Junta extends emergency
YANGON – Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) on Wednesday extended the state of emergency in the Southeast Asian country for six more months.
According to a statement signed by Acting President U Myint Swe, the emergency period is extended in accordance with the Section 425 of the State Constitution for six months from Feb. 1, 2023, citing unusual circumstances are happening in the country, only if the emergency period is extended, will the Commander-in-Chief accomplish his responsibilities.
Myanmar declared the state of emergency in February 2021 fand then extended it twice until Jan. 31 this year. Xinhua
Myanmar blast kills three
YANGON – Three people were killed and nine wounded in a bomb blast at a railway station in southern Myanmar on Monday, the junta said.
The blast hit a station at Nyaunglaybin township in Bago region around 150 kilometres north of commercial hub Yangon at around 12:20 pm local time, the junta’s information team said in a statement.
It released pictures showing debris and roof tiles littering a platform, residents also reported three people had died and at least nine had been wounded.
The junta statement blamed anti-coup “People’s Defence Forces” (PDFs) for the attack, without offering evidence. The military and PDF groups have traded blame over several deadly blasts in recent months. AFP
NZ declares emergency
AUCKLAND – New Zealand declared a national state of emergency Tuesday as Cyclone Gabrielle swept away roads, flooded homes and left 100,000 people without power.
Climate scientist Daithi Stone said Cyclone Gabrielle had been feeding off unusually warm seas driven by La Nina weather patterns. Hipkins has promised an aid package of 11.5 million New Zealand dollars to help recovery efforts. AFP
Mexican rescue dog dies
MEXICO CITY – Mexico on Monday paid tribute to a military rescue dog that died while searching for survivors buried under the rubble of the earthquake in Turkey.
“You were always a strong, hard-working dog who never gave up. I will always remember you,” one rescuer who served alongside Proteo said in a video. Proteo was one of several dogs dispatched along with 130 personnel to search for survivors after the mammoth quake, which has killed more than 35,000 people in Turkey and Syria. AFP
Greek antiquities ‘export’ law
Athens – Greece’s parliament on Monday approved a new law permitting exhibition of rare antiquities outside the country.
The new law allows five top state museums to create satellite branches outside Greece. The association of Greek archaeologists has said it will block the law in court, saying, “Important antiquities could be sent abroad for 50, a hundred years or more.” AFP
Rio street carnival returns
RIO DE JANEIRO – This year marks the full comeback of the world’s biggest carnival, after a watered-down version in 2022 held without the epic street parties known as “blocos” that usually fill the streets with revellers across the iconic beach city in February.
Covered in golden glitter, a beaming Vera Lucia da Silva is bursting to be back parading after the 3-year COVID hiatus. “To people from Rio, street carnival is everything that’s good in life.” AFP
Source : Khmer Times
