Myanmar

The biggest crisis facing Myanmar after Senior Gen. Ming Aung Hlaing's Feb. 1 coup may not be his demolition of democracy and the economy. An unchecked third wave of COVID-19 threatens tens of thousands of Burmese -- and possibly others in neighboring countries. (Source photos by Reuters) 
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's unchecked epidemic threatens COVID-19 'tsunami'

Virulent strain could kill 80,000 Burmese in weeks and spread regionally

8 August 2021
Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Erywan Yusof, pictured speaking at the United Nations, will serve as ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar.
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN picks Brunei's Yusof as its special envoy to Myanmar

Communique promises 'full access to all parties' but many harbor doubts

4 August 2021
The ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta: The bloc is set for a busy week of diplomatic meetings.
International relations

ASEAN struggles to end Myanmar impasse as week of meetings begins

Series of key diplomatic talks also includes US, China and North Korea

2 August 2021
Myanmar's military government says it is looking to hold an election within two years, but many citizens, who faced violent crackdowns on protests against the takeover, may boycott a vote. (File photos by Reuters) 
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's anger simmers, six months after military takeover

Fate of promised shift to civil government remains uncertain

1 August 2021
David Eubank, founder of the Free Burma Rangers aid organization, rescues a 5-year-old Demoa after her mother was killed by Islamists in the battle for Mosul. (Courtesy of Free Burma Rangers)
Life

Fighting Myanmar's regime with compassion and military skills

Free Burma Rangers help thousands fleeing brutal attacks by security forces

1 August 2021
Supporters of National Unity Government march on a street in Yangon on Apr. 17: the NUG could form a stronger alliance by building trust with potential partners.
Opinion

Myanmar's National Unity forces must overcome divide and rule tactics

The only way forward is to offer an inclusive political path for minority groups

31 July 2021
A group of women hold torches as they protest against the military coup in Yangon on July 14.
Myanmar Crisis

World Bank forecasts 18% annual decline for Myanmar's economy

New report details factors hitting economy and public health

26 July 2021
The price of candles in Myanmar is going up: Power supplies are on the verge of collapse because most Burmese have refused to pay their electricity bills since the military's seizure of power in February.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar's lights go out as bill boycott fuels cash crunch

State hospitals forced to use costly generators as COVID-19 crisis deepens

25 July 2021
A temporary tent outside a hospital on the outskirts of Jakarta: Indonesia's surge in COVID-19 cases is rapidly filling up hospital beds.
Coronavirus

Southeast Asian delta wave drives Japan to reclaim expats

Panasonic and Toyota scale back in Indonesia amid world's worst outbreak

17 July 2021
Smoke rises from smoldering houses in Kinma village, central Myanmar's Pauk township, on June 16: the Tatmadaw is burning the last shreds of legitimacy.
Opinion

Myanmar's military regime has nothing left to offer

How much damage will it be allowed to inflict on the country and region?

16 July 2021
A sign on the British Club gate in Yangon reads "closed until further notice." (Photo by Rory Wallace)
Tea Leaves

Yangon's shuttered British Club sends a message

Drawing on long but troubled ties, London could yet play a role in ending Myanmar's nightmare

14 July 2021
Chinese companies are heavily invested in banana plantations in northern Myanmar, which began appearing around 2015, drastically altering the landscape.
Datawatch

Chinese companies corralling land around world

Acquisition of nearly 6.5m hectares over 10 years sets off alarms

13 July 2021
Russia, the leading arms supplier to Southeast Asia, is also promising COVID-19 vaccines and pushing other cooperation.
Asia Insight

Guns and jabs: Russia courts ASEAN caught between US and China

Arms sales and COVID vaccines help Moscow punch above economic weight

13 July 2021
Family members preparing an infant's body for burial inside their shelter. (Image courtesy Ai Weiwei Studio)
Arts

Ai Weiwei and the Rohingya: humanity first

Dissident Chinese artist's new film exposes personal horrors of refugee life

9 July 2021
Telenor’s disastrous experience in Myanmar is likely to cloud foreign investor perceptions for decades. 
Myanmar Crisis

Telenor quits Myanmar as regime pressures telco operators

Fire sale highlights dilemmas for companies seeking to operate ethically

8 July 2021
Pro-military keyboard warriors are leaving a trail of posts trying to justify the military's brutal crushing of the pro-democracy protests. (Nikkei montage/Reuters)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar pro-military camp ramps up belligerence on social media

Public displays of loyalty may seek to shore up base amid nationwide protests

8 July 2021
A man holds a National League for Democracy flag during a protest against the military coup, in Yangon on March 27. The democratically elected NLD was ousted in the Feb. 1 putsch. 
Life

Five Myanmar voices on a year in turmoil

Insights into life under the military regime

5 July 2021
The number of daily reported COVID-19 cases has risen sharply in Myanmar. 
Coronavirus

Pandemic pounds a Myanmar reeling from coup

With doctors on strike, hospitals wrestle with jump in infections

5 July 2021
Mobile provider Telenor says it is "in the process of evaluating various options with regards to its presence" in Myanmar.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar coup latest: Telenor 'evaluating' presence in country

UN calls for release of all detainees, including Suu Kyi

4 July 2021
Black smoke billows from the industrial zone of Hlaing Thar Yar township in Yangon on Mar. 14: India could play a stronger mediation role.
Opinion

India's look east policy should start with Myanmar

Growing anti-China sentiment among protesters is a warning to New Delhi

2 July 2021
Protesters rally against Myanmar's coup outside Australia's Parliament House in February. While Western allies have imposed fresh sanctions on top junta officials, Canberra has held off. 
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar rights advocates blast Australian inertia on sanctions

'It's crazy,' top lawyer says as Canberra resists calls to punish Min Aung Hlaing

2 July 2021
The commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, attends the Moscow Conference on International Security on June 23.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar military warns foreign media to not call it a 'junta'

SAC says 'action will be taken,' appears to be trying to improve global image

30 June 2021
Volunteers prepare to cremate the body of a victim of COVID-19 in Cikha, Chin State, Myanmar, on May 31.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar faces COVID surge amid lack of medics and jabs

Military deploys own doctors but schedule murky even for soldiers' families

29 June 2021
The NUG gained a sliver of hope for a possible path back to power by taking a groundbreaking position toward the Rohingya. (Source photos by Getty Images and Kachinwaves/AFP/Jiji)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar parallel government woos Rohingya in bid for legitimacy

NUG embraces Muslim minority to win foreign support but may backfire at home

28 June 2021
Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing will attend an international security conference while in Moscow.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar junta chief woos Russia with Moscow trip

Min Aung Hlaing seeks stronger partnership to combat global rebuke

22 June 2021