In a world that celebrates speed, productivity, and never-ending hustle, the idea of “slow living” might sound outdated or even lazy. But slow living doesn’t mean doing things lazily or dragging your feet. Indeed, it requires a surprising amount of presence, awareness, and strength, not to chase time, but to live inside it.
I used to be one of those people who measured my worth by how much I accomplished in a day. I’d read articles and watch motivational videos that glorified waking up at 5 am, planning every second of your schedule, and squeezing productivity out of every activity. I’d try to mimic that — get up early, hit the gym, read a book, journal, meditate, work on a side hustle — all before 8 am.
And if I failed? I’d criticize myself for being lazy, weak, or undisciplined. I couldn’t rest without guilt. My inner voice sounded more like a coach yelling instructions than a kind friend offering support. But slowly, something shifted.
It began with small things. One morning, I didn’t set an alarm. I simply woke up around 6 am — not because I had to, but because my body was ready. I walked downstairs, bought flowers for the shrine, took a warm shower, made an offering, and meditated. No rush, no pressure. Just presence. That’s when I first tasted what slow living could feel like. Since then, my days have taken on a new rhythm.
Now, after my morning routine, I sit and read for about 20 minutes. I write in my journal. Around noon, I clean the rooms, wash the dishes and sink, do the laundry, and fold clothes. These chores, once annoying and mindless, have become something else — grounding, almost therapeutic. Living alone has helped me turn even tasks I didn’t want to do into habits I now appreciate. In the evening, I walk in the yard, water the plants, and then shower again. At night, I usually work on clients’ projects. If there’s no work, I watch a movie or call my relatives who live in other regions. By around 10:30 pm or 11 pm, I go to sleep. These days, the way I’m living could be described as “slow living”. In times like this, when distractions are everywhere, it helps calm my mind.
But let’s clear up a common misunderstanding: Slow living isn’t a lifestyle that only people with lots of money can afford. It’s not about buying organic soaps, handmade furniture, or taking retreats in the countryside. It’s about a mindset. A way of approaching life.
Slow living is about living with awareness — it’s not about drifting through life aimlessly. It’s about feeling the tiny droplets of water falling while we’re hanging washed clothes for just four or five minutes. It’s about feeling the warmth of the sun-dried clothes through our fingertips as we fold them. It’s about inhaling the fresh scent of soap. It’s about feeling our hands touch the water running from the faucet while washing the dishes. It’s about noticing the little suds and the texture of the plates.
While cooking, while eating, while showering, while sleeping, even while working – It’s all about mindfulness, being fully in the moment, feeling through all five senses — touch, smell, taste, sound, sight – and completing each task with that awareness. Even if something takes just five minutes, we need to fully enjoy and feel what we’re doing. People tend to focus only on what’s bothering them. But we should shift our focus more towards the present moment in our process.
Next, overthinking is one of the biggest barriers to mindfulness and slow living. It pulls us away from the now. Instead of living, we start analysing everything. Instead of enjoying our meal, we’re thinking about yesterday’s argument or tomorrow’s deadline. Our body may be in the moment, but our mind is sprinting in circles.
Overthinking is exhausting. It creates problems that don’t even exist. It turns simple situations into complicated ones. It robs us of sleep, peace, and presence. And sadly, it’s become a normal part of modern life. We scroll endlessly through advice posts:”10 ways to stop overthinking”, “5 habits to become your best self”, and “Do this every morning to change your life.”
But in this age of information overload, it’s so important not to become a slave to that information. At the end of the day, we’re responsible for our own lives. And only by living in alignment with our values and being satisfied with the way we live.
Mindfulness is the medicine for overthinking. When you truly notice the moment, your breath, the smell of rain, the warmth of tea in your hands, your mind has no choice but to slow down. And when the mind slows, peace enters.
A person who’s always tired and constantly rushing through everything can never live the same quality of life as someone calm, mindful, and present in each task. It’s not the same level of happiness, not the same sense of meaning.
When I first began this journey, I didn’t realize how loud my thoughts had become. Even while doing simple tasks, my brain was racing – checking notifications, replaying conversations, worrying about things I couldn’t control. It took effort to bring myself back to the now, again and again. But over time, it became easier. Like building a muscle. The more I practised mindfulness, the less I overthought. The more I paid attention, the less anxious I felt. That’s the hidden gift of slow living — it trains our minds to stop running and start listening.
I don’t want to give people advice like “Do this to improve your life”. Because honestly, I’m not doing anything extraordinary myself. I’ve simply chosen to live slower. Not to perform, but to experience. To notice how the floor feels under my feet when I walk. To hear the birds outside my window. To eat meals without checking my phone. To breathe deeply and fully before starting a new task.
