World Major News for January 24, 2026: A Saturday When Blackouts, Tariff Threats, and Gaps in International Institutions Overlapped with the “Infrastructure of Daily Life”

Today’s takeaways (key points first)

• In Ukraine, Russia’s large-scale attacks halted electricity and heating across wide areas, shaking “life-critical infrastructure” during severe winter. Peace talks continued but produced no agreement, and the battlefield plus diplomacy together kept pressure on civilian life.
• The United States made remarks about “sovereignty” around U.S. military bases in Greenland and also hinted at tariffs against Canada over dealings with China—making the entanglement of alliance politics and trade more explicit.
• The WHO (World Health Organization) said it “regrets” the U.S. formal withdrawal, and practical gaps are emerging in global health coordination.
• Libya signed long-term oil development contracts with Western firms, aiming to expand supply and attract investment—while energy security competition proceeds alongside political and security risks.
• Singapore announced massive public investment in AI research, accelerating the race for technological advantage and talent as national industrial policy.
• In the U.S., a winter storm triggered large-scale flight cancellations, while in New Zealand, confirmation of landslide victims continued. Weather disasters slow economic activity through transport and logistics and expose household vulnerability.
• In Uganda, an opposition leader said his wife was attacked, raising concerns about political tension and human rights.

Who this is especially useful for (concrete reader profiles)

This day’s stories may look “far away,” but they connect directly to electricity, heating, logistics, healthcare, and prices—everyday foundations. That makes this map especially useful for:

First, manufacturers, trading firms, logistics, and energy-sector teams involved in overseas business. Tariff hints toward Canada and sovereignty-related remarks about Greenland can change assumptions around tariffs, regulations, insurance, and routes—affecting quotes and inventory strategy. For firms dealing with both North America and Europe, alliance friction can quickly reach the frontline of customs and contracts.

Second, professionals in healthcare, public health, research, and international assistance. If the WHO’s capacity weakens, surveillance, guidance, and procurement networks can thin, raising the risk of slower first response in the next crisis—potentially increasing medical costs and affecting how schools and workplaces operate.

Third, people in local government, transportation, tourism, and retail. Flight cancellations and landslides are not just “natural disaster news”: they can spread through delivery delays, tourism cancellations, and food waste. Disaster impact often expands not at the epicenter, but through the “circuits” of movement and supply.

1) Ukraine: Large-scale strikes cut power and heating, pushing winter cities into an endurance battle

The heaviest story was that Russia’s large-scale drone and missile attacks hit Ukraine’s energy system. Reports said roughly 1.2 million homes and facilities were left without power, and in Kyiv thousands of buildings reportedly lost heating. In subzero temperatures, blackouts are not merely inconvenient—they make it harder to maintain body temperature, sanitation, medical care, and access to information all at once. The symbolic shift was cities increasing heated shelters and moving into an “emergency mode to protect daily life.”

Social impact: when basics collapse, harm appears first where people are most vulnerable. Older adults, infants, and people with chronic illness are more sensitive to cold; power loss can also disrupt home medical devices. When phone batteries die, family safety checks and evacuation information stall. War damage is not only the moment of explosions; it accumulates through the long hours of darkness and cold that steadily wear down mind and body.

Economic impact: urban function loss shrinks production and consumption at the same time. Shops shorten hours, spoilage risks rise for refrigerated food and medicines, and companies must spend on generators, fuel, and repair materials. Money that would otherwise go to investment or wage increases gets pulled into maintenance and recovery. If restoration drags on, employment stability suffers—and if evacuation or migration accelerates, local economies contract further.

Concrete example (mini-sample): how blackouts reach households and businesses

• Households: with heating off, families consolidate into one room, relying on blankets and layers. Cooking becomes difficult, increasing dependence on preserved food or aid. Storing medicines becomes harder.
• Businesses: operations stop and sales drop, while generator/fuel/maintenance costs rise—creating a “revenue down, fixed costs up” squeeze.
• Government: shelter operations, repairs, and emergency healthcare costs grow. As fiscal room shrinks, long-term infrastructure renewal tends to be delayed.

2) Peace talks continue but no agreement: negotiations stay open while infrastructure attacks erode the foundation

On the same day, U.S.-mediated Russia–Ukraine talks reportedly ended their second day without reaching an agreement, though both sides were said to be open to further talks. The painful point is that large-scale attacks occurred during negotiations, producing outages and injuries. When attacks continue even as diplomatic channels are open, the room to believe “the other side’s intent” narrows—weakening the very foundation talks rely on.

