known by the alias ‘El Lobo’ (The Wolf), the alleged leader of Barrio 18 in Guatemala. Official footage showed him being taken into custody with bloodstained clothing.

    The declared state of emergency grants expanded powers to security forces, including the authority to suspend assembly rights and conduct arrests without immediate judicial oversight. This crisis continues a pattern of prison unrest in Guatemala dating back to mid-2025, with gang members repeatedly demanding improved conditions for their incarcerated leaders.

    Guatemala faces profound security challenges, with homicide rates reaching 17.65 per 100,000 inhabitants last year—more than double the global average. The nation’s struggle with organized crime reflects broader regional patterns where criminal enterprises continue to operate from within prison systems, often with alleged collusion from corrupt officials.

  • Pakistan: Magnitude 6 quake kills one person, brings down houses

    Pakistan: Magnitude 6 quake kills one person, brings down houses

    A significant seismic event measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck northwestern Pakistan on Monday, January 19, 2026, resulting in casualties and substantial damage to infrastructure. According to official reports from regional authorities and the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), the earthquake’s epicenter was located at a depth of 35 kilometers (approximately 21.75 miles).

    The tremor triggered substantial geological disturbances in the mountainous terrain of Gilgit-Baltistan province, where multiple mud-brick residences either collapsed or sustained severe structural damage. Regional Information Minister Ghulam Abbas confirmed that falling mountain rocks struck several access roads and a major highway, significantly impeding transportation networks.

    Tragically, one fatality was confirmed when a man was struck by falling debris on a roadway. Minister Abbas indicated that government agencies had mobilized heavy machinery to clear blocked transportation routes and assess the full extent of the damage. The remote, mountainous geography of the affected region presents particular challenges for emergency response and recovery operations.

    The seismic activity occurred in a region historically susceptible to earthquakes due to its proximity to the convergence of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. The timing of the event—during winter months—raises additional concerns about displaced residents and the potential for secondary hazards, including landslides and aftershocks.

  • India’s central bank proposes linking BRICS’ digital currencies, sources say

    India’s central bank proposes linking BRICS’ digital currencies, sources say

    In a strategic move that could reshape global financial architecture, India’s central bank has advanced a proposal to interconnect the digital currencies of BRICS nations, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended including this initiative on the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit, which India will host later this year.

    The proposal aims to establish technological linkages between central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) of BRICS members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to facilitate seamless cross-border trade and tourism payments. This development marks the first formal effort to create a multilateral digital currency framework within the bloc, potentially reducing dependency on the U.S. dollar amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

    This initiative builds upon the 2025 BRICS declaration in Rio de Janeiro that advocated for payment system interoperability among member states. While none of the BRICS nations have fully launched their digital currencies, all five core members are conducting advanced pilot projects. India’s e-rupee has attracted approximately 7 million retail users since its December 2022 debut, while China has been aggressively promoting international usage of its digital yuan.

    The RBI has publicly expressed interest in currency linking mechanisms to accelerate cross-border transactions and enhance the global footprint of its currency, though officials maintain these efforts are not explicitly aimed at de-dollarization. Technical and regulatory challenges remain significant, including the need for interoperable technology platforms, governance frameworks, and mechanisms to address trade imbalances.

    Sources indicate that bilateral foreign exchange swap arrangements between central banks are being considered to manage potential trade imbalances. The proposal also contemplates weekly or monthly settlement mechanisms through these swaps. However, progress may be hindered by member states’ reluctance to adopt technological platforms from other countries, requiring consensus on both technical standards and regulatory approaches.

    The initiative emerges against a backdrop of renewed trade tensions, with former U.S. President Donald Trump having previously characterized the BRICS alliance as “anti-American” and threatening tariffs against member states. Previous attempts to deepen economic cooperation within BRICS, including a proposed common currency, have encountered substantial obstacles.

    The RBI has positioned its e-rupee as a regulated alternative to stablecoins, with Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar recently highlighting concerns about stablecoins’ potential to facilitate illicit payments, undermine monetary stability, and fragment national payment ecosystems.

  • Japan, US narrow first $550 bln investment picks, including SoftBank-linked plan, sources say

    Japan, US narrow first $550 bln investment picks, including SoftBank-linked plan, sources say

    Japan and the United States have accelerated bilateral negotiations to identify inaugural projects under a monumental $550 billion investment initiative, with a major SoftBank Group infrastructure venture emerging as a leading candidate, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

    The investment framework, originally conceived as part of broader trade negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, represents a strategic economic partnership designed to strengthen supply chain resilience and mutual economic interests. Four individuals with direct knowledge of the proceedings confirmed that governmental committees have intensified deliberations to finalize project selections ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s anticipated spring visit to the United States.

    Among the shortlisted ventures is a substantial data center development project connected to SoftBank Group, though the technology conglomerate has not publicly commented on its potential involvement. The investment package will incorporate multifaceted financial instruments including direct equity positions, loan facilities, and guarantee mechanisms administered through Japan’s state-owned financial institutions.

    The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) will serve as primary vehicles for deploying capital, with preliminary discussions already underway with major Japanese financial institutions regarding co-financing arrangements. Since December, bilateral consultation committees featuring representatives from multiple U.S. departments (Commerce and Energy) and Japanese ministries (Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Industry) have conducted four substantive meetings to evaluate potential investments.