In the past, I used to be hard on myself and criticize myself unnecessarily. For example, I’d push myself to get up at 5 am and go to the gym by 6 am. If I couldn’t stick to that, I’d beat myself up and feel useless. Now? I don’t even set an alarm. By 5 am, I naturally wake up. This isn’t just about routine. It’s about rhythm – living in a way that feels gentle, authentic, and balanced. There’s no perfect formula. No schedule we need to copy. Just a series of choices. In the end, everything comes down to the choices we make.
We can choose to rush through life, always chasing the next thing, never feeling enough. Or we can choose to slow down, breathe, and trust that the present moment is already rich with meaning. Slow living is a quiet rebellion in a noisy world. It’s not a trend. It’s a return to ourselves, our senses, our humanity.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Sometimes a family seems to be a kind of gift given by nature. Some people tend to lead a married life but end their lives all by themselves just because of their personality traits, especially having had no family spirit since their birth, or other family background situations. It looks pretty easy to tie the knot with someone but quite difficult to be able to live a happy family life. Strangely enough, some are frightened of marriage simply because some women are afraid of childbirth itself or some men have little desire to bring up children. Despite this, lovemaking or marriage has always been an ancient human practice, as well as children can metaphorically be the tinkle of a small bell in a house, which means that children can make a sweet home. And also, a sweet home gives rise to a happy life. In a lovely and warm home will even be found some family psychology of interest.
Psycho 1: A daughter is more emotionally attached to her father while a son connects deeply with his mother. Whether it is right or wrong, this is because father and daughter or mother and son are not the same sex, I think. Naturally, humans like to cling to those who have different sexes from them more than those with the same sex as theirs. Because of this, daughters willingly rely on their fathers’ leadership and management, which mostly cannot be obtained from females, whereas sons only want their mothers’ care and love, which can rarely be seen in males. However, fathers will give the same opportunity to both their sons and daughters as sons or daughters or both are their children only as well as mothers will have the same love for all their children for the reason that they have got a maternal spirit since birth, which enables them to equally look after their children with compassion. There may be an exception _ that is, some sons love their fathers and some daughters feel affection for their mothers, where the highly potential reason is that the children face a separate or divorced or adulterous family. In spite of this, most children rely upon their mothers, who live or even play together with them almost at all times.
Read more: https://www.gnlm.com.mm/family-psychology-of-interest/
In a world often driven by desires, aspirations, and immediate satisfaction, it is easy to become passionate about what we want to be. These desires, whether materialistic, celebrity-driven, or status-oriented, seem to dominate our goals and ambitions. However, focusing solely on what we want to be can lead to a shallow existence, driven by external validation and passing pleasures. Instead, we should prioritize what we should be the qualities, roles, and responsibilities that contribute to our growth, well-being, and the well-being of those around us. By shifting our focus from what we want to be to what we should be, we can foster a deeper sense of purpose, fulfilment, and societal contribution.
Understanding “What You Should Be” versus “What You Want to Be”
At the core of this discussion lies an important distinction: the difference between what we want to be and what we should be. “What you want to be” is often based on external desires or personal interests; it could involve wanting to be famous, rich, or admired. These goals are frequently tied to material success or the pursuit of passing pleasures. While there is nothing inherently wrong with having ambitions, when they are the sole focus, they can lead to dissatisfaction and a lack of meaning.
On the other hand, “what you should be” refers to the values, responsibilities, and qualities that we are meant to cultivate to live a fulfilling life. It involves striving to be a person of integrity, kindness, resilience, and responsibility. Focusing on what we should be centres around personal growth, the development of character, and contributing positively to our communities. It encourages us to think about our roles in a broader sense and how we can contribute to the collective good.
Read more: https://www.gnlm.com.mm/prioritize-what-you-should-be-rather-than-what-you-want-to-be/
The day on 28 March 2025 was an unforgettable day for all citizens of Myanmar. Ten minutes to 1 pm on that day, a devastating earthquake jolted Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area and Bago Region, resulting in several casualties.
The Mandalay earthquake measured 7.7 on the Richter scale. Among the earthquakes that have occurred since the 1900s, this is the second most powerful. Out of the 18 significant quakes we’ve experienced, the one in 1912 was the strongest, at 8.0 on the Richter scale. This recent earthquake was extremely powerful and caused significant loss and damage. Over 3,700 people have died, and more than 5,000 were injured. About 70 people are still missing. Around 67,000 homes have been destroyed. Approximately 6,400 schools and around 350 hospitals and clinics were damaged. Many roads and bridges have also been destroyed. This article aims to commemorate the powerful Mandalay earthquake that struck on 28 March 2025 and to draw as many lessons as possible from the event.
