In an effort to encourage democratic reform, the United States on Thursday eased a ban on investment in Burma and named its first ambassador to the country in 22 years. Sanctions on members of the former junta and wider restrictions remain in place.
The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a UN resolution on threatening Sudan and South Sudan with non-military sanctions if they do not halt escalating clashes in their disputed border region and return to talks.
Sixty-six years ago, French troops left the country and Syria was born. Now with UN observers on the ground and signs that international sanctions are beginning to bite, Laura Baines and her panel discuss whether the world is any closer to resolving the conflict in Syria.
Sixty-six years ago, French troops left the country and Syria was born. Now with UN observers on the ground and signs that international sanctions are beginning to bite, Laura Baines and her panel discuss whether the world is any closer to resolving the conflict in Syria.
The African Union imposed travel bans and asset freezes targeting Mali's military coup leaders on Tuesday, a day after West Africa's regional economic bloc, ECOWAS, shut off access to the country's bank account and closed its borders.
Malians prepared on Monday for energy and fuel shortages after neighbouring governments closed the landlocked country's borders and froze its bank account in an attempt to drive out the military regime that seized control in last month's coup d'état.
Gulf states are creating a multimillion-dollar fund to pay Syrian opposition soldiers and army defectors, participants at the "Friends of Syria" summit in Istanbul announced on Sunday. Syria has called the meeting an "international conspiracy".
US President Barack Obama vowed Friday to implement tough sanctions on Iran, citing rising production and strategic reserves as alternatives to Iranian oil and boosting speculation that some nations plan to tap into emergency stockpiles this year.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday described international efforts to end fighting in Syria as the "last chance" to avoid civil war. The United States and Turkey meanwhile flagged providing non-lethal aid to the opposition.
Syrian troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad used tanks and artillery to regain control of the northern town of Saraqib, as deadly clashes and bombardments continued to rage across the country despite repeated UN calls to stop the bloodshed.
