Support at highest level shown for Tuesday Club: A SENIOR minister has praised the role of a club established by private investors to foster better understanding with key members of the government and its ministries... We?ll beat opium, amphetamine vows S1 as poppy harvest dives: OPIUM production was at its lowest level in 14 years, Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council, General Khin Nyunt, said last week... Night flights proposed to move more travellers: THE Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has proposed the introduction of night flights to increase the carrying capacity of the three domestic carriers... Rain will not affect paddy harvest, assures agriculture agency official: RAIN during the past six weeks would not affect the paddy harvest because of precautionary measures taken by farmers, a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation said last week... Govt dismisses claim by Thai army officer: THE government has dismissed an accusation by a senior Thai army officer that Myanmar soldiers were involved in making methamphetamine pills and smuggling them into Thailand... Sales soar for Christmas decorations: THE approach of one of the most important events on the Christian calendar has triggered a surge in sales of Christmas decorations, retailers and wholesalers said last week... US plans more aid to four Asean members: THE United States would support development in Myanmar and the three other newer members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as part of a plan to expand cooperation with the regional grouping, a senior Bush administration official said last week... Dearth of sports medicine specialists in Myanmar: MYANMAR needs more sport medicine specialists, the chief medical officer at the Department of Sport and Physical Education, Dr Thein Nyunt, said last week... Govt puts more diesel on market: THE government has increased the amount of diesel available for sale in a move aimed at bringing down the price of commodities and travel costs through lower transport expenses, a Ministry of Energy official said last week... Photo contests: PROMINENT photographers are hesitant to participate in contests because of a requirement that they surrender their negatives to sponsors of the events, regardless of whether they win a prize, an article in Living Color magazine said... Workshop earns praise from education official: AN Asia-Pacific workshop which ended in Yangon last week had enabled Myanmar to strengthen relations with specialists in the non-formal education sector throughout the region, a senior education official said... Nation nears polio-free certification: MYANMAR is heading for an important health care milestone when it is expected to be certified free of polio next February... Universities reach agreement to collaborate on agricultural studies, research projects: UNIVERSITIES in Myanmar and Australia which specialise in agricultural studies are to strengthen relations under an agreement which provides for the development of joint study and research programs, and academic and student exchanges. .. Mayor?s canteens plea: The City Mayor, U Ko Lay, has called for greater efforts by basic educational schools throughout Yangon to ensure that hygienic, nutritious food is available at their canteens... Market festival: TRADITIONAL Myanmar snacks will be a feature of a New Year festival at one of Yangon?s main commercial centres and tourist attractions, Bogyoke Aung San Market. More than 20 types of snacks will be on sale in the main building of the market during the five-day festival... Cooperatives Dept fair: A TRADE fair being held by the Department of Cooperatives early next year is aimed at securing more markets for import substitution products. The fair will feature about 200 booths, with about half each from the private sector and cooperatives associations from throughout the country... A tele-conference first: STUDENTS at Magwe Institute of Medicine will begin receiving instruction from lecturers in Yangon next year through a tele-conference link which provides for two-way communication. The link, the first of its kind in Myanmar, was devised as a solution to providing enough qualified lecturers at the campus, which is about 300 miles north of Yangon... 23 duped in Shanghai scam: AUTHORITIES in China?s eastern city of Shanghai have detained a man suspected of swindling several hundred thousand yuan from people promised jobs in Myanmar, state media and officials said last week... Reporting fires can save lives: A GOVERNMENT official has urged the public to quickly alert the authorities when fires occur to minimise the threat to lives and property... Applications increase for gardening courses: COURSES in gardening and landscaping are a good way of raising public awareness in the importance of environmental issues, says the president of the Myanmar Floriculturist Association, U Nyunt Pe... S Korea to provide training: SOUTH Korea has decided to provide more training to Myanmar health care professionals in diagnostic therapy for tuberculosis and the production of hepatitis B vaccine... December deluge a rare event: THE downpour that drenched Yangon last week was unusual, said a senior meteorologist... Asian countries need help to curb money laundering: REGIONAL countries need the latest expertise and equipment to effectively investigate the laundering of funds earned from illegal activities, a senior police officer said earlier this month... Meeting backs marketing plan for regional railway: A MEETING in Yangon last week agreed that an intensive marketing campaign was needed to attract investors for a proposed US$2.5 billion railway link between Singapore and Kunming in China.