AT 11:43 a.m, our car which left Yangon at 7:30 a.m veered from Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw highway into the road leading to Toungoo. It was a 9-mile concrete road lined with shady Kukko trees. Behind the Kukko trees were greenery pea-plantations, some irrigated fields and some freshly ploughed for growing seasonal vegetables. Some clumps of toddy-palm trees were scattered higgledy-piggledy in the fields. I saw some rickety that chroofed bamboo-stalls which sold toddy-juice on the road-side. I also found a donation-collecting marquee with some young girls holding tin-bowls in front. When our car went past the marquee, one of the girls ran after us. So I put a one-thousand kyat note into her bowl. I glanced towards Toungoo looming up some distance ahead and saw a medley of roofs among thick foliage of green trees with glittering pagodas towering above them.
Soon, I espied Toungoo University in a large shady campus on the right-side of the road. We dropped in on my elder sister who was posted as an administrative officer at the university for some minutes. At about noon, we came to Kyun-pat road (Road which skirts round the moat), which was the city-circular road of Toungoo. We found large channels on the side of this road. It is said that these channels were the moats which surrounded the city-walls of Ketumati Toungoo. To my knowledge, ‘ Ketumati’ is a Pali word which means ‘ Possessor of banner’. This city was the capital of the Second Myanmar Empire. It was built by Mingyi Nyo in A.D 1510. He was succeeded by his son Tabinshwehti. When Tabinshwehti was assassinated by a Mon minister, his brother-in-law Kyaw Htin Nawratha acceded to the throne of Toungoo. He was better known as Bayintnaung and could establish dominance over some neighboring countries. During his reign, Myanmar power reached its zenith and Myanmar territory was the largest. Local chronicles also say that, before Ketumati Toungoo, towns such as Toungoo Nge, Toungoo Gyi, Myawadi and Dvaravati had emerged in its neighborhood.
Our car weaved through the maze of roads and streets. As Toungoo was an ancient town, we felt the whole town wrapped in a sort of mysterious air. We also found some main-roads lined with large, shady perennial trees, providing coolness to the whole town. Toungoo was a blend of old and new looks.Some ancient buildings, especially pagodas and other religious structures, were found amongst modern buildings like supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, guest-houses, hospitals, offices, etc. This suggested that Buddhism would have thrived in Toungoo during its hey day and reminded us of undying glory of powerful Toungoo kings.
At about 1 p.m, we made a brief stop at “Laik” Restaurant in downtown Toungoo for lunch. As it is crammed with many people, we had to stand for some time to get a vacant table. Then we had lunch hastily and visited the Kandaw Gyi ( Royal Lake) Park across it. The Kandaw Gyi was an ancient lake with a wide expanse of green water surrounded by bunds studded with shady tall trees. We saw many picnickers having lunch under the trees, some posing for photographs and a few lovers having tete-atete sitting on benches in the far corners of the park. I learnt from a local that the residential quarter next to the Kandaw Gyi was called ‘ Rakhine-su’ meaning ‘ Unit of Rakhines’ because it was the place where Rakhine soldiers of King Minrajagyi ( AD 1593-1612 ) who came to Toungoo at the request of King Min Ye Thiha Thu to attack Hamsavati in alliance with him in A.D1599 encamped.
At about 1:30 p.m, we proceeded to the Shwe Sandaw Pagoda in downtown Toungoo. It was a ten-minute drive from the Kandaw Gyi. The roads were sheltered by large shady trees. Many people were plying to and fro on bicycles and motor-cycles. When we reached the pagoda, we found some pilgrimage-buses parked in front of the cause-way leading to the pagoda-platform. We paid homage to the pagoda and Buddha images housed in the shrine-rooms. Then we donated some cash to the members of the pagoda trustee-ship board. We saw some pilgrims paying homage to the Buddha images, some offering flowers and joss-sticks and some walking clockwise around the base of the pagoda. It is said this ancient pagoda was 120 cubits high and built by King Thihasuramahadhammaraja in A.D1578 and a Buddha’s hair-relic sent by Sinhalese King Dhammapala to King Bayintnaung was enshrined in it.
Then we went on to the Kaungmhudaw Pagoda on the outskirts of Toungoo, making a detour round busy parts of the town. It is an ancient wish-fulfilled pagoda built by King Bayintnaung in A.D1551. It is said that he treaded the victorious ground (အောင်မြေ) inside its precincts just before his going on the military expedition to Pyi in A.D 1551 and that he, therefore, seized Pyi with ease. When we came to that pagoda, we saw a file of people walking round the statue of King Bayintnaung erected in the north-eastern corner of the precincts. When I asked a pilgrim about the reason, I was replied that they were treading the victorious ground so that their prayers would be answered. So we joined them and walked round the statue. When we left the Kaungmhudaw Pagoda, it was already 3 p.m. So we, in spite of wanting to visit other ancient sites, had to abandon our desire and started on our home-bound trip.
