Monday, January 18, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar Military to Mark Armed Forces Day Despite COVID-19

Posted: 18 Jan 2021 05:13 AM PST

The March 27 parade will follow coronavirus restrictions, says the military's spokesman.

Myanmar Says Thai Firm at Dawei SEZ Breached Contract

Posted: 18 Jan 2021 04:24 AM PST

The SEZ committee says it lost confidence in Italian-Thai Development as its consortium had repeated delays and breaches of financial obligations.

Myanmar Receives $10m in Public COVID-19 Vaccine Donations

Posted: 18 Jan 2021 01:21 AM PST

The first doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive from India in February.

Karen Border Force Withdraws Resignations After Spat with Myanmar Military

Posted: 18 Jan 2021 01:16 AM PST

The withdrawal came after the military's request for a rethink despite an argument with the BGF over a China-backed casino hub on the Thai border.

More than 300 new COVID-19 cases found in Samut Sakhon

Posted: 17 Jan 2021 08:45 PM PST

Nearly 270 Myanmar migrant workers tested positive out of the total 320 cases detected on Sunday in the Thai province.
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Saturday, January 16, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Venue Squabbles Complicate NLD’s Outreach Efforts to Myanmar’s Ethnic Parties

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 11:23 PM PST

The National League for Democracy says it wants to hear the voices and concerns of ethnic parties but has been inflexible on where to open their talks.

The Irrawaddy Business Roundup

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 07:30 PM PST

Myanmar's hotels have been closing and the authorities axed a deal to develop a giant economic zone. Meanwhile, an alarming fall in foreign trade has been reported.

The Day Myanmar’s Independence Hero Studied Britain’s War Machine

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 07:00 PM PST

General Aung San was determined to tour Britain's Ministry of Defence during his visit to London to plan his ministry after independence.

Critics Inject Doubt Into Thailand’s Vaccine Deal With China

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 06:45 PM PST

Concerns have arisen in Thailand over the efficacy of a Chinese vaccine the government has hastily decided to procure in order to inoculate Thais as soon as possible.

Ghosts Look Over the Shoulders of Myanmar Peace Negotiators

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 06:30 PM PST

Grandparents' dreams and nightmares are always present for all parties involved in Naypyitaw talks.
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Friday, January 15, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Karen State Militia Leadership Quits en Masse After Military Ousts Its Chief

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 06:49 AM PST

The 90 officers of the BGF, which runs a China-backed casino hub in Karen, are discussing their next move after the Tatmadaw asked them to reconsider their resignations.

Myanmar Secures Second IMF COVID-19 Loan

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 04:38 AM PST

The country is trying to buy millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines and offset the economic impact of coronavirus.

Myanmar Military Condemns Speaker’s Refusal to Probe Election Fraud Claims

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 04:30 AM PST

Speaker T Khun Myat has come under fire from the military for refusing its request to hold a special parliamentary session to examine fraud charges.

Popular Shan Party Vows to Cooperate With Myanmar’s NLD Under New Govt

Posted: 15 Jan 2021 02:34 AM PST

During talks in Taunggyi, the SNLD asked the ruling party to give its members positions of responsibility, and offered to mediate with other ethnic parties.

More Than 30 Thai Police Accused of Trafficking Myanmar Migrants

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 10:22 PM PST

The smuggling ring based in Kanchanaburi on the Myanmar border trafficked workers to Samut Sakhon, a major hotspot for COVID-19, Thailand's deputy police chief said.

US Blacklists Major Chinese Oil Firm Over South China Sea ‘Coercion’

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 08:48 PM PST

Washington says China National Offshore Oil Corp. has helped Beijing coerce an estimated $2.5 trillion in resources from other claimants to the strategic waterway.

WHO Experts Arrive in Wuhan to Study Origins of Coronavirus Outbreak

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 08:36 PM PST

After quarantining for two weeks, the experts are set to visit a market that was the first hotspot, and a lab at the center of rumors the virus was accidentally released.
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Thursday, January 14, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Myanmar’s Ruling NLD Holds Talks With Three Ethnic Parties in Shan State

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 06:05 AM PST

Avoiding the venue disputes that have led to the cancellation of talks with parties in other states, the NLD delegation also plans to meet a fourth party on Friday.

Myanmar Military Chief Makes Life Awkward for Chinese Foreign Minister

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 05:30 AM PST

Given Beijing's support for the government—not to mention its views on democracy—did the senior general really expect Wang Yi to sympathize with his voter fraud claims?

Myanmar Closes Eight Temporary COVID-19 Hospitals in Yangon

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 04:56 AM PST

Coronavirus cases are falling in Yangon as the government talks about allowing people to go back to work.

Feasibility Study on BRI Railway Link in Myanmar to Take 18 Months

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 04:07 AM PST

The line forms part of the planned China-Myanmar Railway linking southern China with Mandalay and Rakhine via Shan State under Beijing's BRI network.

Myanmar Sends Rohingya Back to Rakhine

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 03:30 AM PST

Seven undocumented Rohingya were detained off the Ayeyarwady coast trying to flee Rakhine State.

Myanmar’s Shangri-La Hotel Temporarily Closes Amid COVID-19 Impact

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 03:25 AM PST

More than 1,000 hotels in Myanmar have closed since March last year with the Shangri-La in Yangon the largest operation to shut its doors so far.

Lawmakers Push Myanmar Military to Clear Landmines for Rakhine IDP Safe Return

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 03:12 AM PST

Fighting with the Arakan Army ceased in November but displaced villagers cannot return home until unexploded explosives are cleared, Rakhine MPs say.

Myanmar Terminates Thai-Led Consortium’s Involvement in Dawei Mega Project

Posted: 14 Jan 2021 12:16 AM PST

Italian-Thai Development failed to make concession payments and submit documents, the management committee for the Dawei Special Economic Zone in southern Myanmar said.

Thailand to Step Up COVID-19 Testing of Myanmar Migrant Workers

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 10:33 PM PST

Health authorities in Samut Sakhon province plan to test more than 35,000 migrant workers in the next 10 days.

What Thailand Should Learn From America, and Vice Versa

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 10:27 PM PST

Americans are learning what happens when a large part of the population loses confidence in the political system—something other countries understand all too well.

Trump Impeached for Second Time, Charged With Insurrection Over Capitol Riot

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 09:27 PM PST

Ten members of Trump's Republican Party supported the resolution in the House of Representatives; he is the first US president to be impeached twice.

Former Senior Diplomat Campbell to Lead Biden’s Asia Policy: US Media

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 09:20 PM PST

Kurt Campbell will serve as 'Indo-Pacific coordinator' in the National Security Council, according to The Washington Post.

Indonesia Starts COVID Shots as China Promotes Vaccine Diplomacy

Posted: 13 Jan 2021 09:10 PM PST

Indonesian President Joko Widodo received his first shot of a Chinese-made vaccine on Wednesday, as Beijing's top diplomat visited the country.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Lessons From the American Insurrection

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 07:00 PM PST

The political failures and media distortion that led to the current crisis in the US are challenges facing all countries with a democratic process.
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Tuesday, January 12, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Speaker Rejects Myanmar Military, Proxy Party’s Call for Special Parliament Session

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:56 AM PST

The military and USDP's attempt to take electoral fraud claims to Parliament is irrelevant, Speaker T Khun Myat says.

Another Meeting Between Myanmar’s NLD, Ethnic Party Collapses Over Venue Dispute

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:25 AM PST

The Kayah State Democratic Party is the second ethnic party to balk at a visiting NLD delegation's demand that their meeting be held at the ruling party's local office.

Calls For Myanmar Govt to Scrap Terrorist Label for Arakan Army

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 03:17 AM PST

Rakhine State politicians say calling the armed group a terrorist organization is an obstacle to peace.

Myanmar Aviation Chief Charged with Corruption

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 03:16 AM PST

U Soe Paing of the Department of Civil Aviation is accused of demanding bribes from flight operators.

China Inks Economic Agreements With Myanmar, Promising COVID-19 Vaccine Donation

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 02:56 AM PST

Visiting Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing would supply 300,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Myanmar.

Donations Pour in as People of Myanmar Dig Deep to Help Cover Cost of Vaccine

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:38 AM PST

With a vaccine due to arrive in February, the government asked for help from the public to pay the bill. The public responded generously.

US Chaos Shocks the World—but Tomorrow Never Dies

Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:08 AM PST

It is tempting to savor the irony of Washington being lectured on democracy and rule of law, but we must hope a chastened US will again lead the free world by example.

Democrats Gear Up to Impeach Trump Over Capitol Riot

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 08:57 PM PST

The party introduced to the House of Representatives a resolution accusing the president of inciting 'insurrection' on Capitol Hill.
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Monday, January 11, 2021

The Irrawaddy Magazine

The Irrawaddy Magazine

Claiming Electoral Fraud, Myanmar Military and Proxy Party Calls Special Parliament Session

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 06:06 AM PST

Aiming to discredit the NLD's landslide victory, the military and Union Solidarity and Development Party have pressed to take the election fraud claims to parliament.

No Security Guarantees Made for Rakhine Voting: Myanmar Government

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:36 AM PST

Voting for most Rakhine State residents was canceled ahead of the November 8 general election amid fears of Arakan Army violence.

Local Militia Officer Behind Controversial Chinese Casino Hub on Thai-Myanmar Border Quits

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:09 AM PST

Major Saw Maw Tho of the Karen BGF reportedly resigned under pressure from the Myanmar military over illicit activities at the China-backed Shwe Kokko project in Myawaddy.

China Has to Remove Any Permanent Border Fences in Buffer Zone: Myanmar President Office

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:02 AM PST

China says it has erected border fencing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but Myanmar says it encroaches on neutral land.

Myanmar, China to Conduct Feasibility Study on Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Rail Link

Posted: 11 Jan 2021 02:13 AM PST

After a year of talks, China's CREEG and Myanma Railways have inked an MoU to begin a study on constructing the Mandalay-Kyaukphyu Railway, part of Beijing's BRI scheme.

More Thais Returning From Casinos in Myanmar Test Positive for COVID-19

Posted: 10 Jan 2021 11:22 PM PST

Despite a Myanmar government-ordered 'lockdown', gambling operations in Myawaddy continue to fuel illegal movement back and forth across the Thai border.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Takes Over Party’s Top Position From Late Father

Posted: 10 Jan 2021 09:16 PM PST

The leader was elected general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea at its first congress in five years.

Indonesia Locates ‘Black Box’ Recorders From Crashed Airliner

Posted: 10 Jan 2021 09:04 PM PST

The Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 crashed into the sea off Jakarta on Saturday with 62 people aboard.

The Day the Burma Road Between Myanmar and China Opened

Posted: 09 Jan 2021 06:00 PM PST

On this day in 1939, colonial authorities opened the Burma Road, creating a short-lived lifeline for Chiang Kai-shek's Chinese nationalist forces fighting the Japanese.
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