Burma

The Irrawaddy talks with U Sai Nyunt Lwin of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy about the 2020 election and whether ethnic parties might join a coalition government.

Some 250,000 Myanmar workers at home and abroad have lost their jobs since March as factories and other employers have shut due to COVID-19, the Labor Ministry said.

Myanmar’s military says it is hunting three young men who reportedly went missing after looking for a drone that belonged to the armed forces.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Moscow to discuss cooperation, as analysts say Myanmar seeks to balance Chinese influence.

A senior policeman has been detained following reports on social media of a sex-for-promotions scandal in the police force.

The bank warns the pandemic is "dealing a severe blow to Myanmar's economy” in its latest projection.

In its latest review, the France-based OECD has helped Myanmar identify policies and reforms needed to secure more investment, MIFER said.

The Myanmar military says the internet shutdown in Rakhine and Chin states will continue so as to prevent leaks of military secrets and stop the spread of hate speech online.


The Ministry of Commerce says construction will start soon on the Kyaukphyu deep-
sea port, a key piece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with access to the Indian Ocean.

Large quantities of top-quality weapons destined for rebel armies have been seized by the Thai authorities and eight suspects have been arrested.