News
Pineapple growers call for official export channels to China
Pineapple growers are asking the government negotiate official exports of the crop to China as soon as possible, a farmers association says. The call comes after pineapple cultivators suffered estimated losses of K700 million (US$458 million) during the previous harvest season when China suddenly banned imports ...
Chan Mya Htwe
Aung San Suu Kyi’s Hague Performance Impresses Few Beyond Myanmar Loyalists
Leader Aung San Suu Kyi came up short in defending Myanmar before the U.N.’s top court this week on genocide charges for the army’s brutal expulsion of Rohingya Muslims, Myanmar and international legal experts said Friday, while her supporters defended her performance. The case, launched by ...
Govt reviews forest management as Dutch police seize Myanmar teak
The government is set to review the country’s forest management strategy as it faces an uphill struggle against deforestation and illegal logging, a senior forestry official said. U Than Soe, director of the Department of Forestry, said the review of the 2016plan will look into compliance, ...
Khin Su Wai
Myanmar fish resources fall sharply in past 38 years: research
Fish inhabiting the surface waters of Myanmar declined by about 80 percent between 1980 and 2018 and there was a steep drop in commercially important fish on the seabed, according to joint research by Myanmar and Norwegian scientists. The study, carried out by the Norwegian-operated research ...
Myat Moe Aung
Southeast Asia's trans-regional corridor takes shape
The opening of a new bridge between Thailand and Myanmar has pushed Southeast Asia one step closer to the realization of an East-West Economic Corridor, connecting the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. The corridor, which passes through Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, is set to ...
Yuichi Nitta
China builds in Myanmar’s conflict areas
A year ago, Myanmar and China signed an agreement to establish the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), as part of China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure initiative. Today, that corridor is mired in conflict between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups. Stretching 1,700 kilometres, the CMEC’s ...
Nicholas Lo
Groups object to $250m World Bank project
More than 40 civil society organisations urged the World Bank to stop a project worth US$250 million (K380.3 billion) in eastern Myanmar over concerns it could undermine Karen culture and traditions. The Peaceful and Prosperous Communities Project targets the development of conflict zones in eastern Myanmar. According ...
Potential Environmental and Social Impacts of Chinese Mega-Projects in Myanmar Raise Concerns
With more and more Chinese investment flowing into the country, many key government officials are speaking out in support of the projects, which range from a high-speed railway line to special economic zones to seaports. At several local investment forums, they have voiced the view ...
Nan Lwin
Myanmar artists given second jail term for insulting military
A group of Myanmar satirists on Monday (Nov 18) racked up a second prison sentence for a performance that criticised the military, a decision the artists said showed the judges were “puppets” of the military. The group of seven, known as the Peacock Generation, were arrested ...
Govt to launch second stage of electrification plan
The government will light another 4000 villages across the country in the second phase of its electrification plan, said U Thura Aung Ko, chief engineer and project manager of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. He added the agency has begun inviting tenders to supply equipment for ...
Htoo Thant