On 13th August, the 2025-2026 Academic Year School Health Week (Central Level) Commemorative Event was held at the Ministry of Health in Nay Pyi Taw with the attendance of Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win.

In his speech, the Union Minister highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education in implementing advanced school-based health programmes as a priority project. The Union Minister urged the relevant individuals from education and health sectors, parents and teachers to make concerted efforts to be able to designate all basic education schools as health promoting schools starting from 2025-2026 Academic Year.

He also encouraged to conduct school health week campaigns and school-based health programmes across the nation under the 2025-2026 theme of School Health Week Campaign “Lets promote school health for the emergence of youths with five strengths”, to turn out the qualified and reliable youths who can contribute the interest of the nation.

Next, the Deputy Minister for Education made a speech highlighting the cooperative measures between the two ministries, ensuring the active participation of the Ministry of Education in school nutrition week activities. After enjoying the commemorative video clip, the Union Minister and party made a tour to the commemorative exhibition.

On arrival at No.10 Basic Education High School (Zabuthiri Township), the Union Minister and party oversaw the school health week activities such as eye testing, dental examination, deworming and iron supplements provision, dengue preventive measures and nutritious meals provision.

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Aiming to achieve the best outcomes in 33rd Southeast Asian Games, a work coordination meeting on administration and management was held at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs with the attendance of the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs and, Hotels and Tourism Jeng Phang Naw Taung on 13th August.

During the meeting, the Union Minister in his capacity as chairman of the Myanmar Olympic Committee instructed to present reports on the arrangements and training process of the athletes to secure significant achievements in 33rd SEA Games, administrative measures and requisite assistance for all relevant sectors.

After hearing sector-wise reports presented by the officials, the Deputy Ministers instructed on systematic and timely work implementation and supplemented necessities. Then, the Union Minister stressed to accelerate the preparation measures, ensuring smooth work process and concluded the meeting.

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Myanmar secured first place in Group B of the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship and advanced to the semifinals after drawing 1-1 with defending champions the Philippines on 13 August in Vietnam.
In the day’s other Group B match, Australia defeated Timor-Leste 9-0. The result meant Myanmar topped the group, while the Philippines was eliminated from the tournament, losing its grip on the title. Having won their first two matches, Myanmar went into the final group game knowing the result would be decisive for their semifinal hopes.
The Philippines, needing a win, started aggressively, but Myanmar’s defence held firm. After the opening 10 minutes, Myanmar began to counter effectively, and in 32 minutes, Win Theingi Tun was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. She converted the spot kick herself to give Myanmar the lead.
The Philippines equalized in the 71st minute through Nina, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. Myanmar held on to preserve the draw, although substitute Yoo Wadi Hlaing missed a late chance to secure the win with a 90th-minute free kick.
At the end of the group stage, Vietnam topped Group A with nine points, followed by Thailand with six. In Group B, Myanmar finished first with seven points, while Australia took second with six.
The semifinals, set for 16 August, will see Myanmar face Thailand, while host Vietnam will take on Australia. — Shine Htet Zaw/KZL

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At the 17th World MMA Awards, selected by Fighter Only magazine, Myanmar fighter Joshua Van has been included in the preliminary list for two award categories.
The World MMA Awards are among the most prestigious honours for MMA fighters, with a total of 23 categories being awarded this year. Winners are chosen through fan voting, based on performances in bouts held between July 2024 and June 2025. The preliminary lists for each category are compiled from these performances.
Joshua Van has been shortlisted for the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year award and the Fight of the Year award. His bout on 28 June against Brandon Royval at UFC 317 was included in the Fight of the Year list. That match was recognized as the “Best Co-Main Event” of UFC 317, and was also chosen as “Fight of the Month” for June by UFC.
For the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year award, Van appears alongside four other athletes, including Reinier de Ridder, a fighter familiar to Myanmar fans.
Joshua Van has won 13 out of 15 professional fights, with five consecutive victories in his most recent bouts. He began competing in the UFC in 2023, where he has secured seven wins from eight fights. His victory over Brandon Royval in his latest match has earned him a title shot for the UFC Flyweight World Championship belt later this year. In 2018, renowned Myanmar fighter Aung La N Sang won the International Fighter of the Year award at the World MMA Awards. — Shine Htet Zaw/KZL

