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Aung Suu Kyi to skip UN General Assembly

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Aung Suu Kyi to skip UN General Assembly

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rohingya issue forced her to escape embarrassment

To escape the mounting criticism by international community, Myanmar’s de facto leader, Noble Laureate State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi has cancelled her participation in the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly session to be held between 19-25 September. She is facing stiff criticism for spiralling Rohingya crisis inside the country’s Rakhine state.

Instead of her, Myanmar’s Vice President is expected to attend the General Assembly who will address the world leaders on behalf of the Noble Laureate Suu Kyi.

Myanmar government spokesman for Suu Kyi, Zaw Htay, on Wednesday said “the State Councillor will not attend” the General Assembly, where she spoke last year.

The spokesperson for her party National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung Shin was quoted saying that “perhaps” Ms Suu Kyi has “more pressing matters to deal with.”

She further added, “She’s never afraid of facing criticism or confronting problems.” However she said that she was not aware of the reason for the Aung San Suu Kyi’s withdrawal from this year’s General Assembly.

During her first address at UN General Assembly, last year, Aung San Suu Kyi defended her government’s efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

Myanmar’s envoy at UN has recently blamed Rohingya “insurgents” for the violence in Rakhine state and said that his government would never tolerate such atrocities.

The present Rohingya crisis began on august 25 when a ragtag militia attacked about 30 police posts and an army camp. This prompted a sweeping military counter offensive that refugees say it aimed at pushing Rohingyas out of the country.

There are reports from refugees and rights groups of widespread attacks on Rohingya villages in the north of Rakhine by the security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists, who have reportedly set several Muslim villages on fire.

Meanwhile Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while speaking in Tehran on Tuesday, said that Myanmar’s crackdown on Rohingya Muslims marks the “death of the Noble Peace Prize”.

He was quoted saying, “A cruel government, at the top of which sits a cruel woman who was awarded a Nobel Prize, kills innocent people, sets fire to them, destroys their houses and displaces them and no tangible reaction is seen.”

Earlier on Monday, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while speaking at the sidelines of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit on science and technology in Astana, Kazakhstan, had called for cooperation in offering aid to Rohingya Muslims living in Myanmar.

The two leaders stressed for taking action to put an end to the violence against Rohingya.  Rouhani said that the plight of Rohingya, along with other situations in the Muslim world, including Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine, showed the need for unity. Iranian President said, “Iran’s humanitarian aid for the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar will soon be shipped.”

On his arrival in Tehran, President Rouhani was quoted saying, “Although there was not much time for discussions, all the countries in attendance at the meeting agreed on the necessity of helping the displaced and applying pressure on Myanmar’s government to suspend the genocide.”

More than 370,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence since August 25. United Nations says that an average of almost 20,000 have been fleeing every day.

Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the Chief of UN Human Rights organization has termed the actions of Myanmar’s armed forces as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” However, Myanmar has denounced Hussein’s suggestion.

Some of Aung Saan Suu Kyi’s critics have called for stripping her of  Noble peace prize for failing to do more to address the crisis.

Donald Trump administration has called for protection of civilians while Bangladesh says that all refugees will have to go home in the proposed safe zones to be created in Myanmar. However China has supported Myanmar’s efforts to safeguard “development and stability”.

Myanmar’s military has ruled for almost 50 years until it began a transition to democracy in 2011. However army still holds important political powers and fully controls security of the country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India raises concern after Israel attack on UN peacekeeper base in Lebanon

Around 600 Indian soldiers are part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, and are stationed along the 120-km Blue Line on the Israel-Lebanon border.

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India raises concern after Israel attack on UN peacekeeper base in Lebanon

India has raised concerns over the safety of UN peacekeepers stationed in south Lebanon after they came under fire from Israeli forces attacking Hezbollah targets in the region. Around 600 Indian soldiers are part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, and are stationed along the 120-km Blue Line on the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that they are concerned about the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. It added that they will continue to monitor the situation closely. It further stated that inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate.

The statement follows a day after the UN said the Naqoura headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) and nearby positions have been repeatedly hit by Israeli forces.

The UN statement read that this morning, two peacekeepers were injured after an IDF Merkava tank fired its weapon toward an observation tower at UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, directly hitting it and causing them to fall. It added that the injuries are fortunately not serious this time, but the victims remain in hospital.

