Myanmar port city cut off after deadly Cyclone Mocha
KYAUKTAW, Myanmar: Tens of thousands of people in a major Myanmar port city were cut… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar
Myanmar, also called Burma, country, located in the western portion of mainland Southeast Asia. In 1989 the country’s official English name, which it had held since 1885, was changed from the Union of Burma to the Union of Myanmar. In 2005 the government began to shift its administrative center, first to the city of Pyinmana and then to Nay Pyi Taw, a newly constructed city near Pyinmana. Nay Pyi Taw was proclaimed the capital of Myanmar in 2006.
Myanmar is primarily a Theravada Buddhist society, with about 89% of the population. Most Burmese are very devout and treat monks with great respect. Under British colonial rule, Burma was the richest country in Southeast Asia, awash in rubies, oil, and valuable timber. Sadly, after decades of mismanagement by post-independence dictators, Myanmar has become one of the poorest nations in the world.
Estimates of the per capita income are unreliable, but it is probably about $230 US. Myanmar’s currency is the kyat. As of February 2014, $1 US = 980 Burmese kyat.
In 2015, the citizens of the country held their first general elections with the National League for Democracy taking the majority in both national parliament chambers and placing Ktin Kyaw as the first elected non-military president since the coup of ’62. A prime minister-type role, called the State Counsellor, was established in 2016 and Aung San Suu Kyi took the role.
Rohingya say they won’t return to Myanmar
DHAKA: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh said on Saturday they would not return to Myanmar to… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar junta to free 3,000 prisoners in Buddhist New Year amnesty
YANGON: Myanmar's junta on Monday began releasing more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the Buddhist… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar junta extends state of emergency, likely delaying polls
Myanmar's military authorities announced a six-month extension to a state of emergency on Wednesday, likely… Read More
2 years ago
UN says Myanmar junta elections will fuel violence
BANGKOK: Junta plans for elections in coup-hit Myanmar this year will "fuel greater violence", a… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar army set to cement rule with tough new election criteria
Myanmar's ruling junta on Friday announced tough requirements for parties to contest an election this… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar opium cultivation surging under military rule
Opium cultivation in military-ruled Myanmar jumped 33% last year, reversing a six-year downward trend in… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar opium farming booming after coup: UN
BANGKOK: Opium poppy production in Myanmar ramped up dramatically following the 2021 military coup, the… Read More
2 years ago
Norway fund drops China, India firms over Myanmar weapons
OSLO: Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest, has excluded two companies from China and… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar junta chief family assets found in Thai drug raid
Thai officials found assets belonging to adult children of Myanmar's junta leader during a raid… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar court finds Suu Kyi guilty on 5 counts of corruption
A court in army-ruled Myanmar found deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi guilty on Friday… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar court jails Suu Kyi, Australian economist for 3 years: source
NAYPYIDAW: A court in military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi… Read More
2 years ago
Eleven schoolchildren killed in Myanmar air strike: UNICEF
YANGON: At least 11 schoolchildren died in an air strike and firing on a Myanmar… Read More
2 years ago
Mortar fired from Myanmar kills Rohingya in Bangladesh
An 18-year-old Rohingya man was killed and at least six more people injured Friday when… Read More
2 years ago
EU condemns jail, hard labour sentence for Myanmar’s Suu Kyi
BRUSSELS: The European Union condemned on Sunday the sentencing of Myanmar's deposed former leader Aung… Read More
2 years ago
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi gets jail with hard labour for election fraud
Myanmar's deposed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of electoral fraud on… Read More
2 years ago
Rare white elephant born in Myanmar: state media
The rare white elephant was bornin western Rakhine state and weighs about 80 kilograms. Read More
3 years ago
Myanmar military condemned for execution of 4 democracy activists
Myanmar's ruling military has executed four democracy activists accused of helping to carry out "terror… Read More
3 years ago
Myanmar democracy activists’ death sentences upheld
YANGON: Myanmar's military government said on Friday that appeals by two prominent democracy activists against… Read More
3 years ago
Telenor completes business sale
Telenor will receive payments for the sale of its Myanmar operations over the next five… Read More
3 years ago