Putin Signals Possible Peace or Continued War in Ukraine at Major Year-End Address 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
Italy Supreme Court Upholds Salvini Acquittal in Migrant Kidnapping Case 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
U.S. Senators Move Toward Deal to Strengthen Military Helicopter Safety Rules 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Trump Administration Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases for Naturalized U.S. Citizens 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Honduras Election Recount Delayed Amid Protests and Political Tensions 
Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. to Continue 
The recent executions by the Myanmar junta of four activists led to international condemnation and sparked protests in the country. It appears that the authorities in Myanmar cracked down on those documenting the protests as a Japanese national was detained for filming the demonstrations in Yangon.
Japanese media outlets reported over the weekend that Myanmar authorities detained a Japanese national for filming the protests in Yangon, according to officials in Tokyo. While the report did not disclose the man's identity, the Jiji news outlet reported that he was in his 20s and that the Japanese embassy in Myanmar called for his release.
Other media outlets in Japan reported that the man was documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota and that he was detained in the South Dagon area in Yangon Saturday as well as two others. The three individuals were in the area filming the protests against the execution of four activists by the junta last week.
This follows an arrest by the junta last year of another Japanese national, journalist Yuki Kitazumi, who was charged with spreading false news during the military's crackdown on the media following the coup in February. Kitazumi was later released and allowed to return to Japan.
It has been more than a year since the generals seized power from Myanmar's elected government and ousted its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The military staged a brutal crackdown on the protests against the coup, killing hundreds and detaining thousands. 11,820 people are still detained, according to the activist group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Last week, Japan's foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said the executions will only isolate Myanmar even more in the international community. Hayashi issued a statement on the executions, saying that the move will only exacerbate conflict and sharpen national sentiment.
Hayashi also said the executions go against Japan's urging of settling the unrest in Myanmar in a peaceful manner and its demands to free political prisoners who are detained.
The United Nations Security Council also condemned the executions, echoing the calls to release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
In a statement approved by all 15 members of the panel, the council called for dialogue and reconciliation according "to the will and the interests of the people of Myanmar," as well as an immediate stop to the violence, and respect for human rights.
