At least 40 soldiers of Myanmar’s junta were killed in coordinated attacks by anti-junta resistance fighters in Yesdase town of Bago region, south of the capital Naypyidaw. The assaults took place on Tuesday, according to a statement released Thursday by the Naypyidaw People’s Defense Force (PDF). The group said it targeted junta positions on both sides of the Sittang River, focusing on military outposts in Doyetan, Khintanle, and Omyatu villages.

The PDF reported that the first attack began around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday near a camp in Doyetan, where about 40 soldiers were stationed, killing two and seizing ammunition. About an hour later, resistance fighters ambushed a convoy of 70 junta troops sent to reinforce the camp, killing at least 20. A separate midday assault in Omyatu village left another 20 soldiers dead, with three captured and a large cache of weapons and ammunition seized.

The PDF claimed full control of Omyatu village following the attacks, marking one of the deadliest recent clashes in the Bago region.

At least 40 soldiers of Myanmar’s junta were killed in coordinated attacks by anti-junta resistance fighters in Yesdase town of Bago region, south of the capital Naypyidaw. The assaults took place on Tuesday, according to a statement released Thursday by the Naypyidaw People’s Defense Force (PDF). The group said it targeted junta positions on both sides of the Sittang River, focusing on military outposts in Doyetan, Khintanle, and Omyatu villages.

The PDF reported that the first attack began around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday near a camp in Doyetan, where about 40 soldiers were stationed, killing two and seizing ammunition. About an hour later, resistance fighters ambushed a convoy of 70 junta troops sent to reinforce the camp, killing at least 20. A separate midday assault in Omyatu village left another 20 soldiers dead, with three captured and a large cache of weapons and ammunition seized.

The PDF claimed full control of Omyatu village following the attacks, marking one of the deadliest recent clashes in the Bago region.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced the release of more than 6,000 prisoners as part of a general amnesty marking the country’s Independence Day. According to a statement from the junta’s National Defense and Security Council, the acting president of the Union of the Republic of Myanmar granted pardons to 6,134 male and female inmates held in prisons, detention centers, and camps across the country.

The announcement, reported by AFP, follows a long-standing tradition in Myanmar where authorities issue general amnesties each year to commemorate Independence Day. The statement did not specify the identities or categories of those released, nor did it indicate whether any political detainees were included.

Such annual amnesties are a customary gesture by the authorities during national celebrations, reflecting a symbolic act of leniency tied to the country’s founding anniversary.

Myanmar concluded the first phase of its general election on Sunday, marking the country’s first nationwide vote since the 2021 military coup. According to Eleven Myanmar, polling took place across 102 cities, with voting beginning at 6 a.m. and closing at 4 p.m. local time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 139 representatives from diplomatic missions and international election observers monitored the process. The second and third phases are scheduled for January 11 and January 25, respectively, with a total of 21,517 polling stations established nationwide.

The election comes under the shadow of prolonged military rule following the ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) government in 2021. Although the NLD and 40 other parties were dissolved in 2023, at least six parties with 4,963 candidates are participating, alongside 57 regional parties. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party has fielded about 1,018 candidates. Junta leader and acting president Min Aung Hlaing claimed the election was free and fair after casting his vote in Naypyidaw.

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews urged the international community via social media to reject the legitimacy of the election.

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has described the country’s ongoing election as free and fair. Speaking to reporters in the capital Naypyidaw on Sunday after casting his vote, he said transparency and neutrality in the election process had been ensured. The remarks were reported by AFP.

Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power five years ago through a military coup, claimed that the military’s role in organizing the election did not undermine its credibility or image. He emphasized that the process was being conducted properly under military supervision.

The report noted that this election marks the first phase of Myanmar’s general election, taking place under the junta’s rule since the coup.

Myanmar has begun voting in a general election despite ongoing civil conflict and widespread doubts about its legitimacy. This is the first national election since the military seized power in 2021 by ousting the elected government. The junta claims the vote will help revive the country’s politics and economy, which have suffered years of instability.

Critics, including the United Nations, several Western governments, and human rights groups, argue the process is neither free nor credible because anti-junta parties are excluded. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is participating, while the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by imprisoned Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been dissolved by the junta.

The election will take place in three phases, with the first round now underway and subsequent rounds scheduled for January 11 and 25. Voting is planned in 265 of 330 townships, though the junta lacks full control in many areas. No date has been announced for vote counting or results, and analysts warn the election may only serve to extend military rule.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced dates for a three-phase election, with the final round scheduled for January 25. According to a notice published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, voting will take place in 202 of the country’s 330 administrative areas on December 28 and January 11, followed by 63 townships in the third phase. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing admitted that nationwide voting would not be possible. This will be the first election since the military seized power in 2021, though no date has been set for vote counting or result announcements.

The junta hopes the election will legitimize its rule and improve its international image. Analysts, however, doubt the process will lead to stability, noting that the country remains in civil conflict, with the main political party dissolved and about one-third of Myanmar under rebel control. Many question whether a free and fair election is possible under military rule.

Western governments and the United Nations have dismissed the vote as a sham, while China, the junta’s key ally, supports it as a step toward stability. Conflict monitoring group ACLED reported a 30 percent rise in air and drone strikes this year, with civilian infrastructure increasingly targeted.

The United Nations has accused Myanmar’s military junta of using violence and intimidation to force citizens to vote in the upcoming national election, scheduled to begin Sunday. UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged the junta to halt the brutality and arbitrary arrests tied to dissent, calling the election environment one of fear and repression. The vote comes five years after the military ousted the elected government and plunged the country into civil war.

