The Water Festival, known as Thingyan, is one of the most cherished and symbolic celebrations in Myanmar. It marks not only the transition into a new year but also the cleansing of the past and the welcoming of new hopes. This year’s Thingyan, however, felt different from the previous years. Across the country, there was a noticeable return of joy, laughter, and a sense of renewed spirit among the people. After years of uncertainty and emotional restraint, many Myanmar citizens seemed to celebrate more freely, more openly, and with a deeper sense of meaning.

AT PRESENT, the new State machinery is being formed in accordance with the Constitution, and the respective components of the legislative, executive, and judicial estates are beginning to take shape. In the Myanmar New Year, following the Thingyan festival, everyone must work together in unity – with renewed people, renewed spirit, renewed strength, new thinking, and new perspectives – to build a modern and developed new nation.

FEDERALISM means a system where different states have their own powers but still belong to one union. It is based on sharing power between the central government and the states through a common constitution.

In a democratic system, elections are an indispensable process. Democracy embodies two essential dimensions: participation and competition. These two dimensions must be fully realized through free and fair elections, which constitute the very essence of democratic practice. Representatives, elected by the people in accordance with their free will, enter legislative bodies through the electoral process to represent the voice of the people. In doing so, parliaments serve as the fundamental pillars of law-making and as platforms through which the people’s will is expressed.

LEAVING our "Comfort Zone" is not an easy thing to do. However, it is one of the most important steps we can take to improve our lives and our careers. A Comfort Zone is a situation where we feel safe and relaxed. In this zone, we do the same things every day and face no stress. While being comfortable feels good, staying there for too long can stop us from growing. We cannot learn new skills or gain new experiences if we only do what is easy. Real progress happens only when we step outside the circle of what we already know.

IN AN era where speed is praised and patience is rare, we are often tempted by what is easy. Quick decisions, simple shortcuts, and immediate rewards surround us every day. Yet, if we pause for a moment and reflect on the kind of people we truly wish to become, we may realize that the easy path does not always lead to a meaningful or honourable life. True character is not built on convenience, but on conscious choices, especially the choice to do what is difficult.

28 March 2025 will never be forgotten in the history of Myanmar. It has been one year since the extremely powerful Mandalay earthquake, measuring 7.7 on the magnitude scale, struck. This earthquake was one of the most devastating in the nation’s history, causing unprecedented fear and shock across generations.

Most countries in the world are achieving rapid economic development alongside advancements in science and technology. In the development of a nation, the factors of production include not only capital, labour, and land or natural resources, but also technology. However, the key driving force for national development is the overall process of scientific and technological advancement.

The online scam and online gambling operations did not originate in Myanmar, but are transnational crimes that avaricious people from other countries have established themselves on the borders of some Southeast Asian countries, and are operating illegally. The criminals leading these transnational crimes are foreign nationals, using other nationals to commit crimes. They are linked to major crimes such as human trafficking, human smuggling, forced labour, money laundering, and arms smuggling, threatening not only the region but also the entire world.

By Dr Than Zaw Oo Following the historic 2025 multiparty democratic general election, widely regarded as free and fair and conducted using electronic voting machines, Myanmar has embarked upon a new chapter in its democratic journey. The general election was held in three phases: the first phase on 28 December 2025, the second phase on 11 January 2026, and the third phase on 25 January 2026. A total of 57 political parties and 86 independent candidates contested the election, including six political parties that competed nationwide and fifty-one political parties that participated in state- and regional-level elections.