Myanmar president delivers New Year's Day message

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s president made his first New Year’s address to the nation Tuesday as part of what he called a new campaign to communicate directly with the people.

President Thein Sein reflected on the country’s much-touted progress last year and the challenges ahead in a five-minute broadcast, which he said he chose to deliver by radio because that is how most of the country gets its news. Many people in the impoverished country do not own televisions.