Latest news with #defenders
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Give better protection to human rights defenders, Suhakam tells Asean
Suhakam chairman Hishamudin Yunus said Asean must ensure those who dare to speak the truth to those holding power are not criminalised. KUALA LUMPUR : Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) chairman Hishamudin Yunus has called on Asean member states to provide better protection for human rights defenders across Southeast Asia. He said many such human rights defenders continue to face harassment, threats, detention or even death simply for doing their jobs. 'These individuals, journalists, lawyers, indigenous leaders, women's rights activists and environmental defenders are not enemies of the state,' he said at the Asean Peoples Civil Society Assembly here today. Hishamudin said Asean must ensure that those who speak the truth to those in power are 'not criminalised, but supported'. Governments must enact laws and policies that explicitly recognise and protect human rights defenders, he said. He also highlighted Malaysia's duty as the Asean chair to help shape the trajectory of the Asean Community Vision 2045, which outlines the region's strategic direction for the next 20 years, covering political security, economy, socioculture and connectivity. 'The declared theme of 'Sustainability and Inclusivity' must not remain aspirational rhetoric. 'It must be made real through laws, policies and practices that place the dignity and rights of all at the centre of Asean's social, political and economic integration,' he said. Hishamudin also called on Asean to establish inclusive social protection and promote labour rights, especially for migrants and informal workers. 'Only a united, inclusive Asean can withstand the mounting pressures of a fractured world economy,' he said. Civil societies raise alarm over human trafficking Cynthia Gabriel, founder of the Southeast Asian Anti-Corruption Network, said corruption is at the heart of trafficking, environmental exploitation and even labour abuses. Cynthia Gabriel. 'We believe crime and corruption are transactional – they feed each other. When you see organised crime, you will find corruption lurking in the shadows,' she said at the forum. Cynthia said trafficking, often described as the most lucrative organised crime globally, is difficult to track because of limited data. Last year, the International Labour Organization reported that annual global profits from forced labour and forced sexual exploitation had risen to an estimated US$236 billion. The 2024 US Trafficking in Persons Report said over the past five years, human traffickers have exploited domestic and foreign victims in Malaysia, and they have also exploited victims from Malaysia abroad. The majority of victims are among the estimated 1.5 million documented and an even greater number of undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia. Abu Mufakir, from Indonesia's Koalisi Buroh Migran Berdaulat, said deportation of undocumented migrants from Sabah was not helpful. Amina Rasul. 'Sabah deports up to 10,000 undocumented migrants each year – even babies are detained. But the number keeps rising. 'Mass deportation clearly isn't working,' he said, adding that the authorities need more effective alternatives, as most migrants come from Indonesia and the Philippines to work on palm oil estates. Amina Rasul, of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, said civil society must continue leading the push for people-centred regional policies, including on migration, labour and human security. 'We cannot wait for the Asean secretariat. Civil society has to lead the way,' she said.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Our superpower': Trump confronted by diverse, robust pushback on 'a million' different fronts
Rachel Maddow considers how the history of the Trump era will be written and how the defense of democracy and resistance to Trump authoritarianism will be seen as having a wide range of motivations, reflecting the breadth of Trump's catastrophe but also the consistency of America's defenders across demographics and interests.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PSG eye summer moves for Mosquera and Ordonez
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly targeting two young defenders to strengthen their backline. According to French outlet Foot Mercato, the Ligue 1 champions are considering moves for Valencia's Christian Mosquera and Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez. The French side have shown defensive weaknesses in several games this season. They are aiming to sign new players who can bring more quality and depth to their defence. Ordonez has impressed with his solid displays and is now attracting interest from several top European clubs. Brugge are open to selling him but will demand around €30 million. Ordonez is strong in tackles, reads the game well, and is confident with the ball at his feet. Mosquera has become a key player for Valencia in La Liga this season. He featured in 38 matches and scored once. The Spanish international prospect is known for his pace, strength and ability to win duels. PSG believe he could bring the kind of athleticism and discipline needed in central defence. Manager Luis Enrique wants defenders who are quick, alert and able to deal with fast attackers. Mosquera fits that profile, and he also has the potential to grow even more under the right coaching. Both players are seen as long-term options who could improve the team's backline for years to come. The Ligue 1 club are not expected to rush the deals, but they are serious about strengthening their squad this summer.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Pau Torres vs Tyrone Mings: An Aston Villa culture clash
Aston Villa's competition in central defence has crossed into a cultural footballing debate. Subject of choice: Tyrone Mings or Pau Torres? The talking point represents two factions of sound logic among fans. The battle between a defence-first central defender — suitably capable in possession but bases his game on leadership, duels and dutifully manning his box — and the more languid, highly progressive quarterback; good but occasionally fragile defensively. Advertisement Combining Mings and Torres would make for one of the world's most complete players. In an era when building from the back seems a prerequisite, Torres fits the mould. To those who prefer their defender to mainly focus on solidifying the back line, Mings gets the nod. In turn, a clash in ideology is provoked. Data has long shown Torres to be among Europe's best in possession, ranking in the top eight per cent of defenders from Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries and top seven per cent for carries into the final third. Even before Torres joined, Unai Emery's staff would use clips of him as an example to Villa defenders to show what they wanted. But, as Emery has admitted, Torres is still prone to 'difficulties in