Zin Mar Aung is the minister of foreign affairs for Myanmar's revolutionary National Unity Government. She spoke to The World about her government’s quest for recognition, no-fly zones and parallels between Myanmar and Ukraine.
Top of The World. A general strike in Myanmar on Monday saw businesses, factories and other workplaces shuttered across the country despite the military junta’s warnings against such a move. And, Iran may be backing away from its threat to sharply curtail access to international inspectors from its nuclear program. Also, just one year after the first confirmed COVID-19 fatality in the US, the country is on the verge of crossing a grim milestone: 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19.
Top of The World: Many around the globe were alarmed by the insurrection in Washington, and raised concerns about the violent testing of democratic norms as other countries have seen their institutions falter and drift closer to authoritarianism. And, rescue efforts continue in India on Wednesday following the collapse of a glacier in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Also, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the head in a police crackdown of protests in Myanmar.
Top of The World: The ICC has convicted Dominic Ongwen, a former commander of Uganda's notoriously brutal rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army, of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And, the Canadian government has designated the far-right Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity. Also, Canada is defending its decision to take COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX.
The party is helmed by Myanmar's most famous person, living or dead: Aung San Suu Kyi. Now, “Aunty Suu,” as she is widely known, is deposed and detained, along with hundreds of other elected politicians.
Top of The World: Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi who has been detained by authorities since Monday following a coup by the country’s military has now been formally charged. And, the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine may reduce the spread of the virus by two-thirds and prevent severe disease. Also, a devastating wildfire in Australia has torched more than 70 homes near the country’s western city of Perth.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny demanded his release on Tuesday as he faced a court hearing in Moscow in a case that could send him to prison for up to 3 ½ years. And, US President Joe Biden condemned the military’s takeover of Myanmar. Also, Biden is expected to continue an effort on immigration reforms by taking on one of the former Trump administration’s most controversial policies on Tuesday — the separation of families at the US-Mexico border.
The military of Myanmar on Monday overthrew the country’s democratic government in a coup d’état. And, demonstrators across Russia took to the streets protesting President Vladimir Putin and demanding the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Also, people around the world are sending their best wishes to Captain Sir Tom Moore who has been taken to the hospital with the coronavirus.
Following the recent release of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, former UN Ambassador and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson spoke to Marco Werman about Aung San Suu Kyi and the dark realities of the government of Myanmar.
Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's state councilor and political leader, is struggling to lure global investment to Rakhine.
Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were found guilty and sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of violating Myanmar's Official Secrets Act. Their lawyers say courts lack proof of 'intent to harm.'