AGP Executive Report

Myanmar–Thailand Military Ties: Commander-in-Chief Gen. Ye Win Oo met a Thai delegation led by Lt. Gen. Warathep Boonya in Nay Pyi Taw, discussing border cooperation, humanitarian help after the 2025 Mandalay earthquake, and joint efforts against illegal trade, narcotics trafficking, and online gambling. Urban Life & Public Space: An analysis asks whether Myanmar’s city green spaces are a luxury or a necessity, warning that rapid urban growth and unequal access are hurting health and resilience. Arts & Community in Exile: In Chiang Mai, the SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition brought together Thai and Myanmar creators to process trauma and show defiant solidarity through art. Film Festival Spotlight: Karlovy Vary’s 60th edition (July 3–11) includes the first-ever KVIFF film from Myanmar, Fruit Gathering, spotlighting contemporary life and women’s desires in Yangon. Humanitarian Pop Culture: JYP Entertainment donated about $225,000 to World Vision for Venezuela earthquake relief, including food, clean water, sanitation, and child-focused emotional care. Science Meets Storytelling: A Nature Communications study describes “scuba suit” hissing cockroaches that could one day support search-and-rescue in flooded hazards.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Aung Phyoe’s debut feature “Fruit Gathering (Thit-thee Khu)” is set to become the first Myanmar film in the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival lineup, with the festival framing it as a look at women’s desires and social repression in contemporary Yangon. Exiled Creatives: In Chiang Mai, the SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition (June 27–28) brought together Thai and Myanmar artists to process trauma and keep creative resistance alive amid crackdowns and displacement. Film & Entertainment: A review spotlighted “A Boy, a Missing Father, and a Journey That Changes Everything,” while “Boong,” a Manipuri-language debut, made waves as the opening feature at the New York Indian Film Festival. Myanmar in the spotlight: A report on exiled Myanmar artists’ work highlighted how art is being used to show trauma and resilience to international audiences. Humanitarian/Community: JYP Entertainment donated about $225,000 to earthquake relief in Venezuela, with similar past support including Myanmar-linked recovery efforts.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Aung Phyoe’s debut feature Fruit Gathering (Thit-thee Khu) is set to become the first Myanmar film in the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival competition lineup, with the festival framing it as a look at two young women’s lives in Yangon’s textile world amid social repression and economic pressure. Exiled Creators: In Chiang Mai, the SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition (June 27–28) brought Thai and Myanmar artists together to process trauma and push back through art, with many creators working in hiding or under precarious conditions. Regional Arts Spotlight: LACMA in Los Angeles shared its advance exhibition schedule, including Alfonso Gonzalez Jr.: In Between Stops and Village Square, adding more international art momentum for Myanmar audiences following global museum news. Myanmar Society & Arts Context: Myanmar’s government says it’s restoring earthquake-damaged religious sites and pushing small businesses toward digital tools—moves that can shape local cultural life and community events. Film Review: A new review highlights A Boy, a Missing Father, and a Journey That Changes Everything, spotlighting how family stories keep drawing audiences worldwide.

Karlovy Vary Film Festival: The 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 3–11) is set to spotlight a first-ever Myanmar entry in its competition: Aung Phyoe’s feature debut “Fruit Gathering,” following two young women working in Yangon amid social repression and economic pressure. Arts & Exile: In Chiang Mai, the SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition (June 27–28) brought together Thai and Myanmar creators to process trauma and grief through art, with many artists still living in hiding. Myanmar in the spotlight (culture): A separate report highlights exiled Myanmar artists using exhibitions to show “trauma and resilience,” keeping their stories visible beyond Myanmar’s borders. Humanitarian pop-culture tie-in: JYP Entertainment donated about $225,000 to support Venezuela earthquake relief via World Vision, including emergency food, clean water, and emotional care for children—another reminder of how entertainment brands keep showing up in global crises.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: A new collaborative exhibition in Chiang Mai, “SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition,” brought together Thai and Myanmar creators to show the trauma and resilience of exiled Myanmar artists, with works created under pressure and displacement. Myanmar Society & Arts Abroad: Burmese nomad chef Phyu Cyn is sharing laphet and Myanmar flavors with international diners in Berlin, turning food into a bridge for conversations about Myanmar’s situation. Myanmar Talent & Education: Georgetown graduates Mon Mon “Maple” Htet and Miranda Xiong were named 2026 Yenching Scholars, heading to Peking University’s Yenching Academy to study China’s role globally. Regional Arts/Film: Karlovy Vary’s Karel Och previewed the Czech fest’s 2026 lineup, including the festival’s first-ever films from Myanmar. Humanitarian Spotlight: JYP Entertainment donated about $225,000 to support Venezuela earthquake relief via World Vision, with fans also highlighting the company’s past aid that included Myanmar-related recovery.

