Myanmar president Min begins five-day China visit
BEIJING, June 15: Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in China on Monday for a five-day state visit aimed at strengthening strategic ties between the two neighbours. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials. The visit comes shortly after Min’s first overseas trip following his election as president, when he visited India from May 30 to June 3 and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, he assured India that Myanmar’s territory would not be used against its security interests. China said it hopes the visit will deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. Earlier, Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on expanding bilateral cooperation and supporting Myanmar’s development. China has significantly increased its influence in Myanmar through major strategic investments, including oil and gas pipeline projects linking it to the Bay of Bengal. (PTI)
UK announces social media ban for children under 16
LONDON, June 15: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced a ban on social media access for children under 16, describing it as a major step to protect their happiness, safety and mental well-being. The restriction will apply to platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube, while messaging services like WhatsApp will be exempt. Starmer said social media exposes children to bullying, harmful content and addictive features that can negatively affect mental health, education and sleep patterns. He acknowledged that enforcing the ban against powerful technology companies would be challenging but said protecting children must take priority. The legislation is expected to come into force by Spring next year. The UK will also introduce stricter controls on gaming and live-streaming platforms through age-verification measures. The move follows extensive consultations and mirrors similar action taken by Australia in 2025. (AP)
Congo sees record daily rise in Ebola cases
KINSHASA, June 15: The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported one of its largest daily increases in Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Health authorities recorded 72 new infections and 32 deaths in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 782 and fatalities to 181. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. Officials warned that the actual number of infections could be higher because contact tracing coverage has dropped to 56 per cent. So far, 56 people have recovered, while the fatality rate stands at 23 per cent. Most cases are concentrated in Ituri province, though infections have also been reported in North Kivu, South Kivu and neighbouring Uganda. Ongoing conflict, displacement and poor infrastructure continue to hamper response efforts. (AP)
