One of Myanmar’s main ethnic minority rebel groups yesterday warned of a growing threat of major conflict and called for international intervention against a military crackdown on opponents of last month’s coup.

China approved a sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system, drastically curbing democratic representation in the city as authorities seek to ensure “patriots” rule the global financial hub.

Myanmar’s security forces have killed more than 500 civilians in nearly two months of efforts to stop protests against a February 1 coup, an advocacy group said, as thousands of people took to the streets again despite the growing toll.

International support is needed to maintain humanitarian services for more than 13,000 people who have been relocated to Bhasan Char island from Cox's Bazar, the IFRC said yesterday.

Chinese officials today said Sweden’s H&M and other foreign companies should not make rash moves or step into politics after the companies raised concerns about forced labour in Xinjiang, sparking furious online backlash and boycotts.

Myanmar security forces opened fire yesterday, witnesses said, at people gathered for the funeral of one of the 114 people killed the previous day, the bloodiest day of protests since the military coup on February 1.

India will always stand by the progress and development of Bangladesh as a faithful friend, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he paid a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban this evening.

Myanmar's security forces shot and killed at least 64 people - including a young boy - on Saturday, news reports and witnesses said, even as the ruling junta's leader said the military would protect the people and strive for democracy.

The leader of Myanmar’s ruling junta Min Aung Hlaing said that the military will protect the people and strive for democracy, as protesters called for a huge show of defiance against the February 1 coup despite warnings they risked being shot.

Myanmar anti-coup protesters staged more rallies after the military reportedly shot dead nine people a day earlier and as the World Bank warned the country’s economy could slump 10% this year due to the turmoil.

Myanmar’s security forces have killed more than 300 people in attempts to crush opposition to a February 1 coup, with nearly 90% of victims shot dead and a quarter of them shot in the head, according to data from an advocacy group and local media.

Australia has announced $10 million in emergency assistance from the existing humanitarian budget to those affected by the fire in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Bangladesh and India will sign several bilateral agreements covering trade, disaster management, and oceanography and come out with “new announcements” in trade, power, railway, health, and education, culture, and border development during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka on March 26-27.

Rohingyas have started rebuilding homes as Monday’s fire burned thousands of their shanties at Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar that also left 11 people dead and hundreds injured.

Myanmar activists plan more anti-coup protests, including a silent strike with many businesses due to close and calls for people to stay home, after a seven-year-old girl was killed in her home when security forces opened fire during a crackdown in Mandalay.

Myanmar’s military yesterday said it was sad about people killed in its brutal crackdown on anti-coup protests, but vowed to press ahead with stamping out what it called “anarchy”.

Bangladesh, Nepal and India are on the final stage of a deal allowing Bangladesh to import hydropower from the Himalayan state, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen today.

Police and fire service officials have so far recovered seven bodies from the ruins at Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar till this morning in the aftermath of the deadly fires that burned several thousand shanties.

Myanmar protesters held candle-lit vigils for the scores killed in demonstrations against military rule, as Western countries imposed more sanctions on individuals and groups linked to last month’s coup and an ensuing brutal crackdown on dissent.

The European Union yesterday imposed sanctions on 11 people linked to last month’s military coup in Myanmar as the repression of pro-democracy protesters by security forces reached what Germany’s foreign minister called “an unbearable extent”.