January 24, Tuesday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Risa Shimizu and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

  1. U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum formally withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal.
  2. The new Trump administration has vowed to protect U.S. interests in international waters in the South China Sea.
  3. Peace talks aimed at ending Syria’s civil war have got off to a rocky start, with government representatives and opposition delegates trading criticism over a ceasefire.