Press freedom

YANGON: An information blackout under Myanmar's military government worsened on Thursday (Apr 8) as fibre broadband service, the last legal way for ordinary people to access the Internet, became intermittently inaccessible on several networks. Authorities in some areas have also started confiscating satellite dishes used to access international news broadcasts. Protests against the the Feb 1 coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi continued Thursday despite the killing of 11 people by security forces a day earlier. It was unclear if the Internet interruptions for at least two service providers, MBT and Infinite Networks, were temporary. MBT said its service was halted by a break in the line between Yangon and Mandalay, the country’s two biggest cities. But internet users had been complaining for the past week of major slowdowns in the services. The military government has gradually throttled down Internet service since the coup. It initially imposed a ... » Learn More about Myanmar military government limits Internet, seizes satellite TV dishes

The following is a press release from the EU and UNICEF. Their statements and opinions are their own. BANGKOK, 9 April 2021 – While significant progress has been made in addressing statelessness in Thailand, hundreds of thousands of people, including over 200,000 children, are still living without Thai or any nationality, including those without any identity documentation. They are deprived of their right to access basic services and face a higher risk of trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination, according to a study conducted with the support of the European Union and UNICEF. Watch academic seminar: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=489686982184505 The new study released today, “ Invisible Life: 48 years of the situation of stateless children in Thailand (1972-2020) ,” provides an overview and analysis of the obstacles to obtaining legal status and nationality for stateless children in Thailand over the past decades. Conducted by ... » Learn More about Press Release: Progress must be accelerated to end the cycle of statelessness: EU and UNICEF

NEW DELHI: US climate envoy John Kerry on Tuesday (Apr 6) pressed India, the world's third-biggest carbon emitter, to set more ambitious green goals ahead of UN talks in late 2021 and Joe Biden's upcoming climate summit. A spokesperson for the US embassy in New Delhi, where Kerry arrived on Tuesday for talks with officials and NGOs, said that India was a "critical part of the solution to the climate crisis." Bloomberg News reported last month that top Indian government officials were debating whether to follow dozens of other countries in setting a goal of net zero emissions by mid-century. When Kerry's April trip to the United Arab Emirates, India and Bangladesh was announced, Washington said the aim was "increasing climate ambition" ahead of President Biden's Apr 22 to Apr 23 summit and the UN negotiations in Glasgow in November. "A key focus for our administration is supporting and encouraging India's decarbonization efforts through clean, zero, and low-carbon investment, ... » Learn More about Kerry presses India ahead of Biden climate summit

The Romblon State University (RSU) in Odiongan, Romblon, has been conferred with a lifetime membership of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) Council Inc. Philippines, according to RSU International Linkages and External Affairs Office Dr. Reynaldo Ramos. RSU’s lifetime UMAP membership is part of the 10-point agenda of the newly appointed president, Dr. Merian Catajay-Mani. UMAP is a voluntary association of government and non-government representatives of the higher education sector which aims to achieve a better understanding of the cultural, economic and social systems of the other countries and territories in the region through enhanced cooperation among higher education institutions and increased mobility of university students and staff. The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) International Affairs Staff serves as Visit the UMAP official website at http://umap.org/ for more details. ... » Learn More about Romblon State University conferred UMAP lifetime membership

FILE PHOTO: Boxes of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a vaccination center, amid the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Ronquieres, Belgium April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Yves Herman Doses of vaccines rejected as countries fine-tune their inoculation campaigns will go to poor countries where possible to counter a “shocking imbalance” in distribution, international health officials said on Friday. Authorities in Australia and Greece became the latest to recommend alternatives to the AstraZeneca vaccine for younger people over fears of possible very rare blood clots, while Hong Kong delayed deliveries, saying it had enough alternatives and did not want to waste these shots while global supplies were short. Australia’s decision effectively put paid to plans to have its population vaccinated by the end of October, highlighting the delicate public health balancing act the issue has created. Giving alternative vaccines to younger recipients will delay inoculation campaigns by around a ... » Learn More about Unwanted vaccines needed to help poor countries catch up, international health officials say

