THE Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services, Senior General Than Shwe, stressed the importance of national reconciliation and economic development in his speech to the Armed Forces Day commemorative ceremony in Yangon, last Wednesday...A senior monk receives an offering after a ceremony at the Kaba Aye Maha Pasana Cave on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road last Thursday... Energy sector co-op project: MYANMAR is continuing efforts to establish a permanent information centre in Yangon as part of an energy sector project set up by a regional grouping... Bangladesh Minister talks up business ties: THERE were tremendous opportunities for an expanded trade relationship with Myanmar, the Bangladesh Commerce Minister, Mr Amir Chowdhury, said in Yangon last week... Myanmar Beer in deal to penetrate Japan market: JAPAN has become the latest export market for internationally-acclaimed Myanmar-brand beer... Pinheiro calls for more support for Myanmar: IN a subtle but significant twist in posture towards Myanmar, a United Nations envoy has blasted the global community for its inconsistent treatment of the country while urging Yangon to implement reforms to fulfil its destiny... Razali?s efforts win praise from Kofi Annan: THE United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, has achieved "some success" in brokering a political settlement, the UN Secretary Secretary General, Kofi Annan, said last month... New pipeline to increase Yangon?s potable water supply by 25 per cent: A NEW pipeline from one of Yangon?s reservoirs will add another 20 million gallons a day to the capital?s drinking water supply, a senior government official said last week... Website shows off Myanmar gems to the world: GEM traders from around the world are able to inspect and buy Myanmar?s precious stones through a dedicated gems website which was launched in the wake of last month?s 39th gems auction... Development helps Wa region to shed a tarnished past: IN the 20 years to 1989, the Wa region in Shan State was believed to be one of the largest opium producing areas in Myanmar... Adult literacy programs aiding border residents: ADULT literacy programs are playing an important role in complementing development schemes in border areas, an education official said last week... Tropical cyclones fall below yearly average: DRY weather over the Bay of Bengal contributed to Myanmar experiencing an unusually low number of tropical cyclones last year, the director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, U Tun Lwin, said last week... Pioneer Myanmar model: TIN Moe Lwin holds an engineering degree but is better known as the founder and managing director of the ‘Talents and Models? agency... New British ambassador: THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week announced the appointment of Ms Victoria Bowman as the new British ambassador to Myanmar... Central Co-operative forms new governing organisation: MYANMAR?s 18,000 co-operative societies have a new governing body following a decision to form the Central Co-operative Society of Myanmar at a meeting in Yangon last Friday... Japan imports buckwheat: A SECOND shipment of buckwheat left for Japan last month. The 36 tonne shipment brings to 54 tonnes the amount sent to Japan this year from the buckwheat project in the Kokang region of northern Shan State... $25m dry-dock on schedule: A US$25 million dry-dock for building and repairing ships up to 12,000 deadweight tons is due to be completed on schedule in August next year, the managing director of Myanma Shipyards, U Percy Maung Maung, said last week.