37 million year old fossil find: A TEAM of Myanmar and French paleontologists has discovered fossilised primate bones and teeth in the Pondaung region of Magwe Division which are more than 37 million years old... Tsunami, National Convention among highlights of 2005: THE government and relief agencies confirmed early in the month that the tsunami which devastated coastal areas of countries around the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 had only a minimal impact on Myanmar... European Commission to maintain aid levels: THE European Commission will maintain its level of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar next year, said the head of its newly-opened office in Yangon, Mr Bernard Delpuech. Police welcome public support for Crime Free Week campaign The Crime Free Week campaign, which includes tougher prevention and security measures, as well as educational programs... BIMSTEC on track for FTA deal: MYANMAR and its BIMSTEC partners agreed to sign a free trade area agreement by the middle of 2006 at a meeting of the regional grouping?s foreign ministers in Dhaka on December 19... Myanmar to sign ASEAN legal agreement: MYANMAR and Thailand plan to sign an Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters next month, a senior official with the Ministry of Home Affairs said last week... Printing industry must confront challenges from IT, says minister: THE printing and publishing industry should prepare for challenges resulting from the development of the nation?s information technology sector, the Information Minister, Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan... Factory owners to be trained in workplace safety: SENIOR staff at factories in Yangon?s Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone will undergo training this week as part of an accident-free workplace campaign... Campaign for safe roads: THE Yangon Division Wireless and Traffic Police Force plans to launch an accident prevention campaign on January 1, said an official from the force... On level ground: Real estate market review 2005: THE property market in Myanmar remained steady in 2005, with none of the radical up and down changes that characterised 2004, said developers in Yangon... Local film industry feels the squeeze: ?The situation has made producers cautious about launching new productions,” said U Su Wan, vice president of the Myanma Motion Picture Organisation... Trade officials urge pulses exporters to expand markets: BEANS and pulses exporters in Myanmar need to focus on expanding into lucrative new markets, such as those of Japan, Europe and the Middle East, trade officials said this month... Wrapping up Myanmar?s film industry for 2005: THE past year has been a mixed bag for the Myanmar film industry. Despite having several international success stories with films such as Chit chin Nge Pyaing (True Love), Mystery of Snow and Kyan Sit Min (King Kyan Sit), the number of films produced actually dropped as did the number of movie goers... Nandawun, a real haven for bookworms and culture lovers: NANDAWUN bookstore is not your typical bookshop. Over 1000 books displayed at the store are labeled strictly ?not-for-sale”. That is because some of them date back to the 1800s... Hip hop artists belt it out at Alliance Française: MYANMAR?S up-and-coming hip-hoppers took to the stage at Alliance Française at a concert on December 16. Although the event was advertised as a ‘hip-hop concert?, some singers actually performed pop and rock tunes instead... A merry saXmas in Myanmar: GERMAN saxophonist Rudiger Klink first came to Myanmar four years ago. What was supposed to be a one-off stint turned into long-term love affair with the country and he has been coming back ever since.