JAPAN
Import curbs must stop: G7
The G7 industrial powers yesterday called for the “immediate repeal” of import curbs on Japanese food products, a reference to China’s restrictions after the nation began releasing wastewater from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The G7 trade ministers, in a statement after a weekend meeting in Osaka, did not mention China, but they also denounced what they consider its rising economic coercion through trade. “We deplore actions to weaponize economic dependencies and commit to build on free, fair, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationships,” the 10-page statement said.
KAZAKHSTAN
Dozens die in mine fire
The nation was in mourning yesterday after 36 people died in a fire at an ArcelorMittal mine, the worst such disaster in years which has prompted the nationalization of the company’s local affiliate. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said at 10am that “the bodies of 36 miners were found and 10 workers were still being sought.” However, the chances of finding them alive are “very low,” rescuers said the night before, due to the lack of ventilation in the mine and the force of Saturday’s explosion, which spread over 2km. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev traveled to the scene on Saturday and ordered that cooperation with ArcelorMittal be “brought to an end.” Speaking to victims’ relatives at the Karaganda mine in the country’s center, Tokayev called ArcelorMittal “the worst enterprise in Kazakhstan’s history in terms of cooperation with the government.” The Kazakh government and the steel giant announced a preliminary agreement to “transfer ownership of the [local] firm in favor of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said.
CHINA
Defense forum begins
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the nation’s biggest annual show of military diplomacy, started yesterday, although China is still missing a defense minister, who typically hosts this event. Beijing hopes to use the forum to promote President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) vision and draw developing countries closer, as it faces increased coordination between the US and its allies to curtail its military ambitions. Russia is being given center stage at the forum. Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu was initially listed as the first guest speaker at today’s opening ceremony, but as of last night, his name was not on the agenda. The US Department of Defense has sent a delegation led by Xanthi Carras, China country director in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense.
MYANMAR
Former minister charged
Former minister for information Ye Htut has been arrested and charged with encouraging dissent against the military, the junta said yesterday, the latest in a series of high-profile arrests. In a statement, the junta information team said the 64-year-old had been detained on Saturday evening in connection with “spreading wrong information on social media.” “U Ye Htut was arrested last night and charged under section 505 (a),” a security source said. Section 505 outlaws any action deemed to undermine the military. The law carries a maximum jail term of three years. His arrest comes a week after pro-junta Telegram channels accused him of exposing the address of a retired military officer on social media.
BACKLASH: The National Party quit its decades-long partnership with the Liberal Party after their election loss to center-left Labor, which won a historic third term Australia’s National Party has split from its conservative coalition partner of more than 60 years, the Liberal Party, citing policy differences over renewable energy and after a resounding loss at a national election this month. “Its time to have a break,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told reporters yesterday. The split shows the pressure on Australia’s conservative parties after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor party won a historic second term in the May 3 election, powered by a voter backlash against US President Donald Trump’s policies. Under the long-standing partnership in state and federal politics, the Liberal and National coalition had shared power
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
A documentary whose main subject, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza weeks before it premiered at Cannes stunned viewers into silence at the festival on Thursday. As the cinema lights came back on, filmmaker Sepideh Farsi held up an image of the young Palestinian woman killed with younger siblings on April 16, and encouraged the audience to stand up and clap to pay tribute. “To kill a child, to kill a photographer is unacceptable,” Farsi said. “There are still children to save. It must be done fast,” the exiled Iranian filmmaker added. With Israel
Africa has established the continent’s first space agency to boost Earth observation and data sharing at a time when a more hostile global context is limiting the availability of climate and weather information. The African Space Agency opened its doors last month under the umbrella of the African Union and is headquartered in Cairo. The new organization, which is still being set up and hiring people in key positions, is to coordinate existing national space programs. It aims to improve the continent’s space infrastructure by launching satellites, setting up weather stations and making sure data can be shared across
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