In conclusion, it is found that Toungoo is a pleasant, thriving district-city located in a wide fertile plain bolstered up by the Paunglaung river to the east, the Khabaung river to the south, the Pan-be creek to the west and the Swar creek to the north. Besides, it is a hub of transport between Lower Myanmar and Upper Myanmar and dotted with many ancient buildings such as pagodas, ordination-halls, moats, ruined city-walls, colonial buildings like offices, monasteries, temples, mosques, etc. Moreover, it is a stop-over on the way to Thandaung Gyi, a hilly station where holiday-makers and tourists can enjoy a cloud-sea, cool weather and other beautiful countrified scenes. Therefore, the author thinks that if the ancient sites in and round Toungoo are to be exposed and preserved the original style, it will surely be a high potential for tourism.
Thailand is set to overhaul its tax system by 2025, proposing taxation of residents’ worldwide income and introducing a 15 percent global minimum corporate tax for multinationals, aligning with international standards. These changes aim to broaden the tax base but may impact foreign investment and compliance costs.
Thailand is preparing to overhaul its taxation framework with a proposed amendment to Section 41 of the Revenue Code, aiming to tax the worldwide income of residents. Under this draft legislation, individuals who spend 180 days or more in Thailand would be required to pay taxes on their global earnings, irrespective of whether the income is transferred to Thailand.
This marks a significant departure from the current system, which taxes foreign income only if it is brought into the country within the same calendar year it is earned. The proposal, expected to take effect in 2025, has drawn mixed reactions.
While it reflects Thailand’s alignment with international tax norms, concerns are mounting among expatriates and foreign chambers of commerce over its potential impact on long-term residency and foreign direct investment.
As discussions around the draft legislation unfold, it is crucial to explore its implications for Thailand’s economic landscape, expatriate community, and global competitiveness.
Changes in 2024: A shift in taxation of foreign-sourced income
On January 1, 2024, a new tax rule was introduced, altering the way foreign-sourced income is taxed. Under the previous tax system, individuals in Thailand who were tax residents (spending 180 days or more in the country) were only taxed on their foreign income if it was brought into Thailand within the same year it was earned.
However, under the new rule, Thai nationals and foreigners who have been in the country for at least 180 days will be taxed on all foreign income, even if it is not brought into Thailand within the year.
This policy change significantly expands the scope of taxable income for residents, including income from employment, business operations, and passive income such as interest, dividends, and rental income from foreign sources. These new rules represent a marked shift from the current approach, making it important for individuals residing in Thailand to reassess their tax obligations, particularly about their overseas earnings.
These changes signal a broader move toward aligning Thailand’s tax policies with global standards, but they also raise concerns about the potential impact on foreign investment and expatriate residents who may now face higher tax liabilities on their global income.
ကိုးကား- ASEAN Briefing
Company says higher duties on Chinese cranes would just increase costs for American ports. The US ports association agrees
A leading Chinese manufacturer has taken the rare step of publicly criticising US plans to hike tariffs on made-in-China cranes, warning that the proposal would only raise costs for American ports.
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries – China’s top producer of container gantry cranes – denied it was a threat to US national security in comments submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Monday, adding that levies on Chinese products would not help revive American manufacturing.
China’s ship-to-shore cranes “pose no alleged cybersecurity risk, and the proposed tariffs are not a legitimate remedy”, it said in the statement.
The company’s comments come amid growing industry backlash against the US trade office’s proposal to slap a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made cranes, which has also provoked criticism from a major US ports association.
USTR first proposed the levy in late April, along with new duties of 20 percent to 100 percent on containers and chassis made in China.
The measures are part of Washington’s broader push to revive US manufacturing and push back against China’s dominance in the maritime sector, which has also seen the introduction of steep port fees targeting Chinese-linked vessels.
The American Association of Port Authorities echoed those comments in its own submission to USTR, warning that the tariffs were doomed to fail due to a lack of alternatives to Chinese-made cranes in the market.
Applying the tariff “will not create a domestic crane manufacturing industry out of thin air. It will only increase costs for public port authorities,” the association said.
There are currently no American producers of ship-to-shore cranes, it noted.
Only three non-Chinese companies are active in the international market: Japan’s Mitsui and the European firms Konecranes and Liebherr.
But none of them have the production capacity to replace China’s market share, the association said.
Shanghai Zhenhua reportedly accounts for about 70 per cent of the global market for quay cranes, with products sold to 108 countries and regions.
The Shanghai-listed company generated about 4.8 per cent of its revenue in North America last year, down more than 30 per cent year on year, according to the firm’s financial statement.
In 2024, the administration of US President Joe Biden imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese STS cranes.
US ports currently have 55 cranes on order and expect to need another 151 over the next six to 10 years. If the tariffs go ahead, they could cost America’s ports up to US$6.7 billion over the next decade, the association estimated.
