Myanmar approves death penalty for cyber scams; Military recaptures strategic village in Sagaing Region

Myanmar approves death penalty for cyber scam offences The speaker of the pro-military parliament that took office following the regime’s 2025-26 elections, which ended on Jan. 25, Aung Lin Dwe stated that he approved the “Anti-Online Scam Bill” on Tuesday. The law contains a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment for individuals “who use violence, torture, or unlawful detention at cyber scam operations,” according to pro-military lawmakers in the capital Naypyidaw. “There were not many significant changes to the proposed draft bill after discussions between the lower house and upper house. The important parts of the bill remained the same,” said Aye Chan, a member of Pyitthu Hluttaw, or lower house of parliament, for the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) representing Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar Township. The USDP leads the current administration. Farms scramble for profits amid soaring egg prices Poultry farmers told DVB that they’re facing financial losses due to rising operation expenses even though the market price of eggs has reached 700 MMK ($0.16 USD) apiece in Yangon Region and elsewhere across Burma since last week. The regime-controlled Myanmar Livestock Federation began selling subsidized eggs at 550 MMK ($0.12 USD) apiece on July 22 but residents told DVB that there is an insufficient supply. A poultry farmer in Shan State’s Taunggyi Township told DVB on the condition of anonymity that when an egg sells for 700 MMK, he receives only 430 MMK ($0.10 USD), but needs at least 500 MMK ($0.11 USD) per egg to make a tiny profit. Inflation has driven up the cost of raising hens until it begins laying eggs to about 27,000 MMK ($6.27 USD), compared with around 15,000 MMK ($3.48 USD) prior to the February 2021 coup. Another poultry farmer told DVB on the condition of anonymity that farms sold off nearly 100,000 laying hens for meat in recent months over fears of an outbreak of avian influenza, leaving fewer hens to produce eggs. Regime media reported that nearly three million chickens are raised for egg production in Burma. Military recaptures strategic village in Sagaing Region The military ousted the People’s Defence Force (PDF) from Tamu Township’s Htinzin village, located along 81-mile (130 km) long Kalay-Tamu road in Sagaing Region, on Sunday—five days after regime forces reclaimed control of Tamu’s Kammagyi village on July 21. Tamu is located 210 miles (337 km) north of the Sagaing Region capital Monywa. No casualties were reported by either side. Regime media reported that the PDF occupied local homes and offices in Htinzin village after ejecting its occupants. Resistance forces are also accused of looting the properties and torturing residents who were unable to provide them with support. The PDF has not responded to these claims. Tamu is contested between regime and resistance forces. News by Region NAYPYIDAW—The Royal Thai Police announced that a high-level delegation led by Privy Councillor Paiboon Koomchaya and Deputy Police Chief Samran Nualma met with regime Home Affairs Minister Nyunt Win Swe and his deputy Min Thu to discuss transnational crime along the Burma-Thai border in Naypyidaw on Sunday. Thai media reported that they requested assistance in arresting Thai nationals accused of drug smuggling living in Burma. Regime officials reportedly expressed willingness to cooperate with all of Thailand’s proposals with both sides agreeing to appoint coordinators for an “anti-narcotics effort”. SAGAING—Two civilians were killed during an airstrike carried out by the Burma Air Force on Sagaing Township’s Talaikyun village on Monday, residents told DVB. No fighting between regime forces and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) was reported. Sagaing is located 68 miles (109 km) east of the region’s capital Monywa. The PDF in Sagaing told DVB that three homes and four school classrooms were also destroyed by the airstrike. The military has escalated attacks on civilians since Ye Win Oo replaced Min Aung Hlaing as commander-in-chief on March 30, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) Project. YANGON—The Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM)—one of the country’s most prominent independent labour organizations based in Yangon—has officially terminated all trade union activities due to severe financial difficulties after a decade of advocacy for labour rights across Burma.