The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar’s Major Cities to Ease Some COVID-19 Business Restrictions
• Two Muslim Children Killed, One Hurt in Mine Blast in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
• Residents Fined for Failing to use Face Masks in Myanmar’s Yangon
• For Many in Myanmar, Working From Home Amid COVID-19 Poses Unexpected Challenges
• New Zealand Lifts State of Emergency as COVID-19 Cases Decrease
• US Accuses China-Linked Hackers of Stealing Coronavirus Research
• Construction Delays, Dirty Pavements as Asian Cities Struggle Without Migrant Workers

Myanmar’s Major Cities to Ease Some COVID-19 Business Restrictions Posted: 14 May 2020 06:50 AM PDT While Mandalay is allowing businesses to reopen, some Yangon townships with no new cases for 20 days will lift various restrictions.

Two Muslim Children Killed, One Hurt in Mine Blast in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Posted: 14 May 2020 04:13 AM PDT A Rohingya boy and girl died and a girl was injured when a landmine exploded as they were collecting firewood and fruit in an abandoned village in Buthidaung Township.

Residents Fined for Failing to use Face Masks in Myanmar’s Yangon Posted: 14 May 2020 03:37 AM PDT Anyone with an uncovered face risks court action as the authorities try to allow Myanmar's coronavirus hotspot to get back to work.

For Many in Myanmar, Working From Home Amid COVID-19 Poses Unexpected Challenges Posted: 14 May 2020 01:36 AM PDT Lack of human interaction, poor internet connections and frequent blackouts are among the problems employees face as they work from home amid COVID-19 restrictions.

New Zealand Lifts State of Emergency as COVID-19 Cases Decrease Posted: 13 May 2020 10:44 PM PDT New Zealand has lifted its state of emergency as the country prepares to ease its monthlong national COVID-19 lockdown.

US Accuses China-Linked Hackers of Stealing Coronavirus Research Posted: 13 May 2020 10:39 PM PDT The FBI is investigating hacking activity by China-linked 'cyber actors' attempting to illicitly obtain COVID-19 research, US authorities said.

Construction Delays, Dirty Pavements as Asian Cities Struggle Without Migrant Workers Posted: 13 May 2020 10:25 PM PDT With the cheap migrant labor that fuels much of Asia's economy unavailable due to COVID-19, cities in the region are facing shortages of workers in many key sectors.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Different Laws Applied to Myanmar COVID-19 Restrictions Lead to Inconsistent Punishments for Violators
• Five Civilians Injured by Shelling in Muslim Villages in Rakhine
• Yangon Extends Lockdown Measures for Myanmar’s COVID-19 Hotspots
• Thousands Sacked in Myanmar’s Commercial Hub Yangon Amid COVID-19 Downturn
• Myanmar Military Detains Soldiers Filmed Beating Rakhine Civilians
• China’s Wuhan to Test All Residents After New Virus Cluster Identified
• US Virus Death Toll ‘Almost Certainly’ Higher Than Official Count
• China’s Jilin City Imposes Travel Restrictions After New Coronavirus Cases
• Thai Social Entrepreneurs Helping the Needy Seek Assistance Amid COVID-19 Slowdown
• India to Provide $266 Billion to Boost Pandemic-Hit Economy

Different Laws Applied to Myanmar COVID-19 Restrictions Lead to Inconsistent Punishments for Violators Posted: 13 May 2020 06:57 AM PDT While some violators of COVID-19 restrictions face light fines, others have been jailed, leading to questions over whether the courts are applying the laws consistently.

Five Civilians Injured by Shelling in Muslim Villages in Rakhine Posted: 13 May 2020 05:52 AM PDT Five civilians, including one Muslim religious scholar, were injured in Rakhine when Myanmar military troops fired artillery into their villages, according to local residents.

Yangon Extends Lockdown Measures for Myanmar’s COVID-19 Hotspots Posted: 13 May 2020 05:00 AM PDT Yangon has extended a partial lockdown for 10 townships that have the highest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Myanmar.

Thousands Sacked in Myanmar’s Commercial Hub Yangon Amid COVID-19 Downturn Posted: 13 May 2020 04:24 AM PDT The Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar says 6,355 factory jobs were axed last month as coronavirus hammers the manufacturing sector.