The Port of Houston in Texas has eight cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua contracted for delivery in spring 2026, at a price of US$14 million each. That means the port would owe a whopping US$302.4 million in taxes if it is forced to pay the full tariffs, the association said.
Though the AAPA said it strongly supported efforts to reshore crane manufacturing, it added that it would take time to rebuild the industry due to a range of factors, including higher domestic steel prices, a shortage of skilled American welders, and a shortage of supplies of key crane components.
The port association suggested that the US Congress pass a bill establishing a tax credit to encourage domestic manufacturing, and called on USTR to hold off on any further tariffs on cranes until such legislation is enacted.
It also called for a delay of one to two years in implementing the proposed 100 percent tariff and requested that cranes ordered or contracted before the proposal’s publication on April 17, 2025, be exempted.
As Tatmadaw (Army, Navy, and Air) has been exerting targeted pressure and launching attacks on certain bases of the NUG, PDF, and some EAOs that are destroying Myanmar, it is already evident that there will be retaliation and false accusations from the supporters of these terrorist groups. Such things are no longer unusual in Myanmar politics.
When insurgents get hurt, this is how they speak, react, and put on dramatic, manipulative performances with wicked ways. The truth has yet to be known, but the lies have already spread far and wide, both domestically and internationally. This is the skilful work of professional saboteurs. No matter how it happened, innocent schoolchildren have lost their lives under the ruthless and heartless actions of a deceitful group of traitors who aim to destroy the nation.
Taking a human shield with beseeching
This is about a village called Ohtainkwin in Dabayin Township, Sagaing Region. Those terrorists accused Tatmadaw (Air) of bombing a school where classes were being held, resulting in the deaths of students. Now, whether the incident is logical or natural, whether it is justifiable or not, should we analyze it critically before forming an opinion? However, you try to think about it, it’s impossible to make sense of it. This is not a matter of blind denial. It’s just that this is the Myanmar Tatmadaw. Tatmadaw is structured with rules and codes of conduct, and it is a military that is recognized internationally, and it always pays attention to the needs of the people. It is Tatmadaw that protects the people. Because Tatmadaw fears harming civilians, and because it fears civilians being caught in the crossfire, it always acts with caution and consideration. That’s why, when encountering today’s destructive forces, Tatmadaw has to face many extremely difficult situations, and in some areas, it is not able to be as effective as it should be.
In places where there are students, religious and cultural heritage sites like pagodas and monasteries, extra caution is needed. Therefore, destroyers with malicious intent often set up camps specifically at schools, pagodas, and monasteries. They forcefully equip school-aged boys and girls with arms. They train them how to shoot small arms and how to make bombs so that they can kill people.
There is plenty of photographic evidence for this kind of information. In a way, it’s just emotional manipulation – using human shields and pretending to be victims to avoid casualties. Tatmadaw deliberately refrains from operating in such areas to avoid risks to itself. If any harm does occur due to military action, they use it to spread news internationally, portraying it as Tatmadaw indiscriminately attacking civilians, thereby setting traps through misinformation. Thus, Tatmadaw has repeatedly urged civilians to stay away from the terrorists and not to stay near them.
Just a scenario out of many scenarios
In reality, this deception story is just one of the fabricated tales deliberately created by the NUG and PDF. There was even a firsthand account from a villager, who used to support the NUG and was present during the events and openly said, ‘If they want to kill me for speaking the truth, so be it.’ According to his statement, the PDF had been stationed at that school for a long time. The school had become a place where bombs to be installed at drones were being produced.
That day, there was a school photo session, so students and their parents were invited to the school. Since it was a place where explosive devices were being made, parents naturally didn’t want to send their children there. However, the children and their parents were not so lucky. The bombs exploded with a loud blast, killing and injuring a total of 22 people — 20 children and two teachers. A resident disclosed, “It wasn’t an airstrike. The explosion occurred because PDFs were carelessly making homemade landmines and bombs, which led to the detonation. If it had been an airstrike, the victims would have been severely mutilated, and the school would have suffered even more damage. Everyone in the village knows it was because of the PDFs. You’re welcome to come and investigate. The PDFs have threatened to kill anyone who speaks out, which is why no one dares to say anything.”
Assess and evaluate such an incident logically
Why, and based on what principles, can we say that the accusations made by the NUG, PDF, and their supporters are incorrect and false? Why does the government have a solid foundation and credibility for its official denials? How inaccurate and unreliable are the one-sided accusations and information from them? Let’s compare and think about it carefully… The truth is, this period is not the time for schools to open; it is the intense summer vacation period. So why are schools open now? Even if someone says it’s because it’s the NUG government which wants to open schools whenever it wants, how can we trust that they are opening schools at such a time and under such circumstances and directives when the NUG does not encourage education? The reason why it’s said that the NUG does not support education is because of the incidents where the NUG killed teachers and destroyed schools.
