Hong Kong will compete in the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup's "Challenge Division" in September and October, drawn in Group A with Myanmar, led by former Hong Kong coach Jorn Andersen, and Brunei.
Satellite images and analysis by WIRED and International Justice Mission reveal over two dozen new or expanded scam compounds in Myanmar's Myawaddy region since early 2024. This growth suggests that purported crackdowns by the Myanmar military junta last year did little to halt the highly lucrative online scamming industry, which relies on human trafficking victims.
Myanmar's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse five years into a civil war, with military attacks on health infrastructure and severe supply shortages. Healthcare workers, many supporting the resistance, face immense personal sacrifices, economic hardship, and a resurgence of preventable diseases, impacting over 16 million people needing assistance.
Bakan Uraloğlu, TÜRKSAT Gölbaşı Veri Merkezi'nin temel atma töreninde uzay teknolojilerinin stratejik önemini vurguladı. TÜRKSAT'ın 6 aktif uydusuyla 5,5 milyar nüfusa ulaştığını belirten Uraloğlu, Türksat 6A ile Türkiye'nin haberleşme uydusu üretebilen 11 ülkeden biri olduğunu ve Türksat 7A projesinin yıl sonuna kadar sözleşmesinin imzalanacağını duyurdu. Yeni veri merkezinin 2028 başında hizmete gireceği belirtildi.
A new UNODC report reveals online scams, primarily investment fraud, cost victims an estimated US$88.3 billion to US$114.1 billion last year, a significant increase from 2023. Authorities in an unspecified region are reportedly cracking down on this illicit industry under pressure from the United States, Britain, and China.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Assam is a crucial transit point for illegal drugs originating from Myanmar, often transported by women and children. He highlighted improved intelligence sharing among northeastern states and West Bengal, with the Union Home Ministry supporting drug destruction efforts.
Myanmar's foreign minister informed ASEAN's special envoy that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and will be cared for. Suu Kyi, 81, is serving a sentence following a 2021 military coup. ASEAN foreign ministers met with their Myanmar counterpart to revive a stalled peace initiative.
Myanmar's tourism sector is seeing increased efforts to recover after the 2021 coup. The country welcomed over 973,000 foreign tourists last year and aims to nearly double this to 1.8 million in 2024, with a focus on Chinese and Thai visitors.
Former Hong Kong coach Jorn Andersen is set to become the new head coach of Myanmar's national football team. He arrived in Yangon to finalize contract details, with an official signing expected soon. Andersen previously led Hong Kong to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finals.
Human Rights Watch urged Japan to reject Myanmar's request to lift its ban on new development aid. Myanmar's parliament claimed citizens suffer from the suspension, but HRW cited the military junta's human rights abuses.
The UN General Assembly is holding a plenary session on preventing genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. This comes amidst ongoing genocides in Gaza and Darfur, and past failures in Rwanda, Srebrenica, and against the Uighurs, leading to skepticism about the international community's effectiveness.
Indonesia deported 92 Chinese nationals arrested in May for alleged involvement in an online gaming and investment fraud syndicate. The deportation, funded and facilitated by the Chinese government, occurred on Sunday from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing visited India, his first foreign trip as president. The countries agreed to boost cooperation in trade, energy, and defense, and pledged to revive stalled transport projects. The visit also served to legitimize his presidency.
Asean foreign ministers are shifting their Myanmar strategy, moving from collective pressure to bilateral engagement with Naypyidaw. This recalibration acknowledges the five-point consensus's limitations and explores direct talks, potentially including Myanmar's contested government in future discussions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman discussed a proposed China-Myanmar-Bangladesh Economic Corridor during Rahman's first official visit to Beijing. The initiative aims to boost regional connectivity and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, with a pact also signed for the China-Bangladesh Mongla Port Economic Zone.
Myanmar authorities destroyed over 50 tonnes of confiscated narcotics, valued at approximately $600 million, in nationwide ceremonies marking the UN's International Day Against Drug Abuse. The destruction, primarily in Yangon, Mandalay, and Shan state, highlights Myanmar's persistent role as a major drug producer, exacerbated by ongoing internal conflict.
A Hong Kong beautician, Peng Xinying, admitted to tricking two women into forced labour and confinement in Southeast Asia. She offered free flights and accommodation, promising lucrative rewards for transporting money. Relatives paid over HK$585,000 for their release.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bangladesh's new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, part of a series of visits by world leaders to Beijing this year. China aims to build influence, economic ties, and promote a multipolar world order, often courting Global South and authoritarian leaders, as seen with Myanmar and North Korea.
A human rights group reports over 5,300 individuals, including Chinese, Filipino, and African nationals, remain trapped in Myanmar scam centers near the Thai border. These centers, a multibillion-dollar industry, engage in online fraud and human trafficking, subjecting victims to severe abuse.
A UN report states Myanmar's military caused over 700 civilian deaths, including 224 women and 153 children, between August and January. Air strikes were the main cause of destruction, with Sagaing region being the most dangerous. The UN Human Rights Chief highlighted the decline in international aid compounding suffering.
A UN report reveals Myanmar's military caused over 700 civilian deaths, including 224 women and 153 children, between August and January. The Sagaing region was the most dangerous, with incidents including a school bombing and an attack on a tea shop. The report highlights declining international aid and the suffering of the Rohingya people.
Myanmar's military junta is increasingly using improvised aircraft like motorized paragliders (paramotors) and gyrocopters for deadly attacks on civilian areas. These cheap, hard-to-track aircraft drop bombs on villages, schools, and hospitals, causing widespread destruction and casualties, and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated Beijing prioritizes its ties with Myanmar, calling it important in China's neighborhood diplomacy. He expressed willingness to strengthen strategic guidance and deepen cooperation using the Burmese term 'pauk-phaw' (kinsfolk).
A "West Lake Crab Stuffed Orange" was served at a welcome banquet for Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Hangzhou, showcasing the deep friendship between China and Myanmar, known as "Bao Bo" (paternal cousins). This ancient dish, originating from the Southern Song Dynasty, blends local Zhejiang ingredients with cultural symbolism, offering a taste of Chinese heritage with international appeal.
