shortly after Min Aung Hlaing’s return from his first overseas trip as president, underscoring the regime’s efforts to present a more institutionalised and civilian-looking administration. As the first female presidential spokesperson, her selection may be intended to project an image of inclusiveness, professionalism, and administrative modernisation. However, the appointment does not signal greater political pluralism or meaningful institutional reform. Instead, it reflects the regime’s attempt to soften its public image while maintaining the military’s dominant control over state institutions. The new government’s cabinet and key decision-making bodies remain totally composed of current and former military officers. In the meantime, the pro-military online influencers and Telegram channels are systematically mobilised to spread disi formation, attack independent journalists, and justify military violence, effectively blurring the lines between news media, psychological operations, and public intimidation. By training lobbyists to dominate alternative platforms like Telegram and TikTok, the regime is attempting to bypass international content moderation efforts and directly inject its counter-propaganda into new, highly viral digital ecosystems. In May, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Information provided a five day training on media and psychology, basically about how to counter news coming from exile media. Most of the attendees were military lobbyists on Telegram and members of the counter- propaganda teams. Update on Journalism and Media Safety in Myanmar 13