U.S. President Barack Obama talks to the media as he meets with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. September 14, 2016.
Former US President, Barack Obama has weighed in on the crisis that continues to unfold across Myanmar, stating he was “appalled by heartbreaking violence” it had used against civilians after retaking power in a coup.
Releasing a rare statement, Obama said he supported his President Joe Biden’s move to impose sanctions on the nation and impose costs on Myanmar’s generals.
“The military’s illegitimate and brutal effort to impose its will after a decade of greater freedoms will clearly never be accepted by the people and should not be accepted by the wider world”
Obama has called for those in Myanmar to continue to protest for their democracy.
The world’s attention must remain on Myanmar, where I’ve been appalled by heartbreaking violence against civilians and inspired by the nationwide movement that represents the voice of the people. pic.twitter.com/zBkJqEeq0E
Myanmar was taken over by the nation’s military in February, after detaining the country’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Mass protests have been taking place across Myanmar since the military seized control on 1 February.
It comes as elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained, and so do other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Hundreds of people, including children, have been killed.
The military is now back in charge and has declared a year-long state of emergency. The armed forces had backed the opposition, who were demanding a rerun of the vote, claiming widespread fraud.
Global Impacts
Countries from across the globe have responded to the crisis in Myanmar, many imposing sanctions on the nation.
The European Union has imposed sanctions on 10 of Myanmar’s military leaders, as well as two giant military conglomerates.
The United States has also responded, imposing the following:
The United States has imposed new Myanmar sanctions on state-owned Myanma Timber Enterprise and Myanmar Pearl Enterprise, according to the Treasury Department. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar
Experts are now urging that the agenda for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Meeting in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Saturday should be able to produce concrete actions to end violence in Myanmar.
Calls for Industries to cut ties with Myanmar
IndustriALL ExCo unanimously adopts a resolution on Myanmar, calling on companies to end commercial ties with the military; on all affiliates to pressure governments for economic sanctions; on governments to recognise the new National Unity Government of Myanmar.
Anthony Lucas is reporter, presenter and social media producer with ticker News. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Professional Communication, with a major in Journalism from RMIT University as well as a Diploma of Arts and Entertainment journalism from Collarts. He’s previously worked for 9 News, ONE FM Radio and Southern Cross Austerio’s Hit Radio Network.
The Chinese property market is currently facing a crisis, with major developers like Evergrande and Country Garden experiencing significant financial challenges.
This alarming situation has garnered global attention due to its potential impact on the Chinese and international economies.
Evergrande, one of China’s largest property developers, has been struggling with a massive debt burden, exceeding $300 billion. This has raised concerns about the company’s ability to meet its financial obligations, causing a ripple effect across the property market. Country Garden, another prominent player in the industry, is also facing mounting debt pressures, further exacerbating the crisis.
The property market’s decline can be attributed to several factors, including government policies aimed at curbing excessive borrowing, a slowing economy, and a general shift towards more sustainable and affordable housing options.
These challenges have created uncertainty in the market, leading to a decrease in property sales and declining developer revenues.
The implications of this crisis extend beyond the property sector, with potential repercussions for the broader Chinese economy. #ticker today #featured
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will highlight the NATO alliance’s ongoing support for Ukraine in its war with Russia in Europe.
The war between Israel and Hamas and heightened tensions in the wider Middle East have raised concerns that Washington cannot sustain the level of military and diplomatic support it has given Ukraine since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion.
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien also told reporters that Blinken, who departed on Monday for Brussels, will highlight the ongoing commitment of the United States and its allies as he takes part in the first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels.
“This is part of the process of finding a place in the alliance, which we’ve always said is Ukraine’s future,” he said. #featured