YANGON: Media groups reacted with dismay yesterday over a proposed law to regulate the press that has raised fears the government could be rolling back on promises to loosen its grip on the long-shackled industry.

The printing and publishing bill, drafted by the ministry of information, has listed a number of restrictions — including reporting on clashes between ethnic groups and producing articles that “violate” the junta-drafted constitution.

The proposed legislation, which also laid out strict penalties of up to six months in jail for those operating without valid accreditation, came as a shock for the country’s interim press council, which is drafting a separate media law.

“It’s an annoyance for us. We think the penalties are much harsher than necessary,” council member Zaw Thet Htwe said. 

NBA’s Rodman lauds North Korea’s Kim

SEOUL: Former NBA star Dennis Rodman lauded North Korea’s new ruler as an “awesome kid” and his father and grandfather as “great leaders” at the end of his basketball diplomacy mission to Pyongyang.

Kim “is like his grandfather and his father, who are great leaders, he is an awesome kid, very honest and loves his wife so much”, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Rodman as saying before he left for Beijing on Friday. His comments were recorded in a statement by the New York-based VICE media company, which organised Rodman’s trip.

Fungal pneumonia killed largest croc

MANILA: Pneumonia from fungal infection caused the death of “Lolong” the largest crocodile.

Director Mundita Lim of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) said yesterday fungus infected Lolong’s lungs and stress aggravated the problem after he was taken out of the Agusan Marsh.

“Even before Lolong’s capture, it was already not feeling well, and taking the crocodile from its natural habitat to a new home made its condition worse,” Lim said.

The fungal infection made breathing difficult for Lolong and affected its heart, leading to congestive heart failure, she added.

Tests showed that Lolong had been exposed to mercury.

Motorcycle bomb kills two in Thai south

BANGKOK: Suspected insurgents detonated a motorcycle bomb in southern Thailand yesterday, killing two military rangers and wounding 11 people, the second serious attack in as many days after one of the Muslim rebel groups operating in the area agreed to hold peace talks.

The blast on a road in Yala province, in which two civilians were among the wounded, followed a motorcycle bombing in neighbouring Narathiwat province on Friday that wounded six people.

Agencies