8/8/2005~12/8/2005)
Khit Myanmar
YCDC has raised taxes on water and sanitation services since the end of July. Water bills are raised from kyats 360 per 3 months to around kyats 3000 per three months. Sanitation service bills are raised from kyats 130 per 3 months to kyats 675. (Khit Myanmar)
Kumudra
Export/Import licence applications will have to be submitted to the Trade Council for approval starting from the end of July. The TC has asked the UMFCCI and related government ministries for endorsement on the invoiced prices. (The Voice, 7 Day News, Kumudra)
Voice
There is an advertisement in The Voice weekly, by the Bird and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), for a kyats 1 million reward for information and locating the Pink Headed Duck, which are believed extinct. Bird Life International and BARWIN co-sponsored the advertisement to locate the Pink Headed Duck.
Approval to export forest products should be obtained from the Forestry Department Head Office, prior to the export licence application. Previously, Rangoon division forestry department issued the approvals. Burma currently exports over 29 forest products to 40 countries around the world. (The Voice)
Japanese Organisation for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) is planning a maternity and childcare project in Shan State's Naung Cho & Kyauk Mae townships. The five years pilot project will be implemented by JOICEF and Burma's ministry of health and will be financed by JICA, with plans to expand to other townships. (The Voice)
India donates US$ 500,000 worth of laboratory equipment to Rangoon University on a human resources development co-operation scheme. The government is planning to turn Rangoon University into a research institute. Rangoon University can accommodate over 10,000 students if it operates to its full capacity. (The Voice)
Bagan Cybertech is reducing its Internet and e-mail fees. (The Voice)
35 private companies have cultivated over 100,000 acres of palm oil plantations in the coastal region. (The Voice)
A Responsible Care Committee will be formed in Burma's Chemicals Industrialists Association, to take care of environmental and safety issues. (The Voice)
Mixed
Rangoon Division records the highest cases of Dengue Fever in Burma, according to research records dated back 33 years. 50% of affected people are school children, said a medical doctor on school health. The second highest cases are recorded in Mandalay, said the doctor. Bad sewage systems and thick bushes are to blame for the increase in Aedes Mosquitoes that carry Dengue Fever, the doctor said. Dengue Fever outbreaks in Burma in 2005 are not serious and the situation is under control, the doctor said. Meanwhile, the drug stores in Rangoon report sharp increase in sales of Dengue Fever drugs. (The Voice, 7 Day News, Kumudra)
The director general of higher education department from the ministry of education denied the news that the government is recruiting more tutors and demonstrators to teach in the universities and colleges. The ministry recruited university teachers in April 2005 and there were complaints that the selections were partial.
A health official from the health-planning department has warned that the H5N1 bird flu virus can be contracted by a touch of the affected chicken meat and housewives are warned to be careful in touching to check chicken meat in the markets. The doctor also said eating rare or medium cooked chicken barbecues is dangerous. Chicken barbecue stalls can be found all over the city in Rangoon and that the stalls can become a source of the bird flu outbreak, said the doctor. Until now, there has been no report of bird flu outbreak in Burma. (The Voice, 7Day News)
Flower
With the aid from Nippon Foundation, the Japan based Maritime Disaster Prevention Centre (MDPC) is providing training on oil spill response courses for Burmese trainees. Burmese trainees are sent to Japan to attend the training courses, seminars and workshops on oil spill response. (The Flower News)
The current domestic terminal will be moved to current international terminal, when the new airport extension project is completed in Rangoon Airport. (The Flower News)
Registered nurses from Burma will have the chance to enter Nclex Examinations held and recognised from the U.S. A local company named Myanmar PNI Co., Ltd is acting as the representative for the Nclex Exams. A registered nurse from Burma who wants to enter the Nclex exam must be a holder of TOEFL or LELTS certificates. (The Flower News)
Nepal's Cosmic Airlines plan to fly a regular flight to Rangoon in the upcoming tourist season. (the Flower News)
Russia offers to help solve Burma's energy requirements. Russian FM made the offer at the recent ASEAN meeting in Laos. (The Flower News)