To elevate the standard of Myanmar football, foster its development, and nurture new generations of footballers, the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, in collaboration with Region and State Governments and the Myanmar Football Federation, is jointly organizing the 2025 Region and State Under-18 Men's Football Tournament.

Group stage matches are being held in four zones across Bago Region, Ayeyarwady Region, Kayin State, and Shan State, from July 11 to July 18. At the Ground of Bago Sports Park in Bago Region, Mandalay Region team defeated Bago Region team by two goals to nil, at the Koe Thein Sports Ground in Pathein of Ayeyarwady Region, Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw team beat Ayeyarwady Region team by two to one, at the Zwekabin Sports Ground in Hpa-an, Kayin State, Kayin State team triumphed over Taninthryi Region team by three to nil.

Chief Ministers, government ministers, and officials from the respective Region and State Governments, along with officials from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs responsible for organizing the tournament, other departmental officials, and enthusiastic football fans, gathered in large numbers at the various sports grounds in their respective zones to watch and support the fiercely contested matches.

On July 15, the group stage matches for the men's football tournament will continue including Chin State team will play Kayah State team at Bago Sports Park in Bago Region, Rakhine State team will face Yangon Region team at Koe Thein Sports Ground in Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, Mon State team will compete against Sagaing Region team at Zwekabin Sports Stadium in Hpa-an, Kayin State, Shan State team will go against Kachin State team at the State Sports Ground in Taunggyi, Shan State. Sports enthusiasts and the public are welcome to attend these matches free of charge.

It has also been announced that the knockout stages and final matches of the men's football tournament will be held in sport grounds in Yangon starting from July 21.

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Shan State beat Magway Region 1-0 in the group match of 2025 U-18 State and Region Men’s Football Tournament, held at Taunggyi Stadium on Sunday.

Khun Hein Thu Aung scored the only goal at the 24th minute. The tournament, organized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs in collaboration with regional governments and the Myanmar Football Federation, aims to develop youth players nationwide.

Group-stage matches are being held in Shan and Kayin States and Bago, and Ayeyawady Regions from July 11–18. Knockout and final matches will be played in Yangon. Around 2,000 fans attended Sunday match, including Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Aung and officials. Upcoming matches on July 14 include Bago vs. Mandalay in Bago, Ayeyawady vs. Nay Pyi Taw in Pathein and Kayin vs. Tanintharyi in Hpa-an. Entry is free for all spectators.

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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Office held an opening ceremony for its new daycare center, “Yin Thway Yatana,” aimed at supporting staff with young children. Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Soe Win, ACC Chairman U Sit Aye, commission members, and senior officials attended the event.

In his speech, the ACC Chairman said the daycare center will allow staff to care for their children while remaining close to their work. He emphasized that early childhood care is a vital investment in the country's future, supporting physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.

Union Minister Dr. Soe Win reaffirmed the government’s commitment to child development programs across Myanmar. He stated that daycare and pre-primary education initiatives are being expanded nationwide, including training for early childhood teachers and the provision of learning materials. The event concluded with the exchange of gifts and supplies for the daycare, and the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony. Attendees then took a tour around the new facility.

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As the full moon day of Waso (Dhammacakka Day) is the most sacred day for Buddhists, people flocked to pagodas, temples, and stupas all over the country yesterday, making efforts to worship, recite and offer Waso robes and flowers also at the religious halls in neighbourhoods and streets.
Similarly, at temples, pagodas, stupas, and monasteries in and around Mandalay, Buddhist monks and people gathered for religious merit, including offerings, presenting flowers and robes, donating alms, and releasing animals, starting from early morning.
Moreover, in towns, villages, and neighbourhood religious halls, people were captivated by the sounds of religious chants and engaged in offering Waso robes and food to monks.
The Mandalay Region Government organized a Waso robe donation ceremony for 27 monks at Maha Atula Waiyan (Atu Mashi) monastery in Aungmyaythazan township.
The temples and pagodas: Sanda Muni pagoda, Kuthodaw pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Weerawsana Jade pagoda, Aungdawmu pagoda, were crowded with pilgrims.
Similarly, other significant sites of Mandalay, like the Myotaw Garden, Yadanabon Zoological Garden, resorts in Patheingyi, U Bein bridge in Amarapura, and Taungthaman Zal Lwin Pyin resorts, were also packed with visitors from all over the country. — Maung Aye Chan, Min Htet Aung/KTZH

