Kim Jong Un Oversees Strategic Cruise Missile Launch to Reinforce North Korea’s Nuclear Deterrence 
US Airstrikes Target Islamic State Militants in Northwest Nigeria Amid Rising Security Concerns 
Kim Jong Un Signals Continued Missile Development as North Korea Plans Five-Year Military Modernization 
Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability 
FBI Surges Resources to Minnesota Amid Fraud Investigations Linked to Somali Community 
South Korean President Apologizes to Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims, Pledges Full Investigation 
Lebanon Cabinet Approves Financial Gap Law to Tackle Ongoing Economic Crisis 
Trump and Zelenskiy Signal Progress Toward Ukraine Peace Deal, Donbas Still Unresolved 
Mark Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Support for Ukraine as Peace Talks With Russia Gain Momentum 
Israel Recognizes Somaliland as Independent State, Sparking Regional and Global Reactions 
Argentina Congress Approves 2026 Budget Under Milei, Marking First Legislative Passage Since 2023 
Myanmar Election 2025 Faces Global Scrutiny Amid Civil War and Political Repression 
California Drops Lawsuit Over Federal Funding Cuts to High-Speed Rail Project 
Australia Orders Independent Review After Bondi Mass Shooting, Albanese Resists Royal Commission Calls 
Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Holds After Deadly Border Clashes 
South Korea Prosecutor Alleges Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Abused Power for Bribes 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump to Advance Ukraine Peace Talks and Security Guarantees 
Foreign nationals were among the thousands of people detained by Myanmar’s junta since the generals seized power in a coup last year. Japan’s Kyodo news outlet reported that filmmaker Toru Kubota has been freed by the authorities.
Japan’s Kyodo news outlet reported Thursday that Japanese national and filmmaker Toru Kubota was freed by the junta since his arrest in July. Kubota was arrested at a protest in Yangon. The junta detained Kubota on charges of sedition and violating immigration laws, among other charges, last month with a prison sentence of 10 years.
Kubota was among the nearly 6,000 prisoners in Insein Prison who were freed as part of the junta’s mass amnesty. Aside from Kubota, the junta also freed the Australian economist who served as an adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi Sean Turnell, as well as former United Kingdom ambassador Vicky Bowman.
Canberra confirmed that Turnell left the country Thursday and arrived in Thailand. Bowman was also confirmed by diplomatic sources to have left Myanmar. Turnell was arrested shortly after the generals seized power and overthrew the elected civilian government back in February last year.
The country’s state-run MRTV showed footage of Bowman and Turnell, as well as Kubota, signing exit documents with officials. The United States said its citizen, Kyaw Htay Oo, was also released in the mass amnesty.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanked the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia for pressuring the junta to release Turnell, who was charged by the military for violating a state secrets law and was sentenced to three years in prison back in September.
The special envoy of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations also welcomed the mass amnesty Friday that resulted in Kubota’s, Turnell’s, and Bowman’s release. The envoy said the mass release by the junta was “an important gesture” in helping create an environment for dialogue.
Envoy Prak Sokhonn said in a statement that he was planning to make a third visit to Myanmar in the coming weeks.
This comes amidst frustration from the 10-member bloc over the lack of progress by the junta in implementing the peace plan that was agreed upon shortly after the coup last year.
