Govt welcomes US praise for drug control measures: THE government has welcomed comments by a senior Bush Administration official about the progress made by Myanmar in eradicating opium production but rejected his criticism of the pace of the national reconciliation process... Officer outlines needs to fight black money: A SENIOR police official says Myanmar will need assistance from the international community to implement an anti-money laundering law enacted earlier this year... AIDS funding on rise, says official: THE support given by the government for activities to curb the spread of AIDS had made it easier to attract international funding, a senior Health Ministry official said last week... Deposits are secure, guarantees banker: AN executive with one of the country?s 20 private banks has given an assurance that deposits are secure... Germany pledges funds for drug control work: GERMANY has pledged 1.25 million euros (about US$1.26 million) for United Nations? drug control work in Myanmar, government and UN sources said last week... FM?s visit boosted ties, says Bangladeshi embassy: A VISIT by the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Mr M. Morshed Khan, has strengthened relations and paved the way for closer trade ties, the Bangladesh embassy said last week... Sound infrastructure puts Myanmar on-line: LINKS to satellites and high-technology undersea cables had given Myanmar a good international communications infrastructure, a senior engineer at Myanma Posts and Telecommunications said last week... Gradual introduction proposed for four-country travel package plan: PARTICIPANTS at a regional tourism industry meeting in Yangon last week suggested the gradual introduction of a plan to promote Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand as as part of a single travel package... Job agencies play down language ruling: MYANMAR will not be greatly affected by a Malaysian decision to require foreign workers to speak Malay or English, officials at two job placement agencies said last week... Magwe hydro plant due for completion next July: A multi-million dollar hydro-electric dam being built in Magwe Division is due to open next July, the director general if the Electric Power Department, Dr Thein Tun, said last week... Art of comedy: COMEDIAN Kyaw Htoo says his humour comes from the people. The popular performer says his observations of human behaviour provide most of the material for his performances... Will, determination essential, academic tells civil servants: A SINGAPORE academic said last week that will and determination were the two essential elements needed by Myanmar civil servants to achieve their objectives... Seafood exports show 23pc increase, to $163 million: EARNINGS from seafood exports totalled US$163 million in the seven months to the end of October, up 23 per cent on the same period last year, according to figures from the Department of Fisheries... YCDC journal celebrates 11th birthday: THE editor-in-chief of a newspaper established to publicise the activities of the Yangon City Development Committee attributes its popularity to an emphasis on short news reports aimed at interesting a wide cross section of city residents... Cancer warning on betel: A SPECIALIST at Yangon General Hospital has called for a health education campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of chewing betel, which is linked to cancer of the mouth... Fun, games and the basics of learning: THEIR philosophies on childhood development may differ but the scores of pre-schools in Yangon agree that they play an important role in helping children to develop social skills and to make a smooth transition to a primary level education... Laotian ambassador nears end of posting: THE Laotian ambassador and dean of the diplomatic corps, Mr Ly Bounkham, says he has mixed feelings as he approaches the end of his posting in Yangon... Envoy warns against rapid political change: A SENIOR Myanmar diplomat has spoken against proposals for rapid political change, saying it could result in "chaotic consequences" for the country. The warning was issued by the ambassador to Britain, Dr Kyaw Win, in an address to an international conference on Myanmar in the United States on November 22... Labour body to send high-level mission: THE International Labour Organisation has decided to send a high-level team to Myanmar for talks with the government for arrangements for cooperation on labour issues. The decision was made at an ILO governing body meeting which ended in Geneva on November 22... Two bids by mining firms: TWO foreign companies have submitted bids to explore for minerals in Kachin and Shan states in the latest round for offers invited by the Ministry of Mines. A British company, Lion Mining Financing Company, has offered to explore for platinum near Lake Indagaw in Kachin State... More diesel for taxis: THE government has made another two gallons of fuel available each day for diesel-powered taxis in Yangon in a move aimed at reducing the cost of travelling in the vehicles... SPDC Chairman issues National Day message: THE Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Senior General Than Shwe, stressed the importance of education and human resources development in a message to the nation marking National Day last Friday... Book fair> THE third annual book fair to be held by the Myanmar Writers and Journalists? Association opens this week at the Sarpay Beikman compound at the Hanthawaddy junction on Pyay Road in Sanchaung township... First museum studies course: YANGON University of Culture launches the country?s first post-graduate course in museum studies on December 5.