Families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy, and Air) and all military commands have been holding monsoon tree-growing ceremonies yearly since 2011 with the aim of conserving the natural environment, contributing to climatic conditions, sustaining shade in society and supporting the State economy on one hand.
Yesterday, families of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy, and Air) held the second monsoon tree-growing ceremony 2025 near Yezin Dam in Zeyathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw, attended by State Administration Council Chairman, Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who planted a teak sapling.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla led the ceremony by growing a teak sapling. SAC Vice-Chairman, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Vice-Senior General Soe Win and his wife Daw Than Than Nwe, Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Kyaw Swa Lin and his wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and his wife, the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and his wife, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Tatmadaw members and families planted saplings at the designated places.
The Senior General, his wife and party viewed the participation of Tatmadaw members and families in the tree-growing activities.
Also, present at the ceremony were Union-level dignitaries and their wives, senior officer trainees from the National Defence College, Tatmadaw members from offices and departments under the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) and families.
At the ceremony, they grew 900 teak saplings, 600 ironwood saplings, 300 gum-kino saplings and 600 mahogany saplings, totalling 2,400.
They have planted 206,025 saplings of teak, perennial crops and windbreaks 43 times from 2011 to the second ceremony in 2025 in order to conserve the environment of Yezin Dam and its ecosystem.
At the same time, 12 military commands organized the monsoon tree-growing ceremonies to plant 137,186 saplings in total, including the saplings planted by families of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy, and Air). — MNA/TTA

GNLM

The music concert marking the 100th anniversary of Mandalay University took place at the MRTV Auditorium in Tatkon of Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
It was attended by Union Ministers U Maung Maung Ohn, U Min Naung, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, and Dr Soe Win, and Union Civil Service Board Chairman U Aung Thaw, Deputy Minister for Education U Nay Myo Hlaing, departmental officials, town elders, alumni of Mandalay University and invitees.
Mandalay Region Chief Minister (Retd) U Maung Ko donated K20 million for quake-affected MRTV staff to the Director-General.
During the concert, Union Minister U Maung Maung Ohn handed over K5 million cash award provided by SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and K3 million by the Ministry of Information for Mandalay Myoma Band and artistes to Patrons of Myoma Band U Khin Maung Than, U Myat Soe Swe and U Khin Maung Swe.
The famous vocalists and students of Metta Private High School from Kyaukse performed, accompanied by Mandalay Myoma Band.
After the concert, the Union ministers presented flower baskets and gifts to the members of the Mandalay Myoma band and artistes individually.
Mandalay University was established as Mandalay Intermediate College on 4 July 1925, and as Mandalay Arts and Science College in 1948 and Mandalay University in 1958. Therefore, it marks the 100th anniversary on 4 July 2025. The establishment of Mandalay Myoma Band, the heart of Mandalay, also reaches its 100th anniversary. Therefore, Mandalay Myoma Band proudly played for “Mandalay University Centenary Music Concert”, and the event was broadcast live on Friday Night Live Show of MRTV. — MNA/KTZH

GNLM

Shiite Muslims in Karbala, Iraq are participating in rituals ahead of Ashura, a day of mourning commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, in the 7th century. These rituals include public displays of grief, symbolizing their connection to Hussein's suffering. 

This is a significant day in the Islamic calendar, particularly for Shia Muslims, marking the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala. Karbala is a holy city for Shia Muslims, believed to be the location of Hussein's tomb. Ashura is observed globally by Shia Muslims, with major cities like Baghdad and Tehran adorned with symbols of Shia piety. 

mitv

US President Donald Trump enjoyed the Independence Day fireworks with first lady Melania. They watched from the White House balcony as two B-2 bombers, the same type that recently struck Iranian nuclear sites, roared overhead, accompanied by F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.

Trump kicked off America’s Independence Day celebrations with the America250 campaign, a day before signing the major tax bill into law on Friday. The campaign is a yearlong celebration to commemorate 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

mitv

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa oversaw the unveiling of a new national emblem at the Presidential Palace in Damascus. A new emblem was adopted on 3 July 2025, depicting an eagle, inspired by ancient motifs at Palmyra, surmounted by three stars, taken from the Syrian flag. The eagle includes 14 feathers, symbolizing the country's 14 governorates.

mitv

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspected the upgrading processes of damaged sites on Yazahtarni Road in Nay Pyi Taw on June 4th.

