THE leaders of Japan and Laos agreed Tuesday to upgrade their bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”, as Tokyo tries to strengthen cooperation with Southeast Asia.
In a joint statement issued after their meeting in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone confirmed that the two governments will launch a foreign vice-ministerial-level dialogue to promote security collaboration.
With Japan and Laos marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year, the two prime ministers pledged to continue “deepening and expanding multi-layered exchanges,” covering politics, economic cooperation, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges, the statement said.
The Laotian prime minister is the first leader to make an official working visit to Japan this year. —Kyodo

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday he will repeal multiple executive orders of the Biden administration within hours after being sworn in as president on Monday.
“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office,” Trump told his supporters at a victory rally held in Capital One Arena in Washington.
Trump said that the executive orders he is about to sign will cover areas such as border security, energy, federal government spending, the short video-sharing platform TikTok and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programmes.
“Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” said the incoming president.
According to US media reports, Trump is expected to sign over 100 executive orders on the day of his inauguration.
Trump will take the oath of office at noon on Monday. Due to the forecast cold weather in Washington, DC, his inauguration ceremony will be held indoors — the first time in four decades in the United States. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

SUPPORTERS of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed a Seoul court Sunday after a judge extended the impeached leader’s
detention over his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the pre-dawn attack on the court, where his supporters smashed windows and doors.
Tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the Seoul Western District Court in a show of support Saturday for the president, who became South Korea’s first sitting head of state to be arrested in a dawn raid this week.
AFP journalists saw hundreds of police officers charge into the court, with the force arresting dozens and denouncing an “intolerable
illegal and violent incident”. — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

IMPEACHED South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be detained in the nation’s history.
Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, said he would comply with investigators to avoid “bloodshed”.
A former prosecutor who led the conservative People Power Party (PPP) to election victory in 2022, Yoon could face the death penalty or life in jail if found guilty of insurrection. He had sought to evade arrest for weeks by remaining in his residential compound, protected by members of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) who had remained loyal to him.
His guards had installed barbed wire and barricades at the residence, turning it into what the opposition called a “fortress”. Yoon, who had vowed to “fight to the end”, managed to thwart a first arrest attempt on 3 January following a tense hours-long impasse between the guards and anti-graft investigators working with police. — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

LEBANON’S parliament elected Army Chief Joseph Aoun as the country’s new president on Thursday, bringing an end to a prolonged political deadlock and presidential vacancy, CNN reported.
Aoun was elected after two rounds of voting, following extensive efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to garner support for him. Both countries have close ties with Aoun, who is aligned with Washington and Riyadh.
After his election, Aoun stepped down from his military role and arrived at the parliament in civilian attire to be sworn in. In his acceptance speech, Aoun declared the start of a “new era” for Lebanon, vowing to address the country’s ongoing economic and political crises. He also made a rare pledge to “monopolize weapons” under the state’s authority, signalling his intention to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which has significant military influence in Lebanon, as reported by CNN.
Notably, Hezbollah, the most heavily armed militant group in the Middle East, had significant influence in several countries until it suffered heavy losses in a recent war with Israel. This conflict, along with the weakening of its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has reignited domestic debate on disarming the group. — ANI

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

EGYPTIAN Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty voiced on Wednesday Egypt’s “full support” for Lebanon to elect a new president and end its two-year presidential vacuum.
Abdelatty made the remarks during his phone talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, one day after the latter called for a general session to be held on Thursday to elect a president for Lebanon. The Egyptian foreign minister emphasized the necessity of reaching a purely Lebanese consensus, free from foreign dictates, to elect a president “capable of leading Lebanon to face internal and regional challenges and risks”.
“Egypt will continue to provide all forms of support to Lebanon,” he reiterated. For his part, Berri expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s continuous political and humanitarian support for Lebanon, especially at such a critical stage and under difficult circumstances. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

IRAN’S Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday condemned recent remarks by a White House official about the possibility of the United States hitting Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “a threat against international peace and security”.
He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran while reacting to a report published by Axios on Thursday, which revealed that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had presented US President Joe Biden with options for a potential US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, should the Iranians move towards a nuclear weapon before 20 January 2025.
Baghaei said Sullivan’s remarks were threats against another country’s “peaceful” nuclear facilities. He said that Iran and its people would act decisively and use all available tools to defend their national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and dignity. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

A US federal judge in NewJersey on Friday dismissed a last-minute attempt to block New York City’s congestion pricing plan, allowing it to take effect Sunday.
The decision means that starting from Sunday, drivers entering Manhattan below the 60th Street during peak hours will face a congestion fee of nine US dollars.
While the Metropolitan Transport Authority welcomed the decision, opponents in New Jersey vowed to appeal the decision before Sunday. According to local media, one lawyer for New Jersey suggested seeking emergency relief from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
As the first of its kind in the United States, the Manhattan congestion pricing plan was first introduced and approved in 2019 under the administration of then New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for making 2025 “a new beginning” in his message for the New Year. 

“Throughout 2024, hope has been hard to find. Wars are causing enormous pain, suffering and displacement. Inequalities and divisions are rife — fuelling tensions and mistrust,” Guterres said. 

He said that the globe has just endured a decade of deadly heat and the top ten 10 hottest years on record have happened in the last 10 years, including 2024. 

“This is climate breakdown — in real time,” Guterres stressed. “We must exit this road to ruin — and we have no time to lose.” The UN chief urged countries to put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions, and supporting the transition to a renewable future. “It is essential and it is possible,” he added. — Xinhua

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar

CHINESE President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for the nation to remain confident in the coming year, saying the world’s second largest economy can overcome its challenges and pressure through hard work. 

Xi made the remarks in his New Year message for 2025 delivered through China Media Group and the internet. 

Set to fully complete its 14th Five-Year Plan in 2025, China will implement more proactive and effective policies, prioritize high-quality development, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development, Xi said. 

He said the Chinese economy “now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones”. 

“But we can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident,” Xi said.

 Reviewing China’s footprint in 2024, Xi said the economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with the national GDP expected to pass the mark of 130 trillion yuan (about US$18.08 trillion) and the country’s grain output surpassing 700 million tonnes. — Xinhua

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar