Mecca

Raja Salameh, brother of Lebanon’s central bank governor, has been summoned by a team of European judges who are investigating financial crimes and money laundering involving over $330 million. French judge Aude Buresi led the delegation, which questioned Salameh in Beirut as part of inquiries into financial transfers outside Lebanon and transactions conducted by Forry Associates, which Salameh owns. Salameh’s legal representative did not attend the hearing, claiming that his client was “a witness, not a suspect”. At least three countries – France, Germany, and Luxembourg – are investigating Salameh and his brother Riad, governor of Banque du Liban, for embezzling $330m between 2002 and 2015. European investigators have questioned several central bank employees and bank managers and have scheduled an interview with Riad Salameh in Paris on 16 May. Lebanese law states that the European judges cannot directly question Salameh, but must seek the answers through a mediator and a Lebanese judge. The delegation is also planning to question Youssef Khalil, the outgoing finance minister.

Several Asian nations are racing to evacuate their citizens from Sudan amid the heavy fighting between rival military factions in the capital city of Khartoum. As more than 420 people have been killed and over 3,700 injured, millions of Sudanese people are left without basic services. Foreign governments have intensified efforts to evacuate their stranded citizens by air, over land or via Port Sudan on the Red Sea since the ongoing violence affected the operations at the main international airport and limited other safe passage options. Indonesians, Filipinos, and Indians are among the citizens waiting to be evacuated from Sudan. The evacuations are happening alongside similar operations by the US, European countries, and other foreign governments.

The Ukraine crisis has been a prolonged conflict that has divided the international community, and has recently brought together the foreign ministers of China and Russia. The two nations have been closely watching the developments in Ukraine, as it has major implications for regional stability and geopolitics. The meeting between the foreign ministers is significant as it sheds light on the position that China and Russia take on the matter, and gives insight into how they view the situation and potential solutions. In this article, we take a closer look at the discussions held between the two nations, and what they may mean for the future of the Ukraine crisis.


The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has joined the global chorus of condemnation of the Myanmar military’s recent airstrike, which killed over 100 people, including children. The group said it “strongly condemns” the attack and reiterated its commitment to assisting Myanmar in resolving the crisis. However, calls are growing for ASEAN to play a more significant role in resolving the conflict.

On Tuesday, the Myanmar Air Force conducted multiple airstrikes on Pa Zi Gyi village in the central Sagaing region, firing on a gathering attended mostly by civilians. Infants and the elderly were among those killed in the raid, the deadliest junta attack since the coup two years ago.

Myanmar is a member of ASEAN, and during the 2021 ASEAN Summit, the group agreed to promote the “full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus,” a peace plan aimed at ending the violence caused by the military coup. However, the recent airstrike has highlighted ASEAN’s limited role in resolving the conflict, and pressure is mounting for the group to initiate complementary punitive action at its 2023 summit in May.

Dr. Ahmad Rizky Mardhatillah Umar, an Indonesian international relations researcher, said that ASEAN’s long-held principle of non-interference has constrained its responses to the crisis. “ASEAN’s responses to the recent airstrike from Tatmadaw (the Myanmar military) show this dilemma,” he said. “The next steps from ASEAN in the next ASEAN Summit is an important one to look at to achieve a durable solution in Myanmar.”

ASEAN’s five-point consensus has been undermined by the military junta’s refusal to cooperate. Amnesty International Indonesia said, “ASEAN must immediately push for new, stronger efforts to put an end to the human rights crisis in Myanmar.” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, added that ASEAN’s five-point consensus is “on its last legs” because of the junta’s obstinacy.

The international community’s pressure on ASEAN and the Myanmar junta to resolve the conflict has increased. Diplomatic and economic sanctions have been imposed on Myanmar, and hopes of resolving the crisis continue to dwindle. The international community must seek out new ways of resolving the conflict to prevent further loss of life and foster stability in the region.