A new report by Conflict Armament Research reveals Myanmar’s military junta is using drones equipped with European-developed, Chinese-made anti-jamming technology to target rebel groups and civilians. The drones, found in conflict zones like Kayah State, contain advanced navigation systems. Rights groups are calling for stronger, more consistent EU sanctions, saying current restrictions are insufficient. Despite embargoes since the 1990s, components still reach Myanmar via indirect routes. No unethical conduct was found from suppliers, but calls grow to cut off the junta's access to money, weapons, and fuel.

Myanmar’s military has formally handed power to a civilian interim government ahead of planned national elections in December. However, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will continue to serve as acting president. The military has also repealed martial law decrees. Government spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said the next six months will be used to prepare for the elections. Western governments have already dismissed the upcoming election as a sham.

Myanmar’s military junta has officially lifted the state of emergency after nearly three and a half years, marking an end to the continuous rule imposed since the 2021 coup. The decision, announced on Thursday by General Min Aung Hlaing, comes as preparations begin for upcoming parliamentary elections. The junta spokesperson confirmed the move aims to foster a multiparty democratic culture. The last election in 2020 was disputed by the military, which led to the coup and emergency declaration in November 2021.

Myanmar’s military junta has enacted a new law making criticism or protest against its planned elections a criminal offense. The law punishes individuals with up to 7 years in prison and organizations with up to 10 years. Voter intimidation or ballot disruption can lead to 20 years in jail, while election-related violence may result in the death penalty. The junta, which seized power in 2021, plans to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026, amid ongoing suppression of opposition voices.

Human Rights Watch reports that Myanmar’s Arakan Army has intensified persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State. Since November 2023, the armed group has imposed strict movement restrictions, looted homes, forced labor, detained and tortured villagers, and enforced forced recruitment. Despite promises of fair governance, Rohingyas face increased violence similar to the Myanmar military. Food shortages and land seizures worsen conditions. Over 120,000 new Rohingya refugees arrived in Bangladesh since May 2024. HRW urges the UN and international community to ensure safe, dignified repatriation.

Myanmar’s military junta plans a national election amid ongoing civil war, raising fears of increased violence rather than peace. China plays a key role, providing technical support and political training to military-backed parties and the election commission. This involvement aims to secure China’s strategic interests in Myanmar, especially the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. Major opposition parties are excluded, and the election is widely seen as an attempt to legitimize military rule. Regional neighbors face diplomatic pressure to accept the results, risking ASEAN unity.

Following attacks by the Karen National Liberation Army on military bases in Myanmar’s Kayin State, over 500 individuals — including around 100 junta soldiers and 467 civilians — fled into neighboring Thailand on Saturday. Some military personnel reportedly surrendered, while others escaped as resistance forces overwhelmed government troops. The Thai military has provided medical and humanitarian assistance to the refugees and has tightened border security. Myanmar remains embroiled in a bloody civil conflict following the 2021 military coup.

At least 23 people, including four children, were killed in an airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a Buddhist monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, Sagaing region. The attack occurred around 1:00 AM on Saturday, where over 150 displaced civilians had taken shelter. More than 30 people were injured, many critically, and the death toll is expected to rise. The military has not issued a statement yet. The region is known as a resistance stronghold, and such attacks have intensified recently.

In a joint statement following the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, member states reaffirmed their support for Myanmar’s efforts to establish peace, stability, and the rule of law in Rakhine State. The statement emphasized the importance of the safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of displaced persons and welcomed ongoing bilateral efforts between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

ASEAN also expressed its continued commitment to assisting in the repatriation process through proposed project implementations and called on the Secretary-General to identify areas where the bloc can play a more active role.

Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, anti-junta fighters have reportedly downed 13 military aircraft worth approximately $170 million. The Kachin Independence Army and allies shot down five planes over Kachin and northern Shan States. The Karenni resistance claimed four more, including three fighter jets and two helicopters across Sagaing, Chin, and Karen regions. Additional reports from defectors mention seven more damaged or destroyed aircraft over multiple regions. The junta attributes some losses to mechanical failure and weather. Independent verification remains unavailable.

Fierce fighting has erupted in Kyaukphyu, a strategic port city in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, as the Arakan Army advances against the military junta. The city is vital to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, hosting key oil and gas pipelines and infrastructure. China has deployed private security personnel to protect its investments. Over 40,000 civilians have been displaced amid escalating violence. Control of Kyaukphyu now symbolizes not just local power, but also a geopolitical contest for influence between regional and global powers.

Residents in Myanmar’s Tamu district, near the Indian border, are in fear following the killing of 10 members of the anti-junta resistance group People's Defence Force (PKPF) by the Indian Army on May 14. The deceased were affiliated with the pro-democracy National Unity Government of Myanmar. While the Indian military claimed the victims were armed insurgents involved in suspicious activities, Myanmar’s National Unity Government alleges they were detained, tortured, and executed.

The United Nations Refugee Agency has reported that two separate boat accidents off the coast of Myanmar’s Rakhine State have left 427 Rohingya people missing. On May 9, a motorized boat carrying 267 Rohingyas capsized after setting off from the Arakan coast, with only 66 survivors. On May 10, another wooden motorboat carrying 247 people also sank shortly after departure; only 21 passengers survived. The intended destinations of the vessels remain unknown.

A deadly airstrike by Myanmar's ruling junta has killed 17 students and injured at least 20 more at a school, amid ongoing conflict following the 2021 coup. Since the military takeover, the junta has faced strong resistance from ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy forces aligned with the National Unity Government (NUG). The military continues to lose territorial control and is struggling to maintain governance. Just last week, the junta extended its ceasefire, initially declared after a recent earthquake, through May 31.

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Meiktila in central Myanmar on Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No casualties or damages have been reported yet. This tremor comes amid ongoing recovery efforts following the devastating 7.7-magnitude quake on March 28, which killed 3,649 people and injured over 5,000, as reported by Myanmar’s military government spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun.