The most prominent events in the world in the past 24 hours

1.US workers return to work after government reopens

The US government shutdown ended after the Senate passed a short-term budget bill. Photo: Bloomberg

On the morning of January 23 (Vietnam time), US President Donald Trump officially signed short-term measures to fund the operations of the federal government until February 8, a move to end the US government shutdown after 3 days of inactivity.

With hundreds of thousands of federal workers returning to work after being furloughed on January 22, President Trump's signing of the bill into law also gives lawmakers more time to discuss the immigration reform package.

2. New TPP negotiations achieve unexpected results in Japan

Toshimitsu Motegi (right), Japan's minister in charge of CPTPP negotiations, chaired the meeting in Tokyo. Photo: Japan Times

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a new version of the TPP, will be signed next March in Chile, Kyodo news agency reported on January 23, citing a Japanese source.

The information was released while trade officials from CPTPP member countries, also known as TPP 11, were holding a two-day meeting on January 22 and 23 in Tokyo.

3. South Korean court increases sentences for two aides of former President Park

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye is escorted to court in Seoul on August 31, 2017. Photo: Yonhap/TTXVN

On January 23, an appeals court in South Korea increased the penalties for two former aides to former President Park Geun-hye in connection with the scandal of creating a blacklist of artists who criticized Park's administration to make it difficult for them to pursue their artistic activities.

According to the Seoul Supreme Court's ruling, Mr. Kim Ki-choon - former Chief of Staff of the President was sentenced to four years in prison.
Ms. Cho Yoon-sun - former Minister of Culture, former Presidential Secretary in charge of political affairs, was sentenced to two years in prison.

4. North Korea unexpectedly changes army founding anniversary to coincide with Olympics

The anniversary of the founding of the Korean army has been moved to February 8 instead of April 25. Photo: Getty.

North Korea has announced that it will mark February 8 as the anniversary of the founding of its military and will prepare "practical" steps to mark the "historic" event, which takes place just a day before the Olympics.

North Korean state news agency (KCNA) reported on January 23 that the Pyongyang government has decided to change the anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (KPA) from April 25 to February 8.

5. China "joins hands" with Russia to resist pressure from Washington?

Russian President Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Recently, in a meeting with Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council (Upper House) of Russia Viktor Bondarev, Military Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Russia, Major General Qi Yan-wei expressed that Beijing and Moscow should work together to resist pressure from Washington.

Mr. Yan-wei noted that in the Pentagon's new strategy, China and Russia are considered threats to the United States.

"In Europe, the United States and Western countries are containing Russia, and in Asia they are also containing China," the military attaché said.

6.UAE military orders to “avoid escalation” with Qatar

Saudi Arabian soldiers. Source: AP

Officials of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on January 23 that the country's military has given specific instructions to avoid escalating the ongoing diplomatic tensions with Qatar.

At a press conference in the capital Abu Dhabi, General HHelal Saeed al-Qubaisi said that UAE military aircraft will fly via "alternative" routes through Saudi Arabia to avoid the risk of being intercepted by Qatari fighter jets.

7. Earthquakes off Alaska and Indonesia

An earthquake measuring approximately 8.0 magnitude struck southeast Alaska on January 23. Graphics: DW.

A strong earthquake struck early on January 23 at a depth of 10 km, more than 280 km southeast of Alaska, USA. The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.2, according to the US Geological Survey.

A tsunami warning has been issued. According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, "widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible" along coasts, but no immediate threat appears to exist.

Road in Banten, Indonesia cracked during the earthquake. Photo: Twitter.

Same day,A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Indonesia, causing buildings in the capital Jakarta to shake and streets to crack.

Indonesian television footage showed trucks shaking violently at a port in Banten province on the northwestern tip of Java island, while residents shared images on social media of large cracks appearing on streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

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