Thursday, July 30, 2015

National News

National News


Presidential amnesty for 6966 prisoners includes 210 foreigners

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 02:27 AM PDT

President U Thein Sein announced today an amnesty for 6966 prisoners, including 210 foreigners. Civil society groups said the list was also believed to include political prisoners and former military intelligence officers jailed in a purge in 2004.

Three missing as Kalay underwater

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 08:05 PM PDT

As floods continued to ravage upper Myanmar yesterday, a boat carrying 20 people fleeing the floods in western Sagaing Region capsized, with three passengers unaccounted for as of last night.

Bridges washed out in upper Myanmar

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 08:03 PM PDT

Heavy rains have broken 21 bridges over rivers and creeks in upper Myanmar, the Ministry of Construction told a press conference yesterday.

Thousands displaced in Mrauk-Oo

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 08:03 PM PDT

More than 1000 people have been displaced by flooding in Mrauk-Oo township in Rakhine State as a result of heavy rain yesterday, a civil society leader in the town reported.

Aid group forced to stop helping flood victims on Ma Ba Tha orders

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:58 PM PDT

Hardline group banishes volunteers back to Mandalay for failing to follow its instructions or coordinate relief efforts with local officials.

Speaker dismisses recall petition

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:54 PM PDT

Parliament Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann has dismissed a petition to impeach him that is circulating on social media and claiming to have the backing of military residents of his Nay Pyi Taw constituency.

Yangon chief minister out of election race

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:53 PM PDT

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Myint Swe, a former general with a reputation as a hardliner, will not stand for re-election and intends to retire, a senior official of the Union Solidarity and Development Party announced yesterday.

Alliance ready for contest with NLD

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:52 PM PDT

The United Nationalities Alliance of ethnic parties said yesterday it was gearing up to fight against the National League for Democracy in the November elections as time was running out to reach an electoral compact.

Draft travel law facing delays

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:51 PM PDT

A law designed to update and simplify the current 20-year-old legislation covering tourism, which has become a major source of income over the past few years, could be the victim of parliamentary deadlock.

‘Satisfied’ Min Oke Soe sentenced to life

Posted: 29 Jul 2015 07:47 PM PDT

A prominent actor-director sentenced to life imprisonment for murder yesterday said he had no plan to appeal, as he was "satisfied" with the decision and expected to stay "comfortably" in prison.