Drinks Giant Drops Myanmar Military: Daily Brief

Japanese drinks giant Kirin terminates partnership with Myanmar military firm;  Tokyo Olympics chief's comments remind world of sexism in Japan; humanitarian access needed for Ethiopia's Tigray region; key court date for unjustly jailed rights defender in Turkey; police abuses against protesters in Tunisia; and some encouraging promises in Biden's first major foreign policy speech.

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Japanese beverage giant Kirin Holdings Company Ltd has announced it will "terminate" its partnership with Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd (MEHL), Myanmar’s military-owned conglomerate. For years, Kirin  had been widely criticized for owning two joint ventures with MEHL despite the military’s grave rights violations. The military coup seems to have been the final straw for the drinks maker.

Staying with Japan, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee President Yoshiro Mori has had to walk back his comments about half of humanity being "annoying," but the real problem - sexism in Japan - remains.

Ethiopia's Tigray region needs humanitarian access...

Unjustly jailed human rights defender Osman Kavala faces another key court date in Turkey today...

Police in several Tunisian governorates appear to have responded to social justice protests in recent weeks with excessive force at times, leaving one man dead and arresting hundreds, including many minors.

US President Joe Biden has made some notable commitments in his first major foreign policy speech in office, including on cutting US participation in the Yemen war and taking steps to aid refugees and support LGBT rights worldwide. We'll be watching to make sure his administration follows through...

 

 

 

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