Category World News

The call was made by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan during a meeting with ASEAN member foreign ministers on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

Since the military carried out a coup and removed Aung San Suu Kyi as civilian leader in February 2021, the regional bloc has so far spearheaded pointless diplomatic efforts to put an end to Myanmar’s conflict. ASEAN’s coup leaders were prevented from attending its annual meeting because of Myanmar’s failure to implement a five-point peace agreement reached in April 2021.

In his opening remarks, Mohamad urged the stakeholders in Myanmar to end hostilities, extend and expand the ceasefire, speed up the long and challenging recovery process, and lessen the suffering of the country’s citizens.

He suggested that “beyond the currently affected zones” the ceasefire be extended and expanded.

Malaysia currently serves as ASEAN’s rotating chairman.

As Myanmar’s problems had spread across borders, with a growing number of refugees fleeing to ASEAN countries and escalating trans-border crime, Mohamad earlier called for the bloc to intensify efforts.

He claimed that Malaysia’s efforts to de-escalate the violence and gain more access to humanitarian aid would be difficult because of a “trust deficit.”

Following a massive earthquake in late March that killed nearly 3,800 people and left tens of thousands homeless, senior general Min Aung Hlaing-led military government officially declared a truce in the multi-sided civil war.

Although conflict monitors claim continued fighting, including regular military-led airstrikes, the truce has previously been extended.

Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, met Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok in April and pleaded with him to respect the truce.

After the meeting, Anwar claimed that ASEAN had “concern” and wanted to slowly achieve “fair and free elections,” something that analysts have predicted will be challenging, if not impossible, to accomplish.

ASEAN’s long-standing policy of non-imititiveness in its member nation’s domestic affairs has also hindered its ability to resolve the conflict.

Despite the armistice, the military government continues its deadly aerial bombardment campaign, according to the UN and independent conflict monitors.

A military air attack in the middle of May, according to witnesses, killed 22 people, including 20 children, when it hit a school close to the epicenter of the earthquake.

Numerous ethnic and anti-coup organizations have made joint statements to put an end to hostilities.

Some residents of eastern Myanmar claim to have been driven out as a result of anti-coup forces’ relocation of military-held towns along Thailand’s lucrative trade route.

The military government of Myanmar has made it known that elections will be held at the end of the year.

The right-wing leader was sworn in by Assembly President Niels Olsen Peet on Saturday at the National Assembly in Quito as a joint gesture of unity. The two raised clasped their hands before the two sat down to sway in a symbolic gesture.

Despite her accusations of electoral fraud, Noboa, 37, defeated left-wing candidate Luisa Gonzalez in the election to win a new term. He has now served a second term.

Noboa pledged to make a significant reduction in violent crime the foundation of his administration when he addressed lawmakers.

Noboa stated that the goal of reducing homicides gradually would not be negociable. We will continue to fight against drug trafficking, seize illegal ammunition, explosives, and place more of greater control in the nation’s ports, and do so.

In recent years, drug cartels, including the powerful from Mexico, have been using porous borders and weak institutions to increase their influence in Ecuador, which was once regarded as one of the more stable nations in the area.

Noboa has responded by implementing militarized crackdowns, deploying the armed forces on the streets, and strengthening security at important infrastructure centers.

The president’s security plan has drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s contentious anti-gang policies, which have been praised by some for reducing crime but which have been criticized by rights organizations for alleged abuses and mass detentions.

In the context of Ecuador’s security overhaul, Noboa has cited El Salvador, the United States, and Israel as strategic partners.

In a move that has sparked concern among opposition politicians and human rights advocates who fear a creeping militarisation and lack of oversight, his administration has also appointed Erik Prince, the founder of the private military firm Blackwater.

The Cannes Film Festival’s coveted Palme d’Or, the coveted top prize, was awarded to an Iranian thriller film that explores corruption and state violence in the nation.

The world-famous festival on Saturday celebrated the film’s director, Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, hours after a power outage briefly interrupted the event’s flow.

Panahi has endured years of travel bans and prison sentences in Iran because of his provocative cinema, which is frequently produced in secret, and his festival crowd erupted into a roaring standing ovation. Iran’s ex-patee had been fore barred from leaving for more than 15 years.

The most precious, most alive part of us is mobilized by art, according to the phrase. Juliette Binoche, the jury’s president, called the award “a force that transforms darkness into forgiveness, hope, and new life.”

The future of his country was what Panahi said was most important on the stage.

Panahi urged people to “unify our forces.” No one should dictate what we should wear or what we ought to or shouldn’t do.

It Was Just An Accident follows a man named Vahid (played by Vahid Mobasseri), who kidnaps a man who had a false leg and tortures him while he is incarcerated and destroys his life.

After making his choice, Vahid checks with other prison survivors to make sure he is indeed their torturer.

The movie has received praise for having a clever, symbolic exploration of justice that combines intense themes with dark humor.

The President’s Cake, an Iraqi film, wins Best First Film.

Joachim Trier’s highly acclaimed follow-up to The Worst Person in the World, Sentimental Value, won the festival’s Grand Prix, or second prize.

The Secret Agent, a Brazilian political thriller starring Kleber Mendonca Filho, won two major awards: best actor and best director for Wagner Moura.

The jury chose Oliver Laxe’s desert road trip, and Mascha Schilinski’s generation-spanning German drama Sound of Falling, which won.

Nadia Melliti won the role of best actress in Hafsia Herzi’s French coming-of-age drama The Little Sister.

The President’s Cake, a first-time winner of the festival’s best first film category, was honored by Cannes with Hasan Hadi’s film, which was the first time an Iraqi film had received one.

