Myanmar imported $14.7 million in radar equipment from Russia

Mizzima

The Myanmar military regime imported $14.7 million in radar equipment in February, Russian customs data published on Monday showed, The Moscow Times reported.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu agreed to supply Myanmar with Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems, Orlan-10E surveillance drones and radar equipment during a visit to the capital Naypyidaw in January.

It is unclear if the Russian radar equipment Myanmar imported in February was part of the January agreement, the article noted.

Japanese journalists call on Myanmar's junta to free colleague

Mizzima

A group of journalists in Japan called on Myanmar's junta on Tuesday to free a colleague, Yuki Kitazumi, detained in Yangon following a crackdown on media amid ongoing protests against the military overthrow of an elected government, Reuters reported.

The group of journalists started an online petition on Monday addressed to Myanmar's junta and the Japanese government calling for Kitazumi's release. So far about 2,000 people have signed the petition.

COVID-19 cases have risen to 142,661

Mizzima

The number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 142,661 in Myanmar on Tuesday, according to a release from the Health and Sports Ministry, Xinhua reported.

Myanmar reported 17 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the release said.

A total of 131,908 recovered patients have been discharged from hospitals while the death toll stood at 3,206 so far.

 

China’s metal imports from Myanmar unsteady

Mizzima

Chinese trade data gave a mixed snapshot of neighbour Myanmar’s ability to keep up metal shipments in March amid unrest after February’s coup, with flows of nickel pig iron (NPI) dwindling to almost nothing but those of copper doubling month-on-month, hellenicshippingnews.com reported.

With Chinese firms directly involved in Myanmar metals mining, imports of stainless steel raw material NPI from the Southeast Asian country were just 298 tonnes last month, data from China’s customs showed on Tuesday (Apr 20).

Myanmar protesters throw red paint in the streets as death toll mounts

AFP

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar sloshed red paint in the streets on Wednesday to symbolise the blood spilled and more than 700 lives lost in a brutal military crackdown.

The country is barely functioning and the economy has stalled since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

The junta has sought to quell mass protests with lethal force and a local monitoring group has verified at least 714 civilian deaths but warns the toll is likely to be even higher.

India greenlights Sputnik V, will fast-track approval for other virus shots

AFP

India has authorised the emergency use of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine and will fast-track approval for other shots already passed by other major countries, authorities said Tuesday, as infection rates soared to a new record high.

The government has faced mounting calls to approve more vaccines during the surge among the 1.3 billion population and a slower-than-expected mass inoculation drive.

Sputnik V is the third drug to be approved by India after Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield and Covaxin, which was developed by Indian firm Bharat Biotech.

Australia reassures Myanmar citizens they won’t be forced to return

Mizzima

The Australian government has sought to reassure more than 3,300 Myanmar nationals in Australia that it won’t force them to return when their visas expire, The Guardian reported.

But despite mounting calls to provide greater reassurance to Myanmar nationals in Australia, Canberra has stopped short of across-the-board visa extensions or offers of asylum, insisting the issues will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Pages

Subscribe to Mizzima Myanmar News and Insight RSS