Myanmar

One month after Min Aung Hlaing was been installed as president of Myanmar, consolidating his power after leading the 2021 military coup, critics say it formalized military rule, undermining democratic transition amid ongoing conflict and repression

MNDAA forces have seized the strategic town of Kutkai in northern Shan State from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army; The takeover highlights rivalry among ethnic armed organizations competing for influence within the anti-junta alliance groups

Russia will train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut under a new cooperation agreement that strengthens space ties between the two countries; The initiative forms part of their broader collaboration on satellite technology and space research

Revenue streams linked to Myanmar’s junta have been cut as China dismantled the scam-linked Fully Light Group by arresting its chairman Ming Xuechang, shutting down its operations and extraditing hundreds of suspects

Mid-March has been set by the junta as the target date for convening a new parliament; critics say the process lacks credibility and is designed to entrench military control following the 2021 takeover

The US extended sanctions against the military junta in Myanmar as well as financial and trade restrictions, citing the crisis following the 2021 coup still threatening regional stability, democracy and human rights

Union Solidarity and Development Party USDP with military-appointed seats secured enough seats to form a new government before the final phase of the junta-held elections concludes, amid widespread criticism of the process’s legitimacy

On 4 January Independence Day, Myanmar’s junta granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners but excluded most political detainees; Activists said the move was symbolic and failed to address the continued detention of opposition figures and protest leaders

Junta is pushing to revive the long-stalled, China-backed Myitsone Dam, despite public opposition over environmental and cultural risks; The move signals growing reliance on Beijing for political and economic support amid escalating domestic conflict

A new body led by Min Aung Hlaing will fast-track the implementation of China‑Myanmar Economic Corridor and other projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, coordinating major infrastructure, energy, and transport links

Elections planned by the junta are widely seen as a bid to cement military rule, with most candidates being ex-generals or regime loyalists; Opposition parties are banned, leaving no genuine competition or democratic legitimacy