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| US President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage during a victory rally at Capital One Arena on January 19. (Source: Getty Images) |
Europe
* The US has agreed to allow Russia to appoint a new Ambassador to Washington , according to Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council (Upper House) of Russia Grigory Karasin on January 20. This information was released a few hours before Mr. Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States at 12:00 on January 20 (US time, ie 0:00 on January 21, Vietnam time).
Speaking on state television, Mr. Karasin revealed that the new ambassador could be officially appointed in the coming weeks. However, Mr. Karasin did not reveal the new ambassador's identity. The previous Russian ambassador to the United States, Mr. Anatoly Antonov, left his post in October. (Reuters)
* Russia has been cleared of sabotaging submarine cables in the Baltic Sea , according to US and European intelligence agencies. Senior officials from three countries involved in the investigation confirmed that security agencies had reached a consensus that the cable break was the result of a maritime incident, not sabotage.
Investigators found no signs that commercial vessels deliberately dragged anchors in the area of the cables at Moscow’s behest, officials said, and evidence suggests the incidents were caused by inexperienced crews on poorly maintained vessels.
Officials cited “clear explanations” suggesting the damage was likely due to an accident. (TASS)
* Russia is ready to consider initiatives to resume dialogue with Japan when Tokyo takes practical steps towards these initiatives, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry stressed that this stance stems from the fact that in Japan today there are still thoughtful politicians and public figures who are aware of the harm of the government's anti-Russian policy, as well as its negative consequences for the Japanese people. (Sputnik)
* Georgia is ready to re-establish relations with the United States after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on January 20.
“We would like to reiterate our readiness to reset relations and restore strategic partnership with the United States for a new start. We hope to achieve significant progress. In this regard, 2025 will be of great importance,” Kobakhidze stressed. (Sputnik)
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Asia-Pacific
* China is willing to properly control its differences with the Donald Trump administration because confrontation will harm both sides, while cooperation will benefit both sides, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said when asked about Beijing's expectations for the new US administration.
Ms. Mao Ning also hopes that Washington will seriously listen to “voices of reason” and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for market entities from all countries operating in the US, including the TikTok issue.
* Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with US Vice President-elect JD Vance in Washington to attend Donald Trump's inauguration.
At the meeting, Mr. Han Zheng declared his willingness to cooperate with the US to adhere to the strategic direction of head-of-state diplomacy and implement the important consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President-elect Donald Trump, in order to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral relations. (THX)
* North Korea condemned Japan's opening of a new diplomatic mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), accusing it of escalating instability at a time when the security environment in the Asia-Pacific region is under serious threat.
An article on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Japan is “escalating military tensions in the region” by tightening military cooperation with NATO, following the US strategy “to expand NATO's sphere of influence into the Asia-Pacific region.” (Yonhap)
* Australia will become ASEAN's tourism partner, after the bloc's tourism ministers agreed to establish the ASEAN-Australia Tourism Ministers' Meeting. (VNA)
* Japan and Australia pledged to strengthen Quad cooperation under the new U.S. administration in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region through close cooperation with Quad partners. (Kyodo)
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Middle East-Africa
* Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkia praised “comradeship of similar beliefs” with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Moscow.
“We have a growing consensus in views and approaches, and we share President Vladimir Putin’s stance on the unipolar world. With each passing day, countries seeking freedom and independence are accepting the necessity of a multipolar world,” the Iranian leader said. (TASS)
* Iran held a two-day military exercise on January 19-20 for its infantry forces in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi, aiming to improve the combat capabilities of its soldiers and showcase new weapons and equipment of the armed forces. (THX)
* Israel completed the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners early on January 20, as part of a ceasefire in Gaza that took effect a day earlier. The prisoners were released from Ofer prison and the Jerusalem detention center.
Meanwhile, the first three Israeli hostages were also returned home on the evening of January 19. (AFP)
* Clashes in northern Syria between the Syrian National Army (SNA) militia and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) left at least eight SNA members – backed by Turkey – dead and eight SDF fighters injured. (THX)
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America
* Bitcoin hit a record $109,241 on the day of US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Experts said the decision to nominate Paul Atkins – a digital currency advocate – to head the US securities regulator has reinforced confidence that the new administration will create more favorable conditions for the sector. (Reuters)
* US President-elect Donald Trump will postpone the ban , while calling on Washington to participate in owning 50% of this social network in a joint venture. He also said that TikTok's value could "increase by hundreds, even billions of dollars" if this happened. (AFP)
* The Venezuelan Armed Forces will conduct military and security exercises called “Bolivar Shield 2025” on January 22-23 to ensure “peace” and national “sovereignty,” according to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
He declared that “we will protect the country’s borders, coasts, cities and key points. All will unite to ensure peace and national sovereignty, as well as to implement true democracy.” (Telesur)
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