Another point is that the Myanmar Tatmadaw (Air) bombs they talk about as the 500 pounds (lb) and 1,000 pounds (lb) bombs are extremely powerful bombs. If they had exploded, such a wooden school building would have been destroyed for sure. According to ground reports, currently, there is no damage to the building walls; only some cracks on the ceiling and some peeling of corrugated iron sheets are seen, but no major destruction. There are no large holes or fire marks caused by explosions, and no dead bodies, like bits of shrapnel or other broken items, are found. Other furnishings are also undamaged. Furthermore, as the NUG said, there are no large craters caused by bombs either. So, the bombs that exploded were not the originally mentioned 500 lb or 1,000 lb bombs; instead, they turned out to be cluster bombs, causing scattered small explosions.
PanOrient News which was issued on 17 May 2025 quoted a retired military ordnance and explosives expert saying that the standard airforce bombs weigh 500 lbs or 1,000 lbs and would have obliterated the small woodframed school building, most of which remains standing. No bomb crater was found at the site. Moreover, it clearly stated the doubt of the expert that this possibility as a standard cluster bomb would break up in mid-air and send over 200 bomblets over a wider area of up to 7 acres.
According to experts, cluster bombs can break apart into many smaller bombs while still in the air before hitting the target. From the original large bomb, fragments can scatter up to around seven acres, with about 200 bomblets spreading out. These bombs are the type that can repeatedly cause serious harm to human lives. Because these kinds of bombs can keep fragmenting even after breaking apart, caution is necessary. Cluster bombs don’t just affect a single spot on the ground where they land – they can spread over many areas. There can be many pieces of dead bodies, and lots of damage can be found. For these reasons, cluster bombs may or may not be possible, but since there is no solid evidence, and because even 500 lb or 1000 lb bombs have been denied by the sources themselves, it’s unlikely…
Let’s assess more conflicting points. The backpacks and books of the children who were hit by the bomb did not get torn or blown away by the blast—why are they still intact and perfectly in place? The deception tactics are not consistent, lack certainty, and seem suspicious. When the photos sent by NUG were checked with an AI detector, it was also found that the accuracy percentage was completely off.
Because of this, now organizations like OHCHR and UNICEF Myanmar remain silent. When looking at the photos of those who have died, some pictures show their eyes open, as if they are not dead but just waking up. The photos with captions and texts that are circulated repeatedly are also edited several times.
When they talk about the events, they do it live, and you can also watch the person speaking. For example, there is a former Assistant Lecturer from Kalay Government Technological College named Daw Yati Ohn, who has been part of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) since 2021. Sometimes she carries a gun, fights on the front lines, and does humanitarian work. Whenever Tatmadaw drops bombs by plane in places like Sagaing and Chin, she immediately arrives at the scene, filming videos with emotional cries, and she is someone who can spread propaganda.
What I want to analyze is that, in the case of Myanmar, some issues are not simple, and the idea that there can never be a coincidence is simply not true. Recently, in the central and southern regions of the country, the NUG, PDF, and EAOs have been launching multi-front offensives. Meanwhile, in the northeastern and northern regions, due to military successes by the Tatmadaw against terrorists, it seems that the NUG is providing support to the weakening side — that’s also part of the picture. Because of this situation, it appears that pressure is being applied on the Tatmadaw from multiple fronts. I also see that this is being used to uplift the morale of PDFs who had been returning to the legal fold due to a gradual loss of motivation and less hope. Through these justifications, they are trying to gain international sympathy — essentially crying in front of the world — and using that to raise international funds and donations.
As long as the terrorists continue to treat every place they exist as a human shield, no matter how cautiously Tatmadaw issues repeated warnings to avoid harm, they and their accomplices will keep fabricating such orchestrated incidents and deceptive stories stemming from their actions. In this latest fabricated story, what the saboteurs failed to notice is that they keep reusing the same simple tactics over and over again. As a result, public trust and acceptance of them have continued to decline.
Whatever the case may be, what I want to say to the terrorists and their supporters is this: Please put aside your egos so that we don’t have to witness more heartbreaking incidents like this. For those who have truly lost their lives, please reveal only the genuine truth. Also, they have to show a bit of thoughtful reasoning when considering right and wrong, cause and effect. They have to stop justifying wrong values, misguided policies and goals, wrong methods, and unethical practices. This is all I can urge.
Translated.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Two simple diet changes could reduce the symptoms of debilitating mental health conditions, a study suggests.
A major review by researchers at Bond University in Queensland, Australia, found that calorie restrictive diets may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The research–which included 25 studies involving 57,000 adults–also found that low fat diets may help relieve anxiety.
Researchers found that the benefits of a low fat diet on mental health were primarily seen among people at ‘elevated cardiometabolic risk’.
This included those suffering from conditions like obesity or insulin resistance the latter considered a potential precursor to type 2 diabetes.
