I N a time when the world was transitioning through rapid scientific, cultural, and political changes, a group of young individuals in Myanmar (then Burma) found solace and purpose within the walls of Bassein Arts and Science College. This photograph, taken 50 years ago, captures a moment in the lives of these students majoring in Zoology, along with their assistant lecturer. It is a snapshot of camaraderie, intellectual curiosity, and the formative experiences that shaped their futures.

In today’s world, the rapid advancement of communication technology is evident. These technologies are increasingly applied across social and economic sectors, effectively shrinking the world by bridging geographical gaps and connecting people globally.

​​​​​​​ACCORDING to one of the objectives of the Social Affairs of State Administration Council (SAC), “To elevate the Health and Sports sectors inclusive of all the people, improving the longevity and health of the nation”, the Ministry of Health (MOH), Myanmar, laid down the two objectives, to enable every citizen to attain total life expectancy and enjoy longevity of life, and to ensure that every citizen is free from diseases.

The AA group, which is being monitored and taken action by international organizations, including the UN, for the recent killing of Bengali people and arson attacks against Bengali villages, is an insurgent terrorist group which is largely undertaking narcotics smuggling. The AA group, which has emerged in the KIA area since 2009, has primarily earned income to stand on its own from narcotics smuggling like its godfathers KIA, UWSA, MNDAA and TNLA. Actually, the AA group has neither firm businesses nor money from extortion from the Rakhine people since its establishment. It has mainly relied on the income earned from drug smuggling to purchase food, arms and ammunition.

Enhancing anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) measures is critical in dismantling criminal networks and preventing transnational crimes. Targeting the illicit profits of illegal enterprises can diminish criminal activity and contribute to economic development, financial stability, and organizational integrity. Additionally, it supports the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.

FOR ease of reference, let’s continue to refer to these self-absorbed people in the Ivory Towers in Geneva and New York as SAPs. Alert to ASEAN countries, Russia, China, and developing third-world countries.

ALL countries, including Myanmar, must prioritize ending child labour as part of the 2024 mission: “Let’s act on our commitments: End Child Labour!” This initiative calls for global empathy and action to alleviate the suffering of children trapped in exploitative labour conditions.

I came to Dagon University as a freshman in 2002. Although a lapse of about twenty years has glided away, memories of my student life are still fresh. I feel as if some incidents occurred only yesterday.

CLIMATE change is a global phenomenon with widespread impacts on health. It exacerbates existing health inequities and presents new challenges to global health systems. The following are key areas where climate change affects global health: -

FOR the past century, Earth has faced substantial losses from a variety of natural disasters. Among these, climatic events have been particularly devastating, accounting for 44 per cent of damage over the past 20 years, followed by floods and storms, which contributed to 28 per cent of the destruction. While most natural disasters, except earthquakes, can be predicted, humans have struggled to mitigate their impacts effectively.