Current Global Affairs: Key Developments Across Asia
Myanmar’s military junta will hold elections in late 2025, facing opposition; Bangladesh police quash an Islamist march; Yemen experiences migrant tragedies; China’s authorities arrest church members in a crackdown; Thailand voids student hairstyle regulations; Russia appoints a new ambassador to the US; Azerbaijan closes the Red Cross office amid humanitarian accusations.
The military government of Myanmar has announced plans to hold general elections in December 2025 or January 2026, according to state media reports. This marks the first time the junta has provided a specific timeframe for the elections. Critics, however, view this announcement as a coerced initiative amidst ongoing civil unrest in the country since the military coup in 2021, which overthrew the elected government. Notably, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, remains imprisoned.
In Bangladesh, Dhaka police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of Hizb-ut-Tahrir members during a march advocating for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. The activists rallied outside the Baitul Mukarram mosque, chanting the slogan ‘Khilafat, Khilafat’ while defying police barricades following Friday prayers.
Off the coast of Yemen, four boats carrying African migrants capsized, resulting in at least two confirmed deaths and leaving 186 individuals missing, as stated by the United Nations Migration Agency. Most of those onboard were reported to be Ethiopian migrants, which included five Yemeni crew members, with 57 women among the passengers.
In China, a raid by authorities on a Protestant house church in Xinyi, Anhui province, resulted in the arrest of nine individuals, including Pastor Zhao Hongliang. This operation was part of a broader security crackdown coinciding with the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Four of the detained individuals are currently in criminal detention, while five have been released on bail.
In Thailand, the Supreme Administrative Court annulled a long-standing directive from the Ministry of Education regarding students’ hairstyle regulations. The directive mandated boys to have short hair and girls to wear hairnets at ear height. The Court ruled that this 1975 directive, originally issued under a military junta, infringed upon individual freedoms protected by the Constitution.
In diplomatic news, the first outcome of negotiations between the United States and Russia was the appointment of Aleksandr Darčiev as Moscow’s ambassador to Washington. Darčiev, who previously led the Russian delegation during talks in Istanbul, previously served as ambassador from 2017 to 2024, taking over after Anatolij Antonov resigned.
Lastly, Azerbaijan has shut down the office of the International Red Cross, the sole organization capable of informing families about the conditions of Armenian prisoners in Baku and delivering humanitarian aid. The Azerbaijan government has accused the Red Cross of ‘smuggling’ by transporting materials in ambulances without state approval.
In summary, significant developments across various nations signal ongoing tensions and shifts in governance. Myanmar’s military junta plans elections amidst civil strife, while Bangladesh faces protests for Islamic governance. Yemen reports a tragic migrant crisis, whereas China’s crackdown on religious groups continues. Thailand sees progress towards individual freedoms with a court ruling on student hairstyles. Moreover, diplomatic relations between the USA and Russia see a new ambassador amidst ongoing negotiations, and Azerbaijan restricts humanitarian efforts related to Armenian prisoners. These events highlight the dynamic and often complex socio-political landscapes in these regions.
Original Source: www.asianews.it
