THE Peace Talk 2025 in accord with the motto “From Peace Talks to the New Peaceful Nation” took place at the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Centre in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
The peace talk aims to increase the participation and focus of prominent figures, scholars, and experts from various sectors in the peace process.
It also seeks to raise public awareness that achieving peace through non-violent means is the only way to ensure long-term stability. Moreover, the peace talk will identify short-term and long-term initiatives that can help reduce internal conflicts as quickly as possible, thereby improving political and economic conditions.
The talk was attended by members of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee, retired Tatmadaw officers, representatives from the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), representatives from political parties, NCA signatory ethnic armed organizations, stakeholders in the peace process, intellectuals and intelligentsia, media, directors-general from ministries and organizations, officials, rectors of universities, representatives of organizations and observers totalling 118.
In his opening address, member of the State Administration Council Union Minister for Border Affairs Chairman of NSPNC Lt-Gen Yar Pyae said that it is necessary to collectively seek solutions to the challenges faced in the key areas of politics, security, peace, and the economy. Efforts should be made to reduce conflicts, implement both short-term and long-term plans for economic and social development, and build a federal democratic union. The peace talk aims to generate constructive recommendations from the political, security, economic, and national development sectors to use them to further achieve the success of the peace process.
UPWC Vice-Chairman and Union Minister (Retd) U Thein Zaw extended greetings while Secretary of NSPNC Lt-Gen Min Naing explained the aims of the talks and agenda, raising public awareness that the peace process requires greater involvement and focus from prominent figures, experts, and professionals across various sectors and that achieving peace through non-violent means is the only way to ensure long-term stability as well as the important role of media to disseminate true information in the peace process. Speakers then extended greetings.
At the talk, Secretary of NSPNC Lt-Gen Min Naing presided over the political and security sector and Lt-Gen Khin Zaw Oo (Retd) discussed the emergence of a process to reduce conflict and ensure ceasefire. Member of the NSPNC Lt-Gen Win Bo Shein headed the economic and State development sector whereas Deputy Minister (Retd) Daw Lei Lei Thein talked about the important role of economic development in efforts to ensure peace and development. Attendees exchanged views about the talks. Relevant representatives gave suggestions, held discussions and raised questions during the talks and speakers presented clarifications.
Trust and collaboration among peace participants will be strengthened by understanding and acknowledging the perspectives and recommendations of various stakeholders in the peace dialogue. This will help develop peace and national development processes that align with the political landscape emerging beyond 2025. The peace talks will last for three days from 24 to 26 March. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte believes he has no case to answer at the International Criminal Court, his daughter said on Sunday (Mar 23), and is confident he has a strong legal argument.

Sara Duterte, vice-president of the Philippines, told reporters her father was now in better health after appearing fatigued and dazed at his first hearing at the ICC.

"He's very confident about the legal arguments. He's very confident ... that what they did was wrong and there is no case to begin with," Duterte told reporters.

The 79-year-old former president faces a charge of crimes against humanity tied to his "war on drugs" in which thousands were killed.

He is currently in a detention centre in The Hague, awaiting a confirmation of charges hearing on Sep 23, where he will have the opportunity to contest the accusations against him.

Duterte was bundled into a plane in Manila and brought to the Hague via Dubai, appearing barely awake at his initial hearing two days later.

But his daughter, who said she saw him on Saturday, said: "He feels better now and thankfully the doctors and the nurses are taking good care of him."

She had previously revealed that her father's main complaint was the Dutch food served in the centre.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/duterte-no-case-answer-icc-daughter-sara-5019311

BRAZIL’S president starts a four-day state visit to Japan on Monday, accompanied by a 100-strong business delegation as US tariffs push the countries to nurture trade ties elsewhere.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba are also expected to discuss the joint development of biofuels ahead of November’s COP30 UN climate summit in the Brazilian Amazon.
In talks on Wednesday, the leaders will reportedly restate their commitment to free trade following US President Donald Trump’s levies on steel and other imports.
“Everyone who was talking about free trade is now practising protectionism,” Lula, 79, said ahead of his departure. “I think this protectionism is absurd,” he told Japanese media.
Brazil is the second-largest exporter of steel to the United States after Canada, shipping four million tonnes of the metal in 2024.
Lula and Ishiba will likely agree to regular leaders’ visits and to establishing strategic dialogue on security and other matters, Japanese media reported.
The pair may also affirm the importance of the rules-based international order, a phrase often used to make a veiled dig at Chinese foreign policy. — AFP

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, despite the partial ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.

