The carnage on Capitol Hill last Wednesday provides numerous valuable lessons for both mature and emerging democracies around the world. The US perceives itself to be a beacon of global democracy worthy of emulation. Now that a mob of pro-Trump loyalists have marched on and temporarily seized the Capitol, the American democracy that we all […]
Lessons From the American Insurrection
January 14, 2021 by Thiha
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: American Insurrection, COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, Economic Growth, social media
Facebook forms team to monitor use in Myanmar ahead of election
January 20, 2020 by Thiha
Facebook has formed a team to monitor the use of the social media in Myanmar, especially with the upcoming 2020 general elections, a spokesperson for the US-based social media and technology company said. “We also know that we must protect people from those who attempt to spread hate and misinformation,” she told the Myanmar Times. […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: 2020 general elections, election, Facebook, monitor, Myanmar, social media, team
ZIP codes to be introduced in four Mandalay townships
May 28, 2019 by Thiha
Mandalay city would soon introduce ZIP codes in four townships to increase the improve mail delivery, a senior Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) official said. U Kyaw San Myint said the four townships include Chan Mya Tharsi, Chan Aye Tharzan, Mahar Aung Myay and Aung Myay Tharzan. “After that, we will continue doing this in […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: mandalay, Mandalay City Development Committee, MCDC, social media, ZIP codes
The Role of Fake News in Politics, Stability and Elections
May 10, 2019 by Thiha
Legislation is being introduced across Southeast Asia to combat fake news in the name of preserving social harmony. In practice, however, it is too often used by long-sitting regimes as a tool to discredit political opponents ahead of critical events such as elections and referendums. As a result, democratic values like freedom of expression and […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Elections, fake news, Legislation, media, mobile penetration, Myanmar, politics, social media, Southeast Asia, Stability
Myanmar’s digital game changers
March 13, 2019 by Thiha
According to We Are Social, Myanmar counted 18 million internet users in 2018. Internet penetration in the country continues to rise at an impressive pace. This growth is driven by the massive adoption of new digital services that aim to make life better in Myanmar. They are global or at least regional phenomena. These tech […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: City Mart Holding Ltd, digital, internet penetration, Myanmar, Netflix, PayPal, social media
Beware of Facebook, abuse of Section 66(d): digital forum
February 28, 2019 by Thiha
Myanmar needs to address the spread of fake news on social media by empowering local journalists, providing freer access to information, and pushing for more responsible and conscientious use of the internet, said participants at the third Myanmar Digital Rights Forum in Yangon last month. “Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we make […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: digital economy, E-Government, Facebook, fake news, hate speech, hatred, misinformation, muslim, Myanmar Digital Rights Forum, Myanmar ICT Development Organisation, Myanmar Press Council, Phandeeyar, Rakhine State, Reuters, social media, Telecommunications Law, University of East Anglia, violence
Concerns mount in the wake of Red Dot shutdown
February 7, 2019 by Thiha
Agents of Red Dot Network Ltd are unhappy that deposits paid to the now defunct payment solutions provider will likely not be returned to them. Red Dot’s system involves small terminals and trading balances. The firm buys credit from Myanmar’s telcos – Ooredoo, Telenor, MecTel and MPT – the same as that which shop owners […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: banking, Caribbean, Central America, Denis O’Brien, digicel, Irish, John Nagle, MECTel, mobile money, mpt, Myanmar, Oceania, Ooredoo, payment solutions, Red Dot, social media, telenor
Facebook, whatsapp target fake news for asia’s election season, but is it too little, too late?
January 28, 2019 by Thiha
Facebook and its subsidiary WhatsApp have promised to get tougher on “fake news” ahead of key elections in Asia, but critics question whether the new policies can stop viral disinformation from influencing the outcomes. Both companies have faced outrage over issues related to misuse and accountability, and this year’s polls could prove a crucial test […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: anti-Rohingya, Asia-Pacific, Bangkok, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Elections, Facebook, fake news, hate speech, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Katie Harbath, Rappler, Silicon Valley, singapore, social media, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, WhatsApp
Billboard advertising shrinks but remains part of Yangon landscape
January 18, 2019 by Thiha
Just half a decade ago, Yangon was dotted with billboards as companies jostled for the best locations to draw the attention of the consumers to the products they were introducing to the market. But just like other traditional advertising media, such as the newspapers and magazines, among others, the outdoor advertising industry is now fighting […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Billboards, Facebook, Instagram, LED billboards, Myanmar Outdoor-Indoor Advertising, outdoor advertising, Smartphones, social media, traditional advertising, Yangon City Development Committee, YCDC, YouTube
High e-commerce potential, but growth stunted, for now
January 14, 2019 by Thiha
On November 11, 2018, online shoppers in Myanmar purchased goods worth US$90,000 on the Internet within the first hour of Alibaba Group’s global 11.11 sale. It was the first time the Chinese e-commerce giant had opened up the annual event to Myanmar, where just 1 percent of the population is exposed to e-commerce. Alibaba knows […]
Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Alibaba, Asian Logistics, brick and mortar businesses, Chinese, Daraz Group, Department of Trade, E-Commerce, e-commerce law, Facebook, Hong Kong Office, insurance, license, LOGISTICS, logistics companies, Maritime Conference, McKinsey, mobile money, Myanmar, Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications, Myanmar Retailers Association, Shop.com.mm, shopping online, social media, tax revenues
