North Korea Prepares More Troops for Russia, Seoul Says 
Russian Drone Strike on Kryvyi Rih Shopping Centre Kills 15 
US-Canada Tariff War Escalates With 50% Auto Duties 
Merz Pushes Faster Reforms to Revive German Economy 
Milei Pushes for Formula 1 Return to Argentina 
Zelenskiy Sees U.S. Mediation Window for Ukraine Peace Through Summer 2027 
Pakistan, Iran Report Progress in Talks to End U.S.-Israeli War 
US Removes Syria From Terrorism Sponsor List 
Israel Targets Suspected Terrorist in Southern Syria 
Bessent Warns Iran as US Prepares Toughest-Ever Sanctions 
US Cancels South Korea Military Drill Amid Iran War 
Canada Announces Dollar-for-Dollar Retaliation Against 50% U.S. Tariffs 
US Sailor’s Father Detained by Immigration Authorities 
Raphael Glucksmann Launches 2027 French Presidential Bid 
New Zealand Labour Backs Social Media Ban for Under-16s 
Russian Drone Strike on Kryvyi Rih Mall Kills 16, Injures 130 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Myanmar’s military junta has criticized the proposal by Malaysia to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN surrounding how the alliance engages with the country. The proposal comes amidst efforts to resolve the political unrest that has occurred in Myanmar since the generals seized power by staging a coup.
The military junta criticized the proposal by Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah that was introduced on May 1. Abdullah proposed that ASEAN recognize the NUG or the National Unity Government – made up of officials the military ousted in their coup back in February of 2021 – especially surrounding humanitarian relief. The junta called the proposal “reckless and irresponsible.”
“Such remarks could abet terrorism and violence in the country, hampering the Myanmar Government’s anti-terrorism efforts and infringe international agreements related to combatting terrorism,” the junta-backed foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement noted that the generals who seized power from Myanmar’s elected government declared the NUG and the groups associated with it “unlawful groups” or “terrorist groups.”
The committee that made up the parliament that was ousted by the generals formed the NUG in April 2021. The NUG is made up of elected politicians, members of various ethnic groups in Myanmar, and anti-coup leaders. Some parliament members in ASEAN have also called on the alliance to engage directly with the NUG.
The junta has barred ASEAN from meeting with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the regional alliance has barred the junta from attending summits in 2021 and from the ASEAN foreign minister retreat in Cambodia back in February. ASEAN leaders are also set to attend a summit with US President Joe Biden, with Washington also following the grouping’s lead in only allowing a non-political representative of Myanmar to attend.
Last month, the junta-backed court sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to five years in prison after convicting the ousted leader of the first of 11 corruption charges made against her by the military since seizing power, according to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press.
The case in question centered on Aung San Suu Kyi’s alleged acceptance of $600,000 cash and 11.4 kilograms of gold bars from the former chief minister of Yangon, Phyo Min Thein.