Notably, the situation along the Israel-Lebanon border has escalated rapidly after the assassination of former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. Israel is using land-based weaponry in this region, which increases the risk for troops stationed there.

The Israel Defence Forces 9IDF) have accused Hezbollah of operating in areas near UNIFIL posts. The IDF in a statement said that the IDF is operating in southern Lebanon and maintains routine communication with UNIFIL.

It added that on Thursday morning, IDF troops operated in the area of Naqoura, next to a UNIFIL base. Consequently, the IDF instructed the UN forces in the area to remain in protected spaces, following which the forces opened fire in the area.

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East Asia Summit: PM Modi says conflicts negatively impacting Global South, solution cannot come from battlefield

Mentioning that peace and stability should be restored as soon as possible, PM Narendra Modi said that conflicts going on in different parts of the world are having the most negative impact on countries of the Global South.

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East Asia Summit: PM Modi says conflicts negatively impacting Global South, solution cannot come from battlefield

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the East Asia Summit stressed the importance of dialogue over conflict, warning that solutions to global problems cannot emerge from the battlefield.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come as the world witnesses rising tensions in the Middle East and eastern Europe due to Israel’s escalations with Iran and its proxies in Gaza and Lebanon, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Mentioning that peace and stability should be restored as soon as possible, PM Narendra Modi said that conflicts going on in different parts of the world are having the most negative impact on countries of the Global South.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits in Laos to boost ties with ASEAN countries, and echoed his stance that diplomacy and peaceful resolutions are the only path forward. He stated that he comes from the land of Buddha, and has repeatedly said this is not an era of war. He added that solutions to problems cannot come from the battlefield.

PM Narendra Modi advocated for a humanitarian approach to conflicts and reiterated India’s commitment to peace and diplomacy. He mentioned that keeping a humanitarian approach, dialogue and diplomacy will have to be given priority. Fulfilling the responsibility of Vishwa Bandhu (global citizen), India will continue to contribute in every possible way in this direction, he continued.

He also pointed to the growing threat of terrorism, urging for global cooperation to tackle the issue. He added that terrorism is also a serious challenge to global peace and security, and to face it, forces believing in humanity will have to work together. He mentioned that mutual cooperation in the areas of cyber, maritime, and space will also have to be strengthened.

PM Narendra Modi also called for a free, open, inclusive, prosperous, and rule-based Indo-Pacific, signalling India’s ongoing concerns regarding China’s aggressive moves in the region. He underlined that the peace, security, and stability of the South China Sea are vital to the progress of the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized that the approach should be one of developmentalism and not expansionism.

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Rafael Nadal announces retirement from tennis

“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said in the video in Spanish.

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Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion and widely regarded as one of the most exceptional players in the history of tennis, has announced his retirement from professional tennis.

Nadal’s forthcoming participation in the Davis Cup final 8 for Spain in November will mark his final appearance as a professional tennis player. His illustrious career includes 22 Grand Slam titles, with an unprecedented 14 victories at the French Open, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished sportspersons of all time.

The champion, in an emotional video posted on X on Thursday, said, “I am here to let you know I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially.”   

“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end,” Nadal said in the video in Spanish.

The 38-year-old mentioned that he has been dealing with numerous injuries over the past few years, leading to significant time away from the sport. This year, the left-handed player has only participated in seven tournaments, experiencing an early exit in the first round of the French Open – an event he has historically won 14 times.

His most recent performance was at the Paris Olympics, where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic in straight sets during the second round.

Nadal boasts an impressive total of 92 ATP singles titles, which includes 36 Masters titles and an Olympic gold medal. Notably, he is one of three men in tennis history to achieve the Career Golden Slam in singles. The announcement of his retirement came through an emotional video shared on social media.

In the lead-up to his retirement, Nadal withdrew from the 2024 Laver Cup, which was intended to be his final professional event on the court. Following the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nadal confirmed that the Laver Cup would be his next appearance for the year. This would have marked his fourth participation in the Laver Cup, after competing in Prague in 2017, Geneva in 2019, and partnering with long-time rival Roger Federer in doubles for the latter’s final match at The O2 in London in 2022.

The 22-time Grand Slam Champion had previously hinted that 2024 might be his last year on the tour. With a season match record of 12-7, his latest competitive outing was at the Paris Olympics, where he was eliminated in the second round by Novak Djokovic.

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