World's Most Dangerous Rogue States

The United States and Israel are the world's most dangerous, rogue actors, functioning as the preeminent engine of global instability, and acting as the primary existential threat to world peace through calculated, widespread aggression. 

It is a well-known fact that the US has been at war 222 out of 239 years since 1776. And, since Israel's founding in 1948, the country has been in a state of near-perpetual conflict. 

Today, Donald Trump (far left) and Benjamin Netanyahu (left), both war criminals, represent the new axis of evil.

The war against Iran is their latest handiwork. It began on February 28 and the two didn't just target the Islamic Republic; they murdered the prospect of peace by launching joint, pre-emptive strikes against the country while diplomatic talks were still taking place. A calculated, unlawful act by the US and Israel.

Presently, the grueling war has petered into the current stalemate that brings a temporary lull to the battlefield, yet the rhetorical warfare remains fiercely active. 

On Tuesday, during Trump's address at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, he openly mused whether he should completely "annihilate" Iran and drive the nation into hell with "no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations". 

By using the UN podium to openly contemplate wiping out a fellow member state, Trump brought an indecent irony to his delivery at the United Nations – an organisation founded to save future generations from war. 😡😡😡

The Urban Canvas

Look closely at the city streets and surroundings, and you'll find art hiding in plain sight. 

Creative minds are turning plain urban walls, ordinary cracks and broken fixtures into brilliant visual surprises. 

It is proof that our city streets are actually giant, open-air galleries just waiting to make you smile.

The Self-Devouring Furnace: Gaza's Unending Cycle of Death

According to the most recent data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, the cumulative death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 73,795 individuals since Hamas' surprise attack in October 2023. 

Demographically, independent assessments and ministry records indicate that children and women constitute the vast majority of the overall fatalities, but they do not include precise demographic counts. 

In comprehensive analyses tracking verified identities, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) analysis found that close to 70% of the fatalities in residential areas were women and children. In their verified datasets, children accounted for roughly 44% of the victims, while women accounted for 26%. 

Moreover, according to UN figures, roughly 82% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged, with two thirds of them destroyed.

Beyond these structural losses, researchers estimate over 116,000 cumulative injuries, creating a massive surgical and reconstructive backlog that will take years to address under a decimated healthcare infrastructure. 

And, even with a de jure ceasefire in place since last October, 1,369 Gazans have been systematically killed. 

In fact, Gaza’s Hamas government have accused Israel of violating the truce more than 4,000 times since then. 

Ultimately, these ongoing casualties expose the illusion of diplomatic reprieves; the mechanism of violence has become self-sustaining, leaving civilians trapped in a seemingly infinite loop of bloodshed and destruction where a ceasefire is meaningless and the body count climbs without end.

WHEN WILL THE KILLINGS STOP? 😭😭😭😭

Crowdfunding a Conviction

UMNO quickly established a solidarity fund, "Tabung Solidariti Najib Razak", on Friday to help settle the former prime minister's RM50 million fine. 

Settling this reduced amount is a prerequisite for his conditional royal pardon, which allows him to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest until August 2028. 

The party's secretary-general announced that collections started strong at RM165,645 in the first hour, surged to RM634,562.02 by the third, and reached RM1 million by 09:30 AM the following day.

Since then, there have been no updates on the amount collected. Just that, it is more than RM1 million.

According to UMNO, the party could potentially raise RM30 million if their estimated 3.8 million members contributed at least RM10 each.

So you know, I'm not questioning this donation drive because it is entirely normal in the Malaysian political landscape; after all, parties like PKR and DAP have historically launched similar solidarity crowdfunding campaigns for their leaders under legal pressure.

Yet, while the mechanism itself is culturally familiar, it highlights a stark and uncomfortable paradox in the eyes of everyday citizens. For many, it underscores a deeply troubling irony, captured perfectly by the public sentiment:

Besides, the real question is:

And because UMNO had circulated their bank account details to solicit donations for Najib, critics have used the opportunity to lob insults at him. 

Screenshots circulating on social media purportedly showed teeny-tiny transfers of merely one or five sen to the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund. 

Bank transfers allow the donor to attach a message to the recipient. This was utilised by detractors to include derogatory comments about Najib. 

Among other things, they used the field to label the recipient, meaning Najib, with the derogatory Malay slang “bapak sakau negara”, roughly meaning “Malaysian father of embezzlement”. 

Other transfers also made references to previous allegations of crimes and offences linked to Najib. 

Some also took it to the next level, by editing a screenshot to claim that they had paid the entire RM50 million to Najib. 

Another even posted an edited screenshot claiming that financier Jho Low had transferred RM51 million to Najib. [Low, accused of involvement in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal alongside Najib, remains a fugitive].

WSC's Fifty-ninth Meeting

Congratulations to the World Speakers’ Coalition Kuala Lumpur on celebrating their 6th Iron Anniversary! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

The genial gathering on Tuesday perfectly proved that big impact starts small, as ten members and five guests came together to mark six years of shared growth and stirring communication. 

Marking our 59th meeting, the celebration blended engaging public speaking with the vibrant, casual energy of one of KL's lifestyle and residential pockets. 

The evening centered around a compelling theme – "Small Solutions Fix Major Problems" – handpicked by Muhendaran, while Yen locked down our cozy venue at the Solh Restaurant & Bar in Jalan Damai, off Jalan Ampang, known for its lantern-lit, art-forward garden vibe and evening dining. 

Located in the leafy embassy enclave that acts as a quiet escape from the downtown hustle of busy Kuala Lumpur, it's a place where great food brings people together. 

A conducive, refreshed environment for seasoned members and fresh faces alike to step up, break barriers, and sharpen their public speaking skills.

Given the size of the turnout, Muhen decided to allow only nine speakers to give their speeches – four members and five guests. 

I was one of them, and I straightaway dived into the evening's theme. 

I shared how, when we face problems, we tend to exaggerate them until they loom over us as massive challenges. We instinctively assume that a humongous problem calls for an equally complex, elaborate, or grand response. 

But history and human nature tell a different story. Major problems are rarely solved by giant leaps; they are solved by the accumulation of small, intentional fixes.

As the saying goes, "No problem can be solved until it is reduced to some simple form". Let us stop being paralyzed by the scale and scope of our challenges. Instead, let us look for the small solutions right in front of us because those small fixes are the bricks that build major victories.

Over a vibrant evening, the members reflected on WSC's incredible journey and toasted to the strong bonds that will carry us into many more years of impactful sharing.

We also sang our warmest wishes to Yen, who will be celebrating her birthday on the 22nd. 

Relive the highlights of the event through these snapshots of our members and guests sharing the evening:

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