The Irrawaddy
Friday, July 9, 2010
Today's Newsletter
Officer Dies Under Interrogation
By THE IRRAWADDY
A major from the Burmese junta's War Office dies three days after being taken into custody by military intelligence agents, according to sources in Naypyidaw.
Burma's World Cup Fans Miss their Football Bard
By KO HTWE
Football fans in Burma feel that something is missing from their enjoyment of the 2010 World Cup - the reports of sport journalist Zaw Thet Htwe, who languishes in prison.
Conscription in Burma Following Election?
By AUNG THET WINE
A provision in the 2008 Constitution requiring every citizen to serve in the armed forces may be used to enact military conscription in Burma following the election.
Two Karen Soldiers Arrested in Drugs Bust
By ALEX ELLGEE
Undercover Thai police bust five men, including two Karen soldiers, for attempting to sell 36,000 methamphetamine pills near Mae Sot.
Business
Vehicle Crackdown Pushes Prices Up
By LAWI WENG
A crackdown on illegal vehicles in eastern Burma has caused a sudden rise in the cost of imported goods, especially foodstuffs, on both sides of the border.
Facebook in Deal to Sell Site Credits in Asia
By JULIA ZAPPEI / AP WRITER
Facebook is partnering with a Malaysian company to sell credits at retail outlets across Asia for the first time.
Companies Brace for End of Cheap Made-in-China Era
By ELAINE KURTENBACH / AP WRITER
Factory workers demanding better wages and working conditions are hastening the end of an era of cheap costs that helped make southern coastal China the world's factory floor.
Regional
S'pore World Cup-forecasting Parakeet Picks Dutch
By ALEX KENNEDY / AP WRITER
A bird in Singapore joins Paul the octopus as overnight stars as interest in soccer's biggest tournament peaks and gamblers look for any edge to pick winners.
Sexuality 101 Exhibit in Thailand Says It Straight
By LYNETTE LEE CORPORAL / IPS WRITER
Teenage boys gape at a colored photograph of a vagina, while girls give embarrassed smiles as they watch a cartoon that showed penises 'talking' about masturbation.
Opinion
COMMENTARY
A Fight over a Bamboo Hat
By KYAW ZWA MOE
Burmese democracy champions are doing just what makes the country's ruling generals happy. They're fighting over a bamboo hat.