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A proposal for a land swap could emerge as a solution to the long-pending border demarcation in sensitive areas like Manipur's Chandel district. NDTV Saurabh Gupta As India works to secure its border areas and demarcate
President U Min Aung Hlaing, who is on an official visit to Thailand, arrived at the Thai Parliament in Bangkok on the morning of August 7th, local time. Union ministers and officials accompanying the President on the tr
The Nation Thailand Amnesty International Thailand has urged the Thai government to prioritize human rights, the safety of civilians, and accountability under international law in discussions during the official visit of
Photo – Spokespersons from the Prime Minister’s Office explain the results of the Cabinet meeting. (Office of the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Royal Thai Government, 2026.) (August 7) Mizzima. Fortify Rights warned i
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a joint statement on the occasion of the official visit of Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand on 6 August. The following is the statement: Joint Statement
Insight Myanmar “We can’t go back to the normal life, because our country is not even normal,” says Tone Tone, a former psychology student from Yangon, speaking to the Insight Myanmar Podcast (see link below). In this conversation she is joined by Libera, a civil engineering graduate who became a strike organizer, and they talk about their story, how the 2021 military coup in Myanmar ended any possibility of a private, apolitical life for them, and how the violence that followed transformed two ordinary young people into underground organizers willing to risk imprisonment and death. Both describe themselves as unremarkable students. Tone Tone was in her final year at university, the only child in a family that ran a silk-screen printing business. Libera had already graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering and later pursued vocational training in Building Features and Equipment. Neither had a political background. The military seizure of power on February 1, when the armed forces detained the elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials, changed that. At first, they joined mass street demonstrations in Yangon, believing peaceful protest would be enough to convince the generals to respect the democratic process. But by March 2021, the military had begun shooting into crowds. In December of that year, soldiers rammed a vehicle into a crowd of protesters in Yangon. Tone Tone witnessed the attack directly. She saw comrades thrown into the air and crushed under wheels. The memory did not fade. Friends were killed in front of her eyes; others were arrested and have not been heard of since. The scale of violence convinced them that neutrality was no longer possible. Returning to classes or business felt morally impossible.Libera’s involvement deepened through humanitarian work during the COVID-19 surge in mid-2021, when he helped provide oxygen equipment. Then in November, he helped establish the Yangon People’s Strike, a loose coalition of urban protest groups. Open marches had become too dangerous, so they shifted tactics. Flash mobs—brief,coordinated appearances in public spaces—allowed 20 or 30 youths to display banners for minutes before dispersing. They organized in separate cells: one group drafted slogans, another scouted locations, and a third carried out actions. Members did not know each other’s identities, reducing the damage if someone was captured. The philosophy behind these actions drew on a line widely associated with Aung San Suu Kyi: “The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.” For them, that sentence described both a psychological condition and a political strategy. They had no weapons. They held paper signs. Refusing fear was itself resistance. As August 8, 2022, approached—the anniversary of the nationwide 8-8-88 uprising against military rule in 1988—they began to brainstorm what sign of protest they could carry out which could also survive the heavy security in downtown Yangon; particularly near Sule Pagoda, a symbolic and heavily policed site. Large banners would be detected immediately; an umbrella, however, was an ordinary object, especially if used during the monsoon season. The idea was simple: four black umbrellas printed with the Burmese numeral for eight, visible only from above. From a pedestrian bridge, a photographer could capture the image—four eights, for 8-8-88—before anyone noticed. Tone Tone’s family printing business created the umbrella design. On the morning of August 8, they moved quietly from Bogyoke Market toward Sule, checking the area. There were police stations nearby but no police officers on the street. Six people participated: four held the umbrellas, one filmed, and one took photographs. The images later circulated globally. Five days later, on August 13, 2022, military intelligence arrested Libera. He had been staying in safe houses, but returned briefly to his home because he missed his family and was ill. He was taken to an interrogation compound in Yangon and held in an eight-foot room without light. For59 days and in two facilities, interrogators beat him and tried to identify other members. Because he had used multiple aliases andhad recently purchased a new phone containing almost no contacts, investigators uncovered little information. Eventually he was sentenced to three years with hard labor in Insein Prison, Yangon’s notorious detention facility. On his first day there, guards him why he studied engineering. He answered that education helped him distinguish right from wrong. A guard replied, “[So] we are wrong? ”, and another beating followed. Hard labor meant cleaning drainage systems and sewage lines daily. The physical degradation was constant, yet looking back, he frames the experience not as defeat but as confirmation of conviction. When asked about fear of death, he answers that fear exists, but duty overrides it. Tone Tone faced a different form of punishment. After Libera’s arrest, soldiers raided her home, believing the umbrellas had been produced there. She was not present, so they detained her parents instead. Throughout that night, officers called her phone repeatedly, and when she finally answered, she heard her parents screaming as they were beaten. An officer asked, “Did you hear that your mom and dad are screaming?
Photo – Myawaddy – Cargo trucks seen on the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road. (AFP) August 7 Mizzima. — In Theebaw Township, Kyaukme District, northern Shan State, military junta and police forces are collecting money from cargo
Myanmar Now photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike will receive the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) 2026 International Press Freedom Award, the New York-based press rights watchdog announced on 5 August, alongside journa
The Karenni Interim Executive Council was founded in June 2023 based on bottom-up governance at the state level, with a view to an eventual federal democratic union. Amid the conflict, the IEC’s goals are to foster coope
Photo – A protest banner was displayed near the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok on the morning of August 7, 2026, in protest against the visit of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand. (Yangon People's Boycott) Maung Khet N
It has been learned that discussions were held to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the electricity and energy sector between Myanmar and Thailand soon. Union Minister for Electricity and Energy
It has been reported that a proposal to accelerate the promotion of stability and security within the Mandalay Region was submitted to the Mandalay Region Hluttaw on August 6. The proposal was submitted by U Myo Kyaw, th
These days, most employers prefer skilled workers with practical abilities rather than just certificates. Therefore, they include specific skill requirements in their job advertisements. When job seekers align with these
Mangrove forests are naturally occurring forests found in coastal shallow waters, tidal flats, and along the banks of rivers and streams affected by seawater intrusion. They are extremely important for humans and biodive
AT the 19th round of free eyesight donation, which will kick off on 1 September, more than 1,300 patients will be accepted, said the Sitagu Cakku Dana Hospital. Including 88 elderly patients who require follow-up checkup
DEPUTY Minister for Foreign Affairs U Ko Ko Kyaw received a delegation led by Ms Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director-General for Operations, IOM Headquarters in Geneva, yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi
UNION Minister for Electricity and Energy U Ko Ko Lwin held talks with Thai Energy Minister Mr Akanat Promphan in Bangkok yesterday to discuss strengthening bilateral energy cooperation, upcoming agreements, and expanded
3.1 Political and Security Cooperation 3.1.1 Both sides agreed to further deepen dialogue at all levels and exchanges of high-level visits to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all dimensions, including the convening of
President U Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Thailand and invited Thai businesses to expand investments across a wide range of sectors during the Myanmar-Thailand
AT the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing, who is on an official visit to Thailand, attended an official dinner hosted by the Tha
A bilateral meeting between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Thailand took place at the Pakdi Bodin Building of the Government House in Bangkok yesterday. At the meeting, Thai Prime Minister Mr Anutin Charnviraku
THE Yangon Film School (YFS) has opened applications for its upcoming Animated Documentary Training, an intensive programme designed to equip creators with diverse animation techniques to bring real-life stories to the s
MPT has started providing one-week free emergency communication services, including 1GB mobile data, 100 minutes of MPT-to-MPT calls and 100 SMS messages, for flood-affected people in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyawady Regio
THE Myanmar Pulses, Beans, Maize and Sesame Merchants Association is making arrangements to export 929 red chickpeas and V3 white chickpeas to Pakistan, according to the association. “We have been purchasing and collecti
The Thai Foreign and Deputy Prime Minister with Myanmar’s regime Foreign Minister will jointly visit the site of toxic contamination in a river along their shared border to assess the situation and accelerate efforts to
The head of Myanmar’s military-backed administration arrived in Thailand on Thursday for an official visit that could serve as a major steppingstone in his effort to win political legitimacy more than five years after se
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will honor jailed photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike of the independent news agency Myanmar Now with its prestigious 2026 International Press Freedom Award (IPFA). The 36th annual I
Min Aung Hlaing visits Thai Prime Minister in Bangkok A two-day “state” visit by Myanmar regime leader Min Aung Hlaing to the Thai capital Bangkok to meet Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul began today. This is Min Aung
HAKHA – Nearly 50 civilians were arrested and interrogated following a bomb explosion in Hakha, the capital of Chin State, locals told the Irrawaddy Times. On August 6, the military detonated a hand grenade in front of C
Amidst rising general commodity prices during the interim government's 100-day plan, rice prices have also followed suit, according to market sources. Rice prices have been on the rise since the end of July, with prices
Ayeyarwaddy Times August 6 It is known that during the two-day visit to Thailand by the military leader and Caretaker President Min Aung Hlaing, who is currently in Thailand, he met with Thai Prime Minister Ing-chan on A
A Malaysian government spokesperson said on Wednesday that 5,000 refugees would not be sent back if their lives were at risk, but preparations for repatriation are continuing. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim annou
AYEYARWADDY TIMES (Jolbinseik), August 6 While the junta forces conducting military columns in Jolbinseik Township, Bago Region, are campaigning to deceive and rally local residents, they are also continuously committing airstrikes on villages and shooting civilians without reason, according to local residents. On August 5, the junta forces indiscriminately bombed the village of Intaikone in Jolbinseik Township with a Y-12 aircraft, resulting in six local residents, including a young girl, sustaining injuries, and three houses being damaged. Furthermore, on August 4, junta forces pursued and shot at three men returning home after spending the night at a monastery in Myokoin village, killing Ko Pauk Sae, aged 33, on the spot. While another managed to escape, U San Myint was arrested. "When we encountered the military, they shot at us, saying 'Don't let anyone run.' On the first day, they held meetings in Chaung Hkwah village. They rallied by saying, 'Don't be afraid of us coming to your villages, we won't do anything. We are here because we don't like the PDF coming. If the PDF doesn't come, you can live peacefully in the village.' The villagers responded with 'Is that so? '" a local resident told the Ayeyarwaddy Times. Local residents reported that the junta forces have threatened to release the arrested U San Myint only if five members of the People's Militia are provided, and that his family has not been allowed to meet him to date. Since July 7, the junta forces have been conducting military columns in Jolbinseik Township, rallying the public by claiming they will not harm anyone. However, in reality, four local residents have been killed due to the junta forces' shootings, many have been injured, and there have also been instances of houses being burned down. Currently, due to the military's advancing and disruptive actions, residents from villages such as Kyaw The, Kyaw Thet, Kyauk Kon, Thakhut Pin, Min War, Sein Chaung, Kyauk Htan, Myokoin, Myokoin Kwet Thit, Thayet Kon, Kyun Taw Su, Mee Laung Gon, Yoe Chaung, Chaung Hkwah, E Ywar Lay, U Yaung Gyi, and Kan Oo are fleeing to safe locations. Some local residents are reportedly returning to live in the villages due to pressure from the junta forces to return. Photo – Social Network
AYEYARWADY TIMES August 6 The provisional government forces conducted continuous airstrikes on Myauk U city in Rakhine State on the night of August 4th, using a group of jet fighters and Y-12 aircraft, resulting in injur
Despite protests and opposition from various sectors in Thailand, Interim President Min Aung Hlaing, who arrived in Thailand today, August 6, was officially welcomed with a military parade by the Thai government, includi
Thai Member of Parliament, Kanawit Susun, has requested Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the government to cancel the visit of interim president Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand on August 6 and 7. He pointed out that Mi