The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Auditor’s Report Shows Financial Problems of Yangon Government
• Japanese Film Festival Expands to Myanmar’s Capital for 8th Edition
• Chinese President’s Upcoming Visit Seen as Bid to Gain Myanmar Leaders’ Commitment on BRI Projects
• Myanmar Christens Star ‘Ayeyarwady’ and Planet ‘Bagan’
• Giant Myanmar Irrawaddy Dolphin Died of Old Age: Environmentalists
• Myanmar Archaeologists Object to Construction Near Ancient Pagodas in Bagan
• Trump Denies Intent to Use Military Against Iran After Missile Attack
• Japan, China Concerned Over Economic Risks After US-Iran Showdown
• China’s CNPC Withdraws Staff From Iraqi Oilfield as Tensions Rise
• Australia Issues New Evacuation Alerts as Monster Bushfires Regenerate

Auditor’s Report Shows Financial Problems of Yangon Government Posted: 09 Jan 2020 06:56 AM PST Yangon auditor-general's report on the regional government's FY2017-18 spending reveals lost revenue, failure to collect fines and tax evasion, among other irregularities.

Japanese Film Festival Expands to Myanmar’s Capital for 8th Edition Posted: 09 Jan 2020 06:04 AM PST Movie fans in Naypyitaw got an early look at the 8th Japanese Film Festival this year, before it heads to Yangon and Mandalay.

Chinese President’s Upcoming Visit Seen as Bid to Gain Myanmar Leaders’ Commitment on BRI Projects Posted: 09 Jan 2020 05:55 AM PST Chinese president to visit Myanmar next week in what many see as a signal of the importance of the country to China's Indian Ocean strategy.

Myanmar Christens Star ‘Ayeyarwady’ and Planet ‘Bagan’ Posted: 09 Jan 2020 05:45 AM PST The International Astronomical Union has accepted Myanmar's nominations of Ayeyarwady and Bagan as the new names of a sun and planet located 553 light-years from Earth.

Giant Myanmar Irrawaddy Dolphin Died of Old Age: Environmentalists Posted: 09 Jan 2020 03:41 AM PST Activists and residents disagree about whether an Irrawaddy dolphin found dead in Mandalay Region this week was killed by electrofishing.

Myanmar Archaeologists Object to Construction Near Ancient Pagodas in Bagan Posted: 09 Jan 2020 03:23 AM PST The Myanmar Archaeology Association has spoken out about a construction project near ancient Pyu-era pagodas in Bagan, saying it threatens the historical site.

Trump Denies Intent to Use Military Against Iran After Missile Attack Posted: 08 Jan 2020 09:36 PM PST US President Donald Trump warns Tehran of tougher sanctions following Iranian missile strikes on US forces in Iraq, but says no military action planned.

Japan, China Concerned Over Economic Risks After US-Iran Showdown Posted: 08 Jan 2020 09:34 PM PST Japanese, Chinese economic ministers express concerns about effects of Middle East tensions on financial markets at Beijing meeting.

China’s CNPC Withdraws Staff From Iraqi Oilfield as Tensions Rise Posted: 08 Jan 2020 09:17 PM PST Major Chinese oil company CNPC has pulled about 20 employees from the West Qurna-1 oilfield in Iraq as tensions rise following the US killing of an Iranian general.

Australia Issues New Evacuation Alerts as Monster Bushfires Regenerate Posted: 08 Jan 2020 09:03 PM PST More evacuation warnings issued in Australia as bushfires across the country's southeast flare up and weather conditions worsen.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• At Myanmar Peace Talks, State Counselor Urges All Parties to Put Country First
• Myanmar Freedom of Expression Advocates Call on Military to Stop Suing Critics
• Mon Ethnic Party: Myanmar Gov’t, Military Lack Political Will for Federalism, Equality
• Mine Blast Kills 4 Rohingya Children in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
• Bangladesh Border Chief Demands Rohingya Return to Myanmar
• ‘Have Fun in Burma’: A Fictional Exploration of Intercultural Misunderstanding
• Myanmar Military Detains 2 Unarmed RCSS Members at Public Event in Shan State
• Western Union Cuts Ties to Myanmar Military-Owned Bank
• The Day Myanmar’s Oil Workers Downed Tools
• Philippines Orders Citizens in Iraq to Leave After Iran Attacks US Forces
• Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashes in Iran, Kiling All 170 Aboard
• Japanese Prosecutors Search Office of Ex-Nissan Boss Ghosn’s Lawyer 
• Man Pleads Not Guilty to 2016 Murder of 19 People at Japan Care Home
• Iran Launches Missile Attacks on US Forces in Iraq

