Here’s a roundup of global reaction:

– ‘Cooperative partnership’ –

Just a day after Xi Jinping was unanimously re-appointed President, the Chinese leader said Beijing was willing to work with Moscow.

“Currently, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is at the best level in history, which sets an example for building a new type of international relations,” Xi said in a message to Putin, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

“China is willing to work with Russia to keep promoting China-Russia relations to a higher level.”

– ‘Challenges’ –

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to congratulate Putin, but the message will also raise “challenges” in their relations, her spokesman said.

Berlin and Moscow have “differences in opinion” on issues ranging from Russian politics to the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

“Nevertheless, the continuous contact with Russia’s leadership is very important to us.”

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was more critical, saying: “We certainly cannot talk in all respects about a fair political contest as we know it.”

It was “unacceptable” that the election also took place in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine four years ago in breach of international law, Maas said.

“In this respect, we assume that Russia will remain a difficult partner.”

Poland also took up the Crimea theme with the foreign ministry saying the vote on the peninsula was “illegal” and urged respect for Ukrainian territorial integrity.

– ‘Modernisating Russia’ –

In a phone call with Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron wished him “success for the political, democratic, economic and social modernisation” of Russia.

But he also urged Putin to shed light on the ‘unacceptable’ double agent poisoning.

– ‘Denuclearise North Korea’ –

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated Putin and the two leaders agreed to work together for North Korea’s denuclearisation, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

“The two leaders confirmed their close cooperation in realising North Korea’s denuclearisation” before an expected summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it said.

Abe and Putin also discussed joint economic activities on disputed islands and “humanitarian measures” for former Japanese islanders.

– ‘Exceptional trust’ –

“The Russian people’s exceptional trust in you is a natural outcome of your outstanding national performance,” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told his close ally in a congratulatory cable.

– ‘Develop relations further’ –

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Putin on his “decisive victory” and pledged to boost ties.

“I am sure that during your new term, relations between our two countries will develop further,” he said.

Iran and Russia have strengthened ties in recent years, both giving major military and financial backing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

– ‘Strategic ties’ –

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sent his “warmest congratulations,” according to a statement.

“(Sisi) lauds the strategic relations that the two countries share and their keenness to further enhance them so as to realise the interests of both peoples.”

– ‘Brother countries’ –

The presidents of leftist regimes in Venezuela and Bolivia effusively congratulated Putin both using the same word, “overwhelming” to describe the victory.

Russia and Venezuela are “brother countries” as both must “face the frequent manoeuvres of imperialism” to “impose doctrines of world supremacy,” said President Nicolas Maduro.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Twitter that Putin’s win “guarantees geopolitical equilibrium and world peace before the onslaught of imperialism”.

– ‘Health and happiness’ –

Saudi Arabia’s new strongman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and his father King Salman sent congratulations and wished Putin “constant good health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity”.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Davis said the agreement, which European leaders will sign at a summit this week, was a “decisive step”.

The two sides also agreed on a “backstop” solution for the thorny issue of the future of the Irish border, just weeks after Prime Minister Theresa May said no British premier could ever accept such an idea.

The deal, secured after what Frenchman Barnier called an “intensive” weekend of talks in Brussels, paves the way for talks on a future trade deal to start next month and sent the pound surging.

“We were able this morning to agree, after all those days and nights of hard work, on a large part of what will be an international agreement for the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom,” Barnier told a press conference with Davis.

The transition will begin on Brexit day — March 29, 2019 — and last until December 31, 2020. During that period, Britain “will no longer participate in the European Union decision-making process,” Barnier said.

“Nevertheless, it will preserve the benefits, the advantages of the single market and the customs union… and will therefore be required to respect all the European rules just like all member states do.”

– ‘Certainty’ for the future –

Standing against a backdrop of British and EU flags, Davis told the news conference that the 21-month transition “gives the certainty demanded by businesses and citizens across Britain and the European Union.”

Firms across Europe that need to plan their business years in the future have been clamouring for both sides to reach a deal to avoid a cliff-edge departure, and Davis said it was “near enough” the full two years Britain had demanded.

Davis said Britain would be able to sign trade deals with other countries during the transition, despite EU rules saying it should not be while subject to the bloc’s customs rules.

He added that Britain would now allow EU citizens moving to Britain during the transition phase to have the same rights to work and live in the country as those who arrived before, a policy London previously rejected.

May, who reached an outline deal on the divorce with the EU in December, said in a statement that the deal showed that “we can get an arrangement for the future which will be in the interests” of both sides.

Both sides wanted the transition deal in place so that it could be signed off by EU leaders at a Brussels summit on Friday, allowing the unlocking of talks on the future British-EU relationship in April.

– ‘Backstop’ solution –

Britain meanwhile agreed to the EU’s “backstop” plan for the status of the Irish border, under which British-ruled Northern Ireland would remain part of the EU’s customs union if there is no better idea.

The thorny issue will, however, require further talks to be fully resolved, the two sides said.

The EU insists that any divorce deal must ensure there is no “hard border” between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, saying it could compromise the 1998 peace accord that ended decades of sectarian violence in the British province.

The move appeared to be a climbdown for May, who insisted in February that “no UK prime minister could ever agree” to the plan as it would threaten Britain’s constitutional integrity.

The pro-British party in Northern Ireland that props up her government has previously deemed the backstop arrangement “unacceptable”.

Davis however denied that Britain had backed down, saying it was still pushing for a solution as part of a trade deal which would mean there was no need for the backstop.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, who met Barnier in Brussels, said on Twitter on Monday that “Brexit negotiations are moving forward.”

Sterling climbed to $1.41 against the dollar and reached 87 pence against the euro on news of the deal.