A calorie restrictive diet is an eating pattern where you limit the amount of calories you consume per day in a bid to lose weight, usually around 1500 calories total.
Dieters are also advised to avoid processed foods and products high in sugar.
On the other hand, a low fat diet is considered getting less than 30 percent of your energy intake from fats, a level recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Publishing their findings in the journal the Annals of Internal Medicine, the experts said while calorie restrictive and low fat diets may help combat depression and anxiety the quality of the data supporting this was low.
As such they recommended any patient suffering from these problems discuss potential dietary changes with a health care professional beforehand.
The authors didn't speculate on how diet may help combat mental health issues, but previous studies have established a link between food and mood.
In 2017 Australian researchers, published a study in the journal BMC Medicine, where 33 people with major, drug resistant depression were put on the Mediterranean diet for three months.
They were then compared with 34 people with the same condition who continued with their usual diets.
The Mediterranean diet group experienced 'significantly greater improvement' in symptoms than the control group.
Additionally, last year data from 3,000 adults showed that, after six years, those who followed Mediterranean diet had a 16 percent lower risk of developing depression than people who didn't.
The Mediterranean typically involves focusing on fresh produce, lean meat like fish and chicken, and whole grains, while eating less red meat and sweets.
Professor Felice Jacka, an expert in nutritional psychiatry and director of the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, previously told Mail Online she is convinced there is link between diet and depression.
'Where mental health is concerned, our gut microbes are running us,' said Professor Jacka.
She said that a diet rich in unprocessed foods with lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, pulses and grains is the key.
Professor Jacka said this fibre-rich diet richly supports a healthy gut microbiome, the population of bacteria, viruses and fungi that naturally live in our digestive tract.
Fibre is a type of complex carbohydrate found in plants that our bodies cannot easily break down.
This means it passes through the digestive system all the way to the large intestine where it helps feeds trillions of micro organisms.
Fibre's mood benefits have been demonstrated in a review of 18 previous studies, published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience in 2023.
The University of Adelaide researchers found that, for people deemed at risk of depression, each additional 5g of fibre they added to their diet was associated with a 5 percent reduction of their risk of developing symptoms.
The NHS recommends aiming for at least 30g of fibre per day.
Experts also warn that a diet in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can have a negative impact on mental health.
Professor Jacka co-authored a study in the journal Clinical Nutrition which concluded that a person's risk of depressive symptoms goes up 10 percent for each additional 10 percent that their diet is comprised of UPFs.
'If you do just one thing to improve your mental health through diet, completely cut out soft drinks, ice cream and crisps,' Professor Jacka told MailOnline.
While multiple studies have established a link between what we eat and mental health, other experts caution the relationship might not be as clear cut as it seems.
They highlight that for UPFs and depression there is no clear cause and effect.
Additionally, they note that patients who eat a lot of UPFs are also more likely to be obese, exercise less frequently and more likely to smoke, all of which could influence their mental wellbeing.
Mental health charity Mind estimates that one in six Britons are suffering from a common mental health problem like depression and anxiety at any one time.
Symptoms of depression range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.
There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains.
For anxiety they say that common symptoms include feeling restless or on edge being irritable, getting tired easily and having tense muscles.
The NHS recommended seeing a doctor if you have symptoms of either condition.
Mail Online
SMALL objects we carry daily hold a quiet charm – a keychain from a favourite trip, a ring softened by time, a note folded with love, or, most often, a photo tucked inside a wallet.
These aren’t just things; they’re pieces of the heart, carrying memories, love, and the people who make life special. We carry them not for their material worth, but for the stories they whisper every time our fingers brush past them.
Each item tucked away holds a universe. A faded train ticket, a dried flower, or a scribbled phone number – reminders that someone mattered, that a moment once lit the heart. Among these, the photo in the wallet stands apart. It’s often a small, square token of love, folded neatly, a little worn around the edges. It’s carried day after day, year after year, surviving the chaos of everyday life. Yet somehow, it remains intact, holding a gaze, a smile, or a memory we never want to lose.
A friend recently shared a story that warmed the soul, showing just how much these keepsakes mean. Her husband went to the market one sunny afternoon to buy fish for dinner. It was a typical day – nothing grand, nothing out of the ordinary. He stood in line, waiting for his turn at the fish stall.
The fish seller, a woman with kind eyes and a ready smile, greeted him with unexpected warmth. “Your wife,” she said kindly, “always comes here for the freshest fish. I save the best for her and give her a small discount.” The husband blinked in surprise. He’d never met this woman before, had never spoken to her. And yet, she knew who he was. Curious, he asked, “How do you know her?” The fish seller laughed softly. “When she pays,” she explained, “I see your photo in her wallet. I’ve seen it so many times, I’d recognize you
anywhere.” The husband’s heart lifted.
