Myanmar 

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Latest news on Myanmar (formerly Burma, Burmese news from Naypyidaw, Yangon and Mandalay), covering the military junta and the Tatmadaw, civil war, Aung San Suu Kyi, Min Aung Hlaing, the NUG and resistance forces, the Arakan Army, Rakhine, the Rohingya crisis, the economy, ASEAN and the humanitarian situation.

Myanmar is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 50 million people, bordering China, India, Bangladesh, Laos and Thailand. The military seized power in a coup on 1 February 2021, ousting the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup, moved on to the presidency in 2026 after elections that critics called neither free nor fair. Naypyidaw is the capital, while Yangon is the largest city.

The coup triggered mass protests, a civil disobedience movement and then armed resistance. The National Unity Government (NUG), its People's Defence Forces and long-established ethnic armed groups, including the Arakan Army, Kachin and Karen forces, now fight the military across much of the country. Airstrikes, arrests and internet restrictions have drawn condemnation from human rights groups, and the economy has been battered by conflict, sanctions, inflation and a weak currency. Scam centres, drug production and rare earth mining are also recurring stories.

The humanitarian cost is severe. Millions of people have been displaced, and aid access is limited in conflict zones, which were hit again by the powerful earthquake of March 2025. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Rakhine State, number around a million refugees in Bangladesh after the 2017 military crackdown, and the case at the International Court of Justice continues. Civil society groups, journalists and volunteers keep working under pressure.

Myanmar has a rich cultural heritage, from the temples of Bagan and the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to Inle Lake and the Buddhist traditions that shape daily life. Its diverse peoples include the Bamar, Shan, Karen, Kachin, Chin, Mon and Rakhine communities, each with its own language and history. Tourism has been badly hit by instability, but cultural and community stories continue to emerge.

Ancient kingdoms such as Pagan gave way to British colonial rule, and Burma regained independence in 1948. Military rule from 1962 isolated the country for decades, a period of reform followed after 2011, and Suu Kyi's party won elections in 2015 and 2020. The country renamed itself Myanmar in 1989, and its place between China and India makes it strategically important, with ASEAN struggling to find an effective response.

Our NewsNow feed on Myanmar is constantly updated with the most relevant headlines from reliable sources, giving a comprehensive picture of the junta, civil war, politics, the economy, Rohingya and the wider region. Whether you search for Myanmar news or Burma news, this feed is your essential source for staying informed.