Arts & Culture in Exile: Chiang Mai hosted SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition (June 27-28), bringing Thai and Myanmar creators together to process grief and trauma through works by 20 Myanmar artists living in hiding or under pressure. Myanmar Arts Spotlight: Karlovy Vary’s 60th edition (July 3-11) includes first-ever KVIFF films from Myanmar, alongside other global “firsts,” with artistic director Karel Och highlighting the festival’s archive-driven classics approach. Regional Arts & Community: LACMA in Downtown LA shared its advance exhibition schedule, including Alfonso Gonzalez Jr.’s public-space benches and a major Pearlman Collection show. Myanmar Entertainment & Public Life: Football fans in Mandalay are boycotting World Cup TV broadcasts after FIFA awarded rights to Mytel, a firm linked to the Myanmar military. Humanitarian & Creative Solidarity: MAHAR welcomed a Rohingya NGO apology while urging broader humanitarian work and faster UNHCR resettlement. Myanmar Society & Security: A “Flower Strike” crackdown saw dozens arrested for possessing, selling, or posting fresh flowers tied to Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday.

Myanmar Arts & Exile Culture: A landmark two-day exhibition in Chiang Mai, “SCARR – Resilience Arts Exhibition,” brought together 20 Myanmar artists living in hiding to process trauma and push defiant solidarity through emotionally raw works. Rohingya Community & Advocacy: Malaysian humanitarian group MAHAR welcomed an apology from 40 Rohingya NGOs, urging broader community engagement and faster UNHCR resettlement, warning Malaysia is only a transit country. Border Impacts on Daily Life: Thai media reports two homes in Mae Sot were damaged by artillery fire during fighting between Myanmar forces and the KNLA in Karen State, with no casualties reported. Myanmar Arts Under Pressure: A new report highlights how Telenor handed Myanmar junta call records, helping enable the 2021 arrest of pro-democracy hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw. Cultural Resistance Online: Myanmar’s “Flower Strike” crackdown saw dozens arrested for possessing, selling, or posting fresh flowers tied to Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday. Local Arts/Heritage: Myanmar’s earthquake-damaged religious sites are being restored, with hundreds of pagodas, stupas, temples and other buildings repaired.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: A new wave of repression hit Myanmar’s public culture as authorities arrested dozens during the “Flower Strike” crackdown, treating red roses and even flower posts online as evidence of dissent. Myanmar Arts & Culture: Conceptual peace educator Sai Redacted, wrapped in a political prisoner’s uniform, accepted the 2026 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent, speaking about art under transnational repression and Myanmar’s shrinking space for creative dissent. Myanmar Arts & Culture: Football fans in Mandalay are boycotting World Cup TV broadcasts after FIFA awarded rights to Mytel, a telecom linked to the military—turning sports viewing into a political statement. Myanmar Society & Arts Context: Myanmar also marked International Day Against Drug Abuse with a push for “alternative development,” including urging opium poppy farmers to switch to coffee cultivation, alongside large-scale destruction of seized drugs. Regional Humanitarian Lens (Rohingya): Malaysian humanitarian groups urged UNHCR to speed up Rohingya resettlement, arguing Malaysia is only a transit country and that long waits are harming refugees and host communities.

