At least 24 killed as army paraglider bombs Myanmar Buddhist festival

At least 24 people were killed and 47 wounded while protesting against Myanmar's military government after an army motorised paraglider dropped two bombs on the crowd, a spokesperson for the government-in-exile told BBC Burmese.

The military attacked on Monday evening as around 100 people gathered in Chaung U township in central Myanmar for a national holiday.

Thousands have died and millions have been displaced since a military coup in 2021, which triggered a civil war with armed resistance groups and ethnic militias.

After losing control of more than half the country, the army is making significant gains again, through an especially bloody campaign of airstrikes and heavy bombardment.

Monday's attack is just one of hundreds of similar air strikes that have been carried out this year by Myanmar's armed forces.

The military government has in recent months augmented its air force with new drones acquired from China - which is now fully supporting the junta - as well as technical assistance from Russia.