Myanmar Military Detains Soldiers Filmed Beating Rakhine Civilians Posted: 13 May 2020 12:42 AM PDT The Myanmar military will take legal action against a group of its soldiers shown beating five detained Rakhine civilians in a video that went viral online, a spokesman said.

China’s Wuhan to Test All Residents After New Virus Cluster Identified Posted: 12 May 2020 11:42 PM PDT In response to the discovery of a new COVID-19 cluster, the Chinese city of Wuhan will test all 11 million residents for the disease.

US Virus Death Toll ‘Almost Certainly’ Higher Than Official Count Posted: 12 May 2020 11:27 PM PDT Dr. Anthony Fauci, an adviser to the White House on COVID-19, told senators the death toll in the US is 'almost certainly' higher than the approximately 80,000 reported.

China’s Jilin City Imposes Travel Restrictions After New Coronavirus Cases Posted: 12 May 2020 11:02 PM PDT The city of Jilin in northeast China has reimposed travel restrictions in the wake of a spate of new COVID-19 cases.

Thai Social Entrepreneurs Helping the Needy Seek Assistance Amid COVID-19 Slowdown Posted: 12 May 2020 10:36 PM PDT Starved of cash by the COVID-19 lockdown, Thai social enterprises that employ socially disadvantaged people are calling for help from the government and companies.

India to Provide $266 Billion to Boost Pandemic-Hit Economy Posted: 12 May 2020 10:21 PM PDT Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a sweeping package of financial and regulatory measures aimed at boosting the economy amid COVID-19.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Intensive contact tracing will be Prioritized: Yangon COVID-19 Response Committee
• Malaysia Deports Nearly 400 Undocumented Myanmar Workers
• Myanmar Begins Investigation Into WHO Driver’s Fatal Shooting
• Viral Video Shows Five Rakhine Men Beaten by Myanmar Military
• Myanmar MPs to Receive COVID-19 Tests Before Coronavirus Budgetary Discussions
• Yangon Makes Wearing Face Masks Mandatory; Legal Action Awaits Violators
• Now YSX, the Building Once Managed Myanmar’s Monetary System
• Trump Brushes Off White House Virus Outbreak Concerns
• Laos Pushes Ahead With Sixth Mekong River Dam Project
• Plastic Piles Up in Thailand as Pandemic Efforts Sideline Pollution Fight
• India Looks to Ease Lockdown Even as Coronavirus Infections Jump

Intensive contact tracing will be Prioritized: Yangon COVID-19 Response Committee Posted: 12 May 2020 06:18 AM PDT U Naing Ngan Lin, committee member and Social Affairs Minister,tells The Irrawaddy that the city should be ready for more door-to-door health checks.

Malaysia Deports Nearly 400 Undocumented Myanmar Workers Posted: 12 May 2020 05:52 AM PDT They returned via two chartered flights after spending months in immigration detention centers amid the Malaysian government's COVID-19 movement restrictions.

Myanmar Begins Investigation Into WHO Driver’s Fatal Shooting Posted: 12 May 2020 05:19 AM PDT A committee appointed by the President's Office to investigate the shooting death of a WHO driver transporting COVID-19 swabs in Rakhine Start has started work.

Viral Video Shows Five Rakhine Men Beaten by Myanmar Military Posted: 12 May 2020 03:13 AM PDT The five men said they were exposed to the hot sun and that the soldiers poured hot water on them and forced them to confess to being members of the AA, relatives recalled.

Myanmar MPs to Receive COVID-19 Tests Before Coronavirus Budgetary Discussions Posted: 12 May 2020 03:03 AM PDT Parliamentarians face screening ahead of sessions which start on May 18 as members grapple with coronavirus budgetary challenges.

Yangon Makes Wearing Face Masks Mandatory; Legal Action Awaits Violators Posted: 12 May 2020 02:28 AM PDT As Yangon prepares to reopen businesses, city officials are getting tough on COVID-19 prevention measures, with those who fail to follow the rules facing fines and jail.