GNLM

Three Myanmar fighters will take part in the ONE Friday Fights 120 event to be held in Thailand on 15 August.
The fighters are Thant Zin, Soe Naung Oo, and Auk Chin Lay. Thant Zin will face Thai fighter Gingsanglek, Soe Naung Oo will meet Lebanese fighter Omar, and Auk Chin Lay will take on Japanese fighter Ishii.
The bout between Thant Zin and Gingsanglek was initially scheduled for 8 August but was postponed by one week due to Gingsanglek’s health condition. Thant Zin, who has fought four matches under ONE, holds two wins and two losses, and will aim to end his current two-bout losing streak. Their fight is slated as the Co-Main Event.
Meanwhile, both Soe Naung Oo and Auk Chin Lay will make their debut appearances in the ONE ring. — Chit Ko Ko/KZL

GNLM

Meanwhile, supermarkets in Bordeaux and Paris are warning customers about infection with the Listeria bacterium. More than forty batches of cheese have been recalled due to suspected contamination. Infection with this bacterium is the second leading cause of food poisoning-related deaths in France.

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Applications are open to the 26th Japanese Speech Contest scheduled on 18 October 2025, said the Japan Foundation, Yangon.

Myanmar nationals living in Myanmar aged between 16 and 30 can apply and Japanese language teachers (including part-time teachers and volunteers) and former award winners of the contest are not eligible.

Applications can be submitted to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAPQKsaOJ1lOyrAlgpoFZUfNumJSurTg6oXlWqtPU4oP3_rw/viewform as from 14 August at 9:00am until 28 August by 4:00pm. Candidates need to prepare a Word file and word limit is 800-1100 for a topic and speech is limited 3-4 minutes.

The shortlist will be selected on 13 and 14 September and will contact directly to contestants about detailed information of the process. Results of the short-listing will be informed to contestants and made public on respective organizers’ Facebook page. Those on the shortlist are eligible to compete in 18 October Contest.

Judges will select winners based on four aspects- how much contestant’s topic is realistic and logical from the beginning to end; pronunciation, grammatically correct and vocabulary usage; facial expression, body language, speech tempo; and ability to understand and respond to questions and the topic time.

Winners will be awarded with high-valued prizes and will have opportunity to contest in International Japanese Speech Contest holds in Japan with contestants from ASEAN countries. Myanmar Association of Japan Alumni (MAJA) has provided contact numbers 09-428612151, 09-262602121 and event.maja.ygn@gmail.com for more information.

MT/ZS

GNLM

More than 600 pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalized with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine as the result of a leak at a water treatment station, authorities said Sunday. The incident took place overnight on the route between the two Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, located in the center and south of Iraq respectively.

Security forces charged with protecting pilgrims said the incident had been caused by "a chlorine leak from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road". This year, several million Shiite Muslim pilgrims are expected to make their way to Karbala, which houses the shrines of the revered Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.

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Manchester United has announced the signing of Slovenia international Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, bolstering their attacking options ahead of the new season. The 22-year-old forward has signed a contract until June 2030, the club confirmed in a statement.

Over the past two seasons, Sesko has scored more goals than any other player under the age of 23 in Europe's top five leagues. In the 2024-25 campaign alone, he netted 21 goals and provided six assists for Leipzig. Since making his debut in 2021 and becoming Slovenia's youngest-ever senior international, Sesko has earned 41 caps and scored 16 goals for his country.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Raksha Bandhan on Saturday at his official residence in Delhi.

Children and members of the Brahma Kumari spiritual organization tied rakhis on his wrist, marking the occasion with warmth and tradition. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi posted on social media, extending his best wishes and highlighting the festival’s importance in strengthening sibling bonds. On this day, sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, and in return, brothers offer gifts as a symbol of love and care.

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