London and Brussels had already drawn closer in recent days over the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy, with EU foreign ministers on Monday offering “unqualified solidarity” over the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal.//AFP

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will today preside over the opening of an exhibition hosted by the US government at Queen Sirikit Textile Museum, which features nearly 80 gifts exchanged between the country’s heads of state and delegations over the past two centuries of bilateral relations.

Two centuries ago this year, American naval captain Stephen Williams docked his ship in the port of Bangkok in the hope of opening trade between his country and Siam. The mission was a success, and Williams returned home with a letter addressed to President James Monroe from Dit Bunnag, Siam’s foreign minister, conveying the approval of His Majesty King Rama II.

The two nations have maintained an amicable relationship ever since.

The gifts are on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, US National Archives, presidential libraries, Library of Congress, King Prajadhipok’s Institute, the National Museum Bangkok, the Thai Department of Fine Arts and Thai Film Archive.

“Thailand was one of the United States’ earliest friends, and I strongly encourage you to visit the Queen Sirikit Museum and see first-hand how these gifts helped cement that friendship over 10 generations,” said US Ambassador Glyn Davies in a press release.

In 1818, the United States was still a young republic, with little political experience beyond the Atlantic Ocean. The Chakri Dynasty was meanwhile just learning how to navigate the world diplomatically, which included dealing with European adversaries sharing colonial ambitions. Situated on opposite sides of the globe, the US and Siam were not the most likely allies.

“Great and Good Friend” is the salutation President Abraham Lincoln used to address King Rama IV in February 1862 when he wrote to thank King Mongkut for sending “rich presents … as tokens of goodwill and friendship for the American people”, co-curator Trevor Merrion said at a recent talk at Siam Society.

Merrion and ethnomusicologist William Bradford Smith spent nearly a year to prepare the exhibition – most of which is on show for the first time in Thailand.

Among the highlights are historical treaties, letters exchanged between Thai monarchs and US presidents, presidential portraits, golden cigarette cases and lacquerwares.

The show is divided into two parts. The first room portrays the first century of relations, which began during the reign of the King Rama II and former president James Monroe through the reign of King Rama V.

There are also the black-and-white photographs depicting HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn visiting Disneyland when he was a young prince, on June 22, 1960 during a royal visit to the US.

The photographs depict King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Queen Sirikit, Prince Vajiralongkorn and Princess Ubol Ratana cruising on a boat in Disneyland.

The second room features the last century of relations spanning to the current day.

The show runs through June 30.

Datin Rozita Mohamad Ali was sentenced to a good behaviour bond of five years by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court last Thursday (March 15), even though the prosecution had called on the court to mete out a jail sentence.

The petition, started by an unnamed individual using the moniker “Equal Justice For Malaysians” on Saturday (March 17) on the change.com website has obtained 41,337 signatures as of noon Monday (March 19).

The petition is seeking 50,000 signatures before it is forwarded to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Rozita was charged with abusing then 19-year-old Suyanti Sutrinso in 2016 using a kitchen knife, a steel mop, a clothes hanger and an umbrella.

She had caused multiple injuries to the victim’s head, hands, legs and internal organs between 7am and 12pm on Dec 21, 2016 in a house in Mutiara Damansara.

The petition claims that Rozita’s actions against Suyanti should have resulted in a “stricter punishment” rather than a good behaviour bond.

It added that that being rich and carrying the title of “Datin” should not give her the right to treat people in an inhumane manner.

“What message are we sending to our people and children? Malaysia needs to seriously look at our human rights issue,” the petition said.

Rozita was initially charged under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years upon conviction.

However, the charge was later amended to causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means under Section 326 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and Judge Mohammed Mokhzani Mokhtar sentenced her to be bound over for five years on a good behaviour bond of RM20,000.

Deputy Public Prosecutor V. Suloshani had urged for the court to mete out a jail sentence to serve as a deterrent against the accused, adding that the incident had gone viral on social media.

However, Rozita’s lawyer, Datuk Rosal Azimin Ahmad, applied for a good behaviour bond, claiming that his client had “repented”.

An online portal reported on Saturday (March 17) that Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali confirmed that his office would challenge the court’s decision.

“The AGC (Attorney-General’s Chambers) has filed a notice of appeal against the inadequacy of the sentence. Thank you,” he told the portal.

M Zaini Misrin from Bangkalan, East Java, was executed on Sunday, according to Migrant Care, an Indonesian organization focusing on the welfare of Indonesian migrant workers.

Zaini, who worked as a driver, was sentenced to death on Nov. 17, 2008, after being found guilty of murdering his employer, Abdullah bin Umar Munammad Al Sindy. He was arrested on Jul. 13, 2004.

Migrant Care suspected that the 53-year-old Bangkalan resident had been forced to confess to the murder.

The group further claimed that Zaini did not receive legal assistance during his trial and was only accompanied by a translator believed to be complicit in forcing him to confess to the crime he claimed he did not commit.

“Saudi Arabia also did not notify Indonesia [about the execution] either through the consulate general in Jeddah or the Foreign Ministry,” the group said in a statement released on Monday.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed the execution and Migrant Care’s claim that it was not notified by Riyadh beforehand about Zaini’s beheading.

President Jokowi has requested that Zaini and other Indonesians on death row in Saudi Arabia be granted clemency on at least three occasions: During his visit to  Riyadh in September 2015, during King Salman’s visit to Jakarta in March 2017 and through a letter sent to the Islamic kingdom in November 2017.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah had also requested that Zaini’s case be reviewed and a reinvestigation was conducted between 2011 and 2014, according to Migrant Care. The legal efforts, however, failed to overturn his conviction.