protest

Thousands of largely maskless protesters marched through Australia's two biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Cuba's president says the protests were a provocation by mercenaries hired by the US to destabilise the country.

There were rallies in the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belem, Recife and Maceio, with protesters carrying signs saying things like 'Genocidal Bolsonaro' and 'Yes to the Vaccines'.

The administration of Prayut Chan-O-Cha has increasingly come under fire due to its handling of the pandemic.

Brazil has the world's second-highest death toll but Bolsonaro has consistently played down the virus' severity and cast doubt on vaccines.

The Asean meeting produced a consensus that there would be 'an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar', with a special envoy sent to facilitary mediation between all parties.

The Karen National Union, a vocal opponent of the military junta, says it is sheltering hundreds of anti-coup activists.

She says wholly peaceful public assemblies should not be subjected to police investigations.

Save the Children says Myanmar is no longer a safe place for children.

Fears are growing that a broader conflict could erupt in a country plagued for decades by on-off fighting between the military and rebel ethnic armies.

Hein Htet Aung, who plays for second-division side Selangor FC II, made the political gesture during a match against PDRM FC in early March.

Local media showed images of the prisoners on the buses flashing the three-fingered salute – a sign of resistance for the anti-coup movement – as people waiting outside the prison waved at them and returned the gesture.