South
Laotian diplomat makes first trip to Burma as ASEAN envoy
- Alounkeo Kittikhoun, recently appointed as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ special envoy to Burma, arrived Wednesday in the conflict-ravaged nation run by military dictator Min Aung Hliang.
- Alounkeo, a seasoned Laotian diplomat, previously served as his nation’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- Burma has been ruled by military junta since the overthrow of democratically-elected State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.
A veteran Laotian diplomat recently appointed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ special envoy to Burma arrived Wednesday on his first mission to the strife-torn nation, meeting with the head of the ruling military council and other top officials, state television MRTV reported.
Diplomat Alounkeo Kittikhoun faces the tough challenge of promoting the regional group’s peace plan for Burma to quell the violence between the military government, which seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and an armed pro-democracy resistance movement that is assisted by ethnic minority fighting forces.
Almost 2 million people have been displaced by years of fighting in Burma, according to the U.N., and the 10-member ASEAN regional grouping is concerned that the destabilization could have regional consequences, including generating large numbers of refugees. Neither the military government nor its pro-democracy government foes have shown any inclination to compromise.
ETHNIC REBELS REPORTEDLY SHOOT DOWN BURMESE MILITARY HELICOPTER
Alounkeo’s visit comes just ahead of a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers scheduled for Jan. 28-29 in Luang Prabang, the old capital of Laos. It is the turn this year of Laos to act as chair of the bloc, which includes Burma.
ASEAN has been seeking to implement a five-point consensus it reached on Burma just a few months after the army’s takeover. It called for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Burma by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.
MRTV reported that Alounkeo’s meetings included discussions about the implementation of the five-point consensus, the military government’s efforts at providing humanitarian assistance and plans for the military’s promised election. Bilateral relations and Laos’ role as ASEAN chair were also discussed, it said.
Burmese military dictator Min Aung Hlaing, right, shakes hands with Alounkeo Kittikhoun, left, in Naypyidaw, Burma, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (The Military True News Information Team via AP)
Burma’s military government initially agreed to the consensus but has since made little effort to implement it, even as the country has slipped into a situation that U.N. experts have characterized as a civil war. Its stonewalling led fellow ASEAN members to block key leaders of the military government from attending major meetings of the regional grouping.
Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, all electoral democracies, are known to have taken a strong stand against any engagement that could be perceived as favoring the Burmese generals’ claims to be the country’s legitimate leaders. Authoritarian nations such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are less critical of the ruling generals, as is Thailand, whose military retains strong influence over security matters.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUSHES FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BURMESE WAR CRIMES
Some members of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement — Signatories, Ethnic Armed Organizations, a group established nine years ago to pursue ways of ending decades of armed conflict with the military, also held a meeting with Alounkeo.
MRTV reported they also discussed the five-point consensus and humanitarian assistance. However, since none of the seven groups that attended are currently at war with the military, the relevance of their participation for peacemaking appeared to be minimal.
It was not immediately known if Alounkeo would meet with Suu Kyi, who was arrested when the military seized power. The 78-year-old Suu Kyi is now serving a 27-year prison term in Naypyitaw after being convicted in a series of politically tinged prosecutions brought by the military.
The military government has refused to allow her to meet with any previous ASEAN special envoys, who came in turn from Brunei, Cambodia and Indonesia.
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Alounkeo, 72, is a former minister in Laos’ prime minister’s office and has also served as his country’s ambassador at the United Nations.
Miami, FL
Firefight at NW Miami-Dade warehouse enters 2nd day: ‘It burned it all up’
Video shows bright orange flames still burning at a warehouse in Northwest Miami-Dade on Friday, almost 24 hours after crews first responded.
The flames broke out before 11 a.m. Thursday, sending towers of thick black smoke into the sky, and crews have been attempting to put the fire out since.
Officials said the structure located just east of Red Road and south of Florida’s Turnpike Extension is more than twice the size of a Costco warehouse and contains hazardous materials inside.
More than 200 firefighters from both Broward and Miami-Dade counties have been fighting the blaze, which officials say could burn for days.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Lives spared, livelihoods lost
Miami-Dade Deputy Fire Chief Danny Cardeso said no injuries were reported.
