Yangon — A visiting top UN official said Thursday that recent signals from Myanmar’s new army-backed government were “very encouraging”, after talks with democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Chiang Mai – The first US special envoy to Burma may be able to support change in Burma more effectively than the UN special envoy to Burma, says a National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesperson. (more…)

Nearly 9000 people are facing severe food shortages in northern Karen state as operations by the Burmese army combine with abnormal weather to weaken grain supplies. (more…)

Nay Pyi Taw – Speaker of the Parliament of Representative (Lower House) of Myanmar U Shwe Mann met with visiting Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission Xu Caihou here Friday and the two sides held discussions in a friendly atmosphere. (more…)

Illegal labourers from Cambodia, Laos and Burma will be given a last chance to report to the government or face a tough crackdown if they continue to work without permission. (more…)

United Nations — With UN Envoy Vijay Nambiar’s trip to Myanmar more than half over, the UN in New York still refused on Thursday to say who Nambiar would meet with, and whether he would hold an open press conference. (more…)

Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to be awarded the freedom of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex. (more…)

MPs have been shown a video message by the democracy leader, writes Deborah Snow. (more…)

For decades, the Burmese army has been notorious for its horrific aggression against civilians, especially in conflict areas: underage boys have been forced to join the army; young women, mainly in ethnic areas, have been raped and murdered; locals haved been forced to work as porters and in some cases even used to sweep for landmines. (more…)

Yangon – I have just completed a three-day working visit at the invitation of the new Government of Myanmar in my capacity as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General. This follows my earlier visit shortly after the elections in November last year. The purpose of this visit was three-fold: (more…)