January 4, Wednesday, 2023 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is set to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on January 13. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the meeting Tuesday in a statement that said the leaders will aim “to further deepen ties between our governments, economies, and our people.”
2. Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations has vowed to make efforts to maintain the peace and security of the international community as the country serves as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
3. The US House of Representatives has failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot for the first time in 100 years. The Republicans won a majority in the chamber following the elections in November and the new session adjourned on Tuesday. Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy was seen as a favorite within the Republican Party to become speaker. But he fell short of a majority in the first ballot after failing to gain support from hardliners and other Republican representatives. He also failed to win a majority in the subsequent two rounds of voting.