Myanmar
Australian police smash Asian drug ring
Mar 22, 2013 05:13 EDT
Australian police said Friday they had smashed a crime syndicate operating across Asia, leading to 27 arrests and the seizure of drugs and assets worth millions of dollars.
Bodies in streets of riot-hit Myanmar town
Mar 22, 2013 02:43 EDT
Charred bodies lay unclaimed on the streets of a riot-hit town in central Myanmar, witnesses said Friday, as global pressure mounted for an end to the Buddhist-Muslim unrest.
Mobs roam streets of riot-hit Myanmar town
Mar 22, 2013 00:26 EDT
Angry mobs took to the streets of a riot-hit Myanmar town for a third day on Friday, as international pressure mounted for an end to communal unrest that has left 10 people reported dead.
S.Korea's defence minister nominee resigns
Mar 21, 2013 23:23 EDT
In a fresh blow to South Korea's new president, Park Geun-Hye, her nominee for defence minister stepped down on Friday at a time of elevated military tensions with North Korea.
At least 10 dead in Myanmar riots: MP
Mar 21, 2013 16:45 EDT
At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, an MP said Thursday, prompting international concern at the country's worst communal unrest since a wave of Buddhist-Muslim clashes last year.
Southeast Asia human rights 'stagnating': US officials
Mar 21, 2013 16:27 EDT
US officials voiced concern Thursday about human rights in fast-growing Southeast Asian nations, pointing to a lack of progress in many places and a worsening situation in some.
Myanmar must launch probe into rights abuses: UN body
Mar 21, 2013 13:34 EDT
Myanmar must launch an independent investigation into reports of widespread human rights violations, the United Nations' top human rights body said Thursday.
At least 10 killed in Myanmar riots: MP
Mar 21, 2013 03:45 EDT
At least 10 people have been killed in riots in central Myanmar, a local MP said Thursday, in the worst communal violence since Buddhist-Muslim clashes in western Rakhine state last year.
Two dead, mosques destroyed in Myanmar unrest
Mar 21, 2013 00:36 EDT
Two people died and several mosques were destroyed in central Myanmar, police said Thursday, in the worst riots since Buddhist-Muslim clashes rocked western Rakhine state last year.
Web revolution awaits Google chief in Myanmar
Mar 21, 2013 00:07 EDT
For years Myanmar's paranoid junta blocked websites such as Gmail and YouTube. However, when Google chairman Eric Schmidt visits this week, he will find a small but flourishing Internet community.
Two dead, mosques destroyed in Myanmar unrest
Mar 20, 2013 22:51 EDT
Two people including a Buddhist monk were killed and at least three mosques were destroyed after riots broke out in a town in central Myanmar, police said Thursday.
Web revolution awaits Google chief in Myanmar
Mar 20, 2013 22:33 EDT
For years Myanmar's paranoid junta blocked websites such as Gmail and YouTube. However, when Google chairman Eric Schmidt visits this week, he will find a small but flourishing Internet community.
Myanmar abolishes dollar surrogate
Mar 20, 2013 12:11 EDT
Myanmar on Wednesday announced the abolition of its US dollar proxy currency, in the latest step towards economic normalisation as the impoverished former pariah opens to the world.
US completes first MIA mission to Myanmar since 2004
Mar 19, 2013 09:50 EDT
The United States said on Tuesday that it had completed a successful first mission to Myanmar since 2004 to search for the remains of missing American servicepeople.
Myanmar skateboarders hunt for a home
Mar 19, 2013 05:10 EDT
With their indie hairstyles, tattoos and ripped jeans, Yangon's teenage skaters look like their counterparts anywhere in the world and -- like their peers -- they struggle to find somewhere to skate.
Chinese film 'Mystery' wins Asian best picture
Mar 18, 2013 20:16 EDT
A Chinese drama that touches on sensitive topics including police corruption won the best picture at the Asian Film Awards, while Japan's Takeshi Kitano scooped the best director gong.
Japan seizes nuclear-related materials from N. Korea cargo
Mar 18, 2013 08:38 EDT
Japan has seized aluminium alloy rods which can be used to make nuclear centrifuges from a Singapore-flagged ship which was carrying cargo from North Korea, a government spokesman said Monday.
China 'replaces UK' in top five arms exporters
Mar 18, 2013 06:24 EDT
China has overtaken Britain to become the world's fifth largest arms exporter with five percent of the global trade, its highest position since the Cold War, a Swedish think tank said on Monday.
Australia eases defence curbs as Myanmar leader visits
Mar 18, 2013 04:22 EDT
President Thein Sein became Myanmar's first head of state to visit Australia since 1974, winning aid and defence concessions as he reaps new fruits of his liberalisation policies.
China among top-five arms exporters: think-tank
Mar 18, 2013 04:01 EDT
China has overtaken Britain to become the world's fifth-largest arms exporter with five percent of the global trade, its highest position since the Cold War, a Swedish think-tank said.
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
Union of Myanmar
 Pyi-daung-zu Myan-ma Naing-ngan-daw | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Anthem: Kaba Ma Kyei | ||||||
_ASEAN.svg) | ||||||
| Capital | Naypyidaw 19°45′N 96°6′E / 19.75°N 96.1°E | |||||
| Largest city | Yangon (Rangoon) | |||||
| Official languages | Burmese | |||||
| Recognised regional languages | Jingpho, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan | |||||
| Demonym | Burmese | |||||
| Government | Military junta (de facto Military Dictatorship) | |||||
| - | Chairman of the State | Sr. Gen. Than Shwe | ||||
| - | Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council | Vice-Sr. Gen. Maung Aye | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Gen. Thein Sein | ||||
| - | Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council | Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo | ||||
| Formation | ||||||
| - | Bagan | 1044 | ||||
| - | Independence | 4 January 1948 (from United Kingdom) | ||||
| - | Current constitution | May 2008 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 676,578 km2 (40th) 261,227 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 3.06 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 50,020,000[1] (24th) | ||||
| - | 1983 census | 33,234,000 | ||||
| - | Density | 73.9/km2 (119th) 191.5/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $67.963 billion[2] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $1,156[2] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $26.205 billion[2] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $445[2] | ||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.586[3] (medium) (138th) | |||||
| Currency | kyat (K) (mmK) | |||||
| Time zone | MMT (UTC+6:30) | |||||
| Drives on the | right[4] | |||||
| Internet TLD | .mm | |||||
| Calling code | 95 | |||||
| 1 | Some governments recognize Rangoon as the national capital. | |||||
| 2 | Estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected. | |||||
