Myanmar Army veterans to be conscripted back into service

March 19, 2024

Rules which oblige ex-servicemen who have left the armed forces within the last five years to return to the army if they are summoned, were implemented on 10 March 2024, Mizzima reports. The Reserve Force Rules were brought in by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), but never implemented. The junta announced that they […]Continue Reading

Chinese envoy meets Hamas leader Haniyeh first time since Oct 7

March 19, 2024

In a first such meeting since the Oct 7 cross-border Hamas raid and consequent Israeli war on Gaza, a Chinese Foreign Ministry envoy called on Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, Beijing said on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports. In a brief statement, the Foreign Ministry said Ambassador Wang Kejian met the head of Hamas’ political […]Continue Reading

Myanmar’s junta loses another town to Arkan Army in Rakhine State

March 18, 2024

The Arkan Army (AA) captured Rathedaung town in Rakhine state after driving the last troops from three junta battalions out of the town on the weekend, the ethnic army said, The Irrawaddy reports. It seized three separate infantry headquarters – from light infantry battalions 536, 537 and 538 – outside the town on Sunday evening […]Continue Reading

Somali forces, foreign navies prepare attack on hijacked Bangladeshi ship, police say

March 18, 2024

Somali police and international navies were preparing on Monday to attack a commercial ship that was hijacked by pirates last week, the Puntland region’s police force said, two days after Indian commandos rescued another cargo vessel held by pirates, Reuters reports. The MV Abdullah was hijacked off the coast of Somalia last week, the latest […]Continue Reading

In Gaza, Palestinians hold Ramadan prayers by ruins of mosque

March 17, 2024

Palestinians in Gaza held the first Friday prayers of Ramadan outside the ruins of a mosque levelled in Israel’s offensive, one of hundreds the Hamas-run authorities say have been damaged or destroyed in Israeli attacks since October, Reuters reports. Scores of worshippers knelt in rows in the street by the wreckage of the al-Farouk mosque […]Continue Reading

Nine Mandalay Civilians Killed in Myanmar Junta Raids

March 17, 2024

Myanmar’s junta has killed nine civilians during four days of raids in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region, The Irrawaddy reports. Those killed included two people in their 70s and a blind man, according to the Myingyan People’s Strike Committee. From March 11 to March 14, junta troops raided at least six villages and burned houses, the […]Continue Reading

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 31,490

March 15, 2024

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday that at least 31,490 people have been killed in the territory during more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants, AFP reports. The latest toll includes at least 149 deaths in the previous 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 73,439 people have […]Continue Reading

Myanmar’s UN ambassador calls for security council action to halt conscription

March 15, 2024

Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations U Kyaw Moe Tun has urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take concrete action to stop the forced recruitment of Myanmar youths as junta soldiers under the conscription law, The Irrawaddy reports. During a UNSC event titled Open Debate Promoting Conflict Prevention – Empowering All Actors Including […]Continue Reading

Fleeing Myanmar junta troops blew up bridges in Rakhine, officer confesses

March 14, 2024

The junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 36 blew up two bridges in Rakhine State last month as it was ordered to abandon a town in Taungup Township, an officer from the battalion said in a confession videotaped by the AA, The Irrawaddy reports. Myo Khant, a warrant officer from the battalion, told his captors that his […]Continue Reading

China tightens access for Myanmar migrant workers entering from Shan State

March 12, 2024

China has tightened access for Myanmar citizens entering the country on temporary border passes (TBPs) from Muse in northern Shan State, residents of the border town say, The Irrawaddy reports. Migrants seeking work at factories and plantations in and around Ruili, in Yunan province, have had to get health checks and drug tests at the […]Continue Reading