On January 12, 2026, Qatar is scheduled to sign the Pax Silica agreement, with the UAE set to follow on January 15, joining a U.S.-backed alliance focused on AI and semiconductor supply chains. The initiative groups nine countries in a "coalition of capabilities" to strengthen technology networks and reduce reliance on rival powers. Plans for 2026 include expanding membership, launching strategic projects and aligning policies to protect critical infrastructure and advanced technologies.

A proposed trade pact between Kenya and China has been paused after the United States raised objections, affecting cabinet, parliamentary, and presidential approval steps. The deal would remove Chinese tariffs on Kenyan farm exports, while the expiry of AGOA on September 30, 2025 exposes over $600 million in U.S.-bound apparel exports to tariffs of up to 28% and threatens more than 66,000 jobs. Kenya now faces pressure over whether to prioritize its long-standing security ties with Washington or its largest creditor, Beijing.

On January 10 2026, leading Chinese AI researchers in Beijing said China could produce a world-leading AI company within three to five years, even though the US still dominates computing power. They warned that the main obstacle is the lack of advanced chipmaking tools, with a prototype extreme-ultraviolet lithography machine not expected to yield working chips until 2030. Investors have shown strong interest as MiniMax and Zhipu AI made notable debuts on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, while local firms experiment with running large AI models on smaller, cheaper hardware under tight budgets.

Handwritten notes on €5 bills found in a 2021 Spanish cocaine raid led Europol and Albania's SPAK to a cross-border crypto laundering network linked to the Çopja group. Authorities seized over €35 million, while case files cite Binance, Tron/USDT flows, and a Milan front that bought about $40 million in crypto between October 23, 2024 and July 9, 2025.

Morgan Stanley investment analysts project that the Chinese yuan could firm to 6.85 against the US dollar by the first quarter of 2026, supported by China's evolving global investment approach. The forecast comes as outbound investment from Chinese firms now exceeds inbound foreign capital and the country pivots from fast, investment-heavy expansion toward higher-quality growth. The bank also anticipates that a narrowing interest-rate gap between the US and China, alongside domestic policy measures, could further underpin the currency.

Apple’s stock has fallen for eight consecutive trading days through Friday, closing at $257.07 and marking a 6.1% decline over that span. Evercore ISI kept its Outperform rating and raised its price target to $330 ahead of Apple’s January 29 earnings report, citing robust iPhone demand despite rising memory costs and mixed regional performance.

On Thursday, Terry Smith said his £16 billion Fundsmith Equity fund returned 0.8% in 2025, lagging the 12.8% global benchmark and 4.2% cash deposits. He cautioned investors not to expect annual outperformance and noted a 1.7% average yearly beat since 2010. Peer funds averaged 10.8%, according to Investment Association figures he cited.

TSMC reported NT$1.05 trillion ($33.1 billion) in revenue for the quarter ended December, surpassing the NT$1.02 trillion forecast and marking about a 20% increase. Demand for Nvidia's AI chips and Apple processors contributed to the strength. The company will hold its earnings call on January 15, when it is expected to outline a 2026 spending budget of at least $48 billion.

South Korea will introduce round-the-clock foreign exchange trading from July as part of a broader push to secure developed-market status from MSCI. Under President Lee Jae Myung, the KOSPI surged 76% last year, while officials also upgraded the country's 2026 growth forecast to 2.0% on expectations of stronger exports and domestic demand.