    The final selection process will involve recommendations from a U.S.-led investment committee headed by the Commerce Secretary to President Donald Trump, who retains ultimate authority over project approvals. Japanese officials have emphasized their commitment to advancing the initiative irrespective of pending Supreme Court rulings regarding the legality of presidential tariff authorities, characterizing the investment partnership as a mutually beneficial strategy for strengthening critical supply chains beyond temporary trade disputes.

  • China launches long march 12 rocket, deploys satellites for expanding space network

    China launches long march 12 rocket, deploys satellites for expanding space network

    China has advanced its ambitious space-based internet network with the successful deployment of a new satellite cluster via the Long March 12 carrier rocket. The launch occurred at 3:48 PM local time on Monday from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang, marking a significant milestone in China’s commercial space capabilities.

    Beijing-based GalaxySpace, the satellite manufacturer, confirmed the successful orbital insertion of what constitutes the 19th batch of low-orbit hardware for China’s national space internet initiative. The newly deployed satellites feature sophisticated technology including advanced phased array systems, millimeter-wave antennas, and integrated electronics, enhancing the network’s communication capabilities.

    This launch expands China’s operational satellite constellation to over 150 units in low Earth orbit. The complete system, designed to provide global internet coverage, is projected to eventually comprise approximately 13,000 satellites, positioning it as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink network.

    The mission also showcased the technical prowess of the Long March 12, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. Notably, the rocket features a 3.8-meter diameter—breaking from China’s standard 3.35-meter rocket design established in the 1960s. Standing at 62.6 meters, it ranks as the second tallest rocket in China’s fleet, surpassed only by the Long March 5 at 62.8 meters.

    This achievement represents China’s seventh space mission of 2026 and the 628th overall flight of the Long March rocket series, demonstrating the country’s accelerating pace in space infrastructure development.

  • Freed but not free: Ex-Palestinian prisoners face Israeli harassment and raids

    Freed but not free: Ex-Palestinian prisoners face Israeli harassment and raids

    A pattern of systematic intimidation and surveillance is targeting Palestinians released under prisoner exchange agreements with Israel, according to multiple testimonies and reports. The phenomenon has transformed supposed freedom into a state of perpetual anxiety for many former detainees.

    Salama Qatawi’s experience exemplifies this reality. Shortly before his wedding ceremony in Birzeit, Israeli forces conducted a raid on his home, resulting in his temporary re-arrest. This incident occurred merely hours before his scheduled marriage, with military checkpoints subsequently established outside the wedding venue to delay arriving guests. Since his February release, Qatawi has endured over fifteen home invasions and repeated interrogation summonses.

    This treatment is not isolated. Nearly 4,000 Palestinians gained freedom through phased prisoner exchanges between November 2023 and October 2025, yet many face ongoing restrictions. The Palestinian Prisoners Club documents that 80 released individuals have been re-arrested, while numerous homes—including those of deportees abroad—have been raided and vandalized as intimidation tactics.

    Released prisoners receive explicit warnings against political engagement, public gatherings, and media interactions. Raghad al-Fani, 26, experienced this directly when detained on January 1 under a six-month administrative detention order—renewable indefinitely—despite having been freed in November 2023. Her mother revealed that Fani had confined herself to her hometown of Tulkarm, avoiding travel between cities due to re-arrest fears.

    Iyad Jaradat’s case further illustrates the psychological impact. After twenty-two years of imprisonment, including extended solitary confinement, Jaradat described feeling like “a stranger” in his community. He sleeps in outdoor clothing anticipating nighttime raids and has been prohibited from practicing his trained barbering profession. “I haven’t yet tasted the freedom I imagined; every step I take is scrutinized,” Jaradat told Middle East Eye.

    Amani Sarahneh, media spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners Club, identifies this as a deliberate strategy targeting individuals with symbolic, social, or media influence. The objective appears to be spoiling their joy and reinforcing that “the occupation’s hand is long,” even after release. This approach continues a policy shift initiated in 2014 when many prisoners released in the Gilad Shalit exchange were re-arrested with reinstated sentences.

    Palestinian negotiators previously sought guarantees against re-arrest, but recent talks focused on ending hostilities and facilitating aid to Gaza made such assurances impossible. For many like Jaradat, this absence of protection has led to questioning whether deportation might have been preferable to their current open-ended form of imprisonment.

  • Global gathering transforms Yixing village into youth hub

    Global gathering transforms Yixing village into youth hub

    The tranquil Zhangyang village in Yixing, a county-level city within Wuxi, Jiangsu province, underwent a remarkable transformation from January 16-18 as it hosted the inaugural Yixing International Youth Festival. This groundbreaking gathering attracted approximately 520 young participants representing diverse international backgrounds, including France, Italy, and the United States.

    The festival served as a dynamic platform for cross-cultural exchange and entrepreneurial collaboration, featuring specialized forums that addressed youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Among the distinguished participants was Alessandro Martini, an influential Italian social media personality, who contributed his insights during the Youth Entrepreneurship Forum discussions.

    This international convergence has effectively repositioned the traditionally quiet village as an emerging epicenter for global youth engagement. The event’s organization demonstrates Yixing’s strategic initiative to foster international connections and create meaningful opportunities for the younger generation to exchange ideas, develop professional networks, and explore collaborative ventures across cultural boundaries.

    The successful execution of this festival establishes a new precedent for rural communities seeking to engage with international audiences while maintaining their cultural identity. The convergence of global perspectives within this local setting has created unique synergies that benefit both international participants and the local community, suggesting potential for continued growth as a destination for youth-oriented international events.