Thursday, May 7, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Medical Teams Check Myanmar’s COVID-19 Hotspot for Hidden Carriers

Posted: 07 May 2020 06:46 AM PDT

Myanmar's health ministry has knocked on every door in Insein Township in Yangon – where coronavirus cases have been concentrated – to find possible transmitters.

Myanmar’s Shan State Launches Campaign to Promote Use of Face Masks

Posted: 07 May 2020 06:29 AM PDT

The Shan State government has launched a campaign to educate people on the need to continue COVID-19 preventative measures by distributing face masks.

Generosity Comes Naturally to Myanmar People, but Don’t Take It for Granted

Posted: 07 May 2020 05:04 AM PDT

Myanmar people responded generously to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal for donations to fight COVID-19; now the government must do its job and protect their well-being.

Myanmar’s Kayah State Angers Activists with Protest Ban

Posted: 07 May 2020 04:53 AM PDT

Kayah rights advocates say their government has used COVID-19 as an excuse to clamp down on criticism.

China Pushes BRI Projects As Myanmar Rolls Out COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan

Posted: 07 May 2020 03:16 AM PDT

The Chinese ambassador to Myanmar has pushed to incorporate Beijing's key strategic development projects into Myanmar's COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan.

COVID-19 Response ‘a Chance to Reimagine Myanmar’s Future’

Posted: 07 May 2020 12:56 AM PDT

The government's COVID-19 strategy should aim for long-term structural change to the economy, historian and policy-planning expert Thant Myint-U told The Irrawaddy.

Shanghai Disneyland to Reopen Amid Drop in New COVID-19 Cases in China

Posted: 06 May 2020 10:35 PM PDT

Shanghai Disneyland will reopen to guests next week after closing for more than three months due to COVID-19, according to news reports.

Gas Leak at LG Polymers Plant in India Kills Six, Leaves Over 120 Sick

Posted: 06 May 2020 10:27 PM PDT

A chemical gas leak at an LG Polymers factory in the southern Indian city of Visakhapatnam has killed six people and put more than 120 in hospital.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan Attracts Mixed Reactions from Industrial Insiders

Posted: 05 May 2020 06:30 PM PDT

While some observers welcome Myanmar's stimulus measures, others claim that the plan is merely a description of the government's goals and targets.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Migrant Workers Await Thai Green Light to Return Home

Posted: 05 May 2020 07:01 AM PDT

Some 26,000 migrant workers in Thailand have registered with the Myanmar Embassy to return home but need official Thai permission to travel amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Myanmar Military COVID-19 Patient’s Contacts Test Negative

Posted: 05 May 2020 06:24 AM PDT

The Myanmar military says 300 personnel have tested negative for COVID-19 despite having had contact with a soldier who recently contracted the disease.

Myanmar Election Official Says Nation Will Go to Polls This Year Despite COVID-19

Posted: 05 May 2020 05:38 AM PDT

The general election scheduled for this year will proceed as planned despite the COVID-19 outbreak, and political parties should be ready, an election commissioner said.

Six Labor Strike Leaders Jailed for Breaking Myanmar’s COVID-19 Rules

Posted: 05 May 2020 05:03 AM PDT

Yangon labor activists threaten more strikes to demand wages during coronavirus factory closures.

Civilian Injured by Landmine as Mon, Karen Armed Groups Trade Blame

Posted: 05 May 2020 04:55 AM PDT

A landmine destroyed the leg of a civilian in Mon State in an area plagued by conflict between the Karen National Union and the New Mon State Party.

Building New IDP Camps Requires Security Considerations: Rakhine State Govt

Posted: 05 May 2020 02:58 AM PDT

A Rakhine State government spokesperson says humanitarian groups can build IDP camps if they obtain permission and if the camps are not in a sensitive location.

Myanmar Confirms 10 New COVID-19 Cases After Two-Day Reprieve

Posted: 05 May 2020 02:29 AM PDT

Six new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Myanmar on Monday, following four fresh cases the previous day; the country's total now stands at 161 with six deaths.

South Korea to Shift Virus Policy to ‘Everyday Life Quarantine’

Posted: 04 May 2020 11:08 PM PDT

On Wednesday, the South Korean government will launch a less stringent phase of prevention measures against COVID-19 it calls 'everyday life quarantine'. Kyodo News

Superheroes, From Near and Far, Join Indonesia’s Coronavirus Battle

Posted: 04 May 2020 10:55 PM PDT

Volunteers dressed as superheroes are helping Indonesian authorities get the word out about what measures to take to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Police Clash With Crowds as India Eases Coronavirus Curbs

Posted: 04 May 2020 10:48 PM PDT

Unruly crowds outside liquor stores tussled with police amid a partial easing of COVID-19 curbs in New Delhi and other parts of India.
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Monday, May 4, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Migrants Stranded Without Cash in Thailand by COVID-19

Posted: 04 May 2020 07:25 AM PDT

Thousands of migrants workers cannot return home because of Thai travel restrictions and they now lack money for food and rent.