At Myanmar Peace Talks, State Counselor Urges All Parties to Put Country First Posted: 08 Jan 2020 07:33 AM PST At the long-awaited resumption of the Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi urges all parties to the peace talks to look beyond their own goals.

Myanmar Freedom of Expression Advocates Call on Military to Stop Suing Critics Posted: 08 Jan 2020 05:07 AM PST Freedom of expression advocates at Athan have demanded that Myanmar's military drop all lawsuits against critics and respect media rights.

Mon Ethnic Party: Myanmar Gov’t, Military Lack Political Will for Federalism, Equality Posted: 08 Jan 2020 04:50 AM PST The New Mon State Party has criticized the National League for Democracy for failing to bring peace, amend the Constitution or advance federalism and ethnic equality.

Mine Blast Kills 4 Rohingya Children in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Posted: 08 Jan 2020 04:22 AM PST A mine blast in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State killed four children and injured six others on Tuesday. The Myanmar military has blamed the Arakan Army.

Bangladesh Border Chief Demands Rohingya Return to Myanmar Posted: 08 Jan 2020 04:19 AM PST Bangladesh's border chief has told a police delegation from Myanmar that instability and crime will grow while 1.1 million Rohingya refugees remain near the border.

‘Have Fun in Burma’: A Fictional Exploration of Intercultural Misunderstanding Posted: 08 Jan 2020 03:00 AM PST As international scrutiny of Myanmar mounts, Rosalie Metro's novel offers perspective on how the values Westerners carry often undermine their well-intentioned efforts.

Myanmar Military Detains 2 Unarmed RCSS Members at Public Event in Shan State Posted: 08 Jan 2020 02:08 AM PST RCSS complains to military over detention of two unarmed members attending a community event in southern Shan State.

Western Union Cuts Ties to Myanmar Military-Owned Bank Posted: 08 Jan 2020 01:49 AM PST US-based money transfer company Western Union says it will no longer work with military-owned Myawaddy Bank following pressure from human rights organizations.

The Day Myanmar’s Oil Workers Downed Tools Posted: 07 Jan 2020 11:31 PM PST On this day in 1938, Burmah Oil workers in Magwe Region went on strike to demand better treatment. The strike spread into a wider movement against British colonial rule.

Philippines Orders Citizens in Iraq to Leave After Iran Attacks US Forces Posted: 07 Jan 2020 10:25 PM PST Philippine patrol vessel to sail to Middle East to assist in evacuation as Manila orders citizens to leave Iraq following Iranian missile strikes.

Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashes in Iran, Kiling All 170 Aboard Posted: 07 Jan 2020 10:12 PM PST At least 170 passengers on a Ukrainian airliner have been killed when the plane crashed after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport; Iran state TV says technical problems were to blame.

Japanese Prosecutors Search Office of Ex-Nissan Boss Ghosn’s Lawyer  Posted: 07 Jan 2020 09:50 PM PST Prosecutors in Japan search office of ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn's lawyer after he refuses to hand over computer used by the fugitive.

Man Pleads Not Guilty to 2016 Murder of 19 People at Japan Care Home Posted: 07 Jan 2020 09:06 PM PST Japanese man accused of killing 19 residents of a care home for mentally disabled people near Tokyo in 2016 pleads not guilty.

