National News

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• Activists fear Myitsone restart
• Locals reject proposed Shan parliament site to save trees
• FREDA to plant 50,000 trees in Yangon Region
• Funding shortfall delays Panglong park plan
• ‘Bullet’ jumps gun on IS Shan State expansion story
• MP accuses militia of aiding Chinese timber smugglers in Puta-o
• Taung Pyone festival winds down
• Activists call for more aid in measles-infected Naga
• Pyidaungsu Hluttaw agrees to US$100m loan from World Bank
• Non-signatories granted eight seats on Panglong committee

Activists fear Myitsone restart Posted: 17 Aug 2016 01:00 AM PDT Activists are prepared to resume protests against the Myitsone mega-dam development in Kachin State, amid concerns that Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to China could result in the revival of the suspended project.

Locals reject proposed Shan parliament site to save trees Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:57 AM PDT A Proposed Shan parliament building will have to find a new location after locals and political parties objected to the removal of 150-year-old trees.

FREDA to plant 50,000 trees in Yangon Region Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:56 AM PDT Supermarket shoppers may get to play a part in the greening of Yangon. City Mart has entered an agreement with the Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association (FREDA) to plant 50,000 trees in Yangon over the next year.

Funding shortfall delays Panglong park plan Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:55 AM PDT Further funding will be required if a new Bogyoke Aung San statue is to be erected in the Danu self-administered zone, say local residents, as budget constraints have delayed construction of a monument in honour of the original and the upcoming Pang­long conferences on ethnic unity.

‘Bullet’ jumps gun on IS Shan State expansion story Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:53 AM PDT Reports that members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group had entered Myanmar appear to be incorrect, said the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday, after a journal self-published by controversial former MP U Hla Swe last week declared the arrival of the caliphate in Shan State.

MP accuses militia of aiding Chinese timber smugglers in Puta-o Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:51 AM PDT Smuggling of valuable timber in northern Kachin State has reduced forest cover in some areas by up to 80 percent, say local officials. They blame a local militia and its civilian officials, as well as foreign accomplices, amid hints that the national armed forces might be involved.

Taung Pyone festival winds down Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:49 AM PDT After a wild week of spirit worship, boisterous music and heavy drinking, the Taung Pyone Nat Festival comes to an end tomorrow as the full moon day of the lunar month of Wagaung crosses the sky over Myanmar.

Activists call for more aid in measles-infected Naga Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:39 AM PDT Naga activists are calling for more government support for the people of Sagaing Region's Naga Self-Administered Zone, who are suffering from infectious diseases, health problems and other issues.

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw agrees to US$100m loan from World Bank Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:34 AM PDT With the goal of developing Myanmar's financial sector, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw voted to borrow US$100 million from the World Bank yesterday.

Non-signatories granted eight seats on Panglong committee Posted: 17 Aug 2016 12:32 AM PDT Eight seats have been reserved for non-signatories to the nationwide ceasefire agreement on the joint preparatory committee for the upcoming 21st-century Panglong Conference, sources involved in the planning said yesterday after a meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee.

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