US sanctions Congo armed group, mining firms over illicit minerals
The measures are the latest taken by the administration of President Donald Trump to bring peace to eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels staged a lightning advance earlier this year, spurring violence that has killed thousands.
The Treasury Department said it was sanctioning the Coalition des Patriotes Resistants Congolais-Forces de Frappe (PARECO-FF), which it said controlled mining sites in Rubaya from 2022 to 2024. - Reuters
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Malay Mail
27 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
When Alaska freezes, Asia warms the stage: How the East Asian Summit will shape the world order — Phar Kim Beng
AUGUST 17 — The much-anticipated Alaska Summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to deliver a breakthrough on Ukraine. Instead of producing even a framework for dialogue, the summit reinforced entrenched positions. Putin reiterated his long-standing demand that Ukraine withdraw from four partially occupied regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia — and abandon its aspirations of joining Nato. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has categorically rejected such terms, arguing that ceding territory would only embolden Russia to strike again in the future, just as it did in 2022 after the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Trump, usually known for his unfiltered remarks, remained conspicuously silent as Putin spoke for nearly eight minutes. This silence was as telling as the Russian president's words. It suggested either a lack of consensus within Washington or a strategic ambivalence in how the United States wishes to position itself vis-à-vis Russia and Europe. For many observers, the Alaska Summit exposed the limits of bilateral great-power bargaining when the underlying causes of conflict — territory, sovereignty, and security guarantees — remain non-negotiable. Yet, even as the stalemate in Alaska deepens, attention is already shifting to the upcoming East Asian Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur. Unlike Alaska's narrow focus, the EAS brings together not only the United States and Russia but also China, India, Japan, Australia, and the ten Asean states. What makes this year's summit epochal is the unprecedented presence of all five Brics leaders — President Xi Jinping of China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa — alongside Donald Trump. Never before has the EAS convened such a dense constellation of global power. This convergence transforms Kuala Lumpur into more than a regional host; it becomes the diplomatic crossroads where the rules of trade, technology, and tariffs will be tested. For Brics, the challenge is to project a united voice on economic sovereignty and resist being cornered by unilateral American tariffs. For Trump, the challenge is to secure a minimal tariff regime that satisfies his domestic political base while avoiding an outright trade war with five major powers who, collectively, represent nearly half of the global population and a third of global GDP. For Brics, the challenge is to project a united voice on economic sovereignty and resist being cornered by unilateral American tariffs. — AFP pic The central question is whether Asean, as convener of the EAS, can seize this moment to anchor a new framework for dialogue. Unlike Europe, where Nato and the EU dominate, Asia has no single hegemonic institution. The strength of Asean lies in its convening power and its ability to set agendas without threatening the sovereignty of its participants. The EAS reflects this tradition of consensus-building. But consensus must now rise to the level of breakthrough if Kuala Lumpur is to be remembered as more than a ceremonial host. The stakes could not be higher. If Brics leaders and Trump fail to hammer out even a minimal tariff regime, the world risks entering another spiral of economic fragmentation. Already, Trump's tariff policies have unsettled global markets, pressuring allies and rivals alike. The Brics, for their part, have long advocated reducing dependence on the US dollar and challenging Washington's monopoly over financial rules. Yet confrontation without compromise risks destabilising not only global supply chains but also the fragile growth trajectories of emerging economies. Here lies Asean's strategic opportunity. By positioning itself as a mediator between Trump's protectionist instincts and Brics' push for economic sovereignty, Asean can demonstrate its relevance at a time when the global order is in flux. It must not merely facilitate polite conversations but instead encourage concrete deliverables: a roadmap for tariff reduction, mechanisms for currency settlement that do not destabilise global finance, and frameworks for sustainable investment across Asia and beyond. The symbolism is powerful. In Alaska, Trump could not even nudge Putin toward flexibility on Ukraine. In Kuala Lumpur, however, he will face not one but five leaders of Brics, each bringing their own grievances, ambitions, and demands. For Trump, the test is whether he can move from unilateral posturing to multilateral bargaining. For Asean, the test is whether it can shepherd this convergence into outcomes that temper confrontation with compromise. If successful, the EAS could mark the beginning of a new economic architecture — one that acknowledges US concerns about market access and intellectual property while also addressing Brics' demands for fairer trade and greater autonomy from Western financial dominance. If it fails, the world may splinter further into rival blocs, each imposing its own tariffs, currencies, and technological standards. This is why the East Asian Summit in Kuala Lumpur is not just another regional gathering. It is an epochal event. The simultaneous presence of Trump and all five Brics leaders ensures that the EAS will be scrutinised not only for its communiqués but for its capacity to chart the contours of global economic governance. The ability to hammer out even a minimal tariff regime would send a powerful signal that dialogue can still shape the future of the world order. For Asean, this is the defining moment. The Alaska Summit showed what happens when two powers lock horns without compromise. The East Asian Summit offers, indeed, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, something different: a chance for a collective breakthrough. This is Anwar's X moment in time. One filled with known knows and unknown unknowns. If Kuala Lumpur succeeds, it will demonstrate that Asia is no longer just a theatre of global competition but a stage upon which the architecture of the future world order is negotiated and defined. * Phar Kim Beng is a professor of Asean Studies and Director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies at the International Islamic University of Malaysia. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
