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Rare White Elephant Captured in Arakan State

An albino elephant is captured in Maung Daw in Arakan State.

Another white elephant has been captured in the jungle of northwestern Arakan state in Burma. The elephant is about 38 years old and 7-feet, 4-inches (2.2 meters) tall. White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations. They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity. The elephant will be the fourth white elephant held in captivity in Burma. The other three are in Mindhamma Hill park in suburban Rangoon.

Aquino Sworn in as Philippine Leader

Philippine President Benigno "Nyynoy" Aquino III waves to the crowd during his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 15th president of the philippines in Manila on june 30.

Benigno Aquino III was sworn in as the Philippines’ 15th president in June to lead the nation his late parents helped liberate from dictatorship. Aquino promised to fight corruption, particularly in the notoriously graft-ridden bureaus of customs and internal revenue. He pledged to bring a new era of good governance, reforms and to create bureaucracy that will be sensitive to the plight of common people. Outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s stormy nine-year rule saw four failed power grabs and opposition impeachment bids against her because of allegations of vote-rigging, corruption and rights abuses.

North Korean Rockets Reported in Burma

North Korean-made truck-mounted multiple launch rocket systems reportedly have been set up at Burmese army bases in northern, eastern and central Burma.

North Korean troops guard their M1985 multiple lauch rocket system

The North Korean rockets, including 240-mm truck-mounted multiple launch rocket systems, were recently delivered to missile operation commands in Mohnyin in Kachin State, Naungcho and Kengtung in Shan State, and Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay Division. It is not clear when the multiple launch rocket systems were shipped from North Korea. However, military sources said delivery of rocket launchers mounted on trucks occurred several times in recent years. Missile operation commands were reportedly formed in 2009.

Mon Cultural Anthropologist Dies

Dr.Nai Pan Hla

Dr. Nai Pan Hla, 87, one of Burma’s best-known cultural anthropologists, who spent his career researching and writing on Mon literature, culture and script, died in Rangoon on June 18, aged 87. Nai Pan Hla was one of only a handful of researchers working with Mon script. As part of his promotion of Mon language and literature, he held annual Mon language exams in Mon State.