The latest Burmese serials received at the National Library of Australia include recent editions of children’s publications Shwethway (shown above) and Palotetote (сАХсАЬсАпсАРсА╣сАРсАпсАРсА╣), business magazine Living Color, writers’ and intellectuals’ publication Atway-amyin (сАбсА▒сАРсА╝сА╕сАбсА╗сАЩсАДсА╣), Flower News, 7 Day News, and the government gazette.

The cover feature for Living Color is the “fourth wave” in Myanmar business, which it anticipates will come when the 2008 Constitution takes effect. The previous three waves were the pre-socialist period, the socialist period, and the post-socialist period to the present. It predicts that the fourth wave will include heavy deregulation and decentralization of authority over the economy. The article includes short interviews with retired Yangon Institute of Economics professors, Dr. Maung Maung Soe and Daw Hla Myint. Other articles cover medical treatment for people in Myeik (Mergui), agricultural output in the delta, management of Yangon’s roads and drains, traffic accidents, and NGO activities.

Flower News includes: the Yangon municipality will licence roadside sellers of VCDs and DVDs in an attempt to stop the sale of black market products; five workers of the Khin Yadana Aung Co. died after being buried alive while sand mining in Hpakant Township, Kachin State; 13 houses in Bahan were burned down due to faulty wiring; police in December charged over 400 people with gambling and netted over 23 million kyat of proceeds; Malaysian experts are helping in efforts to breed the eggs of endangered turtles; more crabs are being bred for export; 246 government petrol stations are going to be sold to licensed operators; the Ahlone docks are going to be privatized; there is no plan to relocate the Thirimingalar market; swine flu has reappeared but there is little public awareness about the health risks; and, police have uncovered a gang selling fake gold in Naypyidaw.

7 Day News includes: Kanbawza Bank is taking 80 per cent ownership of Myanmar Airways International; 16 ancient pagodas and monasteries in Yangon Division have been given special protected status; the Thingankyun market burned down in two hours, with the loss of 653 out of its 786 stalls and shops; over 60 houses alongside the Sweidawmyat Pagoda compound in Mayangone Township will be relocated to Shwepyithar; and, a cauliflower that has the appearance of two Naga is attracting crowds in Mohnyin, Kachin State.

[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Nick Cheesman at [email protected]]