DOMESTIC NEWS: President urges political forces to come together to bring reform processes to new levels, overcome challenges...Meaningful discussion should be based on negotiation and flexibility Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham hosts dinner to ethnic armed group leaders...School Family Day kicks off in Mandalay Region...Plan to hold meeting of UNDP directors in Mandalay...MCDC, advisory group emphasize development of Mandalay City...President confers religious titles on Venerable Monks at home and abroad...A&I minister takes part in broadcast seeding in intensive farming...Union I&P Minister inspects immigration facilitation services at Yangon International Airport...Central Myanmar eye patients get free operations...Myanmar Fisheries Exhibition concludes with prize presentation for winners in contests..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Yadanabon University, Gifu University of Japan sign MoU on exchange of students...President confers religious titles on Venerable Monks at home and abroad...Foreign Heads of State send felicitations to President U Thein Sein..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Strength for Independence" by Aung Khin..... ARTICLES: "Making New Year Resolutions" by Myo Myint..."FRIENDSHIP" by Kyi Mun