Myanmar Arts & Entertainment: Football fans in Mandalay are boycotting World Cup matches on official TV after FIFA awarded broadcast rights to Mytel, a firm linked to Myanmar’s military—turning a global sport into a fresh reminder of what people feel they’ve lost. Arts & Culture (Myanmar): Conceptual peace educator Sai Redacted, wearing a political prisoner’s uniform, accepted the 2026 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent and spoke about transnational repression and Myanmar’s cultural crackdown. Music & Film (Region): Spring Revolution film “RAY” premiered in Australia, adding to the growing international spotlight on Myanmar-linked resistance storytelling. Society & Arts (Myanmar): A “Flower Strike” crackdown saw dozens arrested for possessing, selling, or posting images of flowers—flowers treated as political signals tied to Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday. Human Interest (Myanmar diaspora): A FIFA Foundation football program in Australia helps refugees build friendships and settlement support through sport.

Drug Policy & Rural Livelihoods: Myanmar urged opium poppy farmers to switch to coffee cultivation as authorities destroyed illicit drugs and precursors worth about US$603, framing narcotics control as a national security priority. Humanitarian Advocacy: Malaysia-based MAHAR urged UNHCR to speed up Rohingya resettlement, saying Malaysia is only a transit country and that some refugees have waited up to 15 years. Cultural Life Under Pressure: Myanmar’s “Flower Strike” crackdown saw dozens arrested for possessing, selling, or even posting images of flowers tied to Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday, with Sagaing Region hit hardest. Sports & Media Boycotts: Football fans in Myanmar are boycotting World Cup TV broadcasts after rights were awarded to a company linked to the military junta, turning the tournament into a protest symbol. Arts & Creative Dissent: Conceptual peace educator Sai Redacted discussed his award-winning work and the personal cost of detention and repression, describing Myanmar as being reshaped under heavy external influence. Regional Arts/Travel Spotlight: A Yangon art exhibition was highlighted as a visual journey across Myanmar, keeping local culture in the spotlight.

Myanmar Arts & Entertainment: A new biography is reviving interest in Norfolk’s ornithologist John Henry Gurney, spotlighting his bird-of-prey discoveries and museum collections—an arts-adjacent reminder of how cultural legacies can resurface. Myanmar Protest Culture: Myanmar’s “Flower Strike” crackdown has reportedly led to at least 32 arrests for possessing, selling, or posting fresh flowers, with Sagaing Region hit hardest as authorities treat roses as “state subversion.” Sports & Media: Football fans in Mandalay are boycotting World Cup matches on TV after broadcast rights were awarded to a company linked to the military junta, turning a global event into a political flashpoint. Regional Arts/Film: A Myanmar peace educator and conceptual artist, Sai Redacted, discussed his creative dissent after winning the Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent. Culture & Language: Korean culture continues to spread via a global Korean language speaking contest, with thousands of applicants from 110 countries.

