The exiled Myanmar artist pleading for the world’s attention

An artist flees Myanmar following the 2021 coup and uses art to keep the world engaged in the plight of his nation.

When Myanmar’s fledgling democracy was destroyed, Sai’s life was turned upside down and his father was imprisoned. Sai and his wife K went into hiding. As Myanmar faded from international headlines, they knew they had to take action, and created a series of unique artworks.

Armed with this work, they flee to Europe, on a mission to use it as a form of activism. They are haunted by the abuses in Myanmar, visa issues and the ever-present risk to those back home. Sai becomes increasingly fraught, questioning his mission and whether he can bring about meaningful change.

What has changed for Yevgeny Prigozhin since the failed coup in Russia?

 

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin has posted his first recruitment video since his failed armed rebellion in June. DW has not been able to verify the video independently, but Prigozhin suggests he's in Africa and claims he's making 'Russia even greater on all continents'.

Politics and polemics: What the coup in Niger tells us

A military takeover in Niger as the Kremlin and Russian mercenaries lurk on the sidelines and the airwaves. But would Russia be any less exploitative than Niger’s old colonial masters?

Niger on edge as ECOWAS deadline approaches for coup leaders | DW News

The deadline imposed by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS is set to expire within hours. Pressure is mounting on Niger's coup leaders to reinstate ousted President Muhammad Bazoum. ECOWAS military chiefs of staff have agreed on a plan for a possible military intervention to respond to the crisis.
 

Jan. 6 grand jury probing efforts to overturn 2020 election issues indictment: Donald Trump Has Been Indicated Again

Former President Trump summoned to appear in federal court in Washington DC on August 3rd at 4 PM EST, Justice Department says

Former President Trump January 6th charges: 1. Conspiracy to defraud United States 2. Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding 3. Obstruction of and attempt to obstruct and official proceeding 4. Conspiracy against rights

By Devlin Barrett

, 

Spencer S. Hsu

, 

Perry Stein

 and 

Josh Dawsey

August 1, 2023 at 5:16 p.m. EDT

A grand jury investigating the efforts of former president Donald Trump and others to overturn the results of the 2020 election has returned an indictment, though the document remained under seal and it was not immediately clear who was charged, or with what alleged crimes.

Reporters observed a prosecutor with special counsel Jack Smith’s office and the foreperson of a grand jury that has been active for many months examining the events surrounding Jan. 6 deliver the indictment Tuesday evening to a magistrate judge in federal court in Washington, D.C.

A judge agreed to seal the indictment returned by the grand jury hearing evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

There was no information given in court about the number of defendants or the identity of any defendant.

A new sealed criminal case appeared on the DC federal court docket, Reuters’ Brad Heath reports.

Will be updated when more information becomes available 

Inside Brazil's failed coup: 'This is not patriotism, this is vandalism'

 

Supporters of Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, have stormed congress, the presidential palace and the supreme court in Brasília, leaving behind a trail of destruction, vandalism and fury. After the insurrection, the Guardian witnessed the huge clean-up operation, camps of Bolsonaro supporters being cleared from the capital and counter-demonstrations in support of President Lula

Riots in Brazil: Bolsonarism is down but not out

 

Days after President Lula Da Silva is sworn in, a conspiracy-fuelled mob targets the seat of government in Brazil. Plus, the Italian Mafia take to TikTok.

The recent invasion of Brazil’s democratic institutions, days after President Lula da Silva was sworn in, looks like a carbon copy of the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol in the United States.

Like MAGA Americans, many of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters have been radicalised online and, as the Trump-Bolsonaro effect hits Brazil, the country’s issues with misinformation are exposed.

How have Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts evolved since the coup?

 

Myanmar army air raids kill dozens of civilians in latest attacks against ethnic rebel groups.

At least 60 people have been killed in a Myanmar military air raid on a celebration by one of the country’s most prominent ethnic rebel groups.

Those who were killed had been marking the anniversary of the foundation of the Kachin Independence Army’s political wing.

Will military coups roll back democracy in West Africa?

 

Burkina Faso’s military leader was deposed on Friday in the second coup this year.

Burkina Faso has now witnessed two military coups in nine months.

Leader Paul-Henri Damiba was overthrown by some of the same soldiers who backed him in the first takeover in January. They accused Dambia of failing to stop attacks by armed groups.

Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty of inciting dissent

 

The former elected leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been found guilty of inciting dissent and breaking Covid rules, in a trial that’s been widely condemned as unjust.

Sudan’s military coup and the stifling of speech

 

Net jamming and journalist arrests, the military junta is squeezing speech in Sudan. Plus, the political rise of far-right French journalist Eric Zemmour.

Sudan’s flirtation with democracy ends in a coup d’etat – how far will the junta go to control what we know about the story?

Myanmar: An Uneasy Alliance

 

Can pro-democracy activists and ethnic nationalists join forces to overthrow Myanmar’s brutal military regime?

When Myanmar’s military regime ended its flirtation with the representative government in February 2021, it marked the moment by killing several hundred anti-coup protesters and detaining thousands more – including Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Prize-winning leader of the National League for Democracy.

So now some activists are taking a more aggressive approach to the Tatmadaw, as the country’s armed forces are known. They have been heading to remote jungle regions to seek support from armed ethnic organisations, which have been waging their own on-off war with the Myanmar military leaders for decades.

Myanmar: State of Fear

 

We explore how Myanmar’s military is crushing dissent through violence, covert interrogations and fear.

Since a military coup in February, a climate of terror has engulfed Myanmar.

Disappearances, detention without charge, alleged torture and mysterious deaths are just some of the actions under the spotlight following widespread protests against the military takeover.

Trump Allies Call for Military Coup to Depose Biden

 

‘I want to know why what happened in Myanmar can’t happen here?’ — These Trump allies gathered for a conference in Dallas over the weekend and seemingly called for a military coup to depose Biden.

Seemingly? Michael Flynn and Sidney Powell weren't shy or ambiguous about what they wanted and that crowd of fools whole heatedly agreed. Just so they could remain in Trump's good graces and play to his delusions. What happens when these idiots decide to take them up on their little offer?

The Bay of Piglets

 

We investigate a farcical attempt by mercenaries to capture and overthrow Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela.

Latin America has seen a remarkable number of revolutions and coups d’etat over the last century. However, whether military endeavours, covertly backed by foreign governments, or the result of purely domestic political pressure, they have not always been successful or achieved their aims.

The monks divided over Myanmar's coup - BBC News

 

Thousands of people have been arrested, and hundreds killed, during protests in Myanmar. Buddhist monks have a lot of influence in the country and some have joined the protests, while others support the military.

Foreign firms face tough choices over Myanmar unrest

 "The message has never been to say that we should not be present in Myanmar, but to cut ties with the army," she told AFP.

In Myanmar since 1992, French giant Total has no intention of quitting, but insists that its local subsidiary "conducts its activities in a responsible manner, in respect of law and of universal human rights".

British tobacco giant BAT said that more 100,000 local jobs depended on its investment, operations and partnerships in Myanmar and it would stay, while prioritizing the security and well-being of its workers.

Japanese automaker Suzuki also halted operations at its two local plants shortly after the military coup. The factories assembled 13,300 vehicles in 2019, primarily for the domestic market.

But Suzuki, present in Myanmar since 1998, reopened the facilities again a few days later and intends to build a third production site in the country.

You'll notice that all these corporations pay a lot of lip service to protecting the "rights" of their employees. What they're really saying is that profits are a bigger concern than the lives of their employees.  Human rights mean nothing to them. 

Inside Myanmar’s Crackdown

 

With the death toll rising in Myanmar, 101 East is on the front lines as protesters fight back after a military coup.

Content warning: This film contains footage of physical abuse, shootings and deceased people.

Myanmar is once again under the absolute control of the country’s powerful military.

On February 1, the army staged a coup and declared a state of emergency for one year. The generals detained members of the civilian government and their supporters after accusing them of committing voter fraud during national elections in 2020.

Myanmar civilian leader vows to back 'revolution' against military junta | DW News

 

The leader of a group of civilian politicians ousted from Myanmar's government has vowed to support a "revolution" against the military that seized power last month. Speaking from hiding for the first time since the coup, Mahn Win Khaing Than said that this was "the darkest moment of the nation, and the moment that the dawn is close." More than 80 people have been killed in six weeks of protests against the junta.

Myanmar army accuses Suu Kyi of taking $600,000 and gold - BBC News

Myanmar's military rulers have accused ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of taking illegal payments of $600,000 (£430,000) and gold – but have provided no evidence.