On his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed seventeen executive directives (NYT) to reverse some of former President Donald J. Trump’s policies. He moved to gear up the nation’s COVID-19 response, ended a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries, and halted construction on a border wall with Mexico, among other actions. In his inaugural speech (WaPo), Biden emphasized national unity and recovery. Vice President Kamala Harris swore in two Democratic senators from Georgia and her Democratic replacement as California senator, and Democrats officially took control of the Senate.

Many world leaders congratulated Biden (AP) on his inauguration. Some welcomed Biden’s moves to rejoin international institutions, such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change, and expressed hope that he would reinforce U.S. alliances (Reuters) and boost international cooperation.

China announced sanctions (WaPo) on more than two dozen former officials in the Trump administration, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several people who had flown to Taiwan on official visits. President Biden criticized the sanctions, which prohibit the outgoing officials from traveling to China and conducting business with the country.

On The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR’s Elizabeth C. Economy, James M. Lindsay, and Adam Segal discuss Biden’s approach to U.S.-China relations.

Thailand: Officials filed a lawsuit (Bangkok Post) against opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, accusing him of defaming the monarchy in his criticism of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government offered to suspend for eighteen months (Times of India) controversial agricultural laws passed in September 2020 that have prompted protests by thousands of farmers. Protest leaders did not immediately accept the proposal, and they will meet with officials again tomorrow.

Pakistan: The military announced that it successfully tested (Al Jazeera) a medium-range ballistic missile. Nuclear-armed Pakistan did not say whether the tested missile was capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Baghdad suffered its first suicide bombing since January 2018 today, with at least twenty-eight people killed (Reuters) and dozens more injured after two attackers wearing explosive vests blew themselves up in a crowded market, authorities said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Libya: At least forty-three migrants died (Guardian) after their Europe-bound boat capsized off the country’s coast. The incident was the first time migrants have been shipwrecked in the central Mediterranean this year, according to the United Nations’ migration and refugee agencies.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting (AFP) today to discuss ethnic violence in Sudan’s Darfur region that has killed at least 155 people in recent days and displaced tens of thousands.

This CFR Backgrounder explains the UN Security Council.

Eswatini: Officials extended the country’s COVID-19 lockdown (SABC News) for four weeks. Restrictions include bans on the sale of alcohol and on social gatherings.

London is reportedly refusing to give full diplomatic status (BBC) to the European Union’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, arguing that the EU is not a nation-state. The EU has maintained a diplomatic mission in the UK after Brexit.
 
Russia: The European Parliament is expected to pass a resolution (RFE/RL) today calling for expanded sanctions on Russian officials over the recent arrest of dissident Alexey Navalny, who returned to Russia after receiving treatment in Germany for poisoning by a nerve agent. The lawmakers will also call for a halt to construction on the nearly completed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.

The Mexican government reported that the country’s 2020 homicide rate was only 0.4 percent lower (AP) than the 2019 rate, defying expectations that COVID-19 lockdowns would lead to a significant reduction in violence. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had pledged to reduce violence, but the homicide rate has remained high since he took office in late 2018.
 
CFR’s Global Conflict Tracker looks at criminal violence in Mexico.
 
Honduras: Lawmakers are pushing a measure (Guardian), which will likely pass, that would make it difficult for the country to ever legalize abortion. Honduras is one of four Latin American countries that completely prohibit abortion.