Myanmar started selling Thailand 200 mmcfd of gas from Yetagun gas field in 2000 and increased the amount to 400 mmcfd last year. Reserves at the existing Yetagun project have been placed at 3946 billion cubic feet (bcf) with a sale reserve of 2437 bcf.

“We consider that such a step will guarantee the security of non-nuclear weapon states and will enhance international security as well,” U Nyunt Swe said.

A US-BASED volunteer organisation said it plans to donate about 500 wheelchairs to centres for the disabled throughout Myanmar in 2006.

“The university will provide certificate courses, trainers and equipment such as computers, while UMFCCI will provide the space and other necessary infrastructure,” he said. “

“In addition to helping us make higher quality films in Myanmar, the equipment will also help producers save the money it costs to go abroad to have access to such technology,” U Myint Swe, who runs Lu Swan Kaung Film Production and Distribution Company, told The Myanmar Times.

“We have few records of actors and others who have become involved in the movie industry in the past few years, so this will help us keep track,” said Academy Award-winning scriptwriter Daw Khin Lay Theint, who is also an MMPO member, at a press conference on July 14.

“The community has been active not only in telling the police about crimes they have witnessed, but also in helping police round up criminal suspects,” said Police Major Maung Maung Myint of the Yangon Division Police Force.

The training course was provided in partnership with the University of Yangon’s Department of Psychology and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Venerable Vicittasãra, who was the second abbot of the Dhammanãda Monastery in Mingun, 11 kilometres (seven miles) northwest of Mandalay, gave sermons across Myanmar from the time he became the first monk to pass the Tipitaka (Buddhist canon) examination in 1953 until his death in 1992 at the age of 81.

“I started in music when I was just 15 years old and it has been five years now. During that time, my dad taught me to follow the good habits of my friends so I would not get spoiled. I truly thank him for his patience with me. He always reminds me to be punctual and respect my work.”

THE Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs’ Association (MWEA) announced last week that it will establish a Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs’ Development Centre with the aim of producing a new generation of potential businesswomen.

“It’s really useful for people who can’t visit bookshops very often or who don’t have time to hang out in stores deciding which books to buy,” she said. “The reviews give me brief information about the new books that come out every week or month so I can make a choice.”

THE Department of Meteorology and Hydrology hosted the 7th Senior Technical Manager’s Meeting of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) from August 1 to 3 at the Sedona Hotel in Yangon, the first major acid deposition conference to be held in the country.

THE Myanmar Education Research Bureau has produced a video to promote understanding of public school regulations stipulating that students must have an attendance record of at least 75 percent to sit for final exams.

THE Myanmar Astrologist Association said a solar eclipse that will occur at 11:40am GMT over southern Africa will bring good fortune to Angola and Namibia, the two countries from which the celestial event will be most visible.

“We have organised games on a smaller scale in individual towns, but this year’s series is the first aimed at attracting nationwide participation,” U Peter said.