Rule of Law and Sustainable Development discussed in Mandalay

A residing representative of UN elaborating implementation of UN in Myanmar. Photo: Thiha Ko Ko

A discussion for rule of law and sustainable development in Myanmar organised by a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was held at the Rule of Law Centre in Chanmyathase township in Mandalay on Tuesday 24 October. Present at the event were Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Mayor Dr. Ye Lwin, Mandalay Region Attorney-General U Aung Win, officials of residing UN office to Myanmar, law experts and guests.

At the ceremony, Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung made a welcoming speech, and a residing representative of UN to Myanmar elaborated on the cooperation between the United Nations and Myanmar, providing help for development of fruitful democracy in Myanmar, and rule of law and sustainable development in Myanmar. The residing representative of UN to Myanmar, Professor Dr. Thwin Pa Pa of the Law Department of Mandalay University, Daw Khin May Htay, the head and project manager of  Mandalay Urban Services Improvement Project. U Hla Ko of Myanmar Legal Aid Network and Associate Professor Dr Tin Moe Lwin of  Law Department of Mandalay University  discussed rule of law and sustainable development in Myanmar and they responded queries raised by attendees.  – Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)

MPT exchanging all 3G SIM cards for 4G cards in Mandalay

Cap: MPT 3G SIM Card users being seen at the MPT Sale Division in Mandalay. Photo: Thiha Ko Ko (Mdy)

Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT) and KSG Company of Japan have launched a 4G network service in Nay Pyi Taw and some places in Yangon during the first week of October to give users access to a faster network.

The effort is part of MPT’s measures to launch a 4G network in Yangon and Mandalay by the first quarter of 2017. MPT has also issued Regular/ Micro/ Nano SIM Cards of an international standard so that MPT users have no need to cut the SIM cards. Since the last week of October, MPT has exchanged the 3G SIM Cards of MPT users for 4G SIM Cards at the MPT Sales Division in Mandalay without charge.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has announced that mobile phone users will have to register their SIM cards starting 18 October.

MPT said that, starting from 31 March 2017, all unregistered SIM cards will be blocked.

In Southeast Asia and Oceania in 2015, only 5 per cent of all mobile subscriptions were 4G – but the figure is expected to increase to more than 40 per cent by 2021, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report 2016. Telecoms competitors Ooredoo and Telenor launched 4G networks earlier this year. — Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)

Photo exhibition “Street Photography” opened 

in Mandalay

An opening ceremony was held for “Street Photography”, a photo exhibition organised by a group of 64 photographers from Mandalay at Block 7, Unit 9 on Wood Street in Chanmyathazi township, Mandalay on 16 October.

Nyi Pu Lay, a famous author and photo enthusiast, coordinated the holding of the photo show while photographers, media, photo enthusiasts and guests attended the ceremony.

At the “Street Photography” show, displayed photos taken by Mandalarian photographers illustrated the  struggle in the streets for survival of the working class in Yangon and Mandalay. The event lasts for three days, from 16 to 18 October.— Maung Pyi Thu (Mandalay)