FILE 00 Floyd Mayweather, left, of the U.S. shakes hands with Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa during a press conference in Tokyo, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018.  (Katsuya Miyagawa/Kyodo News via AP) MANILA, Philippines — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Rizin are reportedly exploring another exhibition fight in Japan. As per BoxingScene.com, several Japanese media outlets say that Rizin president Nobuyuki Sakakibara is planning to pit Mayweather against retired Japanese boxer Takashi Uchiyama. But as it stands, nothing concrete is in place. Although, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe did not dismiss anything as far as the initial reports are concerned. “No comment as of yet. When and if I have something to talk about, we’ll let you know. I’m not disputing or refuting any of the reports, I want to be clear on that,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told BoxingScene.com last Monday. “But to be honest, there is nothing to write about [yet], unless it comes from Floyd ... » Learn More about Japan’s Rizin eyeing another Mayweather exhibition

The partnership aims to provide food and beverage companies in China and Singapore with better access to import and export markets, so that they are able to internationalize and grow their businesses, according to a press release from Trustana. The platform said that the MOU brings in five leading food manufacturers from Chongqing to Singapore. These companies specialize in providing "mala" (hot and spicy) flavor food products, which has an expanding global market with demand grown by 200 percent over the past three years. "Singapore-based buyers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face major challenges when seeking to expand internationally," said Rebecca Xing, Trustana's General Manager and Head of Product. These challenges include identifying products that will sell well, sourcing from trusted suppliers, managing language and cultural barriers across borders, and navigating the complex processes and operational costs of import with limited volumes. ... » Learn More about Singapore-based B2B platform sign MOU with five Chongqing food suppliers

* Myanmar junta says to hold elections within two years * At least 10 people reported killed by troops * UN envoy rebuffed by generals YANGON, April 10 (Reuters): Nineteen people have been sentenced to death in Myanmar for killing an associate of an army captain, the military owned Myawaddy TV station announced, the first such sentences announced in public since a Feb 1 coup and crackdown on protesters. The report said the killing took place on March 27 in the North Okkalapa district of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city. Martial law has been declared in the district, allowing courts martial to pronounce sentences. The military rulers who overthrew an elected government said on Friday that a protest campaign against its rule was dwindling because people wanted peace, and that it would hold elections within two years, the first timeframe it has given for a return to democracy. Troops fired rifle grenades at anti-coup protesters on Friday in the town of Bago, near Yangon, witnesses ... » Learn More about Myanmar military sentences 19 to death, says anti-coup protests dwindling

The ratification of the RCEP agreement marks Singapore's strong commitment to strengthening the trade and economic linkages with partners, for the benefit of the businesses and people, said Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing ( pic ). As a key regional agreement, the RCEP will complement Singapore's existing network of free trade agreements (FTAs), expand the economic space, and boost trade and investment flows, said the press release. It will further broaden and deepen Singapore's economic linkages and connectivity with the region, open up opportunities and provide businesses with preferential access to growing markets. To help the local business community benefit from RCEP when it enters into force, MTI has been working actively with various business associations and chambers to organize outreach sessions and webinars, said the press release. RCEP, signed in November 2020, groups the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as ... » Learn More about Singapore ratifies RCEP agreement

LONDON -Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore struck deep into stoppage time to give his side a 1-0 win at Fulham that leaves the Londoners languishing in the bottom three of the Premier League with six games left to play. The first decent chance fell to Fulham midway through the first half as Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed just wide. That miss was indicative of Fulham's season-long struggle in attack, where they have managed 24 goals in 32 league games, and only bottom side Sheffield United have scored fewer. Wolves had a goal ruled out on the stroke of halftime by VAR when Daniel Podence was judged to have been offside before he crossed for Willian Jose to send a powerful header past Alphonse Areola. Roman Saiss had a great chance to put Wolves ahead in the 68th minute after Traore was brought down just outside the box, but he narrowly failed to hit the target with the resulting free kick. The home side pressed forward in the second half but it was Traore who came up ... » Learn More about Football: Traore fires late winner as Wolves beat Fulham 1-0