Myanmar Times
Facebook racks up 10m Myanmar users
The world’s most popular social network, Facebook, has made millions of new “friends” in Myanmar over the last few years. In that time, the site has played the part of nationwide news outlet, emergency relief coordinator and community water cooler – but it has also provided ...
EU to start ASEAN aviation talks
The European Commission is planning to start negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on an aviation agreement soon, having received a mandate from EU transport ministers earlier this week. The EU is hoping to create new airline routes and new business opportunities for European ...
New commission formed to investigate alleged gems association embezzlement
A new investigation commission will be formed to look into the Myanmar Gems Traders Association’s financial scandal, involving allegations of more than US$100 million that went missing from their bank account, according to the organization’s chairman. A previous review was conducted and finalized this week by ...
Thailand eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV
The World Health Organization announced on 8 June that Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Elimination of transmission is defined as a reduction of transmission to such a low level that it no longer constitutes a public health ...
Combine harvesters fill labour gap in Mandalay
Farmers in Mandalay are increasingly hiring combine harvesters to make up for a labour shortage in the region but there are not yet enough machines to go around. As rural to urban migration gathers pace farmers have faced acute labour shortages. Some farmers have cut the ...
Russia and Myanmar to establish working body for nuclear technology
Russia and Myanmar will establish a working body this year for using nuclear technology, Russian officials said at an exhibition and forum in Moscow last week. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in June 2015. Russia and ...
Dozens of Myanmar fishermen released from prison in India
Over 100 Myanmar fishermen arrested in the Andaman Sea arrived at Yangon International Airport yesterday, after being imprisoned for years in India for fishing in its waters. “I have been jailed for over five years at Port Blair Prison,” said Ko Zaw Lin Aung, who grew ...
Containers pile up as trade backlog clears at Yangon ports
Weeks of delayed imports have been cleared through Yangon’s ports in the last few days after customs offices opened 24 hours a day to tackle a growing backlog of trade, but empty containers continue to stack up. As a temporary solution, the Customs Department has prioritised ...
Thousands of jobs at risk as high-rises suspended
Foreign investment and the livelihoods of thousands of construction workers have been put at risk by the Yangon Region government’s decision to suspend all construction, developers say. Developers of hundreds of high-rise buildings now under construction in Yangon Region were forced to suspend building work on ...
MPs from 1990 to form draft committee for new constitution
More than 25 years on, MPs elected in the 1990 election that was set aside by the military regime are taking another crack at changing the constitution. The Members of Parliament Union 1990 want to make radical changes to the military-drafted 2008 charter. Both President U ...