After a significant power outage knocked out traffic lights in the Alpes-Maritimes holiday region on Saturday, the Cannes closing ceremony took place. Police believe the culprit is arson.

The festival’s theme of geopolitical tensions abounded, with discussions centered on US President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose tariffs on foreign-made films and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Women’s Champions League was won by Arsenal after beating defending champions Barcelona 1-0.

In the final of the Saturday match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon, Stina Blackstenius scored in the 75th minute after being set up by fellow second-half substitute Beth Mead.

18 years ago, Arsenal won the title of best English club in women’s football, making it the first and still the only English club to do so.

The Red-and-White corner of the stands, which were otherwise mostly dressed in burgundy and blue, greeted the final whistle and yelled out to celebrate.

Alessia Russo, the striker for Arsenal, told TNT Sports, “We believed from the beginning of our Champions League journey.” We were aware of our capabilities. We were aware of our potential. It was simply about doing it. And we succeeded”!

The heavy favorites were made up of Barcelona. They wanted to win a fourth title in five years and make it the only team to have won three titles in a row, excluding Lyon. In the knockout rounds, the team, led by two-time Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, defeated Chelsea and Wolfsburg in the knockout rounds nine straight.

However, Arsenal created the best chances in defense, with the exception of early in the second half. Frida Maanum and Blackstenius were held scoreless until Blackstenius finally beat her thanks to two outstanding saves by Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll.

The victory seals a remarkable conclusion to a turbulent season for Arsenal, which saw the resignation of assistant Renee Seglers and the resignation of coach Jonas Eidevall.

Seglers has led the team to a spectacular European campaign since taking over. Before laying low on the almighty Barcelona, Arsenal built its self-assurance with come-from-behind victories over Real Madrid and eight-time champion Lyon in the knockout rounds.

The large crowd of Barcelona supporters who had crowded the stadium where Sporting Lisbon played was greatly depressed by the defeat. Red and white shirts and flags had more red and white shirts and flags than blue and black, but their “Yes we can” calls were louder! The Catalan club’s in the final minutes were unable to elicit a comeback in the final minutes.

Claudia Pina’s shot that struck the crossbar just after halftime, when Barcelona was at its best, was the closest Barcelona could get. Otherwise, Arsenal liked the game.

Before the award ceremony, Bonmati expressed his regret for all of our supporters on the ground. “We’ll make an effort to do it again.”

Arsenal overcame some initial defensive jitters to put Barcelona on the back foot. Barcelona struggled to get their possession game going due to Arsenal’s increased field pressure, and Arsenal found long ball spaces down the left.

Russo, an England striker, was a rock for Arsenal when she used her size to win balls and start the attack.

Arsenal initially had a lead in the 22nd, but a video review found an offside by Frida Maanum by Barcelona’s Irene Paredes and waived an own goal. In the 27th, Maanum then came close with a long shot that Coll did well to stretch and push over her bar.

Before halftime, Bonmat was the only Barcelona player to appear to be moving in the direction. Her defense-focused dribbles through the middle prevented Arsenal from being particularly vulnerable. In the 12th inning, Lee Williamson blocked her best shot from deep inside.

Barcelona exited the restarted with a bang.

In the 49th, Pina fired a chipped shot from a dangerous angle into the woodwork. Ona Batlle launched three long-range shots into the area after Bonmati forced goalie Daphne van Domselaar to parry her shot.

Members of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accuse the Israeli government of prioritizing its war over ensuring the return of their relatives and took to the streets on Saturday in Tel Aviv, Shar HaNegev Junction, Kiryat Gat, and Jerusalem.

The organization stated in a statement on Saturday that “we demand that the decision-makers return to the negotiating table and not leave until an agreement is reached that will bring them all back.”

Einav Zangauker, the mother of the captive Matan Zangauker, who directly addressed Netanyahu at a rally on Saturday, said, “Tell me, Mr. Prime Minister: How do you go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. Knowing that you are abandoning 58 hostages, how do you look in the mirror?

Following Netanyahu’s choice of Major General David Zini to lead Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, the growing animosity among families has only grown.

During Israeli military training, Zini reportedly told colleagues: “I oppose hostage deals. I oppose any deal to put an end to Israel’s occupation of Gaza.” According to Channel 12 in Israel, this is “a war that will end forever.”

Major General Zini’s words “outrage the families of the kidnapped.” These are shocking and degrading words coming from someone who will determine the fate of the kidnapped men and women, the forum said in a statement released on Friday.

The organization claimed that appointing a Shin Bet chief would put Netanyahu’s war before the kidnapped people’s lives would be a crime and injustice against Israel as a whole.

The Supreme Court of Israel ruled that Zini’s firing attempt to replace Ronen Bar, the ex-Shin Bet chief, was unlawful, citing a conflict of interest related to Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.

In any case, Netanyahu chose to continue with the appointment of Zini despite the court’s ruling that he was unable to do so.

Later, the attorney general expressed concern that the prime minister had violated the constitution and altered the appointment procedure.

The International Criminal Court has requested an international arrest warrant for the prosecution of Netanyahu for war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict, but Netanyahu is still at the mercy of the international court.

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, is once more criticizing American trading partners. The European Union is the subject this time.

The US president has threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all EU products starting on June 1. If he succeeds, the EU’s hundreds of billion-dollar export goods will be subject to significantly higher import taxes.

Is Europe going to have to pay a price for settling with Trump sooner, then? Or will Trump’s tariffs, which he has already signed, have a negative impact on US manufacturing?

Presenter: Tom Mcrae

Guests:

Global Policy Institute President Paolo von Schirach

President of the Academy of Social Sciences, Will Hutton.