Obama Praises Myanmar’s Democratic Progress on Historic Visit
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images(YANGON, Myanmar) — Becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit this long-isolated nation, President Obama on Monday extended “the hand of friendship” to Myanmar as the country emerges from five decades of…
Obama Defends Myanmar Visit, ‘Not An Endorsement’
Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images(BANGKOK, Thailand) — President Obama Sunday defended his decision to visit Myanmar against critics who say the trip is premature, saying it’s “an acknowledgement” of the country’s dem…
President Obama to Visit Burma, A Presidential First
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — No American president has ever visited Burma, which renamed itself Myanmar in a shift toward democracy several years ago. Now, the country is making some reforms, and President Obama is paying a f…
Obama Softens Some Sanctions on Burma
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Obama today announced that his administration is easing restrictions on U.S. companies seeing to “responsibly do business in Burma.”“Easing sanctions is a strong signal of our support fo…
Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Formally Accepts Nobel Peace Prize 21 Years Later
State Department(NEW YORK) — Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi formally accepted her Nobel Peace Prize today, more than two decades after it was awarded to honor her fight for democracy. “We have been waiting for you for a very long time,” No…
Democracy Leader Aung San Suu Kyi Leaves Myanmar
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images(BANGKOK) — Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has left her country for the first time in more than two decades. The opposition leader and former political prisoner addressed the World Economic F…
Obama Administration Declares Myanmar Open For Business
Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The Obama administration’s announcement that it is suspending sanctions on Myanmar, allowing American companies to invest in the formerly rogue nation, has received praise from the business community and skeptici…
Obama Administration Declares Myanmar Open For Business
Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The Obama administration’s announcement that it is suspending sanctions on Myanmar, allowing American companies to invest in the formerly rogue nation, has received praise from the business community and skeptici…
Obama Nominates New Ambassador to Burma
Soe Than WIN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Declaring a “new chapter in the relationship between the United States and Burma,” President Obama announced Thursday he is rewarding democratic progress by nominating the first U.S. ambassador t…
Hillary Clinton Mixes Hollywood, Politics at Screening of "The Lady"
Astrid Riecken/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was “thrilled” to introduce the screening of The Lady, a Hollywood movie based on the life of Burma democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.Clinton thanked t…
Aung San Suu Kyi Wins Seat in Burma Elections
US State Dept photo by William Ng(WASHINGTON) — Once under house arrest for 20 years in Myanmar, pro democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears ready to take a seat in parliament.Supporters of Suu Kyi were claiming victory Sunday after historic electio…
United States Ready to Exchange Ambassadors with Myanmar
Win McNamee/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — As a result of the steps Myanmar’s leaders have taken in recent days, releasing political prisoners and striking peace deals with rebel groups, the Obama administration is prepared to begin the process of s…