The 57th Myanmar Gems Emporium kicked off in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Friday; 200 gem dealers from abroad are expected

During the Thadingyut Festival, thousands gathered at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to pray for an end to the civil war and recurrent floods in Myanmar; many came from crisis-hit areas, seeking solace amidst the worsening conflict and natural disasters

Dr Zaw Myint Maung, leader of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement and close ally of imprisoned leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, died of leukaemia; he was in the junta's custody

The Myanmar embassy in Bangkok announced that Myanmar citizens in Thailand can now obtain new passports on the same day without an appointment, urging people to go directly to the embassy to avoid the high fees charged by agents

Humanitarian assistance, including ready-to-eat food, clothing, mosquito nets, solar lamps and medical supplies have been handed out to the flood-affected populations in Myanmar by the Government of India