Myanmar Arts & Entertainment: Exiled Burmese artists’ new revolutionary film “RAY” premiered in Australia, spotlighting the real-life journey of celebrity Htar Htet Htet who joined the armed uprising after the 2021 coup. Sports & Culture: In Myanmar, football fans are boycotting World Cup TV broadcasts over rights sold to a company linked to the military junta—turning matchday into a protest. Arts & Literature: The 2026 Orwell Prizes went to Ben Lerner’s Transcription and Karen Bartlett’s The Escape from Kabul, with an Orwell Prize Special for Andrey Kurkov—another reminder of how political writing keeps finding new audiences. Regional Arts Scene: Frieze Seoul’s debut Spotlight section highlights overlooked 20th-century artists across Asia and Europe, including fashion and commercial photography themes. Human Stories in Media: A Burmese proverb on character endurance and a global piece on play’s healing power both underline how culture travels—even when life gets hard.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Yangon’s Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture is rolling out a new “Art for Tourism” exhibition, curated by Jaffee Yee, to spark “soft adventure travel” with watercolor works spotlighting landmarks like Shwedagon Pagoda, Inle Lake and Bagan, plus contemporary artists’ takes on Myanmar’s heritage. Film & Resistance: Exiled filmmaker The Khit Nay’s new Sydney press-debut feature “RAY” premieres as an international-facing story of Myanmar’s civil conflict, inspired by celebrity-turned-resistance figure Htar Htet Htet and her shift from fame to armed uprising after the Feb 1, 2021 coup. Regional Arts & Entertainment: Frieze Seoul introduces “Spotlight,” a solo-show section for overlooked 20th-century artists, mixing pioneering Korean and wider Asian voices with radical European names. Sports & Pop Culture: Malaysia’s interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe is urging clubs to release players for the ASEAN Championship, while Downey’s FIFA World Cup Fan Zone drew crowds with Ozomatli’s live LA sound. Myanmar in Regional Politics: Myanmar is set to chair BIMSTEC in 2027, with Min Aung Hlaing also pushing for Chinese investment—an angle that may shape future cultural and tourism partnerships.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Exiled Burmese artists’ new revolutionary film “RAY” premiered in Australia, spotlighting the real-life journey of Htar Htet Htet from celebrity to anti-coup resistance fighter, with the movie framed as a human-first look at Myanmar’s civil conflict. Art & Travel: Yangon’s new “Art for Tourism” exhibition is turning watercolor and landmark scenes—Shwedagon, Inle, Bagan, Mandalay Palace, Hpa An—into a “soft adventure travel” pitch for exploring Myanmar through art. Music & Pop Culture: A Maniwood/Kangleiwood song spotlight: “Nungshiba Leinamna” from Thabaton 3 keeps Meitei-language cinema music in the spotlight, with millions of views and a love-and-legacy theme. Sports & Entertainment: Malaysia’s interim Harimau Malaya coach Tan Cheng Hoe urged clubs to release key players for ASEAN Championship training, while TrueVisions secured rights to broadcast ASEAN football tournaments across club and national events. Regional Arts Buzz: Korea’s global Korean-language speaking contest shows Korean culture’s growing pull, with thousands of applicants from 110 countries.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Yangon’s “Art for Tourism” exhibition is inviting locals to travel through paintings, with watercolor artists spotlighting landmarks like Shwedagon Pagoda, Inle Lake, Bagan, Mandalay Palace and Hpa An—an arts-led push for “soft adventure travel.” Film & Diaspora Arts: Exiled filmmaker The Khit Nay’s revolutionary Burmese feature “RAY” premiered in Australia, following Miss Popular Award winner Htar Htet Htet’s shift from celebrity life to joining the armed resistance after the 2021 coup. Music & Language: A Maniwood/Kangleiwood song spotlight—“Nungshiba Leinamna” from Thabaton 3—keeps Meitei-language cinema momentum, with the duet and lyrics drawing viewers back to love and legacy themes. Sports & Entertainment: Myanmar’s presence shows up in regional esports and sports culture as Myanmar qualifies for the Asian Games 2026 PUBG Mobile event, while football media coverage expands across ASEAN via Thailand’s TrueVisions deal for ASEAN Championship tournaments. Community & Refugee Culture: World Refugee Day events in Chiang Mai used art exhibitions and performances to build harmony between Thai hosts and Myanmar migrants, reframing displacement as shared contribution.

Myanmar Arts & Culture: Yangon’s new “Art for Tourism” exhibition is turning paintings into a soft-adventure guide, with watercolor artists spotlighting landmarks like Shwedagon Pagoda, Inle Lake and Bagan, aiming to pull locals and visitors into Myanmar’s creative world. Film & Resistance Stories: Exiled filmmaker The Khit Nay’s 120-minute independent feature ‘RAY’ premiered in Australia, spotlighting the real-life journey of celebrity-turned-resistance fighter Htar Htet Htet after the 2021 coup. Music & Language: A Maniwood/Kangleiwood release, “Nungshiba Leinamna” from Thabaton 3, keeps Meitei cinema momentum with a love-and-legacy theme and millions of views. Regional Arts Pulse: Korean language culture is surging globally, with a Seoul speaking contest drawing thousands of applicants from 110 countries—another reminder of how language learning becomes entertainment. Sports for Fans: FIFA World Cup coverage also circles back to the simple joy of play, while Myanmar-linked regional esports and youth sports results keep fans watching.