Now YSX, the Building Once Managed Myanmar’s Monetary System Posted: 12 May 2020 01:19 AM PDT The building housing the Yangon Stock Exchange has twice seen its currency stocks destroyed and then hosted the military planners who destroyed the economy after 1962.

Trump Brushes Off White House Virus Outbreak Concerns Posted: 11 May 2020 11:39 PM PDT US President Donald Trump said he believed the White House's COVID-19 prevention measures were working, despite the infection of two staff members last week.

Laos Pushes Ahead With Sixth Mekong River Dam Project Posted: 11 May 2020 11:10 PM PDT The government of Laos has submitted plans to build a sixth dam on the Mekong River, to be developed by a subsidiary of a Chinese company.

Plastic Piles Up in Thailand as Pandemic Efforts Sideline Pollution Fight Posted: 11 May 2020 10:54 PM PDT A surge in home delivery services amid the COVID-19 restrictions has seen plastic waste soar in Thailand, which began the year with a plastic bag ban.

India Looks to Ease Lockdown Even as Coronavirus Infections Jump Posted: 11 May 2020 10:42 PM PDT Despite reporting its biggest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases, India is looking to ease its nearly seven-week lockdown.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar Rebel Coalition Calls for Military to Extend Ceasefire to Rakhine
• Myanmar Hostels Cut Rent as COVID-19 Closures Hit Workers
• All Signs Point to a Worsening of Myanmar’s Rakhine Conflict
• Mandalay Steps Up Mask Campaign with Fines as City Begins to Reopen
• Myanmar to Receive $2B in COVID-19 Relief from Int’l Development Organizations
• Younger Myanmar Military Officers Promoted to Key Roles in Reshuffle
• One Flew Over the Pigeon’s Nest
• China’s Wuhan Reports First Coronavirus Cluster Since Lifting Lockdown
• The Day a Renowned Rakhine Buddhist Scholar Died

Myanmar Rebel Coalition Calls for Military to Extend Ceasefire to Rakhine Posted: 11 May 2020 06:43 AM PDT Ethnic armed groups say the Myanmar military must extend its recently announced unilateral ceasefire to include conflict zones in Rakhine and Chin states.

Myanmar Hostels Cut Rent as COVID-19 Closures Hit Workers Posted: 11 May 2020 06:32 AM PDT Numerous hostels in Yangon's industrial hub, Hlaing Tharyar, are helping tenants cope with the closure of their factories.

All Signs Point to a Worsening of Myanmar’s Rakhine Conflict Posted: 11 May 2020 05:22 AM PDT With the military's new ceasefire excluding Rakhine State, and a tough young general promoted to Tatmadaw HQ, the war with the Arakan Army can only get worse.

Mandalay Steps Up Mask Campaign with Fines as City Begins to Reopen Posted: 11 May 2020 04:59 AM PDT Mandalay and other cities have begun issuing fines to anyone found outside with their face uncovered.

Myanmar to Receive $2B in COVID-19 Relief from Int’l Development Organizations Posted: 11 May 2020 02:28 AM PDT The support would fund the implementation of Myanmar's COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic.

Younger Myanmar Military Officers Promoted to Key Roles in Reshuffle Posted: 11 May 2020 02:04 AM PDT In an apparent bid to retain his influence after he retires, military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has handed out key promotions to a number of younger officers.

One Flew Over the Pigeon’s Nest Posted: 11 May 2020 12:22 AM PDT In its implausible account of her 'adventures' in military-ruled Myanmar, Amaryllis Fox's dishonest, self-serving memoir typifies too much Western writing on the country.

China’s Wuhan Reports First Coronavirus Cluster Since Lifting Lockdown Posted: 10 May 2020 10:45 PM PDT The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the COVID-19 pandemic began, has reported its first cluster of new infections since lifting its lockdown a month ago.

The Day a Renowned Rakhine Buddhist Scholar Died Posted: 10 May 2020 06:44 PM PDT On this day in 1932, renowned Buddhist scholar U Shwe Zan Aung, who made the first translation of the ancient Buddha Abhidhamma texts into English, passed away.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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Irrawaddy Business Roundup Posted: 08 May 2020 08:20 PM PDT Myanmar's economy is beginning to look at its post-COVID-19 future as Sri Lanka places food orders and the EU puts the country on its money-laundering blacklist.