Something about this simple recognition stirred him. A warm smile crossed his face. This woman – just a kind stranger – had seen a piece of his life carried every day, lovingly, by the person he loved most. That photo, quietly residing in his wife’s wallet, had introduced him to the world without his knowing.
When he got home with the fish, he told his wife the story. They laughed, the sound ringing through the kitchen like wind chimes on a breezy afternoon – joyful, intimate, and familiar. It wasn’t just a funny moment. The things we carry, even without thinking, reveal so much about who we are and who we love.
That evening, the husband felt a softness in his chest. He joined his wife in the kitchen, their hands moving together in rhythm as they cooked. The garlic sizzled, the onions turned golden, and their conversation flowed like a favourite song. My friend later said that meal was unforgettable – not just for the fish’s fresh taste, but for the love that flavoured it. It wasn’t a grand celebration or an anniversary dinner. It was a Sunday, perhaps, or a regular day that bloomed unexpectedly because of one small photo and the feelings it carried.
Over dinner, the husband asked gently to see the picture she carried. She smiled, reached into her purse, and slid her wallet across the table. Inside was a small, well-worn photo of him as a child, perhaps seven or eight years old – grinning, gap-toothed, full of wonder. He looked at it in quiet amazement. She had carried this memory, this younger version of him, close to her heart for years.
This moment touched him deeply. It wasn’t just the photo – it was the constancy of love, the way she had quietly held him close even in his absence, even when he wasn’t aware. Love doesn’t always need grand gestures. Sometimes, it shines brightest in the ordinary – a worn photo, a fish seller’s smile, two people standing side by side at the stove, cooking dinner like a team. Moved, the husband asked for a photo of her, one he could carry. Later that night, he slipped it into his wallet, pressing it between cards and bills with gentle reverence.
He wanted to carry her as she had carried him—a silent, loving promise tucked away for everyday life.
Love weaves through life’s moments in subtle ways. When young, wallets hold photos of first loves – crushes that make the heart race, summer romances, scribbled notes on notebook paper. As time passes, that picture might be of a spouse – the person who’s seen the best and worst of us, shared in our laughter, and steadied us through grief. When children arrive, their bright eyes and gap-toothed smiles take centre stage, a daily reminder of why we keep going. And as years roll on, we might carry photos of those we’ve lost – parents, friends, even pets – holding onto their memory with tenderness, as if their gaze in the photo offers comfort across time.
In a loud, busy world filled with notifications, deadlines, and digital noise, these simple keepsakes bring us back to what truly matters. The photo in a wallet – tucked beside old receipts and cards – is a quiet nod to the one who holds our heart. It’s a reminder that we are not alone, that someone is loved and remembered.
Whose photo rests in our wallet? A partner, a child, a parent, a friend, or perhaps a beloved pet? Maybe it’s someone who has passed, whose memory is carried close to our hearts. Each photo tells a story – of connection, of belonging, of a chapter in the book of our lives. Some of us might carry our own photos, reminders of who we once were, of how far we’ve come.
Over time, the faces in our wallets change. As we grow, so do the stories we choose to carry. The innocent love of youth gives way to the depth and endurance of mature connection.
In adulthood, the image of a partner represents stability, shared struggles, and a bond forged over the years. As parents, the joyful chaos of children becomes the focus – their smiles a bright thread running through long days and sleepless nights. And in later years, photos of those who’ve passed become treasured keepsakes, their absence softened by the comfort of memory.
In an age of smartphones and cloud storage, it might seem old-fashioned to carry a photo in a wallet. But maybe that’s exactly why it matters more than ever. It requires intention. It demands space in the finite, physical world we move through. It’s not swiped away or forgotten among hundreds of images – it’s chosen, preserved, honoured.
Some people don’t carry photos anymore. That’s okay, too. But perhaps the story of the fish seller and the husband will linger. Perhaps it will prompt us to pull out an old photo and place it back in the fold of our wallet.
Or maybe we’ll take a new one, capturing someone we love just as they are now – a moment, a glance, a truth worth carrying. Life’s beauty hides in simple things: a shared meal, a knowing glance, a photo carried close. My friend’s story – of a fish seller, a photo, and love shining in the everyday — reminds us that we’re all holding onto something precious, often without realizing it.
Because in the end, it’s not the things we own that define us. It’s the things we carry—the memories, the love, the quiet acts of care.
And when life gets busy, when the days blur together, when the world feels too fast, these small things become our anchor. They remind us of what really matters. They bring us back to ourselves.
The husband in that story will probably never forget the fish seller’s smile, or the way his wife quietly, lovingly carried a photo of him for years without ever needing to say a word.
That’s what love looks like. Not grand declarations. But small, steady signs. A photo in a wallet. A memory in a pocket. A heart held close.
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar