News
Myanmar again near bottom of competition rankings
Myanmar ranked near the bottom of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2015-16 released on 30 September, placing 131st overall out of 140. The positioning represents little change on the rankings in the 2014-15 report, when Myanmar came 134th out of 144 economies. Keep reading ...
Thai rice illegally imported into Myanmar
As domestic rice prices increase, cheaper and higher quality rice is now being illegally imported from Thailand, Myanmar rice traders say. Speculation over rice shortages since nationwide flooding in July and August increased transportation costs in some areas, and high production costs for farmers have driven ...
Nationwide ceasefire accord collapses
Talks in Chiang Mai among leaders of 18 armed factions saw 10 groups, including the powerful Kachin Independence Army, declaring they would not sign the agreement because of the government’s refusal to extend the accord to include three allied factions fighting in the Kokang border ...
ANZ Bank receives Myanmar licence just ahead of deadline
The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group has become the last of nine foreign banks to receive a branch licence to operate in Myanmar. The Central Bank of Myanmar’s licencing committee announced it had awarded a licence to ANZ on 29 September, just days ahead ...
Ethnic armed groups still deadlocked over ceasefire signing
No breakthrough was reported on 28 September as leaders of 18 of Myanmar’s armed ethnic groups failed to resolve differences over how many would sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government next month. Pu Zing Cung, general secretary of the Chin National Front and a member ...
Mandalay golf resort project faces land-grabbing claims
Defiant farmers in Mandalay Region are cultivating fields they say they own as negotiations with the local authorities broke down. The 200 farmers began harrowing the fields, which are slated for a golf resort, on 25 September in preparation for planting. The farmers say more than 600 ...
Youth leaders debate new development goals
Forty young people from throughout the country gathered in Yangon on 26 September to exchange ideas about adopting sustainable development objectives in Myanmar. The youths, who represented a range of ethnicities and social groups, were participating in the Social Good Summit at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon. Keep ...
Villagers forced to flee as Kachin State clashes continue
Over 100 villagers in Kachin State’s Mansi Township were forced to flee their homes on 27 September after clashes continued between government troops and the Kachin Independence Army in the state’s southernmost township. Keep reading ...
Police seize another 3.8m pills tied to Mingaladon probe
Police have seized another large quantity of stimulant tablets as part of a months-long investigation following a major drug bust in Yangon’s Mingaladon Township in late July. Keep reading ...
Ethnic leaders meet as ceasefire signing deadline looms
Leaders of some 20 ethnic armed groups from Myanmar are due to meet in Chiang Mai today amid divisions over whether to sign a nationwide ceasefire agreement with the government. Pu Zing Cung, general secretary of the Chin National Front and a member of the groups’ ...