US suspends visas for Gazans after far-right influencer posts
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 — The US government said yesterday it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States. The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job. 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,' the State Department, which is led by Marco Rubio, wrote on X. In a series of posts on X Friday, Loomer called on the State Department to stop giving visas to Palestinians from Gaza who she said were 'pro-HAMAS... affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and funded by Qatar,' without providing evidence. Loomer's target was the US-based charity HEAL Palestine, which said last week it had helped 11 critically wounded Gazan children—as well as their caregivers and siblings—arrive safely in the US for medical treatment. It was 'the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US,' the charity said on its website. 'Dangerous and inhumane' 'Truly unacceptable,' Loomer wrote in another X post. 'Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas.' 'Qatar transported these GAZANS into the US via @qatarairways,' she said. Qatar is 'literally flooding our country with jihadis,' she added. Loomer said she had spoken to the staff of Republican Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, adding that they were 'also looking into how these GAZANS got visas to come into the US.' Republican Congressman Randy Fine explicitly commended Loomer after the visa change was announced, in a sign of her sway over some US policy. 'Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura,' Fine wrote on X. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity, called on the Trump administration to 'reverse this dangerous and inhumane decision.' Over the last 30 years the charity has evacuated thousands of Palestinian children to the US for medical care, it said a statement. 'Medical evacuations are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical infrastructure in Gaza.' Though Loomer holds no official position, she wields significant power, and is reported to have successfully pushed for the dismissal of several senior US security officials she deemed disloyal to Trump. In July, Loomer took aim at a job offer made to a highly qualified Biden-era official for a prestigious position at the West Point military academy. The Pentagon rescinded the offer one day later. Trump also fired the head of the highly sensitive National Security Agency, Timothy Haugh, and his deputy Wendy Noble in April at the apparent urging of Loomer, after she met with the president at the White House. 'No other content creator or journalist has gotten as many Biden holdovers fired from the Trump admin!' Loomer posted on X yesterday. — AFP
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Former pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker granted asylum in Australia
SYDNEY, Aug 17 — Former pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui who is wanted by the Chinese city has been granted asylum in Australia, he said in a social media post, calling on Canberra to do more for those who remain jailed. The former British colony—handed back to China in 1997 -- has seen dissent quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law following huge and at times violent democracy protests that erupted in 2019. Hui, a high-profile participant at the time who has since resettled in Adelaide, said the Australian government had granted him a protection visa this week, with asylum also extending to his wife, children and parents. 'I express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Australia—both present and former—for recognising our need for asylum and granting us this protection,' he said in a Facebook post yesterday. A vocal critic of Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, Hui is among several overseas activists targeted in 2023 by police bounties of HK$1 million each. The bounties, which have previously drawn strong criticism from Western countries, are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. In this Facebook post, Hui urged the Australian government not to forget other Hong Kong activists who remained jailed, including tycoon Jimmy Lai, who has been behind bars since 2020. 'Australia must do more to rescue them and to speak up for their humanity,' Hui said. 'Its stance matters internationally, and its protection of Hongkongers sets a precedent for other democracies.' He added that he and his family will 'give back to Australia in every way we can—through our work, our civic engagement, and our commitment to the values of democracy and freedom'. While Hong Kong's government did not comment directly on Hui's case, a spokesperson said yesterday those who absconded should not think they could evade 'criminal liability'. 'Any country that harbours Hong Kong criminals in any form shows contempt for the rule of law, grossly disrespects Hong Kong's legal systems and barbarically interferes in the affairs of Hong Kong,' the spokesperson said. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has previously objected Hong Kong's arrest warrants and bounties. 'Freedom of expression and assembly are essential to our democracy,' she said last month on social media. 'We have consistently expressed our strong objections to China and Hong Kong on the broad and extraterritorial application of Hong Kong's national security legislation, and we will continue to do so.' — AFP
