Local authorities beefed up security throughout the Arakan State capital of Sittwe this morning, a city which has seen recurring unrest ever since the early days of protests last year ahead of September’s Saffron Revolution. (more…)

Burma’s ruling generals favor one of two candidates-a Than Shwe protégé and a hardline government minister-for the post of president after the 2010 election, according to intelligence sources. (more…)

The local authorities in Chin State refused permission on Monday to a Chin development agency in Rangoon to deliver emergency food aid to about 1,000 villagers in Chin State, western Burma, who are suffering from severe food shortages, said a source close to the agency. (more…)

Many monks in Sittwe were prohibited by the authorities from attending the full-moon religious festival that was held in the city yesterday, said one monk.
He said, “Every year in the past, over 1,000 monks could participate in the festival, but this year only 100 monks participated in the festival because the authority did not allow more monks to do so.” (more…)

U Khain Tun, a member of the former Arakan Communist Party, was released from Insein Prison on Monday after completing a 22-year sentence, said a relative.
He said, “He was released but now he needs medical treatment as his health is not very well.” (more…)

Mon people and political leaders celebrated the honoring ceremony for Nai Sein Maung, one of the cofounders of the Mon People’s Front, on October 12th in Paung city, Paung Township. About two hundred Mon people from eight townships joined the ceremony. (more…)

The websites of Mizzima News, an independent Burmese multi-media group based in New Delhi, were suspended by its hosting server on the evening of October 9 … The websites of Mizzima News, an independent Burmese multi-media group based in New Delhi, were suspended by its hosting server on the evening of October 9 because the site had attracted several hacking attempts. They became fully operational only on October 14. (more…)

The London-based Burma Campaign UK has urged Cotton Traders-a British clothing company-to stop selling clothes made in Burma, saying clothing exports are a vital source of income that helps to keep the Burmese military government in power.    (more…)

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh is heading an official delegation for trade and investment talks with the Government of Myanmar in Mandalay on Tuesday. (more…)

Skins, claws and bones from at least 1,158 tigers and other protected big cats were spotted in open markets in Myanmar during surveys conducted over the last 18 years, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported Wednesday. (more…)

The Exim Bank of India has concluded an agreement with the Myanmar Foreign Trade Banb to provide a Line of Credit (LOC) of $84US.07 million for financing exports from India and to fund the setting up of three transmission lines and an aluminium factory in Myanmar. Under the agreement, the goods and services exports include those consultancy services fall under the purview of Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank, RBI said in a notification. (more…)

The Burmese military junta sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) has offered ‘free medical surgery’ to people in Myitkyina Township, the capital of Kachin State in the north of the country, said local sources. It is meant to woo the electorate for the 2010 general elections which the USDA will contest, sources added. (more…)

On Friday October 24th Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent a total of 13 years in detention.
(more…)