International
World Leaders Cheer President Donald Trump
Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.
▪︎ President Donald Trump, and his Vice President, JD Vance / Ohibaba.com UGC
World leaders in various countries have congratulated Donald Trump following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.
Trump who took the oath of office at a historic ceremony at the Capitol on Monday, have been receiving heart-warming cheers.
Ukrainian president
To celebrate the U.S. president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, describing Trump’s swearing-in as “a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.”
The Ukrainian president expressed confidence that Trump’s policies would boost America’s leadership. “President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through the strength of policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister in a post on his website, also sent his congratulatory messages to America’s president as he resumed office for a non-consecutive second time.
The prime minister said he was happy for yet another opportunity to work with President Trump, adding that both countries are the largest trade partners, “with a relationship that creates millions of jobs, attracts billions in investment into the continent, and keeps our people safe.”
He noted that Canada is strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship it has with the US, bolstering cross-border trade through investment.
“We are strongest when we work together, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his administration, members of the United States Congress, and officials at the state and local levels to deliver prosperity for our people – while protecting and defending the interests of Canadians,” he said. “Canada and the US have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again – to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations.”
India’s Prime Minister
On his part, Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, congratulated Trump in a statement on X. He said, “Congratulations, my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump, on your historic inauguration as the 47th President of the United States! I look forward to working closely together once again to benefit both our countries and to shape a better future for the world. Best wishes for a successful term ahead!”
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel’s Prime Minister, in a video, mentioned some of President Trump’s achievements during his his term, saying that “the best days of our alliance are yet to come.”
“You withdrew from the dangerous Iran nuclear deal, you recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, you moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, and you recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu added.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Italy’s Prime Minister shared a statement on X in Italian, which in English, reads as follows: “Best wishes to the President @realDonaldTrump for the beginning of his new mandate at the helm of the United States of America.”
“I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the collaboration between Italy and the USA, facing global challenges together and building a future of prosperity and security for our peoples.” Meloni reaffirmed that Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of both countries.
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin
Russian President, congratulated Trump in a televised statement, expressing readiness to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict.
“As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasize that its goal should not be a brief truce but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” he said.
UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer
UK’s prime minister, shared a video statement congratulating Trump on X.
He also wrote, “On behalf of the United Kingdom, I send my warmest congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his inauguration as the forty-seventh President of the United States.
The special relationship between the UK and the US will continue to flourish for years to come.”
Pakistan’s Prime Minister
Also, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s Prime Minister wrote on X, “My warmest congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his assumption of office as the forty-seventh President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the enduring Pakistan-U.S. partnership.”
“Over the years, our two great countries have worked together closely to pursue peace and prosperity in the region and beyond for our peoples & we shall continue to do so in the future. My best wishes to President Trump for a successful second term in office.”
International
South Africa kicks out Israel’s ambassador Ariel Seidman
The South African foreign ministry accused Ariel Seidman of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty.”
•Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President
The South African government on Friday declared Mr Ariel Seidman, the chargé d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy, unwelcome and ordered him out of the country within 72 hours, for what it called repeated violations of diplomatic norms, including insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The South African foreign ministry accused Ariel Seidman of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty”.
“These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks” on Ramaphosa, as well as a “deliberate failure” to notify the South African authorities about visits by senior Israeli officials.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have been strained since South Africa brought a genocide case over Israel’s actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice. Israel has rejected the case as baseless.
South African lawmakers in 2023 voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations over the war in Gaza, but that decision was never implemented.
International
Burkina Faso military government dissolves political parties
Burkina Faso’s Interior Minister Emile Zerbo said the decision was part of a broader effort to “rebuild the state” after what he said were widespread abuses and dysfunction in the country’s multiparty system.
•Photo: Heads of state of Mali’s Assimi Goita, Burkina Faso’s Captain Ibrahim Traore and Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tiani walk together during the first ordinary summit of heads of state and governments of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Niamey, Niger July 6, 2024. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou.
Burkina Faso’s military-led government has dissolved all political parties and scrapped the legal framework governing their operations.
The decree was approved by the government ‘s council of ministers on Thursday.
The decision by the military rulers who seized power in September 2022 is the latest move to tighten control following the suspension of political activities after the coup.
Burkina Faso’s Interior Minister Emile Zerbo said the decision was part of a broader effort to “rebuild the state” after what he said were widespread abuses and dysfunction in the country’s multiparty system.
He said a government review found that the multiplication of political parties had fuelled divisions and weakened social cohesion.
Before the coup, the country had over 100 registered political parties, with 15 represented in parliament after the 2020 general election.
International
Colombian plane crash kills lawmaker, 14 others
The Cúcuta region is known for its rugged terrain, unpredictable weather conditions and areas controlled by Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army.
A twin-propeller aircraft carrying 15 people, including a Colombian lawmaker, Diogenes Quintero, crashed in a mountainous region near the Venezuelan border on January 28.
AFP reported that the aircraft departed from the border city of Cúcuta and lost contact with air traffic control shortly before it was scheduled to land in the nearby town of Ocaña at about 5:00 p.m. GMT.
“There are no survivors,” an official of the aviation authority told AFP. The plane was carrying 13 passengers and two crew members.
The Cúcuta region is known for its rugged terrain, unpredictable weather conditions and areas controlled by Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army.
In a separate report, NDTV disclosed that the government deployed the Colombian Air Force to locate the aircraft and recover the bodies.
Local parliamentarian Wilmer Carrillo expressed concern over the incident, saying, “We have received with concern the information about the air accident in which my colleague, Diogenes Quintero, Carlos Salcedo and their teams were travelling.”
Quintero is a member of Colombia’s Chamber of Deputies, while Salcedo is a candidate in the upcoming elections. The crash adds to a history of fatal aviation accidents involving prominent figures in Colombia.
In January 2025, a private plane crashed in central-eastern Colombia, killing all six people on board, including singer Yeison Jiménez.
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