Top stories from the global news aggregation service, DAWNS Digest.
Myanmar Launches Airstrikes on Rebels
A worrying escalation in one of Myanmar’s lingering civil conflicts. “Myanmar’s military acknowledged launching airstrikes against ethnic Kachin rebels in the north and said it captured a hilltop post from where the insurgents had attacked government supply convoys.The statement broadcast on state television Wednesday contradicted government claims two days earlier that the military was not carrying out offensive air attacks on the Kachin, raising questions about how much control the elected government of reformist President Thein Sein has over the army. (ABC http://abcn.ws/UnJDcY)
OCHA: Bleak Outlook in Afghanistan
2013 will be another difficult year for Afghanistan. “More violence and a worsening humanitarian situation are likely in Afghanistan in 2013, say aid agencies. ‘The worsening conflict trends over the last five years indicate that civilians will continue to suffer because of armed violence and that the humanitarian situation will deteriorate,’ says the new Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) for 2013, published by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).” (IRIN http://bit.ly/UnIguR)