The driver of an 18-wheeler told NBC6 he was at the warehouse, which stores inventory for shipments, when the fire alarm went off.
He said everyone immediately evacuated, no one was hurt, and everyone inside was accounted for. Still, some workers and business owners fear they lost their livelihoods.
Benny Monción, who owns DBenny Sazón, one of the food trucks parked at the facility, was in tears when she spoke to NBC6 at the scene.
She said a friend of hers who also owns a food truck called to tell her how he fared.
“He called me just now, we were watching the news, and my truck was still intact, but his, the fire got it,” she said, her voice breaking as she put her head in her hand. “It burned it all up.”
She said she wasn’t sure what had happened to her truck, which normally operates on 50 North University Drive in Pembroke Pines, as the fire raged.
“I ask God that mine at least can be OK, but I feel so bad [that his didn’t make it], because these are hardworking people, looking to earn their daily living that in this country is too hard,” Monción said. “It’s so many things.”
Air quality concerns
A public safety alert was issued at one point Thursday due to the heavy smoke. The alert recommended those with respiratory problems and medical conditions to shelter in place if possible.
Dr. Donny Perez, a medical director at Memorial Regional Hospital South, said fires like this can send fine particles into the air that can irritate the lungs and cause coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, sore throat, chest pain and palpitations.
“Even their eyes can get irritated, the sore throat. So the best thing is to stay indoors with the windows closed, avoid outdoor exercise. Wear an N-95 mask if you must go outside. Use your rescue inhalers as prescribed if you do have lung disease,” he said.
Resident Gloria Downey said the smoke was concerning, especially with the uncertainty about what materials could be burning.
“I mean I don’t know what’s in that building, but I have lived here since before that building was built off and on, and God knows what’s in there,” she said. “We have the house completely sealed. We have air filters running in both rooms. The air condition is off. It’s a little hot in Miami, but we’ll be all right.”
Drought and wind may hinder firefight
Winds on Friday are blowing consistently at 10-20 mph toward the northwest, pushing the smoke over a nearby landfill and out over the Everglades.
“Just a couple of spotty little showers here, not enough to really help with the fire,” NBC6’s meteorologist Adam Berg said. “But the winds certainly don’t help.”
Traffic impacts
Officials asked people to avoid the area while they worked to put out the fire. Northwest 47th Avenue is closed between Honey Hill Drive (Northwest 199th Street) to Northwest 207th Drive.
Take Northwest 57th Avenue as an alternate route.
Atlanta, GA
Stolen bikes derail program that teaches Atlanta youth to ride
A program that teaches young Atlantans how to ride bikes suffered a major loss this week, after thieves emptied a storage trailer, making off with 26 bikes and 24 helmets.
The “Shifting Gears” program helps young cyclists learn how to navigate city streets on two wheels from an early age — particularly in underserved communities that suffer from high rates of traffic injuries and fatalities.
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Augusta, GA
Augusta homeowners prep for golf week rentals
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With golf week about a month away, Augusta homeowners say preparations are underway — and for the first time since Hurricane Helene, the process is starting to feel routine.
Homeowner Aaron Kasdorf said work on his property began as far back as February.
“We always try to improve or fix things that maybe have broken or have gone down over the years,” Kasdorf said.
He said the process moves in stages, starting outside before working inward.
“So we get, we start in the yard first. We tackle the yard, get the yard prepped and ready to go… and then we work our way inside and try to do it room by room,” Kasdorf said.
‘Record-breaking year’ for Augusta rentals
Corporate Quarters, a property management company, said this year’s tournament season stands out.
“This record-breaking year in Augusta, Georgia is just a testament to Augusta’s community and the local hospitality that we want to provide for everybody that comes here,” said Kelly Starr, Director of Operations and Events at Corporate Quarters.
Starr said the rental income carries significant weight for homeowners still recovering from the hurricane.

“A lot of homeowners were struggling during the hurricane because that money was spent on rebuilding their homes. And this money is invaluable to all of the homeowners here,” Starr said.
Kasdorf said the financial impact of a single tournament week is substantial.
“It almost covers the yearly mortgage for the one week that they’re here,” Kasdorf said.
Starr added that growth across Augusta is helping draw additional visitors and revenue to the area.
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