GNLM

The Bagan-NyaungU Ancient Cultural Heritage Zone drew large crowds of pilgrims and merit-makers from across Myanmar on the auspicious Waso Full Moon Day (Dhammacakka Day), according to officials from the Shwezigon Pagoda Board of Trustees in NyaungU Township.
Although Bagan typically receives a steady flow of visitors even on ordinary days, public holidays and Buddhist holy days such as Waso often see a significant increase in the number of pilgrims. Families, groups of friends and religious travellers arrived in the early hours to visit pagodas, offer alms and engage in Dhamma practices.
To accommodate the seasonal rise in visitors, pagodas under the cultural heritage zone’s management are open daily from 5 am to 7 pm during the Buddhist Lent. On Waso Full Moon Day, many pilgrims gathered at the revered Shwezigon Pagoda starting from 4 am to participate in almsgiving, meditation and recitation of protective verses and blessings.
U Than Myint Oo, head of the Shwezigon Pagoda Board of Trustees, explained that eighteen pagodas under the cultural authority remain open throughout the Lenten period, ensuring ample opportunity for devotees to visit and make merit.

The influx of pilgrims also brought bustling activity to the local economy. Horse-cart drivers, e-bike rentals, mini-van operators, local tour guides, food vendors, souvenir artists and guesthouse operators all saw heightened business. Hotels and lodges were reportedly busy with both religious travellers and tourists seeking to mark the special occasion in Bagan. — Dipa Linn/KZL

GNLM

Pagodas in Yangon, including Shwedagon Pagoda, were thronged with pilgrims performing good deeds, as yesterday was the full moon day of Waso (Dhammacakka Day), which is a sacred day for Buddhists.
The board of trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda celebrated the Dhammacakka Day ceremony at the designated places of the pagoda at 5 am yesterday.
The pagoda board of trustees, staff and devotees offered meals, flowers, water, candles and fruits to the pagoda.
Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, relevant officials, members of religious organizations and the devotees offered golden lotus robes to the Buddha statues of the pagoda before observing the Five Precepts and donating Waso robes and offerings to Sayadaws.
Similarly, the Waso robe offering and religious ceremonies were also organized at Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Pagoda, Botahtaung Pagoda, Lawka Chantha Abaya Labamuni Buddha Image, Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon), the ancient historic Aparajita Hair Relic Kyaikwyne Pagoda, Maelamu Pagoda, Ngahtetgyi, Chaukhtetkyee, Koehtetkyee and Tilawkaoakshaung Muniyaya Aungmyay Thatbyinnyu Pahtodawgyi (Yangon) on the same day.
The pilgrims from different regions and states visited pagodas in Yangon, doing good deeds, taking sabbath, offering Waso robes to monks, and the donors donated food to the pilgrims. — Zaw Min Latt (MNA)/KTZH

GNLM

The auspicious Waso Full Moon Day (Dhamma Cakka Day) is a special and blessed day for Buddhists in Myanmar.

Across the nation, at pagodas and stupas, people are performing meritorious deeds in devotion to the Buddha. These include offering Waso robes and Waso flowers, making donations, observing precepts, and practicing meditation.

Since the morning, the Maravijaya Buddha Image, the tallest sitting marvel Buddha Image in the world, enshrined in the Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, has been exceptionally crowded with pilgrims arriving with immense faith and devotion.

Similarly, other religious sites in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory including (Let Loke Taung and Shwenan-thwin Pagoda, the Datucaya Dat Paung Su Pagoda, Yan Aung Myin Pagoda, Phaungdaw Chatma Pagoda, Satta Sattaha Mahabodhi Pagoda, and the four Saṃvejaniya holy places were bustling with pilgrims.

In honor of this day, pagodas and stupas across Yangon, including the Shwedagon Pagoda, are crowded with devotees who are observing the Precepts, performing meritorious deeds, and paying homage.

At the Shwedagon Pagoda, ceremonies commemorating the Full Moon Day of Waso (Dhamma Cakka Day) of the year 1387 ME were organized under the supervision of the Pagoda Board of Trustee and began at 5 AM in designated areas around the pagoda precincts.

Similar ceremonies were organized at other renowned pagodas in Yangon such as Sirimangala Kabha Aye Pagoda, Botahtaung Kyaikdae-ap Hair Relic Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Lokachanthar Abhaya Labhamuni Buddha Image (Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda), Tooth Relic Pagoda (Yangon), Kyaikwaing Pagoda, Maelamu Pagoda, Nga-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Chauk-Htat Kyee Pagoda, Koe Htat Kyee Pagoda, Thabbin-Nyu Stupa (Yangon).