Don’t Let Your Guard Down, Myanmar Health Minister Warns Public on COVID-19

Posted: 04 May 2020 06:53 AM PDT

The minister of health and sports has warned the public that the country's apparent progress in slowing the COVID-19 outbreak is no reason to relax prevention measures.

Myanmar Govt Lists Essential Businesses Prioritized for Reopening Amid COVID-19

Posted: 04 May 2020 06:16 AM PDT

The Human Resources Ministry has released a list of essential businesses including seafood plants, food wholesalers and shipping firms targeted for reopening by mid-May.

Karen Revolutionary Leader and Peacemaker with Myanmar Government Dies

Posted: 04 May 2020 05:45 AM PDT

Some claim the 93-year-old lifelong soldier Major General Saw Htay Maung failed to adapt his military skills to the negotiation table.

Freedom of Expression in Myanmar in Decline Under NLD Government, Say Advocates

Posted: 04 May 2020 05:37 AM PDT

New research by Athan shows over 1,000 people in Myanmar have faced lawsuits for criticizing the state or military under the current government.

Myanmar Artists Turn to Social Media to Share Work Despite Coronavirus

Posted: 04 May 2020 05:06 AM PDT

Myanmar artists are taking to social media amid COVID-19 to share art and maintain community, while also supporting one another to unplug, get offline and create.

Two More Myanmar Military Officers Catch COVID-19 in Moscow

Posted: 04 May 2020 03:06 AM PDT

Five military officers training in Russia have now tested positive with coronavirus as the virus spreads rapidly in the country.

In Myanmar’s Chin State, Rain and Attack on WFP Convoy Force Aid Deliveries by Boat

Posted: 04 May 2020 02:33 AM PDT

The Myanmar government says it will ship food to a Chin State town after a World Food Programme aid convoy was attacked by the Arakan Army while trying to reach the area.

ARSA Insurgents Shoot, Injure Two Myanmar Border Guard Police Officers

Posted: 04 May 2020 02:33 AM PDT

Two Border Guard Police officers in Rakhine State were wounded when ARSA insurgents shot at their patrol from inside Bangladesh.

Bangkok’s Street Food Hub of Chinatown Comes Alive as Lockdown Eases

Posted: 03 May 2020 11:52 PM PDT

Thailand has begun to lift some restrictions on street food stalls and restaurants as the spread of COVID-19 in the country slows.

Singapore to Ease Lockdown, Let Businesses Reopen From May 12

Posted: 03 May 2020 11:33 PM PDT

Businesses in Singapore will be able to resume operations from May 12 as some COVID-19 restrictions are eased, but a partial lockdown will continue until June 1.

With Fighter Jets and Army Bands, India’s Military Thanks Health Workers

Posted: 03 May 2020 11:06 PM PDT

Indian aircraft flew low and dropped petals over more than a dozen cities on Sunday to give thanks to health-care workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Sunday, May 3, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

On World Press Freedom Day, a Nod to the Role of Journalists in a Time of Crisis

Posted: 03 May 2020 12:52 AM PDT

Marking World Press Freedom Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to acknowledge the role of the media in subjecting decision-makers to scrutiny.
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Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup

Posted: 01 May 2020 08:30 PM PDT

The Myanmar government rolled out its COVID-19 relief plan and announced investment projects, interest rate cuts and tax breaks on medical supplies as some factories reopened.

What Does COVID-19 Mean for Myanmar’s Peace Process?

Posted: 01 May 2020 07:30 PM PDT

Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung, a leader of the Karen National Union, is hopeful that things will improve if the Myanmar military cooperates with EAOs on the response to COVID-19.
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Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Embracing Isolation: Reflections on the Value of Confinement Amid COVID-19

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 06:30 PM PDT

If we face the isolation imposed on us by the coronavirus with determination and imagination, we could emerge stronger.

Myanmar Migrants’ Return from Thailand Delayed Over Travel Hassles

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 06:16 AM PDT

Over 16,000 migrant returnees will have to wait for a few more days as Thailand extended a state of emergency and travel restrictions over COVID-19.

Myanmar Tourism Sector Braced for 50% Job Cuts Amid COVID-19 Downturn

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 06:04 AM PDT

Tour operators are not expecting a return to normality until 2023 as the world turns away from tourism after the coronavirus outbreak.

Myanmar Military Condemns UK Move to Continue Sanctions

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 04:11 AM PDT

The Myanmar military says the UK's recent decision to extend sanctions against 14 of its officers hurts the position and dignity of the armed forces.

Myanmar’s First COVID-19 Patient Recovers, Leaves Hospital

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 04:02 AM PDT

A 36-year-old man who was the first person in Myanmar to test positive for the coronavirus left hospital in Chin State on Wednesday after making a recovery.

Myanmar Govt Offers to Pay Factory Workers 40% During COVID-19 Inspection Closures

Posted: 30 Apr 2020 03:16 AM PDT

Registered workers have been promised compensation while their factories are closed as most factories go back to work after passing coronavirus checks.

Three Myanmar Military Officers Infected With COVID-19 in Russia ‘Doing Well’: Army

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 11:59 PM PDT

Three Myanmar military officers who tested positive for COVID-19 while undergoing training in Russia are responding well to treatment, a Tatmadaw spokesman said.

Migrant Workers Left Jobless and Trapped by Thai Coronavirus Lockdown

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 11:12 PM PDT

Some 500,000 migrants in Thailand are now unemployed due to the COVID-19 crisis; many cannot access government aid, but are unable to go home due to border closures.

Singaporeans Who Break Quarantine for Food Pay Hefty Bill

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 10:50 PM PDT

Singaporeans who can't resist the urge to sneak out for a snack are being fined thousands of dollars for breaking the city-state's COVID-19 quarantine rules.

Japan Mulls 1-Month Extension to State of Emergency Over Coronavirus

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 10:32 PM PDT

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe will meet with experts Friday to decide whether the country's COVID-19 state of emergency should be extended by a month from May 6.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

When Myanmar’s Dictator Revealed the Burmese Way to Socialism

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 06:30 PM PDT

On this day in 1962, General Ne Win's new dictatorship took to the radio to broadcast its ideology, the Burmese Way to Socialism, which soon pushed Myanmar deep into poverty.

More than 1,800 Yangon Factories to Reopen After Passing Myanmar’s COVID-19 Tests

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 06:32 AM PDT

Myanmar's business hub Yangon has more than 6,000 factories and the coronavirus inspections are ongoing.

Doctor-Turned-COVID-19 Patient Sheds Light on Myanmar Health Care Workers’ Struggle

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 06:16 AM PDT

In a videoconference, an anesthesiologist being treated for COVID-19 thanked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her leadership but urged her to make sure doctors are equipped.

Sixth Myanmar COVID-19 Death Reported in Yangon

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 06:09 AM PDT

A 63-year-old has died with coronavirus, hypertension and diabetes. His infection was linked to the Yangon religious event behind most of Myanmar's cases.

Shan State Militia, AA Deny Links Through Lucrative Drug Trade

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 06:02 AM PDT

The Arakan Army and a Shan State militia deny being partners in an illegal drug trade that nets tens of millions of dollars with the approval of the Myanmar military.

Corporate Responsibility Is an Integral Part of Korean Investment in Myanmar

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 05:52 AM PDT

A growing number of Korean enterprises are making corporate social responsibility an integral part of their investment in Myanmar.

Myanmar Launches Sweeping COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 04:23 AM PDT

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said her government's comprehensive COVID-19 response plan would soften the economic blow of the pandemic and leave no one behind.

Myanmar Govt to Probe Fatal Shooting of WHO Driver Transporting COVID-19 Swabs

Posted: 29 Apr 2020 01:44 AM PDT

The President has authorized an investigation committee to probe the shooting death of a WHO driver who was attacked while transporting COVID-19 swabs in Rakhine State.

Hong Kong Civil Servants to Resume Work as Pandemic Stabilizes

Posted: 28 Apr 2020 10:43 PM PDT

With the coronavirus infection rate stabilizing, officials in Hong Kong will start returning to work next week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said.

Public Suicide Bid Spotlights Thais’ Frustration Over Long Wait for COVID-19 Aid

Posted: 28 Apr 2020 10:23 PM PDT

A woman swallowed rat poison outside the Thai Finance Ministry to protest the long wait many people have had to endure for COVID-19 relief payments.

China’s Parliament to Start Key Annual Session on May 22

Posted: 28 Apr 2020 10:01 PM PDT

China's parliament will begin its key annual meeting on May 22 after a delay of more than two months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

When Myanmar Made One of the Largest Bells in the World

Posted: 28 Apr 2020 07:30 PM PDT

On this day in 1808, the casting of the Great Mingun Bell, now the second-largest bell in the world, began along the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar.
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