Myanmar mass prison sentence cut trims Suu Kyi’s sentence

Myanmar’s military-backed administration has announced a nationwide sentence reduction for prisoners, a move that will also shorten the jail term of detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, though the extent of the reduction remains unclear.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Myanmar’s parliament met on Monday for the first time since the military seized power in the 2021 coup, marking what authorities describe as a transition toward a civilian-led political system. However, analysts and critics say the new legislature remains firmly under the control of the country’s powerful armed forces.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe has congratulated Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, expressing hope for closer cooperation and stronger diplomatic relations between Naypyidaw and Dhaka.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for closer cooperation with Uruguay to promote what he described as an “equal and orderly multipolar world,” as he met Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi during a state visit to Beijing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signalled a major shift in the UK’s China policy, telling President Xi Jinping that London wants a `more sophisticated relationship` with Beijing to support economic growth and global security, as the two leaders held rare high-level talks in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has described China and India as “good neighbours, friends and partners,” signalling continued efforts to stabilise ties between Asia’s two largest nations despite lingering border tensions.

Myanmar began the final phase of its general election on Sunday, with polling under way in 60 townships including major urban centres such as Yangon and Mandalay.

The Philippines has hosted a meeting involving political and ethnic stakeholders from military-ruled Myanmar, marking a renewed attempt by ASEAN to revive its long-stalled peace efforts in the conflict-hit country.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not recognise or certify Myanmar’s ongoing election and will not deploy observers to monitor the vote, Malaysia’s foreign minister said.

China’s birth rate dropped to its lowest level on record last year, official data showed on Tuesday, highlighting deepening demographic challenges as the country’s population shrank for a fourth consecutive year despite policy efforts to encourage larger families.