Politicians have called for a prisoner swap to defuse rising military tensions between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State. 

Heavy rain is expected over the next two days in various parts of Arakan State, according to an official from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH).

More than 100 locals have been forced to flee into Thailand by ongoing fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and anti-junta forces for a strategic outpost in Kayin (Karen) State’s Myawaddy Township, according to volunteers helping the refugees.

A local man from Wethmine village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township who was severely injured in a landmine blast on July 1 succumbed to his injuries while undergoing medical treatment at Sittwe General Hospital on Saturday, according to a family member. 

U Tin Aung Oo, chairman of the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RSCCI), said efforts were being made to establish direct trade with Bangladesh through Myanmar’s Arakan State this year.

More than 20,000 Myanmar citizens have been detained by Thai authorities for illegally crossing the border into Thailand since last year’s coup, according to migrant workers’ rights activists.

Two residents from the Arakan State capital Sittwe who were detained by Myanmar’s military regime for “being unable to give a satisfactory explanation about why they were loitering at night” were sentenced to one month in prison last week.

Ethnic language teachers in Arakan State complain that they have not yet received their June salaries.

Ferryboats and cargo vessels that were barred from leaving the Arakan State capital Sittwe for a week have been allowed to resume operations as of July 2, according to the Shwe Pyi Tan ferryboat service.

Three people including Ko Zaw Win aka Ludu Zaw Win, a political and social activist detained by the Myanmar military, were charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code on Thursday, according to the Kyauktaw Myoma police station.

A local man from Wethmine village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township is reportedly receiving medical treatment after he was severely injured in a landmine blast on Friday afternoon.

Myanmar’s junta had detained at least 20 people in Sittwe as of June 24, including the administrator of Anauk Sanpya ward, after the Arakan Army detained two Myanmar military personnel in the Arakan State capital.

The Kayan Youth, a local civil society organisation, has called for help for children displaced by fighting in eastern Myanmar’s Kayah (Karenni) State.

More than 80 percent of basic education students had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as of June 29, according to the Arakan State Education Office.

Thirty-five people, most of them children, from the Nyaungchaung camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township are suffering from skin problems, according to a camp official.

Five locals from Ponnagyun Township’s Kyaukseik village and its vicinity have been detained for more than two years, but a ruling in their case has yet to be delivered by the court. 

The Palay Yadanar monastic education school in Arakan State’s Thandwe Township is in need of financial assistance as the number of students increased by about 200 this year, according to school officials.

Family members say that since their loved ones’ re-arrests last month, they have not been in contact with the two village administrators from Arakan State’s Sittwe Township. 

There has been no electricity in much of Chin State’s Paletwa Township for three days due to a prolonged power outage, according to locals.