Long dreamed of highway from India gets go ahead for survey: MYANMAR, Thailand and India have agreed to begin survey work early next year for a highway linking the three countries, a senior official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry said last week... $16m to tackle AIDS, health, maternal care: THE United Nations Population Fund has made a massive increase in financial aid for Myanmar, allocating US$16 million for the four years from 2002 to 2005... US envoy congratulates govt on narcotics control work: THE United States charge d? affaires, Ms Carmen Martinez, has congratulated the government for its efforts to cut drug production and reiterated Washington?s support for a home-grown political settlement in Myanmar... A master of the art of facial transformation: U Myint Swe uses the skills he learned as a dental technician to give people prosthetic eyes, noses, ears, hands and fingers and a new self-image... Thai diplomat tips rise in foreign investment: THE outlook for foreign direct investment in Myanmar is bright, a Thai diplomat predicted last week... Corporate governance, transparency ‘essential?: TRANSPARENCY and effective corporate governance are essential for protecting investors and encouraging the flow of capital, a Singapore-based Australian lawyer said in Yangon last week... MFE clinches first sale of coffee to Singapore: MYANMA Farms Enterprise has clinched its first contract to sell coffee to the Singapore market amid increasing interest in the commodity from overseas buyers... Tribute paid to the contribution of handicapped: SECRETARY 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, General Khin Nyunt, has called for greater recognition of the contribution made to society by mentally and physically handicapped people... Awareness campaign reduces snake attacks: INCREASED public awareness has helped to reduce the number of snakebite cases in Myanmar since 1996, government figures show... Chinese delegation?s visit strengthens ties: A three-day visit to Yangon by a delegation from China?s Yunnan Province had strengthened economic and cultural ties with Myanmar, a counsellor at the Chinese embassy, Mr Yu Boren, said last week... Research on traditional medicine: CHINA?s Health Minister, Mr Zhang Wengkang, held talks on closer cooperation in traditional medicine research during a visit to Yangon last week... City development scheme launched: YANGON City Development Committee has launched a scheme aimed an enhancing the capital?s appearance... Ethical news: MANY newspapers and magazines should try hard harder to improve their ethical standards, according to a column by Shwe Kyein Lone in Tha Din Sone journal... Dramatic alpine scenery captures a movie maker?s imagination: THE release next month of a film shot on a snow-clad mountain in northern Kachin State will realise a long-held dream for one of Myanmar?s best-known movie makers... The visionary campaign that brought trachoma under control MORE than 400 million people throughout the world suffer from trachoma, which has caused total blindness in more than six million people... Tourism hope in land of rising sun: MYANMAR needs to launch more promotional activities in Japan to tap the huge tourism potential of its market, a seminar in Yangon was told last week... Le Planteur scoops food awards: THE proof was in the pudding for flamboyant Swiss restaurateur Boris Granges on Saturday evening when he took the lion?s share of trophies in the Myanmar Times? first ever national food awards... Donation to put 100 schools online: ONE-HUNDRED basic education schools throughout the country will be linked to an intranet-based computer network early next year thanks to the donation of equipment worth about US$260,000 from internet service provider, Bagan Cybertech.