The first state visit to the United States by a Burmese president in almost 50 years went off largely as expected, with a strong emphasis on trade and investment, and some discussions of the ethnic and religious violence that has clouded the country’s transition from army rule. (more…)

Nai Kun Oung, a resident from north Mon State, remembers when he first decided to send his son to a drug rehabilitation center run by ethnic rebels. He had heard success stories about the center, where former drug addicts were known to have recovered after several months, and he thought his son might benefit. (more…)

Authorities in the north of Arakan State added another measure to the restrictions imposed on Rohingya Muslims last week, by introducing a regional order that sets a two-child limit for local families. The directive, which is effective in Maungdaw District, also bans polygamy. (more…)

Burma’s ethnic leaders have accused the United States of providing inadequate support for the Southeast Asian country’s peace process and are urging US President Barack Obama to stress the issue during his meeting with Burmese counterpart Thein Sein on Monday at the White House. (more…)

The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and the Burmese government are tipped to resume union-level peace talks at the end of the month in the Kachin state capital, according to mediators. (more…)

Twelve factory employees, who are being held in remand after brawling with their supervisors, claim they are being treated unfairly and forced to work in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison. (more…)

Days after communal violence rocked central Myanmar in late March, leaving more than 40 people dead and raising tensions in the mostly Buddhist country, a group of Muslims and a group of Buddhists decided enough was enough. (more…)

Myanmar’s victims of sectarian strife were spared the full force of Cyclone Mahasen, but many are now returning to flimsy tents in flood-prone camps with the monsoon just weeks away. (more…)

A Karenni women’s group says it will not accept development projects in Kayah state during the current sensitive transitional period if there isn’t local cooperation. (more…)

Myanmar is on course for a big jump in textile exports to Europe following the return of trade privileges by the European Union (EU), according to the Thailand Textile Institute. (more…)

Just over a month before Burma is due to award telecoms licenses to two foreign companies or consortia, a major international rights group has warned that online censorship and government surveillance of mobile phone users remain a serious problem in the country. (more…)

Phado Saw Hla Htun, the secretary of the organizing committee for the Karen National Union (KNU), has told the media that a meeting between the KNU and a government delegation will be held in Yangon in late may to discuss a ‘Code of Conduct’ to be employed during this fragile period of ceasefire. (more…)

Foreign arrivals at Yangon airport during the first four months of the year jumped 44% year-on-year, with Europeans accounting for about one-third, reports said Sunday. (more…)

The US Ambassador Mitchell urged Myanmar government to take actions against the incitement perpetrators using the social network to create social crisis. (more…)

Human rights activists slammed the Burmese government on Wednesday for revoking a prison amnesty granted to an opposition party member last year, after he was accused of ‘defaming’ the police. (more…)

An outpost belonging to the Shan State Army-South (SSA-S) in northeastern Burma was burnt down on Sunday by government soldiers, who claimed to be searching for four Burmese “civilians” who went missing at the end of last month, rebels say. (more…)

Loi Taileng — 19 May 2012 was the last time the Shan State Army (SSA) South, officially the Restoration Council of Shan State /Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) and Naypyitaw’s Union Peacemaking Work Committee (UPWC) met in Kengtung to sign a 12 point union level agreement. (more…)

The abrupt exit of one of Myanmar’s leading reformist ministers from the helm of the government’s powerful investment commission has raised fresh questions about President Thein Sein’s ambitious reform agenda and unsettled investors. (more…)

A Mon youth group has urged authorities to release all 11 people detained since mid-April for allegedly attacking a police officer during the traditional Water Festival in Mon State. (more…)

Two leading land rights activists have been charged with organizing unsanctioned protests to demand back their expropriated lands in Thingangyun Township, Rangoon Division. (more…)