How Can the Myanmar Govt Help Businesses and Workers Weather COVID-19? Posted: 08 May 2020 06:30 PM PDT The Irrawaddy talks with economic researcher Dr. Zaw Oo and policy expert Ko Khine Win about how Myanmar's government can help businesses and workers through COVID-19.

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The Irrawaddy Magazine

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• Myanmar Muslims Jailed For COVID-19 Rules Breach
• Over Half of Myanmar’s COVID-19 Cases Are Asymptomatic, Health Officials Concerned
• COVID-19 and the Unfinished Agenda of Funding Disease Control in SE Asia
• Skirmish Breaks Out Between Myanmar Military and Karen Rebels Over COVID-19 Checkpoints
• Myanmar Confirms 14 New Coronavirus Cases After Week of Few Cases
• Myanmar Military Re-Arrests Rakhine Civilians After Court Release
• The Closer and Better the World Cooperates, the Faster We’ll Overcome COVID-19
• Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Host Homemade Cloth Mask Contest to Curb COVID-19 Spread in Myanmar
• Abe, Trump Affirm Cooperation on COVID-19 Response, Drugs
• Vietnam Sets Sights on Post-Pandemic Business Boost
• Japan Approves US-Made Drug Remdesivir to Treat COVID-19

Myanmar Muslims Jailed For COVID-19 Rules Breach Posted: 08 May 2020 06:41 AM PDT Twelve Muslims in Mandalay have been imprisoned for three months after defying the coronavirus ban on gatherings.

Over Half of Myanmar’s COVID-19 Cases Are Asymptomatic, Health Officials Concerned Posted: 08 May 2020 05:46 AM PDT Myanmar health officials are concerned about undetected asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the population, raising the importance of extensive testing.

COVID-19 and the Unfinished Agenda of Funding Disease Control in SE Asia Posted: 08 May 2020 04:41 AM PDT Recent defunding has eroded decades of gains in disease control made by donor-supported initiatives; those planning COVID-19 responses should learn from past successes.

Skirmish Breaks Out Between Myanmar Military and Karen Rebels Over COVID-19 Checkpoints Posted: 08 May 2020 03:47 AM PDT Fighting at a Karen National Union coronavirus checkpoint shows a lack of coordination between troops on the ground, analysts say.

Myanmar Confirms 14 New Coronavirus Cases After Week of Few Cases Posted: 08 May 2020 03:44 AM PDT The detection of 14 new cases on Thursday brings the tally of COVID-19 patients in Myanmar to 176.

Myanmar Military Re-Arrests Rakhine Civilians After Court Release Posted: 08 May 2020 02:41 AM PDT Five civilians in Rakhine State facing terrorism charges were released Thursday due to lack of evidence only to be arrested again for alleged involvement in local bombings.

The Closer and Better the World Cooperates, the Faster We’ll Overcome COVID-19 Posted: 08 May 2020 02:29 AM PDT EU Ambassador to Myanmar Kristian Schmidt explains why we must respond to COVID-19 by coming closer together, rather than cutting ourselves off from the world.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Host Homemade Cloth Mask Contest to Curb COVID-19 Spread in Myanmar Posted: 08 May 2020 02:11 AM PDT To boost COVID-19 prevention awareness, the State Counselor has announced she will hold an online contest to choose the best handmade cloth face masks in Myanmar.

Abe, Trump Affirm Cooperation on COVID-19 Response, Drugs Posted: 07 May 2020 10:55 PM PDT US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed to coordinate their COVID-19 responses and inform each other about treatments, Tokyo said.

Vietnam Sets Sights on Post-Pandemic Business Boost Posted: 07 May 2020 10:47 PM PDT After declaring its efforts to contain COVID-19 a success, Vietnam is advertising itself as a safer place than China to set up manufacturing businesses.

Japan Approves US-Made Drug Remdesivir to Treat COVID-19 Posted: 07 May 2020 10:31 PM PDT Days after it was approved in the US, Japan has cleared Gilead Sciences Inc.'s drug remdesivir as a treatment for the coronavirus.

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