Thailand’s visiting premier has been asked by Myanmar’s president to ensure a “clean and fair” investigation for a pair of Myanmar nationals charged with murdering two British tourists, an official said on Friday.

A new wave of sectarian unrest in western Myanmar has left at least 20 dead on Thursday, sparking an exodus of “thousands” and prompting the UN to express its concern.

A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar at the weekend has left 26 people dead, 12 others missing and about 230 injured, according to a new toll given by the Red Cross.

Myanmar’s reformist leader on Friday signed into law an eagerly awaited foreign investment bill aimed at reviving the country’s economy as it emerges from decades of military rule, his office said.