Socially, the closer talks seem, the more civilians hope—and the more exhausting repeated disappointment becomes. If winter passes without a ceasefire outlook, more people may decide to evacuate or relocate, deepening family and community fragmentation. Economically, uncertain timelines make it harder for companies to plan capex or rebuilding. War takes not only assets—it takes the ability to plan.

3) U.S. external posture: Greenland “sovereignty” remarks and tariff hints toward Canada arrive together

Two alliance-and-trade stories overlapped. First, the U.S. president reportedly said the U.S. would obtain “sovereignty” over areas around U.S. military bases in Greenland. The Arctic is a strategic hub not only militarily but also for sea lanes, resources, and communications infrastructure—so sovereignty language touches alliance trust directly. Even on a weekend, such remarks can shape the tone of Monday decision-making and diplomatic talks.

Second, the U.S. hinted at the possibility of a 100% tariff on Canada tied to Canada’s dealings with China. With tariffs, the damage often comes less from implementation than from the uncertainty that they could be implemented. North American supply chains—autos, metals, machinery, agriculture—are deeply interconnected. If tariffs become real, it can hit pass-through pricing, parts sourcing, and investment plans, and for households it can arrive as higher prices and job anxiety.

Concrete example (mini-sample): how a tariff hint changes frontline quoting

• Procurement: added tariff risk on Canadian-origin inputs can force alternative sourcing searches or inventory buildup.
• Finance: hedge costs and working capital needs rise; payback periods lengthen.
• Sales: price-increase negotiations grow; renewal terms tighten.
  This accumulation cools “felt” economic conditions.

4) WHO: the U.S. formal withdrawal creates a coordination gap that shows up most in the next crisis

The WHO said it regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw and expressed hope for a future return. Global health cooperation is easy to overlook day-to-day, but during outbreaks or disasters it helps determine the “ceiling” of damage. Surveillance networks, information sharing, vaccine/medical supply coordination, and guideline setting are public goods that don’t fit neatly inside one country. A gap here can slow first response and raise social and economic costs.

For companies, delayed response can mean supply-chain disruptions, travel limits, and labor shortages. School and childcare closures quickly affect household work capacity. Global health coordination is therefore not only “medical”—it is also about the operating rate of the economy. This development forces a practical question: how will the gap be complemented?

5) Libya: long-term oil development deals aim at supply expansion, with political risk alongside

In energy, reports said Libya signed 25-year oil development contracts with Western firms, aiming to attract over $20 billion in foreign funding and lift production capacity (figures in reporting suggested up to roughly 850,000 barrels/day). If sustained, increased supply could matter for global energy markets.

But socially and politically, resource development sits next to questions of revenue distribution, security, and institutional transparency. If investment conditions stabilize, funding can reach infrastructure and public services; if instability persists, investment becomes highly sensitive to political events. Energy security depends not only on volume, but on continuity.

6) Singapore: massive public AI research investment turns tech competition into a national jobs strategy

In Asia, Singapore announced that it would invest over S$1 billion in public AI research through 2030. AI affects healthcare, finance, logistics, manufacturing, and government services, shaping both national competitiveness and talent attraction. Public investment can improve funding conditions for research and startups in the short run and support industrial upgrading and high-value jobs in the medium to long run.

Socially, AI can boost convenience while widening skill gaps. Whether public research funding is paired with human-capital development will shape inclusiveness. For companies, practical burdens also rise: hiring/training, data governance, and accountability. Tech competition is now happening as much in workplaces and classrooms as in labs.

Concrete example (mini-sample): how AI investment can reach a local economy

• Research hubs: more joint-research budgets, more PhD and technical jobs
• Firms: more pilots, efficiency gains in production/logistics, stronger competitiveness
• Society: potential improvements like faster administrative procedures and shorter medical wait times
  But if training is weak, “left-behind” groups can emerge—making design and policy crucial.

7) Weather disruption: U.S. winter storm drives flight cancellations, chaining into logistics and households

Ahead of a major winter storm, reports said thousands of flights in the U.S. were canceled. This affects more than travelers: cargo movement, medical supplies, and parts delivery can also be hit. High-value goods and urgent medical shipments are especially sensitive. For firms, disruption can reach production planning and retail inventory.

