Myanmar air strike on monastery kills 22, including children
At least 22 civilians, including three children, were killed in an air strike on a monastery sheltering displaced people in Lin Ta Lu village, central Myanmar. The attack happened early Friday, leaving the monastery hall completely destroyed, according to Hindustan Times.
Locals say the victims believed the monastery was a safe haven. Two others remain in critical condition. A resident who saw the aftermath described bodies torn apart and said the scene was heartbreaking.
Sagaing region, heavily targeted since the 2021 coup, continues to face deadly strikes despite a supposed post-quake truce, Hindustan Times reported.
Dozens killed in Gaza as aid-seekers targeted
Israeli raids on Gaza since dawn have killed at least 60 Palestinians, including 27 seeking aid, according to hospital sources.
The UN reports nearly 800 aid-seekers killed in recent weeks, with 10 more shot while waiting for food on Friday. Israel’s military says it has updated troop protocols following repeated incidents, Al Jazeera reported.
The US is investigating the reported killing of a Palestinian-American by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 57,762 killed and over 137,600 wounded since the war began. The conflict was triggered by the October 7 attack that killed 1,139 in Israel, according to Al Jazeera.
Taiwan deploys US-made HIMARS in drills amid China tensions
Taiwan has started using US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems in its annual Han Kuang drills, aimed at strengthening defense against possible Chinese attacks, Al Jazeera reported.
On Saturday, HIMARS units were seen near Taichung during the fourth day of the 10-day exercise. Military officials said the systems must remain hidden from enemy surveillance until ready to fire.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own, dismissed the drills as a “bluff” and repeated its strong opposition to US-Taiwan military ties. Taiwanese President William Lai defended the drills as realistic and essential for defense, according to Al Jazeera.
Four dead, twenty missing after migrant boat capsizes near Dominican Republic
Four people have died and around twenty are missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of the Dominican Republic, authorities said. The vessel, carrying about 40 people — mostly Haitians and Dominicans — was bound for Puerto Rico, a US territory, according to Al Jazeera.
Seventeen survivors, including a child, were rescued. The boat, a fragile “yola” made of wood or fibreglass, did not meet safety standards.
Many from the Dominican Republic and neighbouring Haiti continue risking their lives on such journeys, paying up to $7,000 in hopes of reaching a better life. The dangerous route to Puerto Rico has become increasingly common in recent years, Al Jazeera reported.