Türk warned that civilians face threats from both the junta and armed opposition groups, with reports of forced participation and harsh punishments for dissent. Three young men in Yangon were sentenced to up to 49 years for posting anti-election materials. Displaced residents in Mandalay and other regions reported being told their homes would be seized if they refused to vote. Türk described the situation as a clear violation of human rights.

International observers have rejected the month-long election as a façade for continued military rule, noting that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned and her party dissolved.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced that hearings in the genocide case filed by Gambia against Myanmar will begin from January 12 to 29, 2026. The case accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority during a 2017 military crackdown that forced more than 730,000 people to flee to Bangladesh. Gambia, backed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, initiated the case in 2019, arguing that Myanmar violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.

During the first week of hearings, Gambia will present its arguments from January 12 to 15, followed by Myanmar’s defense from January 16 to 20. The court has also allocated three days for witness testimonies. Myanmar continues to deny the genocide allegations, claiming its operations targeted Rohingya insurgents responsible for attacks on security forces.

The proceedings mark a critical phase in a case closely watched by human rights advocates and international observers. A final judgment could take years, but the hearings are expected to shape global accountability discussions regarding mass atrocities and minority protection.

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar late on Monday night, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS) as reported by ANI. The quake occurred at a depth of about 30 kilometers beneath the surface and was recorded at 2:21 a.m. local time. Earlier the same day, a smaller 3.5 magnitude tremor had been reported in the same region at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The NCS confirmed the seismic activity through a post on social media platform X, noting that no immediate reports of casualties or damage had been received. Some social media users claimed that the tremors were also felt in parts of Bangladesh, including Chattogram and Rangamati, though these reports remain unverified.

Seismologists noted that Myanmar lies in a seismically active zone where moderate quakes are relatively common. Authorities are monitoring the situation for any aftershocks or structural impacts, while regional disaster agencies have been placed on alert.

At least 18 people were killed and 20 others injured in an airstrike in Myanmar’s Sagaing region on Friday evening, according to local officials and rescue workers cited by AFP. The attack struck a crowded tea shop in Tabayin Township, where two bombs were dropped by military aircraft. Witnesses reported that several homes were also destroyed in the blast.

The incident marks another deadly episode in Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, which erupted after the 2021 military coup. The junta has increasingly relied on air power to target areas controlled by opposition forces, often resulting in civilian casualties. Local sources said the high death toll was due to the large number of people gathered at the tea shop during the attack.

The strike coincides with the start of early overseas voting for Myanmar’s upcoming elections, which the junta hopes will consolidate its power. Observers warn that continued violence could undermine the credibility of the polls and further isolate the regime internationally.

Intense fighting has erupted between Myanmar’s military junta and the Arakan Army around Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State, resulting in heavy casualties and mass displacement. The conflict, centered near Min Pyin village, saw junta troops suffer significant losses after falling into strategic traps and drone attacks by the Arakan Army. Following the assault, junta forces bombarded nearby villages, forcing around 10,000 civilians to flee their homes. Approximately 20 villages have become deserted amid the escalating violence. The Arakan Army now reportedly controls about 15 towns and continues to challenge junta positions along key routes leading to Kyaukphyu and the naval headquarters. Local sources say the junta is desperate to regain control of the region, which has strategic and Chinese investment significance. Humanitarian workers report widespread fear as schools and villages come under attack, worsening the crisis for displaced civilians.

Myanmar authorities have arrested 1,590 foreign nationals accused of involvement in online fraud and gambling operations along the Myanmar-Thailand border. According to the military-run Global New Light of Myanmar, the arrests were made between November 18 and 22 during raids on illegal gambling and scam centers. The detained individuals reportedly entered Myanmar illegally and hail from countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Nigeria, and others. During the raids, officials seized 2,893 computers, 21,750 mobile phones, 101 Starlink satellite receivers, 21 routers, and other equipment allegedly used in the fraudulent activities. The large-scale crackdown highlights the growing regional concern over cross-border cybercrime networks operating in Southeast Asia, often targeting victims through online scams and illegal betting platforms. Authorities have not yet disclosed what legal actions will follow against the detainees or whether they will be deported to their home countries.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Myanmar on Sunday morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at 10:39 a.m. Bangladesh time, with its epicenter located about 267 kilometers west-southwest of Dawei in the Andaman Sea, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Thailand. The incident follows a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Bangladesh on Friday, killing at least 10 people, and several mild aftershocks recorded there the following day. Myanmar also experienced three smaller quakes on Saturday, measuring 3.5, 3.7, and 3.4 on the Richter scale, according to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS). No casualties or damage have been reported from the latest Myanmar quake, but experts are monitoring the region for potential aftershocks as seismic activity continues across South and Southeast Asia.

The United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee has unanimously adopted a resolution addressing the Rohingya crisis, calling for renewed global efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar. The resolution, jointly proposed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union (EU), was supported by 105 countries. It expressed deep concern over ongoing human rights violations in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the continued displacement of Rohingyas into Bangladesh and neighboring nations. The resolution urged sustained international engagement to guarantee the dignified return of the displaced population. Following its adoption, Bangladesh’s delegation thanked member states for their support but voiced frustration over the lack of progress in repatriation efforts over the past eight years. The delegation emphasized that Bangladesh can no longer bear the burden of hosting 1.3 million Rohingya refugees and called for urgent international action to facilitate their return to Myanmar.