Iran Launches Missile Attacks on US Forces in Iraq Posted: 07 Jan 2020 08:53 PM PST Iran fires at least a dozen missiles targeting US forces in Iraq; at least 56 killed in stampede ahead of funeral of Iranian commander killed by US.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar’s Ex-President Tells Voters to Protect Race, Religion, Military in 2020 Election
• Gen. Aung San Returns to Myanmar Banknotes After 30-Year Absence
• Blocking Access to Spending Report May Violate Myanmar Graft Law, Watchdog Warns Yangon Govt
• Myanmar, Bangladesh Officials Discuss Border Security in Dhaka
• Myanmar Ethnic Armed Groups’ Peace Negotiators and Govt to Meet Soon
• China Must Cancel New Coal Plants to Achieve Climate Goals: Study
• UN Says Global Tensions Worst in Years After US Kills Iranian Commander
• Australia Readies as Renewed Bushfire Threat Looms, Costs Soar
• Ghosn Vows to Reveal Names of Japanese Officials Behind His Arrest

Myanmar’s Ex-President Tells Voters to Protect Race, Religion, Military in 2020 Election Posted: 07 Jan 2020 04:56 AM PST Former president U Thein Sein has told supporters to use their votes in the 2020 election to protect Myanmar and its military against foreign threats.

Gen. Aung San Returns to Myanmar Banknotes After 30-Year Absence Posted: 07 Jan 2020 04:46 AM PST The new 1,000-kyat note displays a picture of Myanmar's independence hero, Gen. Aung San; his portrait had been phased out by the former junta in the 1990s.

Blocking Access to Spending Report May Violate Myanmar Graft Law, Watchdog Warns Yangon Govt Posted: 07 Jan 2020 04:33 AM PST A watchdog has warned Yangon officials it will take legal action if lawmakers aren't given access to the auditor-general's report on regional government spending.

Myanmar, Bangladesh Officials Discuss Border Security in Dhaka Posted: 07 Jan 2020 03:50 AM PST Landmines, drug smuggling, armed groups and Rohingya on the agenda as Myanmar, Bangladesh officials discuss border security in Dhaka.

Myanmar Ethnic Armed Groups’ Peace Negotiators and Govt to Meet Soon Posted: 06 Jan 2020 11:44 PM PST In a positive sign for the formal peace process, Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signatories will meet government representatives at the 8th JICM in Naypyitaw on Jan. 8.

China Must Cancel New Coal Plants to Achieve Climate Goals: Study Posted: 06 Jan 2020 09:59 PM PST China must stop building new coal-fired power plants now if it wants to meet its long-term climate goals, a study by a government research institute shows.

UN Says Global Tensions Worst in Years After US Kills Iranian Commander Posted: 06 Jan 2020 09:48 PM PST UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned that global tensions are at their highest point in decades following the US assassination of a top Iranian military leader.

Australia Readies as Renewed Bushfire Threat Looms, Costs Soar Posted: 06 Jan 2020 09:37 PM PST As Australian firefighters continue to battle hundreds of blazes and insurance bill reaches nearly US$500 million, government warns the economy will take a hit.

Ghosn Vows to Reveal Names of Japanese Officials Behind His Arrest Posted: 06 Jan 2020 09:35 PM PST Ex-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn, who fled charges in Japan, vows to name Japanese officials who plotted to 'take him out' over his plan to merge the auto giant with Renault.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Can Myanmar’s Police Force Be Reformed?
• Independence Monument—Symbol of Myanmar’s Sovereignty
• Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Back for a Second Year
• What’s in Store for Myanmar in 2020 and Beyond?

Can Myanmar’s Police Force Be Reformed? Posted: 03 Jan 2020 06:28 PM PST The Irrawaddy talks to Hnin Hnin Hmwe of the Democratic Party for a New Society and advocate Kyee Myint about police reform and a recent blunder in the Victoria rape case.

Independence Monument—Symbol of Myanmar’s Sovereignty Posted: 03 Jan 2020 06:16 PM PST Today marks 72 years since the nation's first prime minister, U Nu, laid the foundation of Independence Monument, a landmark symbolizing national sovereignty.

Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Back for a Second Year Posted: 03 Jan 2020 05:56 PM PST A major book sale is returning to Yangon's Myanmar Expo Hall for a second year with organizers offering discounts of 90 percent.

