The military is no longer wielding power in Myanmar, despite dictating policy for half a century, but should not be “left behind” as the country moves to strengthen its fledgling democracy, its president said on Wednesday. (more…)

National League for Democracy members in Pegu who were planning to commemorate Burmese Martyrs’ Day on 19 July have been barred by the town’s authorities from assembling in front of statute of General Aung San. (more…)

Fighting continues between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese government forces, the latest clash claiming two government soldiers killed and six wounded, according to KIA officials. (more…)

A number of security staff for the National League for Democracy (NLD) have been sacked following severe criticism of the heavy-handed treatment of international and domestic media. (more…)

Myanmar is questioning the 49 Thais detained over the border in an attempt to find out the owners of the seized weapons as well as the rubber plantations, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa said Wednesday. (more…)

Myanmar’s new investment law may take effect as early as September if a joint session of parliament approves the bill, according to Kan Zaw, deputy minister of National Planning & Economic Development. (more…)

Myanmar Commerce Minister Win Myint, visiting a small factory in Tokyo, said he is impressed with Japan’s technology and that such firms can assist his country’s drive for economic development. (more…)

CEO Arif Yahya says company mulling whether to acquire direct stakes or form a consortium. (more…)

Burma is on the edge of an economic boom the like of which Southeast Asia has not seen for many years, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gushed in April. A little over two months later this optimistic assertion has been toned down substantially, with a senior bank official warning that it could be 30 years before Burma achieves the level of development its neighbour Thailand is currently enjoying. (more…)

Burma will address the issue of women’s health, family planning and contraceptives, following a funding initiative by Britain and other donors, which was announced on Wednesday in Naypyitaw. (more…)

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday he is lifting the investment ban on Burma, allowing U.S. companies to enter Burma’s lucrative energy sector, above the objections of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. (more…)

Western governments should scrap sanctions against Myanmar to encourage badly needed investment in the country, Thein Sein , the country’s president, has warned as he vowed to step up the pace of reform. (more…)

President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton announced in May that the United States would ease certain financial and investment sanctions on Burma in response to the historic reforms that have taken place in that country over the past year. Today, the U.S. Government has implemented these changes to permit the first new U.S. investment in Burma in nearly 15 years, and to broadly authorize the exportation of financial services to Burma. The United States supports the Burmese Government’s ongoing reform efforts, and believes that the participation of U.S. businesses in the Burmese economy will set a model for responsible investment and business operations as well as encourage further change, promote economic development, and contribute to the welfare of the Burmese people. (more…)