Likewise, starting from in the morning, not only local residents but also monks and laypeople from various regions have been visiting the renowned Mahamuni Buddha Image in Mandalay. They are paying homage with deep reverence offering alms, water, flowers, and robes, lighting oil lamps.

In addition, many are observing the precepts, engaging in meditation, and participating in religious and social organizations’ group recitations of Dhamma Sakya sermons, accumulating merit through these acts of devotion.

Furthermore, at pagodas, stupas, shrines, and monasteries across Mandalay city and its surrounding areas, Buddhist monks and lay devotees have been actively taking part since dawn in various religious ceremonies marking Dhamma Cakkya Day. These include Waso robe offering ceremonies, Waso flower and robe donations, alms offering, and acts of generosity such as life-saving donations, all of which are being vibrantly observed by numerous merit-makers.

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The pagodas in Nay Pyi Taw were bustling with those who did good deeds on the full moon day of Waso (Dhammacakka Day).
The Maravijaya Buddha Image was also packed with pilgrims, and the visitors observed around the compound of the Buddha Park peacefully.
Similarly, other pagodas such as Latlotetaung and Shwenanthwin in Nay Pyi Taw, Dhatuzaya Dhatpaungsu pagoda in Zabuthiri Township, Yanaungmyin pagoda in Dekkhinathiri Township, Phaungdaw Chetma pagoda in Lawe Township, Thatta Thattar Maha Bodhi pagoda and “Phwa, Pwint, Haw, San” pagoda and other religious sites in Ottarathiri Township were also crowded with pilgrims who donated Waso robes, flowers, and observed Sabbath.
The full moon day of Waso is a public holiday, and the recreational sites in Nay Pyi Taw were packed with people who were having fun and relaxing.
The full moon day of Waso is significant for the Buddhists on the day of conceiving the embryo of the Lord Buddha, the day of leaving the society for the jungle, the day of preaching the Dhammacakka Sutta, the day of performing the supernatural miracle, the day of admitting the enlightenment of the Buddha, the day of firstly emerging Dhamma, the day of firstly emerging Sangha and the day of firstly calling Ehi Bhikkhu. — Min Kyaw Swa/KTZH

GNLM

A total of over 3.5 million pilgrims, both domestic and international, visited the Shwedagon Pagoda from January to the end of June 2025, according to the Shwedagon Pagoda Board of Trustees.
“During these six months, more than 600,000 monks, 37,000 nuns, 1.5 million men, and 1.8 million women visited the pagoda. Among the visitors, nearly 18,000 male and over 20,000 female tourists were recorded. On weekdays, at least 10,000 pilgrims visit the pagoda, and the number increases on weekends and holidays,” said U Bo Thin.
In addition, during the Lent from the full moon day of Waso to the full moon day of Thadingyut, Buddha Pujaniya and precept ceremonies will be held at the Shwedagon Pagoda. On the full moon day of Waso, Dhammacakka Day will be celebrated with the Waso Golden Lotus Robe offering ceremony, the Metta ceremony, the offering of 84,000 flowers, the Garu Dhamma Day ceremony, the Thadingyut Lighting Festival, and the Abhidhamma Day celebrations.
Commencing on 21 June 2024, the Shwedagon Pagoda is open daily from 4 am to 10 pm, allowing pilgrims to enjoy the peaceful environment. — ASH/MKKS

GNLM

At the Sitagu Cakkhudana Advanced Eye Hospital, part of Sitagu Buddhist University (Yangon) in Dagon Myothit (North) Township, Yangon Region, free eye care services are being provided to patients from various regions. In this 13th round, approximately 1,700 patients came to receive the treatment.

In the afternoon on July 7, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, along with region government members and officials, visited the hospital. They paid respects to Abhidhajamaharathaguru, Abhidhajaaggamahasaddhamma Jotika၊ Dr. Bhaddanta Ñāṇissara, the Sitagu Sayadaw, who is the Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies, the Sangharaja of Shweykin Sect, and a highly revered religious figure with several titles.

The Chief Minister and officials donated offerings and financial contributions to support the treatment of eye patients and the purchase of essential medical equipment for surgical procedures.

Following that, the Chief Minister and officials encouraged the patients waiting for treatment, offering words of support.

It was reported that specialist ophthalmologists conducted examinations and treatments according to the specific eye conditions of each patient attending the program.

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