LOCAL NEWS: Political parties call for end to economic sanctions; Bold HIV plan aims to slash new infections; Business world beckons for cash-strapped parties; Families lack trust in overseas seafarers association: official; The pot, the kettle and the Lee family; Cold spell breaks records; Weather stress decreases eel yield; Kayin mark New Year; Aussie scientists bid to wipe out dengue; Tourism industry bounces back; New Year?s Eve concert raises funds for Giri victims; The end of the annexation; KOICA hands over Hlegu project to ministry; Green hands at work on Independence Day...BUSINESS & PROPERTY: Unusual weather patterns threaten livelihoods in delta? Hydropower attracts big investment in Myanmar? Japan PM pushes to join Pacific trade pact; Property market expected to stay strong; China to build $1.5 billion trade centre in Thailand...TIMEOUT: Eight decades on, banjo player still plucking away; Exhibition of Shwedagon Pagoda paintings opens; Artist holds first solo show in 35 years; Yangon concertgoers shout in the New Year...SOCIALITE...SPORT...INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Bad science mars US courts; New tech at ICT Week; Myanmar Online Expo underway...TRAVEL: From toxic dump to tourism hub...CLASSIFIEDS...MEDIA ROUNDUP: Seafarers association launches website; Young singers invited to perform on album...FLIGHT SCHEDULES.....N.B. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS NO INDEX PAGE, NAVIGATE FROM "LOCAL NEWS" TO THE OTHER SECTIONS