National News

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• NLD massively scales back water festival stages
• Kachin activist released after imprisonment for Facebook post
• Military MPs slam bill to create 'state counsellor' role
• Daw Suu to get new powers under draft law
• EU election team urges citizenship law overhaul
• Report takes aim at price of peace
• Mandalay chief minister promises review of approved projects
• Health officials summoned to parliament over vaccine case
• ‘Europe needs Myanmar’: New govt set to join EU
• First Lady to remain an MP

NLD massively scales back water festival stages Posted: 01 Apr 2016 08:40 AM PDT In one of its first decisions since taking office, the National League for Democracy-backed Yangon government has put a significant dampener on water festival by banning for-profit pandals, or stages. Official said the decision was taken due to concerns over water use, crime and growing commercialisation of the New Year festival, held annually in mid-April.

Kachin activist released after imprisonment for Facebook post Posted: 01 Apr 2016 05:35 AM PDT A Kachin peace activist released after serving a six-month sentence for sharing a defamatory post about Myanmar's military chief has called for the release of all political prisoners.

Military MPs slam bill to create 'state counsellor' role Posted: 01 Apr 2016 05:30 AM PDT Military MPs said this morning that a plan to bolster Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's power with a special advisory role was unconstitutional, as the new civilian government tussled with the army just days after taking office.

Daw Suu to get new powers under draft law Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT A draft law that would create a key pivotal post in government specifically designed for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is to be debated in the upper house today, although a senior MP denied that she would in effect become prime minister.

EU election team urges citizenship law overhaul Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT The European Union's election monitoring team has urged the new government to revise citizenship laws it said perpetuate racial discrimination and the suffering of ethnic minorities.

Report takes aim at price of peace Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT A New report estimates expenditure on Myanmar's drawn-out peace process has dwarfed the total monthly national defence spend on personnel, artillery, vehicles and ammunition by state and non-state armed groups by a magnitude of 4:1, raising fresh questions about the effectiveness of the Western government-backed dialogue.

Mandalay chief minister promises review of approved projects Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung has vowed to review projects awarded by the outgoing government.

Health officials summoned to parliament over vaccine case Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT Ministry of Health officials will be called to parliament today to reveal details of an investigation into the cause of death and severe illness of dozens of newborns in Bago Region.

‘Europe needs Myanmar’: New govt set to join EU Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT Myanmar's new National League for Democracy government is preparing an application to join the European Union, it has been revealed. Negotiations have been proceeding in secret ever since the former opposition party swept to victory in last November's historic elections.

First Lady to remain an MP Posted: 31 Mar 2016 02:30 PM PDT Daw Su Su Lwin, now First Lady as the wife of President U Htin Kyaw, is to remain a member of parliament but yesterday stepped down as chair of the lower house international relations committee.

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