Myanmar’s junta is set to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026 amidst civil unrest. In Dhaka, police disperse a militant Islamist march, while migrant boats capsize off Yemen. China cracks down on a house church, and Thailand lifts long-standing student hairstyle regulations. The U.S. and Russia appoint a new ambassador, and Azerbaijan closes the Red Cross office for alleged smuggling activities.
Myanmar’s military junta has announced its plan to conduct general elections either in December 2025 or January 2026. This is the first time a specific timeline has been released since the military coup in early 2021, which led to widespread civil unrest and armed rebellion. The opposition views this electoral move as coerced, considering the ongoing turmoil in the country. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, remains imprisoned.
In Bangladesh, police in Dhaka utilized tear gas and stun grenades to disperse members of the extremist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, who attempted to march demanding a shift from secular democracy to an Islamic caliphate. Hundreds gathered at Baitul Mukarram mosque chanting slogans and confronted police barricades during this ‘March for the Caliphate’ following Friday prayers.
In Yemen, four boats carrying African migrants capsized near the coasts of Yemen and Djibouti, resulting in at least two confirmed fatalities and leaving 186 individuals unaccounted for, according to the United Nations Migration Agency. Most of the migrants were believed to be Ethiopian, with five Yemeni crew members also on board.
Chinese authorities executed a raid on a Protestant house church in Xinyi, Anhui province, arresting nine congregants, including Pastor Zhao Hongliang, amidst a national crackdown. Four individuals remain in criminal detention while others were released on bail, reflective of intensified government scrutiny during the National People’s Congress.
The Supreme Administrative Court of Thailand has annulled a long-standing directive regulating student haircuts, which mandated short hair for boys and specific hairstyles for girls. The court determined that this 1975 directive, still enforced by some, infringes on individual freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution, marking a significant shift in educational policy.
In diplomatic news, the United States and Russia appointed Aleksandr Darčiev as the new Moscow ambassador to Washington. Darčiev previously led the Russian delegation during negotiations in Istanbul and will step in following the resignation of Anatolij Antonov, who had been in office briefly after the post became vacant.
Azerbaijan has officially closed the office of the International Red Cross, the sole organization providing humanitarian updates and aid to Armenian prisoners in Baku. The government justifies the closure by alleging the organization’s unauthorized activities, branding them as ‘smuggling’.
The geopolitical landscape presents significant developments, particularly with Myanmar’s planned elections amidst ongoing civil unrest and the crackdown on opposition figures. Additionally, incidents of violence and humanitarian concerns in Yemen and Azerbaijan highlight ongoing regional conflicts. The Supreme Court’s decision in Thailand signals a progressive shift in individual rights education, while diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia see a notable change with a new ambassadorial appointment, emphasizing strategic dialogues. Overall, these events underscore the delicate balance between politics, humanitarian conditions, and civil liberties in various global contexts.
Original Source: www.asianews.it
