21st Century Panglong Conference
The Union Peace Conference or 21st Century Panglong Conference is going to be held. The five days talk are going to kick off on August 30. Sixteen armed ethnic groups as well as political parties, government and military representatives are expected to attend. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, will also attend the conference.
New Website for Ministry of Transport and Communications
Ministry of Transport and Communications has launched its new official website. When NLD came into office, three former Ministries (Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Railways) were merged into Ministry of Transport and Communications. Previously, there were separate websites for each Ministry. Now all websites has been combined into single one.
Indonesia-Myanmar Joint Cultural Show 2016
As a commemorative event for 71st anniversary of the Independence Day of Indonesia, there was a joint culture show at National Theatre on August 22. It aims to strengthen the friendship and cultural exchange between two countries. H.E.Dr.lto Sumardi, Indonesia Ambassador To Myanmar, Aung Naing Oo, Professor of National University of Arts and Culture, officials from Myanmar and Indonesia and more than 1,000 audience guests attended the show.
Myanmar Scouts Association
Myanmar Scouts Association was officially recognized as a member by World Organization of the Scout Movement On August 22. Myanmar Scouts Association was firstly founded in 1922, disbanded in 1964 and re-founded again in 2012.
Kofi Annan to Chair Advisory Commission on Rakhine State
At the request of State Counsellor Aung San Su Kyi, Kofi Annan will chair an advisory commission on Rakhine State. The overall objective of the Commission, which will be assisted by the Kofi Annan Foundation, is to provide recommendations on the complex challenges facing the State. The Commission will initiate a dialogue with political and community leaders in Rakhine with the aim of proposing measures to improve the well-being of all the people of the State. In its work, the Commission will consider humanitarian and developmental issues, access to basic services, the assurance of basic rights, and the security of the people of Rakhine. It will submit its final report and recommendations to the Myanmar government in the second half of 2017.
Myanmar Opposition Party Changes Leadership, Strategy
Myanmar’s main opposition party elected members to new key positions on Tuesday, replacing ex-president Thein Sein as chairman of the former ruling party in a strategic reorganization before by-elections early next year. Party members elected 237 central members and 38 central executive committee (CEC) and representatives during a Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) conference at its headquarters in the capital Naypyidaw. Than Htay, a retired brigadier-general and former minister of rail and of energy, replaced Thein Sein as party chairman. Nine leaders from the military-backed USDP, including Thein Sein and vice chairman Htay Oo, now serve as members of the party’s CEC. Others newly elected to party positions include former air force commander Myat Hein as vice-chairman, Thet Naing Win as general secretary, and Soe Naing as head of operations. New leaders have also been elected for all state and regional USDP branches.
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Amends 2016 Union Budget Law
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approved a bill amending the 2016 Union Budget Law with cuts to the budgets of some ministries. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw vote calls for a 1.02billion Kyats reduction in the budget of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a 9.24 billion Kyats reduction in the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and a 80.11billion Kyats reduction in the budget of the Ministry of Construction, as recommended by the Joint Public Accounts Committee. However, the budget cut does not affect the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the State Counselor’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health and Sports
