Latest Myanmar News
Funeral for monk shot by soldiers highlights Myanmar army's delicate relationship to Buddhist clergy
BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of people attended the funeral on Thursday of a senior monk who was fatally shot by soldiers in an incident that could undermine the cozy relationship that Myanmar’s military government has tried to maintain with the country’s Buddhist clergy. The body...
Thai banks are the top suppliers of financial services to Myanmar’s military, UN expert says
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai banks have become the main supplier of international financial services for Myanmar’s military government, enabling it to purchase goods and equipment to carry out its increasingly bloody war against pro-democracy resistance forces and armed ethnic minority groups, a U.N....
UN World Food Program decries looting and burning of its warehouse in western Myanmar combat zone
BANGKOK (AP) — The United Nations’ food agency on Tuesday strongly condemned the looting of food supplies and burning of one of its warehouses over the weekend in a war-torn area in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine. A statement released by the World Food Program said the...
Supporters of Myanmar's jailed leader Suu Kyi mark her 79th birthday with a flower-themed protest
BANGKOK (AP) — Supporters of Myanmar’s imprisoned ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi carried out peaceful flower-themed protests marking her 79th birthday on Wednesday, some taking to the streets in defiance of the military government’s repression. Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize...
Myanmar's embattled military government cracks down on free flow of news by blocking VPNs
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government has launched a major effort to block free communication on the Internet, shutting off access to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which can be used to circumvent blockages of banned websites and services. The attempt to restrict...
As the number of displaced people surges, an 'Inflatable Refugee' in Barcelona sparks questions
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Hugging his knees and clad in a bright orange life vest, the giant “Inflatable Refugee” looks vulnerable as he sits alone in a sea of empty red velvet chairs. Belgian visual artists Schellekens & Peleman, who created the figure in 2015 following the refugee crisis...
Sudan tops UN envoy's concerns about children caught in conflicts, with Congo and Haiti next
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations envoy charged with reporting on violations against children in conflicts around the world said Thursday that first and foremost she is worried about what’s happening to youngsters in war-torn Sudan, followed by Congo and Haiti. Virginia...
Aspects of US restrictions on asylum-seekers may violate international protections, UNHCR chief says
GENEVA (AP) — The head of the U.N. refugee agency said Thursday he understands that the Biden administration enacted new restrictions on asylum-seekers entering the United States, but cautioned that some aspects of the executive order may violate refugee protection required under international...
Myanmar's economy in crisis as civil strife disrupts trade and livelihoods
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar, once a thriving emerging economy, is struggling to regain momentum as the country’s civil war increasingly disrupts trade and livelihoods. World Bank economists estimate the country's economy grew at a 1% annual pace in the year that ended in March, more...
UN says violence against children in conflict reached extreme levels in 2023, including in Gaza
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Violence against children caught in multiplying and escalating conflicts reached “extreme levels” in 2023, with an unprecedented number of killings and injuries in crises, from Israel and the Palestinian territories to Sudan, Myanmar and Ukraine, according to a new U.N....
