Myanmar, school bombed: at least 17 dead

Today's news: Former Philippine President Duterte elected mayor of Davao despite being held in The Hague; Prime Minister Modi gives first public address after clashes with Pakistan; Australia to pursue rare earth trade deals with Indonesia; US President Donald Trump arrives in the Gulf after suspending tariffs with China.

MYANMAR

An airstrike by the Burmese military junta in the municipality of Depayin, in the Sagaing region, has killed at least 17 people, most of them children. At least 30 others have been injured, some seriously, due to the lack of adequate medical facilities. According to local residents, a fighter jet from Meiktila Air Base dropped a 500-pound bomb on the village school in O Htein Twin, where around 100 pupils were enrolled.

PHILIPPINES

Despite being held in The Hague awaiting trial, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been elected mayor of Davao City, his hometown and a stronghold of the Duterte family. Analysts suggest that his arrest by the International Criminal Court has only strengthened public support for him and his family within the Philippines.

INDIA – PAKISTAN

Despite the end of hostilities, relations between Delhi and Islamabad remain tense. In his first public address since the attacks began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared yesterday that India would respond firmly to any further terrorist attacks originating from Pakistan, making no distinction between the country’s military and terrorist groups operating in the region. The Prime Minister also made no mention of the United States’ offer to mediate the ceasefire, claiming that it was Islamabad who requested an end to the fighting.

AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Indonesia on his first foreign trip since the start of his second term. He is set to fly to Jakarta tomorrow, likely in an effort to strengthen a regional export partnership on rare earths. Bilateral trade exceeded .5 billion in the 2024 fiscal year – more than double the figure from ten years ago. Both countries still regard China as their primary trading partner.

USA – GULF

US President Donald Trump will arrive in Saudi Arabia today, the first stop on a trip that will also include Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The focus is on trade agreements, but also on the wider situation in the Middle East. Regional markets have seen a rise following a joint announcement by Washington and Beijing to suspend mutual tariffs for 90 days.

POLAND – RUSSIA

Poland has accused the Russian secret services of orchestrating the fire that destroyed the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw in 2024. Authorities have decided to shut down the Russian consulate in Kraków, as announced jointly by Justice Minister Adam Bodnar and Interior Minister Tomas Semonjak at the close of the investigation.

TURKMENISTAN

The Ministry of Education in Turkmenistan has issued a directive requiring school administrators across the country to send as many pupils as possible to summer camps. Despite the high cost of attendance, which must be fully covered by families, headteachers face dismissal if at least 20–25 students do not attend.