What’s in Store for Myanmar in 2020 and Beyond? Posted: 03 Jan 2020 04:18 PM PST In this election year, we must be honest about the scope of the challenges that Myanmar faces, but let's also continue to hope for progress toward peace and prosperity.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Most Myanmar Trafficking Cases Involve Forced Marriage in China: Police
• Mysterious Signs of Impending China-Backed Railway Worry Villagers in Myanmar’s Shan State
• 18 Killed in Karen State Car Accident
• In the News: Revisions for 2020
• Myanmar Military Clashes with Karen Armed Group, 2 Civilians Wounded
• NLD Expands Ethnic Affairs Committee Ahead of Myanmar Election
• Lawyers to Sue Naypyitaw Police for Naming Raped Toddler
• Armed Gang Robs Myanmar Police in Rakhine
• First Airport in Western Myanmar’s Chin State to Open in June
• Myanmar Rebel Armies Extend Truce but Fighting Continues
• Taiwan’s Military Chief Among 8 Dead in Helicopter Crash
• Tokyo Paralympics to See Record Number of Competing Nations
• Japan Calls for Ex-Nissan Boss Ghosn’s Handover via Interpol
• Indonesia Plans Cloud Seeding to Halt Rain; Flood Death Toll Rises to 43

Most Myanmar Trafficking Cases Involve Forced Marriage in China: Police Posted: 03 Jan 2020 06:29 AM PST Myanmar's police say 188 trafficking cases from Myanmar were forced into Chinese marriages last year.

Mysterious Signs of Impending China-Backed Railway Worry Villagers in Myanmar’s Shan State Posted: 03 Jan 2020 05:20 AM PST Strange markers in villages along a planned China-backed railway in Shan State suggest the project is proceeding without input from locals, who fear for their futures.

18 Killed in Karen State Car Accident Posted: 03 Jan 2020 04:31 AM PST An express bus carrying migrant workers to Thailand crashed into a car on the Asia Highway in Myawaddy and fell into a ravine on Friday morning.

In the News: Revisions for 2020 Posted: 03 Jan 2020 04:09 AM PST The Irrawaddy offers a selection of analyses, commentaries and interviews published in 2019 that shed light on key issues likely to continue shaping the nation this year.

Myanmar Military Clashes with Karen Armed Group, 2 Civilians Wounded Posted: 03 Jan 2020 04:00 AM PST The Karen National Liberation Army and the Myanmar army fought Thursday in Papun, Karen State as relations remain tense and peace talks falter.

NLD Expands Ethnic Affairs Committee Ahead of Myanmar Election Posted: 03 Jan 2020 03:50 AM PST National League for Democracy Vice Chairman U Zaw Myint Maung has said that the new committee is part of the party's strategy for the 2020 general election.

Lawyers to Sue Naypyitaw Police for Naming Raped Toddler Posted: 03 Jan 2020 03:47 AM PST Lawyers for the raped toddler's family are preparing to sue the police chiefs who named the victim at a high-profile press conference in the capital.

Armed Gang Robs Myanmar Police in Rakhine Posted: 03 Jan 2020 01:56 AM PST Four Rakhine border guards were robbed while returning to their police station with the monthly salaries of their outpost's police officers in Rathedaung Township.

First Airport in Western Myanmar’s Chin State to Open in June Posted: 03 Jan 2020 01:39 AM PST Western Myanmar's Chin State will become much easier to access in 2020 as officials say the Surbung Airport will open in June after five years of construction.

Myanmar Rebel Armies Extend Truce but Fighting Continues Posted: 03 Jan 2020 12:59 AM PST Three active ethnic armed groups have extended their ceasefire by two months but fighting persists in Rakhine State.

Taiwan’s Military Chief Among 8 Dead in Helicopter Crash Posted: 02 Jan 2020 10:27 PM PST Taiwan's military chief among eight people killed in helicopter crash in mountainous area near Taipei.

Tokyo Paralympics to See Record Number of Competing Nations Posted: 02 Jan 2020 10:19 PM PST A record 170 nations are expected to compete at this year's Tokyo Paralympics.

Japan Calls for Ex-Nissan Boss Ghosn’s Handover via Interpol Posted: 02 Jan 2020 10:10 PM PST Tokyo asks Interpol to detain former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn after he fled a financial misconduct case in Japan.

Indonesia Plans Cloud Seeding to Halt Rain; Flood Death Toll Rises to 43 Posted: 02 Jan 2020 09:55 PM PST Indonesia to carry out cloud seeding to prevent further rainfall over Jakarta following deadly floods and landslides.

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