US renews sanctions against Myanmar

President Barack Obama has renewed sanctions against Myanmar even though he said it had made some progress on reforms. Obama, who made a groundbreaking visit to Myanmar in 2012, announced the renewal Thursday in a letter to Congress. The sanctions bar American companies and citizens from investing in the country formerly known as Burma. They also mean Americans cannot do business with Myanmar leaders identified as having repressed pro-democracy sentiment in that nation formerly run by a tough military junta. On Thursday Obama said Myanmar has made significant progress in a number of critical areas, according to AFP.