During the inspection, the Prime Minister heard reports on Asphalt paving at the damaged road section.  Upon the reports, the Prime MInister instructed for long-term durability of the road, meeting set standards, and timely completion of the road. It is learnt that the upgrading of road section is being carried out by new technology of Regulating Course Mix Design.

Due to a powerful Mandalay earthquake, road section from Pan Khin traffic junction to Kumudra Kyar Pan  roundabout on Yazahtarni Road was severly impacted.

The Prime Minister instructed the renovation processes of the road section with the use of new technology. The stability and flow of Regulating Course Mix Design was successfully tested at the lab of the Ministry of Construction with Marshall Testing Machine. With this design, consistence amount of asphalt and cement can be reduced.

mitv

The 2nd Monsoon Tree Planting Ceremomy of Nay Pyi Taw Union Terrority was held at Yan Aung Myin forest reserve in Dekkinathiri Township on 4th July with the attendance of Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister underscored the advantages of green and clean environment emphasizing on severe natural disasters encountered across the world which are impacts of deforestation, global warming, climate change and environmental pollution.

The Prime Minister highlighted the efforts of the government in improving ecosystem of the dry zone area and delta region of the country, making them greener with better climate condition as they are crucial in nation’s agriculture sector. Tree planting and forest conservation must be carried out as a national duty as they are the strongest driving force in safeguarding ecosystem.

He also called on the relevant ministries, organizations and individuals to make concerted efforts along the way to increase Myanmar’s forest coverage to 50% of the country area to secure the green and healthy environment for the citizens and new generations.

Then, the Prime Minister planted star flower sapling at the designated area and oversaw the tree planting process carried out collectively. During the ceremony, a total of 3,000 saplings of 18 tree species were planted.

mitv

A huge explosion at a petrol station in a Rome suburb on Friday injured around 30 people, the vast majority of them lightly, and rattled windows across the Italian capital. Visiting the scene, Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the injured were nine law enforcement officers and around 20 other people, one of them in a serious condition.

Neighbouring buildings were evacuated following the blast at around 8:20 am local time, which Gualtieri said caused "enormous damage", including to a sports hall which was hosting a children's summer camp. The children were taken to safety beforehand and were unharmed.

mitv

According to the observations at 16:30 hrs MST today, monsoon is strong over the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, due to the easterly waves and westerly waves, rain or thundershowers will be scattered in Mandalay, Magway, Lower Sagaing Regions and Kayah State, fairly widespread to widespread in Naypyitaw, Yangon, Bago, Upper Sagaing, Ayeyarwady, Taninthayi Regions and Kachin, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan States with regionally and isolated heavyfalls during today evening to 7-7-2025. Occassional squalls with rough seas will be experienced off and along Myanmar Coasts. Surface wind speed in squalls may reach 35 mph. Wave height will be about 11-13 feet off and along Myanmar Coasts.

Advisory

People should be awared the natural disasters such as the heavy rainfall with strong wind, thunder, Lightning strike, lightning, hails, flash flood and landslide in the hilly areas and near small rivers and to make necessary preparations for inland water transport, domestic flight and irrigation dams.

