The All Burma Students’ Democratic Front in northern Burma’s Kachin state reported that its troops clashed with government forces on 18 August. (more…)

Members of Burma’s Parliament are preparing to make their next move after President Thein Sein told them on Monday that he would not take action against the country’s Constitutional Tribunal in response to MPs’ demands that the judicial body reverse a controversial decision made earlier this year. (more…)

As Burma attempts to rebuild after the decades of neglect, two studies warn that the country also needs to build defenses against natural disasters like Cyclone Nargis and guard against environmental calamities. (more…)

RANGOON, Burma — Saw Hlaing has been sentenced seven times by Burma’s military-style courts and has spent more than 14 years in jails across the country. (more…)

An estimated group of more than 500 civilians in the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) controlled section of the Hpakant jade mining district, fled their village over the weekend to escape Burma army troops who have moved into the area. (more…)

WASHINGTON – Following on calls by civil society, the World Bank has released a draft summary framework for its re-engagement with Myanmar over the next year and a half, with formal interim strategy slated to be ready by the end of October. (more…)

BANGKOK — Burma is drafting a foreign investment law to usher in a flood of foreign capital aimed at helping the country emerge from decades of poverty and isolation.  But, economists warn the law, as drafted, has problems. (more…)

International airlines as well as local travel and hospitality providers are ramping up operations in anticipation of an influx of foreign visitors to Burma during the winter peak tourist season. (more…)

WASHINGTON – It was inevitable. The US Congress was not about to let the sanctions on Myanmar, also known as Burma, die. The ritual of the annual renewal was held up in congress because it was attached to some legislation about Africa, on which there were disputes. (more…)

The headlines from Citigroup’s Vikram Pandit interview with the Financial Times, snagged as he sailed through Hong Kong, focused on his refusal to endorse big bank break ups. But buried in there is another tidbit:  Pandit’s admission that he sees a bulk of his company’s future growth in digitized transactions, made in the global south. Namely, in the cities of emerging market countries. (more…)

The decision of the Burmese government on Monday to abolish the pre-censorship of articles in the national media has received a mixed response. The Irrawaddy examines the consequences of this landmark move. (more…)