DOMESTIC NEWS: VP U Myint Swe attends inauguration ceremony of the Civil Service Academy...One hand-made mine found in Minbya...69th Anniversary of Independence Day events to be held in Maungtaw...IED explodes in Punnagyun...Arts Show and Painting Competition to mark 69th Independence Day held in Taungoo...National objectives for the 69th anniversary Independence Day, 2017...45th Myanmar Health Research Congress starts on 9 January...Speaker U Win Myint inaugurates Civil Services Academy...Men suspected of murdering police inspector arrested...Passenger killed in early morning crash...Car collides head-on with ambulance...Motorcyclist dies after traffic accident...Pig farmers in Kengtung suffer losses from high cost of feedstuff...Agribusiness Service Centers to open across Myanmar...Construction of wharf in Thilawa to start by end of 2017.....EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Fabricated stories, misleading pictures about Rakhine cause global criticism...Pawlangyi elephant camp attracting tourists...Rice factory to be opened in Kyaiklat...Sixty per cent of MAPCO?s rice export went to African market...Regional and state associations to be formed for watermelon, cucumber growers..... "OPINION": "Efficient civil service personnel can make reforms a success" - Aye Min Soe.....ARTICLE: "Intrusion of sovereignty would not be tolerated" - Khin Maung Myint