DMH

Everyone is encouraged to come together to support all women, both in rural and urban areas, to regain livelihoods and improve their economic capacities through sustainable income-generating activities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mingalaba.
First of all, I would like to extend my greetings and best wishes for peace of mind, good health, and all kinds of auspicious blessings to all the distinguished guests attending today’s ceremony in honour of the 2025 Myanmar Women’s Day.
Today’s Myanmar Women’s Day is a special and significant day for all Myanmar women living across the country. It is a day to honour outstanding women who are actively contributing to various important sectors of the nation. At the same time, it is also an occasion organized to inspire and empower women from all walks of life. Therefore, I would like to express my heartfelt tribute to all Myanmar women.
Myanmar women are compassionate, resilient, and capable individuals. They have made strong and active contributions not only to fields such as politics, economics, social affairs, education, craftsmanship, and the arts, but also alongside men in national defence, security, and administration. Their dedication to the nation’s development is evident. Today, it is also increasingly apparent that Myanmar women are participating in decision-making roles across various sectors, reflecting their growing leadership and influence.
At a time when the State Administration Council has assumed responsibilities of the State unavoidably, many patriotic and dedicated women have stepped forward to serve bravely in various sectors such as national defence, security, education, health, and administration. Likewise, they have also made remarkable and commendable contributions to the realms of religion, literature, and fine arts. Therefore, as part of honouring Myanmar Women’s Day, the State proudly recognizes these outstanding women by conferring honorary titles and awards in appreciation of their exceptional service.
International Women’s Day, which fell on 8 March, was celebrated around the world — including in Myanmar under the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress Towards Equality”. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In alignment with this milestone, efforts have been encouraged globally to further enhance the capacity of women and girls across all sectors and ensure they have greater access to opportunities.
In implementing these initiatives, actions are being carried out in alignment with the 12 key areas of the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women. These efforts are also being implemented under the provisions of the 2008 Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
Myanmar is actively participating in international commitments aimed at promoting the advancement of women and ensuring gender equality. The country is implementing actions based on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which includes 12 critical areas of concern and was adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in 1995. Myanmar is also working in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted by the United Nations in 1979, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN in 2015.
In addition, Myanmar is actively taking part in initiatives of the ASEAN region, including programmes for the prevention of violence against women, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, the Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework, and action plans promoting women’s political participation and leadership. Similarly, Myanmar is also engaged in implementing gender-related strategic plans in collaboration with Mekong region countries, aiming to promote and enhance the rights of women.
In advancing the role of women, individual capacity is important, but it is equally essential to ensure that more women can participate in decision-making positions. According to the 2024 Myanmar Statistical Yearbook, as of the end of March 2024, women made up 60.14 per cent of the civil service workforce. Among those in decision-making positions, women accounted for 53.63 per cent of officials at the level of deputy director and above.
According to the 2024 Myanmar Statistical Yearbook, based on birth and death records in the health sector, the average life expectancy in 2022 was about 63 years for men and about 72 years for women, indicating that women live longer than men. Moreover, the rates of infant mortality (under one year), under-five child mortality, and overall birth rates have been declining year by year. This shows that women’s health awareness and healthcare have been improving.
The foundation of a nation’s development lies in the abundance of educated and skilled people. Therefore, it is essential to increase the number of knowledgeable and skilled human resources. The government is committed to promoting higher education levels and well-rounded development for all citizens. We are also actively working to enhance modern education and technology training to empower our youth, who are the future leaders, and striving to improve literacy rates and education completion levels.
According to the 2024 ASEAN Regional Gender Review Report, jointly conducted by the ASEAN Secretariat and UN Women, women’s political participation in ASEAN countries stands at 22 per cent. Annually, nine per cent of women experience violence from intimate partners. Women also spend more than twice the amount of time men do on unpaid care and household work. Regarding access to technology, 69 per cent of men own mobile phones compared to only 63 per cent of women. There is also a noted gender disparity in land ownership. In Myanmar, the adolescent birth rate is only 0.2 per cent, the lowest among ASEAN countries, indicating progress in reproductive health awareness and education.
According to research surveys, Myanmar is working through national, operational, and regional women’s committees to enhance the capacities and development of women and girls across various sectors. The government urges all relevant ministries and organizations involved in the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women (2023-2032), including the steering committee and the 12 working committees, to increase their efforts and collaboration in implementing this plan effectively.
Furthermore, when carrying out reconstruction efforts in disaster-affected areas, it is requested that gender-sensitive plans be implemented. Everyone is encouraged to come together to support all women, both in rural and urban areas, to regain livelihoods and improve their economic capacities through sustainable income-generating activities.
In conclusion, for the success of peace processes and the establishment of a Union based on federalism and a democratic system, the entire women’s community must work together hand in hand with all men in unity and cooperation. Therefore, I urge all citizens, including women, to come together in greater solidarity and active participation than ever before for the development and future of the nation.

GNLM