Aung La Nsang wins last-ever MMA fight before retirement
Burma’s first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion Aung La Nsang, known as the “Burmese Python,” won his final bout before retirement from MMA against Swedish fighter Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam at ONE Fight Night 36 held at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday.
“Highs and lows happen in life. You can reach the highest peaks as well as the lowest points. But, the most important thing is your family and loved ones. Keep love in your heart and no matter what happens, continue to fight on,” Aung La Nsang, the former ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight champion, told the media gathered in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Oct. 4.
Aung La Nsang, 40, will be inducted into the ONE Championship Hall of Fame at the ONE 173 event in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 16, according to ONE Championship Thailand. Born in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina in 1985, Aung La Nsang moved to the U.S. in 2003. In 2007, he completed his studies at Andrews University in the state of Michigan and began training in MMA. He joined ONE in 2014. Read more
Min Aung Hlaing diplomatic push for regime elections
In the last six months, Min Aung Hlaing has flown to more countries than he did in the years after he grabbed power in a 2021 coup that ousted an elected civilian government. His travels – part of a diplomatic push by Min Aung Hlaing to win support for a controversial December election – include two trips each to key allies China and Russia, and one each to Thailand, Belarus and, last week, to Kazakhstan.
Together, they have yielded bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, building on momentum that started in the wake of the deadly March 28 earthquake when regional leaders met in Bangkok for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit.
“Min Aung Hlaing’s frequent foreign trips this year are a reflection of his increased confidence – less elite threats against him, an improved battlefield situation, and eased international diplomatic isolation,” said Richard Horsey, the senior Myanmar adviser on Burma at the International Crisis Group, referring to the military retaking control of some key towns over the last few months. Read more
Japanese parliamentary association denounces regime elections
The Japanese Parliamentary Association for Supporting Myanmar’s Democratization, a group of parliamentarians calling for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar, submitted a 15-point appeal to Japan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takumi Miyaji on Wednesday.
“The letter details the regime’s war crimes since the [2021] coup, including airstrikes on civilians, and it urges Japan to reject the military’s sham elections and calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi,” Saw Ba Hla Thein, the National Unity Government (NUG) representative in Japan, told DVB.
The association was established following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup and is composed of 61 members from Japan’s National Diet, a bicameral legislature composed of the lower House of Representatives and the upper House of Councillors. On Sept. 1, Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated it would not accept the results of regime elections. Read more
News by Region
ARAKAN—Sources told DVB that the Arakan Army (AA) detained 14 Bangladeshi fishermen and two boats for “illegal fishing” off the coast of Maungdaw Township on Sept. 30. The entire 167 mile (270 km) long Burma-Bangladesh border came under AA control when it seized Maungdaw on Dec. 8.
A source close to the AA told DVB that action will be taken against the fishermen under “the law” but did not elaborate further. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed that the AA has detained at least 314 fishermen from the Naf River over the last eight months. At least 114 of them remain in AA custody.
CHINLAND—A delegation of members of parliament from New Zealand met with officials from the Chin National Front (CNF) at an undisclosed location in Thailand to discuss humanitarian aid for those displaced by conflict in Chinland and along the Burma-India border on Sept. 28, according to the CNF Foreign Relations Department.
“We also made it clear to the New Zealand delegation that we will not recognize the results of the [regime] election and we urged the international community not to accept it either,” Salai Van, the CNF spokesperson, told Khonumthung News. Read more
MANDALAY—An unnamed group led a protest against the regime elections in downtown Mandalay on Friday. Leaflets featuring messages describing the vote on Dec. 28 as a “sham” and “fake” were scattered all over 30th street in Chanayethazan Township.
“We will resist, oppose, and fight to destroy this election,” Tayzar San, a pro-democracy activist, told DVB. He shared a statement with photos on social media, writing: “Scenes from the urban public resistance movement against the sham election.” Check out the photos on DVB English News Facebook.
SHAN—Residents in the Palaung Self-Administered Zone (SAZ) told DVB that two children were killed and nine civilians were injured by airstrikes on Zeltonhong village, Namhsan Township, on Saturday. Namhsan, under Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) control, is located 68 miles (109 km) west of the regional capital Lashio.
The TNLA reported that airstrikes were also carried out on Manhe village, Hsipaw Township, located 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Lashio, which was seized on Oct. 4. No casualties were reported. The TNLA confirmed the loss of Kyaukme on Oct. 2 – one day after it was retaken by regime forces. Read more
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Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris asks China to help free his mother. Find DVB English News on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & Bluesky. Subscribe to us on YouTube.
