Myanmar's junta faced fresh international criticism Friday over the deaths of more than 40 children and the "forced disappearance" of hundreds of people in its crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The military's ruthless suppression of demonstrations against its February 1 power grab has left 543 civilians dead, including 44 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring organisation.
A sleepy village in remote northern Thailand became a hub of activity this week when it received refugees fleeing Myanmar -- a sight that brought back vivid memories for its ethnic Karen residents.
Hkara, 70, said she had spent roughly 30 years crisscrossing the Salween river, which marks the frontier, to flee military attacks on ethnic rebel armies in Myanmar's eastern Karen state.
The UN Security Council has "strongly condemned" the deaths of hundreds of civilians in Myanmar, in a unanimous statement watered down by China after two days of tough negotiations.
"Members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation and strongly condemned the use of violence against peaceful protestors and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children," read the statement, initiated by former colonial power Britain.
A group of British lawmakers on Friday warned ministers against introducing "divisive and discriminatory" vaccine passports after Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed the scheme.
The group of more than 70 MPs - including former leaders of both the main parties - warned that vaccine passports could be used to "deny individuals access to general services, businesses or jobs".
A second fire at the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh in less than two weeks killed at least three people on Friday, police said.
The blaze started in a market store at the Kutupalong camp, home to more than 600,000 Rohingya refugees, in the early hours and quickly spread to seven nearby shops.
Three young men aged between 13 and 22 asleep in one of the stores were killed, police and fire officials said.
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) K Vanlalvena said on March 24 that the people of Mizoram will not send the Myanmar refugees back to their native land, reports ANI.
India on Friday issued its strongest condemnation yet of the Myanmar junta's escalating crackdown against protesters, calling for the restoration of democracy and an end to violence across its eastern border.
India - which rivals China for regional influence - had so far not followed other international powers' outright rejection of the February 1 coup in Myanmar that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Info Birmanie, Justice For Myanmar, Reporters Without Borders and Sherpa have welcomed the withdrawal of Voltalia from Myanmar after a year of discussions, according to a press release on 2 April.
The French multinational has just announced its upcoming withdrawal from Myanmar, after nearly a year of NGO campaigning. The NGOs will take all possible measures to ensure that this withdrawal is implemented quickly by the company.
The Shan State Refugee Committee (Thai Border) is gravely concerned for the safety of nearly 6,000 IDPs in camps along the southern Shan State-Thai border following the Burma Army’s announcement it will start attacking border positions of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA), according to a press release on April 2.