defensive duels'. Emery has insisted he wanted to pair the two together, designing a structure that incorporated two left-footed central defenders into the same team. Initial plans date as far back as the 2023 pre-season: Both, however, were ships in the night when it came to maintaining fitness. Villa's congested schedule and little time between matches meant opportunities to develop Torres and Mings into the same side were scant. This has led to a straight shootout. Often, Emery will carry out shape work the day before a game, suggesting which players would be starting. At times, it has been evident Torres would be, having been drilled in a first-choice back four a day earlier. On other occasions, there has been doubt going into matchday. Mings is a solid passer, though not as adept as Torres. He ranks in the 50th percentile for progressive carries, meaning he is, precisely, in the middle of the pack of defenders from Europe's top five leagues. He does fare better for passes made into the final third, rating in the top 33 per cent of centre-backs. Advertisement Mings has alternative strengths that the Spain international cannot match. He is Villa's best in-box defender, has an aerial presence and relishes the more abrasive parts of the job. 'It's really amazing to have two players for the position,' Emery said this month. 'The problem was when we didn't have Mings and Pau available and I really had problems. Now they are both available. They are performing well at different moments. After PSG, Pau played a fantastic match. Against Man City, a good match. Against Crystal Palace, he was the same level as the team, which was under our normal performances.' Torres is an Emery favourite. Close observers have long remarked on him being the closest to the manager, while players have discussed this publicly. Having worked together at Villarreal, Emery was the driving factor in the 28-year-old joining in 2023. Torres' ball progression, when at his sharpest, provides additional layers to Villa's build-up play. Torres' best form coincided with Mings' enduring toils following a second anterior cruciate ligament injury. The road back to fitness was fraught, but the England international has come back close to his top levels. Internally, there is a feeling that Mings has not lost his pace or physicality following his return. At the start of May, Mings had ranked in the top seven per cent of Europe's defenders for one-v-one defending win percentage. Mings has assumed a role on the board of directors for Euro 2028, which will be hosted in the United Kingdom. The job will entail board meetings and the defender offering feedback from a player's perspective. Mings is an enterprising character and has business interests, so this role attracts him in view of a career after football. As well as his coaching badges, Mings has enrolled on a sporting director course. Advertisement It should be said, however, that the 32-year-old is not moving towards retirement any time soon. He is fully focused on playing and intends to stay at Villa, with discussions over his future expected to take place this summer as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. This season, Mings has played through the pain barrier, defying expectations from doctors that he would miss more than two months following another knee injury sustained against West Ham United in January. Mings refused this prognosis. Considering Torres was injured and Villa were short in central defence, he endeavoured to come back sooner. He returned inside four weeks, risking his own health in the resulting matches. Recent statistics favoured Mings, winning six of the previous eight games he had started and keeping four clean sheets. This, along with his 'fantastic' form, convinced Emery to pick Mings instead of Torres for the 1-0 win away to Bournemouth. Within an increasing group of Villa's supporters, this was an overdue decision. Mings watched on from the Wembley steps as an unused substitute during the wretched FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace, many fans believing his skill set was better suited to deal with Palace's counter-attacking threat. The contrast had been shown in the three meetings between the sides this season. Torres was not solely to blame for the 3-0 loss, but his inclusion appeared to be an error. Villa lacked leadership and Torres' botched clearance led to Eberechi Eze's opener. Yet Torres has been part of a consolidated defensive structure of late. Since the start of March, Villa have conceded the fewest league goals of any team (four), keeping five clean sheets in eight matches. Torres started three of them, having worked his way back from a broken metatarsal, with two clean sheets. He came on for the final 20 minutes at Bournemouth in place of Mings. Advertisement Such metrics can belie the eye test, which highlights Torres' discernible discomfort when against strikers who enjoy physical tussles — such as Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta — or those, such as Jamie Vardy, who run behind. Mings' substitution at Bournemouth was due to cramp. Still, in the minutes before the change, with Torres waiting on the sidelines, Emery entrusted a debilitated Mings to defend a spate of set plays for his aerial prowess. He had an unflustered match, tracking Evanilson's movement and helping restrict Bournemouth, before going off, to a measly expected goals (xG) rate of 0.11. The only bone of contention centred on a clash with Alex Scott. Shielding the ball, Mings' right elbow struck the midfielder's face. Scott received lengthy treatment and was substituted at half-time. It was later learned he had suffered a fractured jaw, with his head coach Andoni Iraola insisting Mings' elbow 'was very violent'. Partnering Ezri Konsa in central defence, the return to the club he spent four mostly injury-ridden years at was Mings' 14th Premier League appearance of the season. Villa are yet to lose in any. Going further back to the 2021-22 campaign, the Mings-Konsa axis provided the foundation in Emery transforming Villa from relegation candidates to qualifying for the Conference League. In the final 12 matches of that season, they conceded seven times. Bournemouth had been preparing for Torres to start and knowing the Spain defender's proficiency in possession, Iraola allowed Konsa to have the first pass before pressing. Midfielder Lewis Cook played as a pressing No 10 and would jump onto Konsa. Iraola then changed midway through the first half, with Scott pushing onto Konsa and Cook on Amadou Onana. This reduced the number of touches Mings had and limited Villa on the ball, averaging 34.5 per cent possession. This was their lowest in a victorious league fixture since April 2023 against Chelsea (31.1 per cent). Consequently, Emery was vindicated in picking Mings and perhaps set a precedent with a horses-for-courses approach. Torres and Mings offer beneficial attributes to Villa and the debate between who should start is nuanced and, quite simply, on a game-by-game basis.
