THE board of trustees of the Phayathonzu Mountain Monastery in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, announced that a new standing Buddha statue will be built near the sitting Buddha statue, which is the largest in Myanmar and the second largest in the world, located on Phayathonzu Mountain in Kyaikto Township.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the standing Buddha statue and the ceremony to receive teachings from the abbot of the Phayathonzu Mountain Monastery were held on 10 January. The ground-breaking work has already begun.

THE Naga Literature and Culture Committee organized the 2025 Naga New Year Festival at Naga tradition ground in Homalin township, Homalin District, Sagaing Region, on 15 January.
The festival was inaugurated in accordance with Naga tradition and culture. Patron of committee U Peter and District Administration Body Chairman U Ye Win made greeting speeches, and relevant officials explained the emergence of the Naga New Year Festival.

IMPEACHED South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested on Wednesday over his failed martial law bid, ending a weeks-long standoff with authorities and becoming the first sitting president to be detained in the nation’s history.
Yoon, who faces charges of insurrection over his short-lived effort to impose martial law last month, said he would comply with investigators to avoid “bloodshed”.

State Administration Council Member Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister at the Prime Minister Office Admiral Tin Aung San attended the 73rd Anniversary of Kayah State Day held at Loikaw State Hall yesterday.
After the ceremonial procedures, the Admiral read out the message sent by State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing to the occasion.

ACCORDING to locals, there has been a steady flow of tourists to major attractions in Hpa-an this month.
Tourists’ destinations include Kyaukkalat, Saddan Cave, Htuntpadaing, Kaukkhameit Bridge, Naung Lone Valley, and Kaw Ka Thaung Cave, in addition to Mount Taung Wine.

Insurgents committing terrorist activities have been engaging in battles, firing heavy weapons and improvised rockets and dropping bombs using drones into the public towns, wards and villages.

In some townships across States and Regions, terrorists motivated by a radical ideology that views “anyone with differing views is an enemy” are conducting violent assaults and assassinations. Their targets are civil servants and innocent civilians who do not support their terrorist acts. Using firearms and knives, these terrorists are committing brutal assassinations after accusing them of “spies, informants or decoys”. This strategy is intended to instill fear among peaceable civilians and create a pervasive sense of dread within these communities.

NORTH Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, according to Seoul’s military, in what experts said could be a message to US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
The launch came as Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya visited South Korea for a series of meetings with top officials, with the Asian neighbours seeking to boost bilateral ties before Trump returns to office next week.

DAMAGE from extreme weather in Canada last year pushed the bill facing insurers to an unprecedented CAN$8.5 billion ($5.9 billion), the Insurance Bureau of Canada said Monday.
Events that cause significant destruction “are escalating at a shocking rate and Canada is simply not prepared,” said Celyeste Power, president of the IBC, an industry association representing Canadian insurers.
The IBC said the insured damage estimate for 2024 was 12 times higher than the annual average of CAN$701 million recorded from 2001 to 2010.

AS of 2024, BMW Group had delivered over 400,000 new energy vehicles in the Chinese market, the German automaker said on Monday. In the same year, the company sold more than 714,000 BMW and MINI vehicles in China, with electric vehicle sales rising by 7.7 per cent year on year and accounting for 15 per cent of total sales. To capitalize on the vast opportunities in the Chinese market, BMW continues to introduce new models tailored for the country.