In a historic inauguration ceremony on January 20th, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris. The day was marked by heightened security measures and pandemic restrictions, as well as the absence of outgoing President Donald Trump, Canadian News Today who broke with tradition by not attending the event. Biden’s inaugural address called for unity, healing, and democracy, and he swiftly signed a series of executive orders addressing issues such as immigration, climate change, and racial justice.

The new administration faces a daunting task of tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, and political polarization, among other challenges. In Southeast Asia, another political crisis unfolded as Myanmar’s military staged a coup on February 1st, claiming widespread voter fraud in last year’s national elections. The military detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, and declared a state of emergency for one year.

The move was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States and the United Nations, as a setback for democracy and human rights in Myanmar.