Apr 26, 2013 (English Version)

Burma to Allow Suu Kyi’s Presidential Bid, Aung Min Tells US Audience

A minister says Burma will amend its Constitution so the democracy icon can run in the next election, but the ruling political party suggests otherwise. Read More

US to Boost Military, Trade Ties with Burma

Burma could get broad duty-free access to the US market by year’s end as Washington tries to deepen trade and military ties with the country. Read More

Protesters Demand Release of Detainees at Letpadaung Mine

Several hundred protesting villagers call for the release of detainees who were arrested on Thursday in a crackdown on farmers near the controversial Letpadaung mine. Read More

Hot Season Highlights Rangoon’s Water Woes

Chronic water shortages—which are always at their worst at this time of year—could prove to be a major impediment to Rangoon’s economic development. Read More

The Dictators: Part 8—Khin Nyunt Overplays his Hand

Than Shwe consolidates power while infighting between senor military figures sees Khin Nyunt’s position become increasingly precarious. Read More

As Campaigning Ramps Up, Malaysia ‘Likes’ Instant Media

Online media like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook explode in Malaysia, transforming electioneering for both the opposition and the government. Read More

Southeast Asia’s 2015 Unity Dream Collides with Reality

Southeast Asian nations are rowing back on a deadline of forming an “economic community” by 2015 as the group hits tough obstacles to closer union. Read More

Toll in Bangladesh Building Collapse Climbs to 275

The disaster in Savar, an industrial suburb of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, is the worst ever for the country’s booming and powerful garment industry. Read More

China, 15 Other Asian Nations to Start Trade Talks

China and 15 other Asia-Pacific nations will kick off free trade talks next month to create one of the world’s largest trading blocs. Read More

Burma, Thailand Agree to Open New Border Crossings

Burma’s President Thein Sein and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have agreed to open three more permanent border checkpoints to boost economic development, The Bangkok Post reports. The two leaders reached the agreement on the sidelines of the 22nd Asean Summit in Brunei, which ended on Thursday. The new checkpoints are at Three Pagodas Pass, [...] Read More

Muslim Gets Prison for Removing Buddhist Logo

A Muslim man has been sentenced to two years in prison for removing a sticker showing support for the controversial “969” Buddhist nationalist movement from a shop window, according to a report by the Democratic Voice of Burma. The man, 42-year-old Armin (aka Soe Min), was accused of deliberately insulting religion, which is a crime [...] Read More

China’s Sinopec Sells Burmese Energy Stake to Taiwan’s CPC

China’s Sinopec Group, Asia’s largest oil refiner, said on Thursday it agreed to sell a stake of 30 percent in an oil and gas block in Burma to Taiwan’s CPC Corp. Sinopec, the parent of Hong Kong-listed Sinopec Corp, gave no financial details of the transaction of block D, which is awaiting approval from regulators. [...] Read More

Gunmen Kill 10 in Philippine Political Violence

Philippine police say gunmen ambushed political campaigners for a southern town mayor, killing his daughter and nine others supporters and relatives. The mayor and eight other people were wounded. Lanao del Norte provincial police chief Gerardo Rosales said on Friday that Nunungan Mayor Abdul Manamparan and his supporters were riding on a truck when they [...] Read More

Reports: 3 Tibetans Self-immolate to Protest China

Three Tibetans have died after setting themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule, exiled Buddhist monks and reports said Thursday. Two of the three latest protesters were monks at a monastery in Ruo’ergai county of Aba Prefecture, according to exiled monks and the Free Tibet group. US broadcaster Radio Free Asia reported that a Tibetan [...] Read More