"How the US will handle this deranged terrorist scum going forward, and how they will manage to corral them back into some kind of stall and direction—this is a big question," Zakharova told Russian media.

Just hours after the Putin–Trump conversation, the Ukrainian regime reportedly launched a drone attack on oil facilities in Kavkazskaya village, in Russia’s Krasnodar Region, during the night of March 19. Debris from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) damaged a pipeline between fuel storage tanks, igniting a fire that continues to burn.

Source: Suptnik

GERMANY has reopened its embassy in Damascus after a 13-year closure, Syrian media reported on Thursday, coinciding with a visit by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
Baerbock’s trip, her second to Syria since the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, saw the reopening of the diplomatic mission. German media, citing Baerbock, reported that a small number of diplomats, fewer than 10, will be stationed at the reopened embassy.
During her visit, Baerbock held high-level meetings with Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, foreign affairs chief Asaad Al-Shaibani, and representatives of Syrian civil society. Baerbock also toured the heavily damaged Jobar neighbourhood in Damascus, a district that bore the brunt of the country’s civil war. Germany closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012 when the country’s brutal civil war began. — Xinhua

ကိုးကား : The Global New Light of Myanmar

Photo: DW

WASHINGTON, March 17 

 A federal judge on Monday gave the Trump administration a Tuesday deadline to provide details about plane loads of Venezuelans it deported despite orders not to, in a brewing showdown over presidential power.

President Donald Trump claims the deported Venezuelans are members of the prison gang Tren de Aragua, which he designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The White House on Saturday published a Trump proclamation that invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to declare the gang was conducting irregular warfare against the U.S.

Source: Reuters

A HIGH-STAKES meeting between US and Ukrainian delegations started in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The talks in the Saudi port city of Jeddah came about two weeks after a US-Ukraine minerals deal was called off. US military assistance to Ukraine was also suspended after US President Donald Trump and then visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelen-
sky were embroiled in a rare shouting match at the White House.
Attending the meeting are US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
The Ukrainian delegation includes Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and Zelensky’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Pavlo Palisa.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and National Security Advisor Musaed Al Aiban are attending the meeting.
The Ukrainian president arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and left earlier on Tuesday after meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says senior Ukrainian and US officials will meet on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.

Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post on Saturday that Ukraine's delegation will include the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

The US has not provided the specific date, but National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate.

The meeting comes after Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump got into a heated exchange when they met at the White House in late February.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is "fully committed to constructive dialogue." He also said his country has been seeking peace from the moment the fighting began between Ukraine and Russia.

The Ukrainian leader added, "Realistic proposals are on the table."

Source: NHK World

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who arrived in Novosibirsk of the Russian Federation received Andrey Alexandrovich Travnikov, the Governor of Novosibirsk, at Grand Autograph Hotel in Novosibirsk yesterday morning.
They exchanged views on promotion of cooperation between Myanmar and Novosibirsk Region, operation of bilateral tourism and trade services, potential for further enhancement of friendly relations between the two countries through bilateral cooperation, learning of Myanmar officer trainees at universities in Novosibirsk, running of direct flights between Novosibirsk and Myanmar and Mandalay, bilateral export of products, opening of the Myanmar Consulate-General to promote relations and cooperation Myanmar and Novosibirsk, and potential for development of health, education, health, transport, tourism, industry, and economic and commercial sectors if Mandalay and Novosibirsk establish sister cities.
After the meeting, they exchanged commemorative gifts. Also present at the meeting were Council Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council member General Nyo Saw, Union ministers, Myanmar Ambassador to the Russian Federation U Thit Linn Ohn, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and officials. The Governor of Novosibirsk was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Myanmar and officials of the Government of Novosibirsk Region. — MNA/TTA

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Hamas on Sunday reiterated the need to start the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations and allow relief supplies to enter Gaza.

A delegation from the Hamas leadership met with the Egyptian side in Cairo, where issues were discussed “in a positive and responsible spirit,” especially the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners in various stages, Hamas said in a statement.
The delegation stressed the need to adhere to the terms of the agreement and called for an immediate start of the second phase of negotiations, the reopening of border crossings, and the unrestricted entry of aid into Gaza, the statement said.

A three-phase Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, took effect on Jan. 19. However, negotiations for the second phase remain stalled after the initial 42-day phase expired on March 1.

 Source: Xinhua