Interview International Lead Story News Video
DVB talks to World Bank’s new Burma chief, Abdoulaye Seck
DVB Interview International’s Alex Bookbinder sits down with Burma chief Abdoulaye Seck, to discuss how the World Bank has progressed since its 2012 reengagement with the Burmese government.
development Lead Story News Politics
EU earmarks $300m a year for Burma
The European Union and its partners have pledged more than US$300 million a year to Burma under a strategic cooperation programme from 2014 to 2016,
Netherlands to help Burma manage water
The Dutch government announced support for water management projects in Burma with a commitment of three million euros (US$3.9 million).
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Thein Sein chases German investment
Burma’s President Thein Sein arrived in Germany on Tuesday with the intention of drumming up investment.
Bullet Points: 2 September 2014
Watch today’s top stories with Angus Watson.
foreign affairs Lead Story News
President Thein Sein embarks for Europe
President Thein Sein flies from Naypyidaw to begin a 10-day trip to Europe which will include official visits to Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands for the first time.
Arakan Business Lead Story News
12 Foreign companies await results on Kyaukphyu SEZ
Twelve companies from seven countries have submitted proposals for the development of a Special Economic Zone in Kyaukphyu, western Burma, according to the SEZ selection committee.
Europe-backed journalism school opens in Rangoon
Burma’s first private journalism school in more than half a century opened its doors in Rangoon on Monday morning, poised to prepare aspiring reporters for the country’s turbulent media environment.
Burma’s police strive to be more people-friendly
In an effort to improve relations between the police and the public, the EU will provide further training in crowd control and human rights to the Myanmar [Burma] Police Force and help roll out community policing courses.
Burma Chamber of Commerce says US sanctions ‘not a big issue’
The renewal of some US sanctions on Burma will not harm economic relations between the two countries, according to the Union of Myanmar [Burma] Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).
EU initiates human rights dialogue with Burma
The EU lays out a list of 21 “benchmarks” which it expects the Burmese authorities to fulfill, including: cooperation with the UN; the release of all political prisoners; the strengthening of rule of law; greater media freedom; and “effective measures to combat intolerance, communal violence and hate speech”.
UN urged to maintain human rights pressure on Burma
The European Burma Network has called on the UN to remain vigilant as human rights violations continue in Burma.
Environment Lead Story migrants issues News Uncategorized Video
Slavery persists in Thai fishing industry: report
New evidence of migrant slavery has emerged along the coast of Thailand, the world’s third largest seafood exporter.
EU assists training of Burma’s Police Force
Officers from the EU are training Burmese police officers in crowd control management, under an EU initiative to improve the standards of the Burmese Police Force.
Communal Violence Law Lead Story News
EU-led project seeks to promote police accountability in Burma
As the EU seeks to implement an 18-month pilot project to train and equip Burma’s police force, concerns remain about the compliance of the Burmese police in inter-religious violence and their involvement in human rights violations.
EU pledges Burma up to €90 million a year in development assistance
The European Union has pledged assistance of up to €90 million per year for rural development, education, governance and peace-building in Burma from 2014 to 2020.
Amending constitution is imperative, Suu Kyi tells EU delegation
Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday told a European Union business forum that investors should not ignore the country’s political challenges as it heads towards crucial 2015 elections.
EU may be breaching Burma arms embargo, say activists
The European Union could be breaching its embargo against Burma by providing riot gear to the Burmese police force as part of a new training programme, campaigners have warned.
EU begins ‘crowd control’ training for Burmese police
The European Union on Tuesday began a €10 million (US$13.5 million) programme to provide riot control training to the Burmese police force, following a request from opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi heads to Europe amid criticisms of EU Burma policy
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is set to meet European Union leaders this weekend before heading to Luxembourg for talks with EU foreign ministers and to Strasbourg to pick up a prize she won 23 years ago.
French minister to lead trade mission to Burma
French Trade Minister Nicole Bricq will lead a delegation of small- and medium-sized businesses to Burma next week as France looks to boost trade ties with the once-isolated nation.
Britain denies breaching Burma arms embargo
The British government has denied breaching the EU arms embargo for Burma, after a parliamentary report revealed that it has eight active arms export licences for the former military dictatorship
Foreign trade increases as imports stream into Burma
Foreign trade during the past three months in Burma increased by more than US$ 600 million when compared to the same period last year; however, the surge in imports has resulted in a US$ 800 million trade deficit
Thein Sein headed to Europe this week: official
Burma’s President Thein Sein will embark on a four-day visit to Britain and France within days, an official said Tuesday, as the international community continues to welcome reforms in the former junta-ruled country
Thein Sein to visit Britain, France in July
President Thein Sein will visit Britain and France next month, an official said on Friday, as the international community continues to embrace his nation’s democratic reforms
Burma readmitted to EU trade scheme
The European Union on Wednesday readmitted Burma to its trade preference scheme, saying it wanted to support reform in the once pariah state through economic development
Student activist condemns re-arrest of political prisoner
A prominent student activist, who spent nearly 20 years in jail under the former military junta, has slammed the Burmese government for revoking the presidential pardon of a former political prisoner
Burma revokes pardon of dissident writer for ‘defaming’ police
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
Burma welcomes EU sanctions lifting amid criticism
The Burmese government welcomed the EU’s decision to lift sanctions against the former pariah state as “greatly beneficial” to the country’s democratic reform process
EU drops sanctions on Burma
The European Union lifts all sanctions on Burma except for an arms embargo, in recognition of sweeping political reforms.
