Myanmar mass prison sentence cut trims Suu Kyi’s sentence

The United States has spent an estimated $25 billion on its ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a senior Pentagon official, marking the first official disclosure of the war’s financial cost amid growing domestic scrutiny.

US President Donald Trump said Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war, as Tehran`s foreign minister landed in Russia on Monday to seek support from President Vladimir Putin.

Nearly 8,000 people lost their lives or went missing along global migration routes in 2025, according to a new report by the International Organization for Migration.

Myanmar’s military-led administration has called for renewed peace negotiations with armed opposition groups, but the proposal has been swiftly rejected by key rebel organisations, underscoring the deep mistrust that continues to fuel the country’s prolonged conflict.

Iran’s president has strongly defended the country’s right to pursue nuclear development, pushing back against US pressure as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved amid an ongoing regional conflict.

Australia and Japan have formally launched a major defence partnership, signing contracts to begin work on a multibillion-dollar warship programme aimed at strengthening regional security and naval capabilities.

Around 250 Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are feared missing after an overcrowded boat capsized in the Andaman Sea, according to a joint statement by the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration. 

The United States military has warned it will impose a sweeping naval blockade on Iran starting Monday, escalating pressure on Tehran after recent peace negotiations ended without agreement. 

High-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran have ended without an agreement, raising concerns over the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire. 

Myanmar’s parliament has approved a 30-member cabinet under President Min Aung Hlaing, reinforcing the military’s continued dominance in governance despite claims of a return to civilian rule. The appointments come days after the junta chief assumed the presidency following controversial elections.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, halting planned military strikes just hours before a deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US, Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, Axios reported on Sunday (5 April), citing four US, Israeli and regional sources with knowledge ⁠of the talks.

Myanmar’s parliament is scheduled to elect a new president on Friday through a joint session of both houses, marking a significant political step following recent elections widely criticised by the international community.

Millions of migrant workers across Gulf countries are facing increasing threats to their safety, income and basic rights as regional tensions escalate, according to Human Rights Watch.

US President Donald Trump is considering asking Arab nations to help finance the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. 

Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, has stepped down from his role as army chief to contest the presidency following the country’s first election since the takeover.