US President Donald Trump has secured a major investment deal with Saudi Arabia. The agreement includes what is said to be the largest-ever purchase of US-made weapons.

Trump met for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday. He said: "Our fighter jets, our missiles, our systems, Patriots, we have the best equipment. Beyond that, you're purchasing a lot of different things, and I appreciate it."

The White House released a statement saying that the US and Saudi Arabia agreed to strengthen their "strategic partnerships." It added that Saudi Arabia is committing to an investment of 600 billion dollars in the US. Those funds include money for the arms deal, worth 142 billion dollars. The US will sell items related to missile defense, maritime security and modernizing the army, among others.

Saudi leaders are hoping the purchases will allow them to maintain military superiority in the region.

Trump is set to meet with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, before leaving Saudi Arabia. He said he will issue an order to lift sanctions on the country. He will then to travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Source : NHK World

Bogale May 12
Local merchants and fishery entrepreneurs from Bogale Township of Ayeyawady Region sent a large volume of shrimps to Yangon market in April, said Daw Aye Aye Moe, the marine product trader in Bogale Township.
In Bogale Township, the seafood trading businesses are actively purchasing prawns produced locally, processing them hygienically and systematically, and exporting them to the Yangon market.
It is reported that during the month of March this year, up to 45,000 viss of assorted prawns were successfully exported and sold to Yangon market. In April, the quantity increased to 70,000 viss.
“A variety of seafood products from Bogale Township are currently being exported and sold in the Yangon market. In the past month alone, up to 70,000 viss of assorted prawns were exported and sold. Due to strong demand from the Yangon market, exports have increased.
Alongside prawns, the high export volume of various seafood products has also created good employment opportunities for those involved in the seafood trade. Most of the products were transported by cargo trucks, and the export process has been smooth and without major difficulties,” said Daw Aye Aye Moe.
The selling price per viss of the exported prawns to the Yangon market varied depending on freshness and type. Small prawn fetched K20,500 to K22,500 per viss, small shrimp K17.500 to K19,500, large shrimp K22,500 to K24,000 and lobster K37,500 to K55,000 per viss in Yangon market. Kyaw Kyaw Lin

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper

Kalewa April 29
Local farmers have completed 100 per cent harvest of sweet corns in Kalewa Township of Sagaing Region, according to the statistics of Kalewa Township Agriculture Department.
In Kalewa Township, during the winter crop season, sweet corn was cultivated on up to 3,165 acres. It was reported that harvesting of these sweet corn plantations began in January of this year and has been completed as of today, with 100 per cent of the acreage fully harvested.
The yield was said to exceed 20,000 ears of corn per acre. "The winter crop season in Kalewa Township saw sweet corn cultivated on 3,165 acres. Now, all of the planted areas have been completely harvested. In order to ensure a successful crop, awareness programs were conducted and efforts were made to prevent pest and disease outbreaks," said U Myo Naing, Head of the Township Agriculture Department.
Farmers cultivating sweet corn in Kalewa Township received training and participated in field demonstration events conducted by the Township Agriculture Department. They were also educated on preventive measures against pests such as fall armyworms, integrated pest management (IPM) systems, and how to properly use insecticides like Neem-based products, ginger, and chili extracts, as well as agricultural best practices.
Regarding maize and sweet corn cultivation in Kalewa Township, maize yields over 50 baskets per acre, with an estimated cost of over K500,000 per acre and sweet corn yields approximately 15,000 ears per acre, with a cost of over K500,000 per acre as well.

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper

CULTIVATION of summer paddy covered 267,078 acres in Yangon Region, exceeding the target of 250,896 acres for this season. Summer paddy cultivation outperformed by 16,182 acres against those sowing acres recorded last year.
A total of 267,078 acres of summer paddy were cultivated in Yangon Region, and 113,715 of them have been harvested as of the third week of April, according to the Department of Agriculture in Yangon Region.
The remaining acres of 153,363 are being harvested.
The average paddy yield this summer is 93.47 per cent per acre. The department provided 8,000 drum seeders in the respective townships to establish systematic agriculture and promote uniform crop growth. In 2024, 85,726 acres were sown under the seeder system. The effective sowing under the seeder system reached 106,005 acres in 2025.
Although there was light rainfall in certain areas in the region starting from the pre-Thingyan Festival, it did not have an impact on the summer paddy harvest.
Moreover, the department is assisting the farmers in ploughing and cultivating flax plants as green manure to enrich the soil, treat farmland and improve soil health and fertility.
The summer paddy fields can be found in eight districts of the region, including Twantay District, with 91,197 acres of summer paddy. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/EM

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

BMW will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology from Chinese tech startup DeepSeek into its newest cars in China later this year, said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, at the Shanghai auto show on Wednesday. “This will enhance our Intelligent Personal Assistant with DeepSeek functionality. It will also complement our existing AI capabilities and enable access to information that goes well beyond the vehicle itself,” Zipse said. Previously, a number of Chinese carmakers had signed up to integrate DeepSeek’s popular large language model (LLM) into their own systems. Zipse stressed China’s importance for innovation, including in AI, saying BMW is “bringing breakthrough technologies from pioneering local players quickly to the road.” The German automaker has been accelerating collaboration with Chinese technology partners. Last week, it announced a plan to deepen collaboration with ByteDance to enhance AI applications in marketing and customer service. — Xinhua