Socially, when mobility disruption coincides with power risks, vulnerable groups (elderly, low-income households) often suffer more. Shelter operations and heating support become necessary, raising local government costs. Weather disasters ripple widely through logistics, insurance, and prices.

8) New Zealand: victim confirmations continue after a landslide, raising questions where nature meets tourism

In New Zealand’s North Island, reports said bodies were found after a landslide hit a campground, and authorities were continuing identification. Rescue work faced safety concerns. Tourism and outdoor activities often anchor local economies, but rising extreme-weather and ground hazards increase burdens around safety measures, insurance, and facility management.

Socially, disasters cast a long shadow on communities—damaging not only tourist circuits but also residents’ daily routes, including access to schools and healthcare. Economically, beyond repair costs, “investment in safety” can become ongoing, testing local finances and business resilience.

9) Uganda: opposition leader says his wife was attacked, intensifying human-rights concerns

In Africa, reports said Uganda’s opposition leader claimed soldiers entered his home and assaulted and choked his wife, who was taken to hospital. In periods of rising political tension, human-rights issues—suppression, detentions, violence—become international concerns. As social division deepens, the prerequisites for economic activity—safe movement and predictable institutions—can weaken.

Investment is sensitive to security and rule of law. When tension rises, capital inflows slow and job creation weakens. Political issues eventually return as living-standard issues.

10) U.S. pressure abroad: reports on requests to Bolivia show security and diplomacy moving together

In South America, reporting said the U.S. pressed Bolivia to expel suspected Iranian intelligence figures and to designate certain organizations as terrorist groups. When security concerns shape diplomacy, domestic politics and external relations shift, potentially affecting investment climates and sanctions risks. For firms, compliance and counterparty management burdens rise, and cross-border payments or insurance terms can tighten.

11) Urban safety: Karachi mall fire highlights the long-term cost of oversight and early response

In Pakistan’s Karachi, reporting on a major mall fire pointed to ignored warnings and delayed response as key issues. Urban safety is determined by “peacetime design”: building rules, inspections, evacuation routes, and fire-response capacity. When failures occur, costs persist beyond casualties—business stoppages, job losses, rising insurance, and distrust of authorities.

Today’s conclusion: January 24 showed “the politicization of daily infrastructure” all at once

This Saturday, war-driven blackouts and heating failures, tariff hints shaking alliance-trade dynamics, gaps in global health coordination, competition over resource development and AI investment, and disaster-driven transport paralysis all overlapped on the same timeline. The shared pattern: as predictability falls, societies and economies become more defensive, and spending/investment tilt toward protection.

At the same time, Libya’s long-term investment push and Singapore’s research investment show governments trying to build “next growth pillars” even under uncertainty. The dividing lines will be institutional transparency, social inclusion, and how well infrastructure functions under crisis. The day’s news quietly suggested that the world has entered a phase where it must answer both “future growth” and “immediate safety” at the same time.

Quick checklist (just the essentials)

• Ukraine: widespread outages and heating stoppages raise winter humanitarian risk.
• Peace talks: no agreement, and attacks erode the basis for negotiation.
• U.S.: strong words on Greenland and Canada shake alliance and trade together.
• WHO: U.S. formal withdrawal creates coordination gaps that show most in the next crisis.
• Libya: long-term oil deals aim at supply expansion but face political/security risk.
• Singapore: AI investment accelerates tech and talent competition; education and policy design matter.
• Disasters: U.S. winter storm and NZ landslide show how transport stoppages cascade into logistics and households.

Reference links (Sources)

• Blackouts widen in Ukraine after Russia’s major strike (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• U.S.-mediated talks end without a deal, more talks possible (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• WHO says it regrets U.S. formal withdrawal (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• U.S. president hints at a 100% tariff on Canada (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• U.S. president remarks on gaining sovereignty around U.S. bases in Greenland (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Libya signs 25-year oil deal with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Singapore to invest over S$779 million in public AI research through 2030 (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Thousands of flights canceled ahead of U.S. winter storm (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Safety fears hamper NZ rescue work after landslide (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Uganda opposition leader says wife attacked by soldiers (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• U.S. presses Bolivia on suspected Iranian spies and militant groups (Reuters, 2026-01-24)
• Ignored warnings and delayed response in Karachi mall inferno (Reuters, 2026-01-24)