Warning: 50 IS militants have sailed to the Italian island of Sicily

1. President Trump delivers his first State of the Union address

The scene where US President Donald Trump delivered the State of the Union address on January 30. Photo: AFP.

On the morning of January 31, US President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since taking office last January.

Opening his speech, President Trump emphasized that 2017 was a year of "great success" with "significant progress" for the United States. He praised the heroes of the Navy who rescued flood victims and the strangers who were willing to act as human shields during the Las Vegas shooting.

Through that, the head of the White House sent a message: "To the people of Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, California who are still dealing with the consequences of natural disasters, and people across America, we will always be with you, we love you and we will overcome the challenge together. It will always be like that."

2.Interpol warns 50 IS militants have sailed to the Italian island of Sicily

Italian police on duty in Taormina, Sicily. Source: AFP/VNA

On January 31, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) said that 50 suspected gunmen of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization arrived by boat on the Italian island of Sicily between July and October 2017.

Interpol passed the list of suspects, including full names and dates of birth, to the Italian Interior Ministry at the end of November last year as well as other counter-terrorism agencies across Europe.

According to Interpol, all of these subjects are Tunisian nationals and they may also have gone to Italy to then try to infiltrate other European countries.
Figures from the Italian Interior Ministry show that more than 5,500 Tunisians arrived in Italy in 2017. Of these, Italy repatriated nearly 2,200.

3.India opens overseas bases, determined not to follow China

The Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer Kochi of the Indian Navy. Photo: PB

The New Delhi government announced on January 31 that it had reached a 20-year agreement on the construction and use of a military base on the Indian Ocean island nation of Seychelles.

The move comes after China opened its first overseas base in Djibouti last year.

Despite Beijing's assertions that this is only a logistics base, analysts have pointed out that it is a real military base and is part of its ambition to control the world's busiest sea routes passing through this area.

4.Russian officials react strongly to US “Kremlin Report”

Russian President Putin. Photo: Reuters

Russian officials have reacted sharply to the so-called “Kremlin Report” released by the US Treasury Department a day earlier.

The “Kremlin Report” includes a list of individuals who could be subject to new Washington sanctions that have just been submitted to the US Congress under the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (CAATSA).

Russia said the list blatantly violated the principles of bilateral relations and made further cooperation between the US and Russia impossible.Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the US's publication of the "Kremlin Report" was an "unfriendly act", but stressed that Russia has not yet retaliated.

5.British Prime Minister visits China to discuss bilateral trade

British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives in China. Source: AFP

British Prime Minister Theresa May traveled to China on January 31 to discuss new trade arrangements as Britain leaves the European Union.
During her visit, Mrs May visited the industrial hub of Wuhan, before travelling to Beijing for talks with her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping. She will also visit the financial hub of Shanghai, before returning home on February 2.

With 50 business leaders in this delegation, British Prime Minister May wants to promote the "golden period" between the two countries as declared by President Xi during his state visit to the UK in 2015.

6.Sri Lanka sets up court to investigate corruption under former President Rajapakse

Former President Mahinda Rajapakse. Source: AFP/VNA

The Sri Lankan government said it will set up a special court to investigate a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal under former President Mahinda Rajapakse (term 2005-2015).

A special court with three judges will be set up to investigate bribery and corruption cases currently pending in lower courts, according to a notice issued by the Sri Lankan government on January 31. The special court will begin functioning from the middle of this year.

7.Lebanon and Israel in tension over offshore oil dispute

Lebanese President Michel Aoun. Source: AFP

On January 31, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that Israel's urging of companies not to bid for an offshore energy project in Lebanon is a threat to the country.

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman described the licensing process for a Lebanese offshore oil and gas project as "very provocative" and urged international corporations not to bid.

On Twitter, Mr. Aoun wrote: "Mr. Lieberman's words about Block 9 are a threat to Lebanon and its sovereignty in its territorial waters."