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Phaungpyin April 21
According to records from the Mawlaik District Department of Agriculture, a total of 5,411 acres of maize and sweet corn have been harvested in Phaungpyin Township, Sagaing Region.
During the winter cropping season in Phaungpyin Township, 5,411 acres of maize and sweet corn were cultivated. Harvesting began in January this year, and as of now, all acres have been fully harvested. The yields recorded are 800 acres of maize, producing 48.82 baskets per acre, and 4,611 acres of sweet corn, producing over 19,000 cobs per acre.
"The winter cropping season in Phaungpyin Township allowed us to cultivate a total of 5,411 acres of maize and sweet corn. Currently, all these fields have been fully harvested. To ensure successful maize production, we have provided educational programmess and preventive measures against pests and diseases," said Daw Kywe Kywe Hlaing, the head of the Mawlaik District Agriculture Department.
The Township Agriculture Department has conducted training sessions, field demonstrations, and awareness programs on pest control for farmers cultivating grain maize and sweet corn in Phaungpyin Township. These programs include early prevention of the pests, integrated pest management techniques, and the proper use of pesticides for crops such as sesame, ginger, and chili.
In terms of yield and expenses, grain maize production in Phaungpyin Township yields over 50 baskets per acre, with a cultivation cost of around K500,000 per acre.
Meanwhile, sweet corn production yields approximately 15,000 cobs per acre, with a cultivation cost exceeding K500,000 per acre. 

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper

Kyaiklat April 21
Daw Khin Khin Win, a seafood wholesale business owner from Kyaiklat Township, stated that a total of 75,000 viss of Gutum fish was transported and sold to the Yangon market from Kyaiklat Township of Ayeyawady Region during February.
In comparison, only 50,000 viss of Gutum fish were transported and sold to the Yangon market in January. However, the export volume increased to 75,000 viss due to strong demand in Yangon in February.
"We are exporting Gutum fish from Kyaiklat Township to Yangon and other regions. In February, we managed to sell up to 75,000 viss.
Currently, the demand for locally sourced Gutum fish is high in the Yangon market. Prices depend on freshness, of course. With sales improving, both traders and workers are benefiting," said Daw Khin Khin Win.
Due to the steady demand for fish, including Gutum fish, and other aquatic products from Kyaiklat Township in the Yangon market, businesses such as truck rental services, fishermen, and labourers involved in transportation and handling are also experiencing stable job opportunities.

Source: Yadanar Bon Newspaper

In Aungban Township, the vegetable online trade has paused temporarily due to the highway being destroyed by the quake, however, the local offline market has run as usual.
“Aungban quite suffered during the quake. The online trade has paused though, the local offline trade including the Aungban market has continued operating regularly because people need basic foods daily,” said Ma Nyo Lae Yi, vegetables and fruits trader in Aungban Township.
The Mandalay earthquake struck on 28 March and left much damage in Aungban and many buildings including the Aungban Hotel collapsed, with fatalities.
Taunggyi was also affected by the quake but vegetables and fruits are still able to be transported to other townships. — Thit Taw/ZS

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar

THE Agriculture Department notified growers to ensure the precise application of water for pre-monsoon long-staple cotton cultivation to meet production targets.
The notification of the department stated to irrigate immediately when the leaves turn to darker green colour, irrigate when the leaves of 25 plants among 100 are withered at noon (12-2 pm), and irrigate when the soil seems moist yet dry. While growing monsoon or pre-monsoon long-staple cotton, growers had better irrigate one time after sowing, once when the flower blossoms and at least three more times during the flowering phase (75- 120 days). They also need to regulate irrigation according to soil type and prevailing weather conditions. Drip irrigation every 10 to 15 days is best for sandy soil.
Moreover, the department informed them of adequate irrigation into the two-foot depth of cultivation land, use of drip irrigation, avoiding excess application of water, irrigation for six to 12 hours, and having drainage for efficient agriculture operation. — NN/KK

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Mawlayinegyun March 23
Local merchants sold 750,000 pieces of tender coconut from Mawlamyinegyun Township of Ayeyawady Region to Yangon market in February, said Daw Cho Cho, the owner of coconut trading wholesale centre in Mawlamyinegyun Township.
They supplied 500,000 pieces of tender coconut to Yangon market in January but 750,000 in February. Tender coconut fetches K98,000 per 100 pieces.
Daw Co Cho said: “We send domestic products from Mawlamyinegyun Township to Yangon market only. In January, Yangon market offered a large demand to purchase coconuts to us. So, we sent 750,000 pieces of coconut to the market. Thanks to high demand of coconut, local farmers can earn incomes.”
Currently, merchants as well as local farmers in addition to any others in production chain of coconut are convenient in their relevant livelihoods. Kyaw Kyaw Lin

Source: Yadanarbon Newspaper