Feb 07, 2013 (English Version)

Medical Aid to Arakan State Rohingya Blocked, MSF Says

A medical aid group says government forces and local leaders in west Burma are blocking access to Muslim camps, causing preventable deaths among them. Read More

Govt Body to be Formed to ‘Grant Liberty’ to Political Prisoners

A new committee established by the President’s Office will identify Burma’s remaining political prisoners “so as to grant them liberty,” state media reports. Read More

Tourism Restricted Due to Arakan Tensions, Locals Claim

Arakan State is preventing foreign tourists from visiting Mrauk-U heritage site because of recent inter-communal violence, tourist businesses complain. Authorities however, deny taking the measures. Read More

Parliament Forms Commission to Protect Irrawaddy River

Burma’s Parliament votes to form a new commission to tackle the environmental problems facing the country’s longest river. Read More

Kerry to Continue Clinton’s US Policy on Burma

The new Secretary of State John Kerry will continue current US policy on Burma, the State Department said. Kerry also met with Burmese women leaders. Read More

Funding Woes Spell More Trouble for Thai Rice Scheme

A lack of government funding poses a new threat to a subsidy program that has generated huge rice stockpiles, sparked graft allegations and unnerved markets. Read More

Famine Hit North Korea’s Rice Basket in 2012: Report

Famine killed thousands of North Koreans at a time when the ruling regime was staging mass celebrations to mark the birth of the state’s founder. Read More

Police in China Hold 2 for Running over Toddler

A local official and a driver are detained after a 13-month-old boy dies during an argument with his family for violating China’s one-child policy. Read More

Burma Opposition MP Joins Thein Sein’s Cabinet

Burma’s President Thein Sein appointed several new members to his cabinet, including an opposition parliamentarian, according to an announcement on the President’s Office website. Hsan Hsint was made Minister of Religious Affairs, while Thein Sein chose four new deputy ministers. National Democratic Force (NDF) Upper House member Tin Shwe was appointed deputy minister of hotels [...] Read More

Burma Military Commander Meets Thai Counterpart

Burma’s military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing met with Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Zeyathiri Beikman on Tuesday, military propaganda outlet Mywaddy reports. Vice-Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing thanked his Thai counterpart for letting Burma participate in the Thai and US-led military exercise Cobra Gold on Feb 11-12. On the same day, Min [...] Read More

Burma Football Team Loses to Philippines

Burma’s national football team lost at home to the Philippines on Wednesday, after a 77th-minute winner by the Filipinos secured their victory, GMA Network reports. The Burmese looked the better side for most of the game, until OJ Porteria struck from distance and the ball swerved away from the Burmese keeper, giving the Philippines the [...] Read More

2 Hospitalized in Indonesia after Komodo dragon Attack

A park official says two people have been hospitalized after being attacked by a giant Komodo dragon that wandered into the office of a wildlife park in eastern Indonesia. An official at Komodo National Park, Heru Rudiharto, said the 2-meter-long Komodo dragon attacked a park ranger after walking into the office on Tuesday. It then [...] Read More

ADB President to Meet Thein Sein

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda will visit Burma’s capital Naypyidaw on Thursday for a meeting with President Thein Sein, according to a statement on the ADB website. The visit is one of the bank’s first initiatives since resuming full operations in the country, and the first by the head of a multilateral development [...] Read More